An uncommon King

Published 9:00 pm Saturday, December 25, 2004

At an age when most young men focus on homework, dating and hanging out with friends, Josh King endured far weightier concerns.

Did he and his two younger siblings have enough food?

Could the three of them get through another night without electricity or heat?

Would his part-time painting job provide enough money to cover the rent?

With his father in prison serving a life sentence and his mother battling drug problems, King found himself, at age 16, raising his brother, Jarell, and his sister, Jolene.

For years the numerous gifts Josh possessed took a back seat to survival.

Today, King, a senior at Mariner High School and co-captain of the Marauders’ boys basketball team, stands tall, the proud owner of a four-year academic scholarship and a suddenly bright future. Through Mariner’s first six games, King averaged less than two points per contest, but his intensity and leadership are vital contributions that don’t make the stat sheets.

Playing hoops is about brotherhood and discipline, King said, but it’s also an emotional outlet. “It is my way of venting. I can just go out there and let everything out,” he said.

He could be an angry young man – life has dealt him some harsh blows. But through his unfaltering resilience and the timely support of friends new and old, King has emerged from a cruel, bleak abyss.

A new family

Pastor Paul Stoot’s sermon is approaching its emotional climax. His eyes wide with urgency, Stoot has clearly connected with the congregation at Everett’s cozy Greater Trinity Missionary Baptist Church.

Among those standing and clapping to the guitar-, keyboard- and drum-backed message is King. He isn’t nearly as vocal as some of the more animated churchgoers – who intermittently proclaim “Hallelujah!”, “Amen!” or “Praise Jesus!” – but King still seems right at home.

He has been a member of the church for more than 10 years. When his biological family was in tatters, King could always rely on Greater Trinity, particularly Stoot. During the worst of times, King and his siblings even lived with their pastor, sometimes for months at a time.

“His whole life he never had much of a relationship with his dad,” Soot said after a recent Sunday service. “In a sense, I took on that relationship as a pastor and a father.”

King’s father is a three-time felonwho has been incarcerated most of King’s life. King hasn’t seen him in eight years.

Less than two years ago when King’s mother, Cheryl, became increasingly dependent on drugs and could no longer provide for her family, Stoot stepped in, accepting the King children into his home. But with children of his own and another troubled teen already living with him, Stoot sought a long-term solution.

One night at a church meeting, the pastor asked members of his congregation to step up. Could someone find it in their hearts to take in the King boys? (Cheryl had moved to Jacksonville, Fla., for her fourth stint in a rehabilitation clinic, taking Jolene with her)

King had just finished his sophomore year at Cascade High School. His struggle, as relayed by Stoot, moved Greater Trinity member Reginald Gillins. Gillins went home that night and asked his wife, Winifred Rosborough-Gillins, an assistant principal at Mariner High, if she thought they could help. After hours of prayer, they decided they could. The King brothers moved in with Reginald, Winifred and their two children, Whitley and Reginald Jr. in October of 2003.

With a new home, a new family and a new school (Mariner), Josh King found a much-needed fresh start.

‘I’ve come so far’

Fourteen months after arriving at Mariner High, King has become quite a Big Man on Campus.

Last year as a junior, he made the honor roll for the first time in his life and now maintains a 3.5 grade-point average. Last year, he applied for and won a Washington State Achievers Scholarship, a full-ride, in-state award offered by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to provide higher education opportunities to low-income, minority high school students. King ranks the University of Washington, Western Washington University and Washington State University as his top picks, giving a slight edge to the Huskies.

Less than two years ago, college seemed unlikely for King, but not for lack of interest. His home life held him back.

“I wasn’t able to focus on school the way I can now,” he said. “I’ve always had the drive to want to do well, but back then I needed to help my family.”

Now, as King says, the floodgates have opened.

