Sunday, I met my niece, Chapi, for the first time since 2002. I met her by the club, an all African American club on 14th.
I was going home when I ran into her, when I just came from selling Street Sense. She was happy, she was like, “Oh my God! I haven’t seen you for a while!” She said they — the whole family, cousins from all over the states — have been calling my old number.
She was with her three female friends. I told her she and her friends need to come to see the wheelchair basketball. She said, “I got an uncle, his name is A, he plays wheelchair basketball.” I took off the mask and she recognized me. She and her friends were so happy!
She told her friends then, “Yeah, my uncle really play ball!” They were very glad and happy. She asked for the webpage of the wheelchair basketball, my old team, the NRH Punishers at Medstar. I gave it to her. I hope to see her and her friends, all the people that I know, and many faces at the wheelchair basketball practices and games. We used to practice at the East County Community Center. They haven’t reopened yet from the pandemic, but will soon.