It is possible to shed tears for gang members
Mario
Whenever such a chance presents itself  I pick homies who've never flown before. (Recently  on a trip to Washington  D.C.  one of them asked  “Are we flying Virgin Airlines because it is our first time?”) When I went to Spokane  I took  Mario  and Bobby.
We flew out of Burbank  where passengers walk onto the airport tarmac and go up stairs to get into the planes. Of the hundreds of first-timers I've traveled with over the years  no one has ever been as terrified as  Mario .  He  was gasping and flushed — and we were still inside the terminal. Out the window I could see flight attendants climbing the stairs  each holding two Venti-sized drinks.  Mario  emerged from  his  terror tunnel long enough to ask  in a panicky whine  “When are we gonna board?”
 Tall and gangly  Mario  may be the most tattooed individual ever at Homeboy.  He  is all “sleeved out ” neck blackened with the name of  his  gang and  his  entire face covered in tattoos. I had never been in public with  him   and I watched as people sidestepped us in the airport. Mothers pulled their kids in tightly. The recoiling was pronounced and widespread. And yet  everyone at Homeboy would agree that  Mario  is the gentlest of men.  He  calmed  himself   and we got to Spokane without event.
At Gonzaga  the auditorium was full  maybe 1 000 people.  Mario  and Bobby spoke first. Nervous (again)  hands and voices shaking  they told their stories of violence  terror and abuse of all kinds. Honest to God  their words were like flames; you had to keep your distance or get scorched.
I asked Bobby and  Mario  to join me for the question-and-answer period. A woman near the front spoke first.
“You say you're a father ” she said to  Mario   “and your son and daughter are starting to reach  their  teenage years. What wisdom do you impart to  them ?” She recalibrated. “What advice do you give  them ?”
She sat  and  Mario  sifted her words  looking for a response. “I just ...”
There wasn't much of a pause before the audience stood and began to clap.  All Mario  could do was hold  his  face in  his  hands.
Whenever such a chance presents itself  I pick homies who've never flown before. (Recently  on a trip to Washington  D.C.  one of them asked  “Are we flying Virgin Airlines because it is our first time?”) When I went to Spokane  I took  [TGT]and Bobby.
We flew out of Burbank  where passengers walk onto the airport tarmac and go up stairs to get into the planes. Of the hundreds of first-timers I've traveled with over the years  no one has ever been as terrified as [TGT] .  [TGT]  was gasping and flushed — and we were still inside the terminal. Out the window I could see flight attendants climbing the stairs  each holding two Venti-sized drinks.  [TGT]emerged from  [TGT]  terror tunnel long enough to ask  in a panicky whine  “When are we gonna board?”
 Tall and gangly  [TGT]may be the most tattooed individual ever at Homeboy.  [TGT]  is all “sleeved out ” neck blackened with the name of  [TGT]  gang and  [TGT]  entire face covered in tattoos. I had never been in public with  [TGT]   and I watched as people sidestepped us in the airport. Mothers pulled their kids in tightly. The recoiling was pronounced and widespread. And yet  everyone at Homeboy would agree that  [TGT]is the gentlest of men.  [TGT]  calmed  [TGT]   and we got to Spokane without event.
At Gonzaga  the auditorium was full  maybe 1 000 people.  [TGT]and Bobby spoke first. Nervous (again)  hands and voices shaking  [TGT] told [TGT] stories of violence  terror and abuse of all kinds. Honest to God  [TGT] words were like flames; you had to keep your distance or get scorched.
I asked Bobby and  [TGT]to join me for the question-and-answer period. A woman near the front spoke first.
“You say you're a father ” she said to  [TGT] your son and daughter are starting to reach  their  teenage years. What wisdom do you impart to  them ?” She recalibrated. “What advice do you give  them ?”
She sat  and  [TGT]sifted her words  looking for a response. “I just ...”
There wasn't much of a pause before the audience stood and began to clap.  [TGT]could do was hold  [TGT]  face in  [TGT]  hands.