Mystery

=THE TRAGEDY OF WILLIE YOUNG =

“Do you think you are fit enough to play for this football team son?” Asked the GM of the Cleveland Browns.

“Yes sir” Replied Willie Young, He is soon to be the first African-American football player in history. Willie is a six foot two two hundred twenty pound running back who just signed a three year contract for the Cleveland Browns. During this time in the 1940's is before Martin Luther King and African-American citizens were not treated like they should have been. In the locker room was mixed reactions from the teammates. The quarterback Auto Graham liked Willie but not many other. The rest looked down towards him would push him around in practice and stomp on his hands while he is down. No one would ever get in the way of this mistreatment, and Willie would never say anything.

One day after another abusive practice he visited his life long best friend Emmet Le-Vaughan who owns an African-American Garage.

 “Well if it ain't my man Willie, what's up Brotha?” Asked Emmet to his best friend.

“Not much man, Practice has been rough lately and I know the games are gonna be worse.”Willie admitted.

 “Why do you say.”

“Cause i'm the only African there and only a few like me. They hit me after the whistle and step on my hands and even hide my clothes after the showers.”  Willie explained.

“So what you gonna let that stop you?” Asked Emmet. “Cause if I be remembering this right, you quit your job here, to try to get chances to play and convince that team you are the best player they have ever seen.”

“Yeah but I don't know man, they treat me bad. With a game next week I jut think it will be getting worse.” Willie replies.

“Look man, I know not many place be hiring men like us, so if you quit your gonna need a job. Don't come round here looking for one of you quit that team cause quitters ain't welcome here.” Emmet declared while whipping the grease from his hands and walking away from his best friend, leaving him to think.

As the week went by Willie still suffered until the first game came around.

 It was a huge match up, The Baltimore Colts and the Cleveland Browns for the first game of the season. The two best teams in football. The crowd at the game was enormous all came to see what the only African-American player do. <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 17.6px;"> The first play of the game Auto Graham handed the ball to Willie up the middle. He felt the leather touch his skin as he pushed forward, One defender came at him and dodged it with ease. Another from behind, wrapped his arms around Willie but could not hold on to the steam roller of a man. Then out of the corner of his eye Willie saw a flash and then the wind escaping his body, he landed on the ground with a forceful impact. When he looked up he saw Bill Dawson the colts linebacker, standing over him. Bill Dawson used to be a member of the Browns but was left after the team signed Willie.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 17.6px;">When Willie stood up he heard the announcer say “That was Willie Young for and explosive gain of twenty one yards.”

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 17.6px;">The rest of the game followed that tone with Willie gaining one hundred and seven more yards and two touchdown, and catching for twelve more yards. He was announced the player of the game.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 17.6px;">“Hey good game man.” Said Auto Graham as he approached Willie's locker

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 17.6px;">“Hey, thanks.”

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 17.6px;">“No problem, you deserved to be player of the game. How are the other guys treating you?” Asked Auto.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 17.6px;">“Okay.” Willie replied a little surprised he cared about that.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 17.6px;">“Okay well you tell me if you have any problems now.” Auto told Willie as he started to walk away

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 17.6px;">“Yes, sir.”

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 17.6px;">That nigh Willie went back to Emmet's Garage where he knew Emmet would be watching his black and white T.V in the back of the store.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 17.6px;">Walking through the garage Willie saw different greasy car parts, tools, rusty nuts and bolts and a few tires. When he reached the end of the garage he could h <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 17.6px;">ear the T.V. Playing through the wall.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 17.6px;">“Hey man.” Willie said entering.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 17.6px;">“Hey, there's the player of the week! I told you not to quit!” Emmet exclaimed.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 17.6px;">“Yeah I know man, you were right.”

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 17.6px;">“How does that feel being player of the game?” Asked Emmet out of pure excitement.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 17.6px;">“It feels good, but I'm tired man. I think I'm going home.” Willie said while rubbing his eyes

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 17.6px;">“Alright man, you get some rest. Hey try and come by tomorrow, I think the Chrysler Royal will be finished.” Emmet stated.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 17.6px;">“Alright, sounds good. Later man.”

