Wintercrest Academy

Screw law

The McKenna household was partying. Rosco kept the party alive, switching smoothly from one song to the other as the guests celebrated yet another feather to his father’s cap. Greg McKenna had just won a case he had been on for almost a year, and the entire city was celebrating him. He’d been on the news all week long, and now he decided to host a party to crown the celebration.

Needless to say, it was a lush party. All the guests in attendance were wealthy and belonged to the elite class of the society. He had seen a few students from school who tagged along with their parents. It was time for the toast and Greg McKenna stood, 6ft4, clad in his new, super expensive grey suit, all professional smile. Rosco’s father was easy to love. He made people comfortable whenever they were around him, but when it was time for business, he became an entirely different person..

“Thank you. Thank you. I appreciate you all being here today. No, really. If you didn’t come, I’d have been upstairs working on a new case again.” The guest chuckled. “So, thank you. I remember taking up that case and saying to my client, ‘Have you heard about me?’ He replied yes, but then started telling me about the other lawyer. I asked him the same question again, ‘have you heard about Greg McKenna?’ He said yes, but he was afraid. I looked him dead in the eye and reminded him that I had a winning streak. I wouldn’t let anyone break it. I motivated him and encouraged him. You all know I’m amazing with words, and when he left, I went into my office and curled up in a corner. I was more afraid than he was.” The guest laughed louder this time and Rosco smiled. His dad really did have the gift of gab.

“But here’s what I did. I knew the lawyer I was going against. Everybody knows how good he is. However, I reminded myself how good I am. I channelled that fear into self-confidence. And this is something I hope we all do. it’s okay to be afraid, regardless of who you ae. I mean . . .I’m such a huge man and look how scared I was. But I didn’t stay there. So, this toast is to Mr Craig. Thank you for believing in me even though I’m pretty sure at some point, you might have sniffed my fear. This toast’s for you. You deserve it. To Mr Craig, and to me winning mores cases.” He raised his glass, and the guests made a toast and then on cue, Rosco resumed the music and the atmosphere was alive with songs again.

By 11:30pm, the party was almost over, and more than half of the guests had gone home. Rosco poured himself more wine and kept the music rolling until it was 12am and officially the end of the party. Only family members were around now.

“You’re so cool, uncle Greg,” his cousin Erika said after listening to his father’s infamous story of how he won his first case after 25 losses.

“Oh, I’m not cool,” Greg dismissed the compliment. “I’m determined. I knew I was a lawyer. I couldn’t afford to be substandard in the industry. Because truly, there’s no place for substandard people. You are either at the top of your game, or you get kicked out ASAP.”

“Weren’t those times hard? After every loss, didn’t you just want to give up?” Rosco’s other cousin, Dwayne asked.

“Oh, good graces. I thought the worst of myself. I thought this wasn’t my place. That I had tricked myself into believing that law was my passion. I cried every time I lost a case. But look, sulking is okay. It helps you reflect sometimes. But if you don’t pick yourself up and do better than you did the last time, I realized that my eyes would run dry one day from too much crying.” They gaped and ‘wowed’ at Greg McKenna.

“Aunty Mariana would be so proud.” Dwayne mentioned Rosco’s late mom and everyone knowingly observed a minute of silence for her. Rosco’s heart panged. He missed his mum. Screw cancer and stealing her so early.

“You inspire me, uncle Greg. I’m going to go to law school.” Erika announced.

“Atta girl!” he high-fived her. “It’s a prestigious profession. You’d be glad you chose it.”

“Yay! Rosco and I would most likely go to the same school, right Ross?” she said and all eyes darted to Rosco. Gosh, Erika and her blabber mouth!

“Uhh, sure. I mean, if there’s music in whatever school you’re applying to, we could go together,” Rosco said and felt his father’s eyes pierce into him. He immediately wished he went declared that he was tired and retired to is room after the party. Now, Erika had ignited a conversation that would definitely not end well. it was supposed to be a celebratory night, but Erika had quickly flipped that around because things were about to go sour. Rosco knew that.

“You’re really going to study music? Over law?” she continued and Rosco cold feel himself getting upset.

“It was never an option for me. Never will be.”

“But why not? Uncle Greg’s a lawyer?” Dwayne said and what kind of mentality was that?

“So what? Do I have to be a lawyer just because my dad’s a lawyer?” he asked and this time, he looked pointedly at his father. The stare in his father’s eyes were cold. Deathly.

“Who’s going to take over his firm then?”

“Dwayne, what is wrong with you?” Rosco asked. “Anybody can take over the firm. Erika can. That’s dad’s choice to make. Not mine.”

“Now, now, kids.” Greg chipped with a smile that didn’t cross his lips. “Rosco’s in a decisive stage. He hasn’t quite made up his mind yet so—”

“I have.” Rosco stated. “You know I have. I’ve told you.”

“No way, son. You’re not going to dedicate the rest of your life to being a DJ for strip clubs and parties,” Greg said in a derogatory manner and Dwayne and Erika burst out laughing

That was it. Rosco had had it. “Can you stop doing that?”

“Doing what? saying the truth and bringing you back to your senses?”

“You speak so ill of music all the time. Music is the one thing that bonds us together. And there’s so much more to music than being a DJ, dad. I produce and sing songs, I write lyrics. There’s more to it and I’d tell you if you just ask and listen. That’s the only thing Mum taught me that I still have.”

“I’m not going to ask,” Greg said in annoyance. “And I’m definitely not going to listen. Don’t you dare drag your mother into your foolishness. You’re not going to throw your life away just like that. Music is not the thing that bond us together. That’s blood. And love. So stop trying to be smart with your words and take your life seriously. I’m not going to watch you choose music of law. That’s impossible.”

“I agree. With uncle Greg,” Erika finally spoke after a moment of heated silence.

“I didn’t ask,” Rosco said, holding his father’s stare. “And I’m definitely not going to listen.” He faced Erika. “And you need to learn to shut your mouth and mind your business. If you wanna idolize him, go ahead. But don’t involve me and my choices in it.”

Rosco breezed past them and up the stairs. He wasn’t going to give up on music. Never. The first song he learned to sing, his mother taught him. He would always write and produce songs because that’s the only way he felt close to his mother. Screw law. Screw what they all thought about his decision.