We Was Wizards - Chapter 2
A few days later I was walking home from school with my friend Mike. Mike was a shaman.
There ain’t no real difference between a mage and a sorcerer. Warlocks is just mages who listen to Black Sabbath. But a shaman is, like, barely a mage. Mike explained it to me one time: They can only do one kind of magic—It’s called transmutation—changin’ they body and shit.
The best shaman are called shapeshifters. They can, like, turn into a dog or whatever. But Mike’s family weren’t that good; that cracka couldn’t turn on a lightbulb. Probably why he went to school with us.
Mike tapped me on the arm and said, “I think that old guy is following us.”
I looked around.
Mufuckin’ Rufus Jenkins was a block away, walking down the street toward us, wearing them same raggedy ass clothes and holding up a newspaper in front of him—lookin’ over it and staring at us.
“The fuck is you doin?” I shouted.
“Dude, don’t provoke him!” said Mike.
Mike was afraid of homeless niggas. One time this pothead got ahold of some expired love potions, drank like 12 of ‘em. He ripped his clothes off and begged Mike to “make love to him” on his knees in the middle of the street. Shit was hilarious.
“Daniel,” he said, foldin’ up the newspaper and tryin’ to look casual. “I’m glad I ran into you, I wanted to talk to you about that offer I made you the other day.” As the old man got closer to us, Mike stepped back and reached his hand in the pocket of his hoodie.
“It’s D. And I already told you I’m not interested, so quit followin’ me—you cartoon ass nigga.”
“Offer?” mumbled Mike.
The sage was a couple feet away from us when he stopped and tucked the newspaper into his robe. “I think I can get you to reconsider. There is something that I need to show you, but I can’t do it here. You need to come back to my place.”
“That’s it, I’m calling the police!” said Mike, pulling out his phone.
“Calm down, son,” I said. “This guy ain’t a pedo. Besides, you know the police ain’t gonna come here.” Mike put the phone back in his pocket but took another step back.
Rufus sighed. “Young man, I am a friend of Daniel’s mother. I want him to sing for our church, but he thinks he’s too cool for it. I want him to listen to some albums, so he can see that we are actually pretty hip.”
Dumb mufucka couldn’t come up with somethin’ better than that! But, I didn’t want Mike to get mixed up in this bullshit, so I went along.
“You didn’t tell me you sang.” Mike said, adjusting his glasses.
“Yeah. Because it’s embarrassin’. Go on home, son. I’m gonna give his shit a listen, even though I doubt it’s gonna change my mind.” I answered.
“I’d like to hear you sometime.” Mike replied, before walkin’ off.
“Hey, don’t you tell nobody about that shit!” I called after him. He wouldn’t.
“Alright, what the fuck you tryin’ to show me, old nigga? I ain’t got time for your scams.” I crossed my arms and glared at the old man. I was runnin’ out of patience.
“No scams, son, the real deal. I figured you were too smart to believe that I had a genuine scroll until you saw it with your own eyes. The only way I am going to prove it to you is to show you. So, we must travel, to the Council of Sages!”
I put my hand over my eyes and shook my head. Why the fuck was I doin' this? “Fine. Let’s get this over with.”