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 17.6px;">“Okay see'ya” Emmet said waving as Willie closed the door behind him.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 17.6px;">“Man, My brotha is player of the week!” Emmet exclaimed to himself with pure excitement in his voice.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 17.6px;">Emmet stared at the television for just a couple minutes longer when he too started to feel tired. So he got up turned off the T.V. And organized his desk a little bite and organize his pens and writing utensils. When that was finished he shut off the lights in the office and locked up for the night.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 17.6px;">“A mechanic with out a car, oh well maybe some day.” Emmet said to himself <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 17.6px;"> As tuned the corner he saw a figure stumbling and crawling on the ground. He stooped and stared to figure out who it was. It didn't seem to be anyone he recognized but cautiously walk closer. Then in the distance he saw a shadowy figure running in the opposite direction and into an ally way. The figure looked familiar by the way he ran, but Emmet shook that off and proceeded towards the man on the ground. The character moaned and breathed heavy.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 17.6px;">“Sir are you alright?” Emmet asked cautiously.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 17.6px;">He moaned until the e could mange one word that hit Emmet like bricks.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 17.6px;">“Emmet.”

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 17.6px;">“Oh my god, Willie!” Emmet screamed in fear. “What happened to you!”

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 17.6px;">“I was walking, <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 17.6px;">and then he shot me.” Willie managed to get out.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 17.6px;">“Alright you stay with me now.” Emmet begged in panic.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 17.6px;">“I can't do it, I…” That was all Willie could say before all of the life drained out of him.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 17.6px;">“No!, No!” Emmet screamed. “Please someone help My friends been shot!” He yelled out in desperation. But no one came to the rescue.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 17.6px;">“Dear Lord we gather hear today to say good bye to our friend, brother, and son Mr.Willie Jerome Young. Who's life was cruelly taken from him early by a mysterious man who will hopefully fall into the hands of justice.” Said the preacher as Willie's coffin was lowered into the ground. “He's gone where no African Man has gone before and was killed for being and adventurer, explorer and just being braver than the rest of us. God bless his soul up in heaven Amen.”

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 17.6px;">“Amen” The crowd said sullenly and in unison.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 17.6px;">“Emmet my boy come here.” Said Willies mom crying.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 17.6px;">“Yes Ma'am.” He replied

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 17.6px;">“You saw what happened to my baby, I want you to find the man who killed him and bring him to the police at all cost do you understand me?” She said.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 17.6px;">“Yes Ma'am.” Emmet agreed with her wanting to avenge his best friend who was like a brother to him and the only family he had. <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 17.6px;">“Emmet I think you should take this.” She told him while placing a set of keys in his palms.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 17.6px;">“Are these the keys to your Thunderbird?” Asked Emmet in shock.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 17.6px;">“Yes, they were going to be Willie's. He sent me some of his money to help me out but I put it towards this to surprise him. He doesn't need this where he is now. I now he would want you to have it, besides how can you catch that crook with no car?” She told him

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 17.6px;">Emmet gave her a smile of appreciation and took the keys.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 17.6px;">“Don't worry Ma'am I'll bring him to justice, in fact I know where to go first to investigate.” Emmet told her as he entered the light blue Thunderbird. He felt the clutch in his hand and the engine roar as he turned the keys and felt at home. When he drove away he was thinking of where Bill Dawson's old house was hoping he hasn’t moved out to Baltimore yet. <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 17.6px;">As he pulled into the drive way of the house of Bill Dawson he tried to shake out the nerves for his friend. Emmet approached the door and knocked with a full fist that showed he meant business. Bill opened the door,

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 17.6px;">“Who are you?” Bill asked

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 17.6px;">“Emmet Le-Vaughan sir, Are you Bill <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 17.6px;">Dawson?”

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 17.6px;">“Yeah what's it to you? By the way I do not recall allowing your kind on my property.”

