Kenny’s Memoir part 1

Kenny's Memoir part 1

“To understand the man I am today, you first must understand my past. Everybody carries flaws, scars, and stories they don’t fully speak about. This is mine.

Well, I could always do a reflection like my buddy Bro Dee, but I think I’m going a little deeper for the fun of it. Like anybody else, the man I am today struggles with his own flaws. This is simply my attempt to understand them.

So, I won’t ruin it. Make your own judgment.

I’m 36 now, a man with a beautiful family — something younger me never imagined possible if I’m being honest. Back then, I was the type of man who always had somebody waiting around the corner, one phone call away. And yes, I know that isn’t something a man should brag about, but pretending it never happened would be dishonest.

Even with my wife and family, I still struggle to keep my past at bay.

So how did I become this man?

Well, it started in St. Ann’s Bay, Jamaica.

I had a loving mother, a sister, and a father I didn’t quite connect with, though things changed over the years. Back home, I attended Mount Zion Preparatory School. That’s where the road to becoming the man I am today truly began.

Life was simple back then. No bills. No stress. Just school uniforms, dusty shoes, and racing home before the streetlights came on.

I still remember the first girl who showed interest in me. Truth be told, I liked her too. We had these playful little fights and exchanged smiles almost every day. I didn’t want to mention her name, but why not? Her name was Paige.

At recess, she’d find every excuse to either give me a playful slap or flash me that pretty smile.

But if you ask me, ‘Kenny, what did you do? How did you approach this girl who was practically begging for your attention?’

The answer is… absolutely nothing.

I didn’t know how to handle it. At ten years old, I stayed hidden inside myself like a turtle in its shell. Quiet kids survive by watching more than speaking.

Some people would probably call me a late bloomer.

Now there was this kid named Lance. I remember him well. He was dating this girl named Cindy. And Cindy? Man… she was fine as wine. But Cindy had a lot of love to share, and the shy little kid I was started thinking… why not me?

That’s when things got interesting.

School had just ended one day when Cindy said Kenneth, I need to speak with you, pulling me behind this little playhouse. She grabbed my hand, looked me dead in the eyes, and told me to kiss her.

Oh man… I was excited. Nervous too. With a splash of diarrhea.

So, wanna guess what I did?

I did it, of course.

And just like a newborn vampire tasting blood for the first time, something inside me woke up that day… and honestly, maybe it never went back to sleep.”