He has tutored Mariner students, worked as a conflict mediator and served on the youth ministry at his church. In October he was voted onto the Mariner homecoming court and was the Mukilteo School District’s nominee to attend a national law conference for youth in Washington, D.C.

“He has a vision now of what he wants and he’s able to see his talents,” Rosborough-Gillins explained. “It’s kind of like watching a toddler start walking. He gets really excited over finding his new talents.”

King, who hopes to become a lawyer, said his achievements suddenly sank in during the cross-country plane ride. He called it one of the happiest moments of his life.

“I’m thinking ‘I’m going to Washington, D.C., to study next to some of the top students in the country. Man, I’ve come so far,’” he said.

King has worked hard on the basketball court, too. At Cascade, he was the junior-varsity captain his sophomore year, but initially struggled to fit into Mariner’s system. Said King, a 5-foot-9 guard, “After the first couple weeks I was like ‘OK, is this going to work out?’”

Mariner coach Dexter Griffen was unsure too, but has seen King become “a kid our players look up to, a leader on the court, (and) a tremendous defender.”

King’s commitment and focus make coaching him a pleasure, Griffen added. “If any coach ever wanted to figure out why someone would want to coach basketball, they could look at a kid like King. He makes the job so much fun and fulfilling.”

Off the court, Griffen serves as King’s school mentor, helping him apply for scholarships and writing letters of recommendation. King’s positive attitude has made a tremendous impact on him.

“For a person that has been dealt the hand he has gotten, most would have a chip on their shoulder,” Griffen said. “But he is the most caring individual you’ll ever meet.”

A bridge to forgiveness

Anger is a common response to pain and abandonment, but King has largely conquered that emotion.

Playing sports has helped. He also listens to jazz music to relax and clear his mind when harsh memories creep up. And for all the unfortunate events in his life, King knows how lucky he is to have people like Stoot, Griffen, and Winifred and Reginald, who he calls aunt and uncle, in his life.

Through the teachings of the church, King has always embraced forgiveness. The people around him provided the support he needed to complete his journey.

“The church has been a bridge,” Stoot said, “but the people have been the vehicles to carry him across those troubles. The people that have been in his life helped him learn how to get over the water.”

Without a hint of resentment in his voice, King calmly explained his ability to move on. “Nobody’s perfect and everybody makes mistakes in life. I know my mom and my dad … they didn’t do what they did on purpose.

“Sometimes people make bad decisions and they have to deal with the circumstances. They accepted me … and I can accept them.”

A birthday surprise

King turned 18 on Nov. 9. For a while the day seemed like yet another jolt of adulthood.

He expected some sort of party but Winifred and Reginald told him adults don’t get surprises. King ended up cleaning the house.

Later that night, King was upstairs in his bedroom. There was some commotion below and Winifred asked him to come down. Maybe adults do get surprises?

Sure enough, he found people gathered to celebrate his birthday. Before the party got going, Winifred asked King to close his eyes and make a wish.

When he opened his eyes, his mother, Cheryl, and his sister, Jolene, stood where a large cluster of balloons had hid them just moments before. King hadn’t seen them in 14 months.

“It was awesome,” said Cheryl, who had returned from Florida a few days earlier. “His eyes got as big as a silver dollar.”

They all hugged and enjoyed the most surprising of surprise parties.

Cheryl is living at the women and children’s branch of the Everett Gospel Mission. She found a job helping disabled people find employment.

“She’s doing a lot better,” said King, who will continue to live with Winifred and Reginald. “It’s gonna be tough for awhile, tough to get back on her feet, but you can tell overall that she’s happy.”

Much of Cheryl’s happiness stems from seeing her son’s success. She said she will see Josh as often as possible, including at basketball games, church and during holidays, but she will be careful not to disrupt the life Winifred and Reginald have created for him.

So many times during him her struggles, King did his best to help her. Now Cheryl hopes to be there for him.

“It’s my turn to support him and all that he does,” she said. “No matter what, we’ll always be a family.”