After All by Lynn Emery Page B

business. You can't
stand getting up in the morning to work for somebody else. You got
no discipline. To have your own business means you work ten times
harder 'cause you gotta do it all yourself. What happened when I
let you manage some of my properties? Huh, boy? Let's talk about
that.” Ike set his empty glass down with a bang.
    “ Uncle Ike, I think Marcus
could maybe start by working for Mr. Trahan again. Then if he
sticks to it, you might consider setting him up.”Anthony searched
for away to head off a clash, to offer some middle ground that both
could accept.
    “ I don't need you to speak
for me! You stay out of this,” Marcus growled at Anthony. He turned
to Ike. “Ever since we were kids, you been putting him before me.
Where did he get the money for his business? From you, that's who.
But when I ask you for a few dollars, you start throwing up stuff
in my face from way back. How come? Why can't you show me some
respect?”Marcus shouted.
    “ First thing you gonna do is
lower your voice to me, boy.” Ike rose slowly to face his son. He
stared at Marcus through eyes narrowed to slits, his rapid
breathing audible in the deadly silence that followed his
words.
    “ Daddy, I...” Marcus
stammered, then stopped. Unable to take his eyes away from his
father's, he backed away until he stood against the wall next to
the fireplace.
    “ Come on, now. Everybody
calm down.”Anthony stood between them. He knew from Ike's
expression that he could easily strike Marcus if further
provoked.
    “ Sit down, Anthony. It's
okay.” Ike unclenched his fists. He turned around to fix himself
another drink. “This is what you're gonna do, Marcus. I got you a
job and you're gonna keep it. You better show up every day, and be
on time. Got it?” Not hearing a response, Ike looked at him over
his shoulder. “I asked you a question, son.”
    Marcus nodded, his jaw muscles worked
convulsively with the effort to keep silent. When he bolted from
the room, Anthony went after him. Marcus sat in the kitchen at the
breakfast table. He faced the bay window staring through the pale
yellow curtains into the dark.
    “ Say, man. You know how
Uncle Ike is. He's doing what he thinks is best for you--”Anthony
could see Marcus wiping his face.
    “ Leave me alone, man. Just
get the hell outta my face.” Marcus pushed the chair back so hard
it fell over. He stomped out of the kitchen. Seconds later the
front door slammed. The engine of his 280Z roared to life. With a
sharp squeal of tires on pavement, the car shot off into the
night.
    “ You were too hard on him,
Uncle Ike,” Anthony said to Ike when he walked into the
kitchen.
    “ That boy had all the
advantages. He wants the easy way out of everything. Always some
excuse, always somebody else's fault for his screw ups. He'll be
all right and do what I tell him. Come on, let's go get that
steak.” Uncle Ike slapped him on the back. He pulled the keys to
his car out.
    “ I'll drive.”Anthony took
the keys from his hand.
    All through dinner Anthony could not
help but think about his cousin. From the moment Uncle Ike had
taken Anthony under his wing, Marcus had seen him as a rival for
Ike's attention and affection. Anthony, one year younger than
Marcus, had thought they could be like brothers. But Marcus made it
clear from the beginning that he did not see Anthony as anything
but an opponent. Nothing Anthony tried to do over the years could
change this. And Uncle Ike did nothing to help. Instead of
reassuring his son, he encouraged the competition by comparing the
boys. Anthony loved his uncle, but he had to agree he could be iron
fisted when dealing with others. Even his own family.
    “ Uncle Ike, try to talk to
Marcus and smooth things out.”Anthony got out of his uncle's car in
the driveway and handed him the keys.
    “ I told you, he's gonna be
okay. He'll mope around with his mouth stuck out for a few days,
but that's all. Say, come in for a drink. I got some hot new
videos.”
    Ike