Mikey “Too Tall” Mendez dropped out of high school and started selling drugs at sixteen years old. On his twenty-first birthday, he celebrated making it that far. At twenty-two, he found himself caught in the middle of a heated dispute, was slow to react, and got shot in the abdomen. His twenty-third year was spent lingering between slivers of hope and bouts of depression. He thought about ending his life on more than one occasion.
And at twenty-four, Mikey found purpose – a renewed sense of self. He called his organization Another Shot, and he helped troubled teens find a better way forward.
Mikey wheeled himself from side to side of the stage, mid-presentation. “I can assure you one thing: I’m much taller now, much stronger than I used to be. And let me get something else straight: there’s nothing out there on the streets, little brothers, trust me,” he said to an audience of over one hundred young men between the ages of thirteen and nineteen. “Let my bullet – my paralysis – be your lesson. Don’t let them tell you there’s no other way. Don’t let them tell you there’s no way out. Because there is. It’s right here.” First, he pointed to his heart, then his temple.
Later, after the presentation, a young man named Latrell approached Mikey. “Mister,” was all he could get out before he broke down. Mikey pulled him in tight and let him sob into his stomach.
“Thank God they’ve got an e-brake on this thing – you would’ve pushed me right off the stage,” Mikey said to Latrell. They both laughed through tears.
“You’re gonna be alright, little brother, you hear me?” Mikey said. “You know why?”
“Why?” Latrell repeated back. He wiped his eyes.
“Because you’re here. This is your choice, my man, and the path is already being placed at your feet.”
Latrell took in a deep breath. All was quiet for five seconds, ten, before he spoke: “You mind if I share something with you – my story?”
The two conversed quietly, back and forth – man to man – in the dimly lit auditorium.
Thank you so much for reading “Another Shot” — I hope you enjoyed it.
Have an excellent week, everyone. I’ll see you next Monday!
Great work Justin. I love the short, concise language. Especially in the first paragraph.
Why do you have to make me emotional on a Monday! A wonderful story, Justin, and it's awesome to see the use of stories to communicate struggles overcome. Really fantastic work!