Page 17 - The Jazzsipper Audible Audition

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THE JAZZ SIPPER

Chapter One ----- Giant Steps

1971 was Vance’s year for Giant Steps. At ten years old he was told by the
old folks that he had an old soul. This was the year he began to formulate his
understanding of life; the good, the bad and the ugly. What mostly impressed
him about himself was his ability to quickly assess situations as they arose
around him daily.

He remembered an older childhood friend sister that once told him if he had
a mind he would be dangerous. He did not understand what she meant at the
time. One day he asked her what you mean. She smiled and said to him, “you
have it all, the looks, body movement, poise, the heart, patience, and most of
all the coolness of self-confidence.” After his reflection on her explanation he
thought how deep it was for someone to see all that in a 10-year-old boy.

As he walked along, Vance thoughts led him back to the guy that was killed
in front of him and a group of his friends the week before. They had been
playing touch football in one of the St. Bernard Project court yards where they
all lived, then all of sudden they heard gun fire. They notice two guys running
towards them. One with the fear of death on his face. And the other guy with
the face of death, gripping a revolver in his hand as he chased the guy.

Vance new that the guy was not gunning for them, because they heard the
gunshots to early. When you or someone you are with is the target there is no
delay, you hear, smell, and see the gun fire.

Vance thought that the best move to make was to get low, and not become
a moving target. It happen to be a very good move; two of his friends that