Joe from Joe's Party Store in Detroit

Thank you, dear friend, Joe. They influenced my life after being jumped while in high school. I still remember what you explained to me, and it has saved my life. #Otherpeople

"In the Bible, Joseph is strongly connected with increase, faithfulness, wisdom, forgiveness, and God’s providence. His life moved from family conflict and slavery to leadership in Egypt. Yet his story was not simply about success. It showed how God could work through painful seasons and use one person’s faith to protect many others" (namefluxo, 2026).

While waiting for passengers to be transported to Golightly Vocational Center,

located on East Jefferson and Dickerson in Detroit, a few guys stood around at the main door of Finney High School.

The security guard was located within steps of the door and was distracted by a young woman student. At this time, the group of guys started talking louder, and once it reached a certain level, one of them pushed so my body would open the door. After this, a fall to the ground, and they used their feet and fists to inflict harm to my body, which was being protected by curling in a ball. The fists and feet came faster and faster. Then the guard must have noticed the crowd of people, and the pull happened. This pull allowed me to see the vice principal in the window as the beating took place outside their office. After this, my location changed to the office where my Mother was called because the vice principal was going to suspend me for fighting.

After a negotiation, I was directed not to come back to school until graduation. Shortly after this, I was introduced to Joe, a local store owner who explained they were having a hard time purchasing the store they operated out of. This rental property, located on the corner, was a hot spot for women with children who would shop at the store frequently. Joe explained this situation in full detail, but as a young person just starting out, this information went over my head at the time. 

The vehicle driven to and from work was a 1978 Mercury Zephyr wagon filled with house speakers in 1993. This stylish wagon was passed down to me by my Mother after an accident involving the front end. It was powered by a 3.3L naturally aspirated I-6 that was durable and well-built. This was noticed after the many times my Mother ran the vehicle with little to no antifreeze in it, which was fixed after a neighbor called Five Dollar Bill stopped us one day to explain why this was not good for the engine. Shortly after this, a radiator was purchased and installed.

The days were long and filled with suggestions of different suits and what should be done at the store. This was until a young woman asked me to walk them out of the store when I was stocking the shelves of beer, wine, and soda. Upon re-entering, Joe stopped me to explain women to me again, and like the first time, it was not very clear.

After work, many days were spent trying to impress a friend of the family living by Nottingham and E. Warren, partially inspired the speakers, while the other goes to my oldest living brother. Having two inspirations, but not the understanding of people in general, led to the wagon being noticed for its exposed speaker setup and rust spots that helped define the wagon. But not only this, but both also worked at corner stores located on Dickerson and Mack and the other at Beaconsfield and E. Warren, doing the same jobs.

The day the Joe discussion should have taken effect on my life was before the beating; there was a tomato situation at a light on Chalmers and Mack.

This event caused a realization of the police and the woman in the wagon, along with other male students and their dates, but this too was later realized, and my life was spared.

The tomato sat on the side of my face as the wagon drifted into traffic. After this situation, the presence of the police looking at the wagon going through the light was lucky; there was no other vehicle to meet the wagon in the intersection. I looked in the mirror and slowly drove to Belle Isle

to take a break before dropping everyone off at their vocational locations, which ended at Golightly.

#Bible

#LGBTQ understanding late in life.

Reference

Bing. (2026). Joe's Party Store. https://www.bing.com/maps

namefluxo. (2026). joseph, joey, joe. https://namefluxo.com/joseph-joey-joe/