“I’m Hardknocks,” he said. “I just came by to tell you I know dudes have been trying to move on you, and I liked the way you handled yourself when you walked out the chow hall this afternoon… It was important that you held your head up. Not just for those fools messing with you, but for cats who got other things on their mind. I know what you in here for and I think you for real. And there are dudes in here that need to know there are people like you around. They the ones really checking you out. They figured you’d drop your head but hoped you wouldn’t. You see, I had your jacket pulled out the file and if you about what it says on paper you aint’ got no business dropping your head when push comes to shove. If you didn’t drop it for the judge there’s no reason for you to drop it in here… Be what you are. That’s what it’s all about. If a dude digs men, that’s cool. That ain’t the problem. The problem is when your shuffle don’t jive with your deal. That’s what makes cats wanna rip people off. They hate bullskating in themselves and everybody else.

“Another thing. In the joint, people identify you by the company you keep. If you run with snakes it’s assumed you down with what they do. That’s why it’s better to travel alone, cause you stand or fall on your own terms… I’m talking about the dude you been hanging with. Chilly. He ain’t no good. He just like his name. What you do is your business, but hanging out with a dude like that is like having walking pneumonia. He’s probably the one who sicked Showboat on you. And that makes him even more dangerous. He doesn’t do his own hunting. He gets others to bring down the prey. Then he comes in for the kill.

“That’s all I wanted to tell you. I usually don’t talk to people unless I feel it’s worth my time… Later on, youngblood. I think you’ll make it.”

I lay in bed for quite a while after Hardknocks had gone. Later that evening Chilly asked me if I wanted to go up to the gym. I told him no. The next day I ate all my meals alone and didn’t have any rap for him when he came around. That night while I was making my bed Chilly came over to my bunk with an attitude.

“Hey, Ellington, you been rounding on me. Why?”

“I ain’t been rounding on you. I just decided to take your advice.”

“What you talking about?”

“I’m talking about carrying my own weight.”

“What’s that got to do with me?”

“It’s got everything to do with you. You pulled my coat to a lot of things, Chilly. But I just realized I was letting you do things for me you had warned me not to let anyone do. So I’m taking your advice and not letting anyone take my weight, including you.”