Welcome back family, once again we would like to submit another few pages from the novel Daddy Doesn't Want to Dance Anymore. This piece is from Chapter 7 "Deadbeat Dad" in this particular piece King is breaking down to his attorney the broken system and how its failing the fathers that's trying to do whatever it takes to be involved in their children lives.

“That’s what I’m talking about Suit, how in the hell are you going to represent me while at the same time you don’t even have a clue in knowing what is exactly going on?” King Stated in disappointment.

“Okay let’s just slow it down a bit, for it appears as if things are getting out of hand here. I've talked to her, hell I even argued with her until I got my point across. Because I knew from that moment, I had a great deal of understanding just where she was coming from. I realized that her plight stemmed from her personal resentment towards you, which superseded over what was in the best interest of the children. Once coming to that realization, I was able to open her eyes to see the damage she was causing. Now that, I do know.” I Stated

“Don’t get it twisted Suit; you’re only here as my attorney. You’re only doing what your job entails you to do, which is representing me. Before today, you could of cared less about what happens to me. Before today, I was just another nigga sitting behind bars because I was avoiding my responsibilities as a father.” King said

“Now wait a minute here!” I Shouted

“No I’m sorry, I can’t do that because we both know that I have plenty of time to just sit here and wait. From the day we first met you thought, no let me rephrase that, you knew that I was guilty. You had no more interest in taking on this case, than I had in seeking you for an attorney. As for myself thus far, my feeling has not changed, unlike yourself. Because for some odd reason, you have been enlightened by something that wasn't there before, and because of this new found revelation, you have the impression that maybe, just maybe, you now got a chance at winning this case after all.” King said

“And what King, you think otherwise? Even after I've just told you what progress I made with your ex?” I asked

King got out of his seat after that question and slowly began pacing around the room; it appeared as if he was seeking for some sort of comfort to ease his busy mind. I could see the intensity in his eyes; I couldn't help but to feel like a child waiting to be scolded by his parents for not meeting up to their expectations. Without question, I am at a total loss here because I came in here under the impression that he would have been pleased in my efforts. I also came in here hoping that maybe this would put some of our differences behind us, and help us move forward in working together to win this case. Instead it appears that my efforts were done in vain, because this didn't by any means bring us closer. Instead it only pushed him further away, along with my chances of sealing a victory. Not wanting to go down without a fight, I tried industriously to brainstorm for something that could somehow swing the odds into my favor; then it came to me.

“ You've stated earlier that this was bigger than her, that the system was on some sort of auto pilot.” I said

Instantly King stopped pacing, it appeared as if my words reached him and got his attention. He paused for a second or two then decided to take a seat once again. I knew this was now my opportunity.

“Just what did you mean by that?” I continued to ask.

King didn’t respond right away, instead he just leaned back into his seat and embraced the stillness of the room for a moment. I too, decided to take a pause, for I knew the daggers were about to come my way once he’d got started. While he was leaning back in his chair, I could tell that he was mentally assembling his words, assembling like soldiers getting ready for combat. In the short time that I had gotten to know this man, I have been able to understand this one true aspect of his thought process. Once he knows that he has your back pinned up against the wall, he goes into total attack mode, fighting like a madman who has nothing to lose.

“If I didn't know any better, I would think that you’re really interested in what it is I have to say.” King responded with sarcasm.

“Believe it or not, I am. Because just as you've asked me the question, how can I honestly represent you, when I at the same time don’t have a clue, in knowing what the hell is wrong with the system.” I responded

He leaned forward in his chair and towards me, to give me a good looking over. It was as if he was seeking the slightest flaw in my body language, searching for the simplest flinch behind my words. So I knew one false move on my part, would instantly set off his defense mechanism. If this were to happen, he will feel that he has no other choice but to shut me out once and for all, just like his previous attorneys. After trusting his instincts, he began to open up once again.

“Like I said time and time again, you had already come in here with everything all figured out about me. Your only dilemma at the time, was wondering how long would it take for you to close the case? Now my question to you is why is that? No need to answer, for I already have it right here. For so long, we’ve been titled as the deadbeat dads, so long that it has been stitched in the back of everyone’s head. As a result from it all, we’re so quick to assume that it’s always the father that has turned his back on his children.

In some cases that has happened, but not in all, as far as the some are concerned, I have no comment. Nor do I see any need in wasting my time trying to find words in their defense. However as for the others, the others, who have been more than ready to die for their offspring. The others who will do whatever it take to be a part of their child’s life, and in many cases, they probably have done just that. But got nothing in return for their efforts, not even a simple phone call or a picture of that child. Everyday their struggles go out in vain because they are the ones that are invisible to everyone else, because they just don’t exist. But in all honesty, how can they? When all we see and hear about are the poor single moms struggling out there trying to raise their children?

While at the same time, we’re being constantly displayed in damaging images of standing on street corners sucking forty ounce bottles of beer, speaking in broken English, and grabbing their crouches with our so called homeboys being broadcast over and over again on the television screen. Hell, if I weren't sitting here on the opposite side of you, I too would believe that this was what we were all about. It would be considered an extremely rare occasion to see a positive image of a Black man on the 10 o’clock news. 

Because if we’re not stealing, we’re raping, and if we’re not raping we’re killing, and if we’re not killing we’re selling drugs, and if we’re not selling drugs we’re dead beat dads or on the down low and the list goes on and on. If you were to say that your heart don’t skip a beat every time a group of young Black boys come walking your way, I would say you’re a damn liar. Everyone knows that being placed in such a scenario is the epitome of our deepest fears. Nine times out of ten, nothing ever happens, but that’s the image in which this nation has tattooed upon us as in the infamous words of Chuck D, we’re public enemy number one. I came to accept the bullshit for what it’s worth at face value, meaning I knew exactly where I stood in this country as a Black man. Although I knew was standing in quicksand, I at least knew I wouldn’t be caught off guard.

I could honestly say that everything was cool with me up until I got in here and began taking advantage of the library books. Especially once I’d started reading all these stories about the growing number of single fathers out there. Up until that point, I saw no need to challenge this whole deadbeat dad stigmatization they placed upon me. Like I mentioned earlier, I was already convinced that it came with the territory; you know that quicksand that was pulling us down. The more I've read, the more enraged I’d become. It never dawned on me that there were actually a lot of children out there that were being abandoned by their own mothers. If it isn't the father who’s raising them it would be the grandparents, and if it weren't one of them, it would be the foster homes. Yet not once has anything ever been mentioned about this growing epidemic of deadbeat moms, am I right or wrong?”