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 17.6px;">“Well sir. I believe I have every right to come here and stand where I am.” Emmet replied.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 17.6px;">“Who says?” Bill asked in anger.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 17.6px;">“You ended the life of my best friend last week.” Emmet told Bill to his face.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 17.6px;">“You've got some nerve coming here on my land and accusing me off murder. I don't believe I even know your friend so if you would be so kind to get off my property.” He said closing the door. <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 17.6px;">“Willie Young was killed just down the street.” Emmet said with a darker tone while he stuck his foot in the door.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 17.6px;">“What? No way?” Asked Dawson surprised.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 17.6px;">“I know you didn't think kindly of him or any Africans, you demanded a trade to the Colts when Willie joined the Browns. Your a racist and ignorant man, all of the evidence leads to you.” Emmet started to yell.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 17.6px;">“ I'll admit it did not like Willie but I am no murderer. I admit I was selfish because I did not leave because of Willie.” Replied Bill a little more calm.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 17.6px;">“What do you mean? I <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 17.6px;">n the papers it said you left because you could not work with a black man.” Emmet wondered out loud.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 17.6px;">“The colts offered me way more money but kept in on the down low. I didn't want to seem selfish so I made up the story that I was leaving because of Willie. It made me seem like less of a bad person because it is how most people feel about him.” Explained Bill.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 17.6px;">“Well that's not how I felt about him.” Said Emmet calming down, brushing off his jacket.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 17.6px;">“I did not personally like Willie because he was a great player and better than me, not because of his skin.” Bill told him.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 17.6px;">“Okay, do you about anyone who would have done this?” Asked Emmet

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 17.6px;">“No but you should go the Browns facility to tell the coach.” He instructed Emmet.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 17.6px;">“Alright, but if I ever find ou <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 17.6px;">t you lied to me, I will avenge Willie Myself.” Emmet told him in a menacing tone as he turned and walked away.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 17.6px;"> Emmet finally arrived at the facility and locked the doors when he stared out onto the field. He made his way towards the coaches office when he noticed a player running around the field and found himself running at him. He recognized the pattern the player was running with and it matched the guy from the terrifying night at the street. The player turned quick, recognized Emmet and ran off the field and through the parking lot. This attracted a lot of attention from teammates and staff. The man was nimble dodging cars until he made it to the street. The man ran through the once calm streets and int ally ways over trash barrels and over chain fences. Emmet grew tired but could not let down himself, Mrs.Young, and Willie. He pushed harder and pumped is legs faster gaining on the man. A taller fence came up and the man had to stop and climbed it. Emmet saw his chance and picked up more speed and focused on what was in front of him. He felt his legs coil up and spring, flinging himself into the air. Vaulting the fence. Only a few feet in between the killer and Emmet. They turn a corner and meet a pile of garbage bags. Emmet feels himself sore through the air and make contac <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 17.6px;">t with the man and the piles of trash. Garbage flies into the air and a scream escapes from the killer's lips.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 17.6px;">“I got you, now!” Emmet heard himself say as he drove his left fist into the culprit’s ear.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 17.6px;">“Ow!” The man screamed as he collapsed onto the unforgiving cement. Emmet turned over the man and was shocked to find out it was Auto Graham, the Auto Graham.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 17.6px;">“What? How? I thought you were the only one who was nice to Willie?” Emmet stammered.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 17.6px;">“It was an act.” Auto said breathing heavily through the headache. “Who are you?” He asked.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 17.6px;">“Emmet Le-Vaughan. Willie's best friend. I'm proud to call him my brother. Why did you kill him<” Emmet said.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 17.6px;">“Black people like yourself should play football. White men invented it. I hoped the other guys in the team would scare him away but he just wasn't smart enough to get it.” Graha <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 17.6px;">m explained.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 17.6px;">“ Well you got me, what are you going to do now? We are three miles away from the field.” Said Auto remaining on his back.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 17.6px;">“I'll tell you what I'm calling the police.” Said a voice from behind Emmet. He turned around to see the head coach of the Cleveland Browns.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 17.6px;">“No, coach, don't believe this …”

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 17.6px;">“I don't want to hear it. I know what you did. I am ashamed to have given you the honor of being a Brown. But I am proud of this young man hear for doing this for a friend and enforcing the laws. What was your name again?” Said Coach.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 17.6px;">“Emmet Le-Vaughan.” He told him.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 17.6px;">“ Well Emmet Le-Vaughan, how would you like to be a member of the Cleveland Browns?” Asked the coach.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 17.6px;">“I would love it!” Emmet exclaimed.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 17.6px;"> “Well Mr. Le-Vaughan are you sure you are fit enough to be a member of the Cleveland Browns?” Asked the head coach a week after the arrest of former quarterback and now murder Auto Graham.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 17.6px;">“Yes sir.” Emmet replied.