My Heaven
I
walked inside, and sat down, just then Aaliyah hurriedly plopped
herself right down between my knees. She wanted any odd number of
braids. We went straight to work. Listening for the rolling clamor any
minute, and here they come, jump ropes in hand. Addie Mae Collins,
Denise McNair, Carole Robertson, and Cynthia Wesley (4 little Black
girls bombed in the Birmingham Alabama Church). The girls were insistent
that we teach them how to play double dutch. We suggested asking Mr.
Cochran to play. Denise leaned her 11 year old frame into my side and
whispered, "Mr. Cochran is a very nice man but he won't let us keep
score, and when he sings the songs he skips parts."
There was a
knock at the side door. The door was always open, out of habit Malik and
Betty always knocked before they came in. Funny how he always showed up
on Sundays when we had peach cobbler for desert. Betty said she could
never seem to get her peach just right Her dressing, however, was off
the Richter. Pac bopped into the room, asking Huey what Sojourners
address was. Pac loved kickin' it with her. He said it was because when
they were together he never cussed, and when they got together the sky
always turned his favorite color. Huey spoke with him walking into the
kitchen, where B.I.G. spread news paper, preparing to peel sweet
potatoes. A large lonely can of sweet potatoes sat a side towards the
edge of the table, as he insisted fresh sweet potatoes make the best
pies. Ez nodded in agreement, without once raising his head or eyes from
the piano. We loved to hear him play, even over Left Eyes' hammering
outside. She was building. She was a builder, always creating something
with the most rare pieces of wood, from trees that looked like they had
been dipped in burgundy or mahogany die. Her all time favorite piece was
a gazebo. A gazebo with wild ivory sprawled out all over, with black,
tulips encircling the perimeter. Harriet ensured that bugs would no
longer be a problem, she adored her ivory, as she sat there quietly in
the gazebo.
What a sight to behold Marvin and Miles tilling soil, on
their knees in the dirt. Growing tomatoes was a fine art. As the sun
went down, Emit Till, who had been keeping them company, was ready to go
in the house, with fingers, lips, gums, and tongue drenched in reddish
purple juice. He had eaten an entire basket of pomegranates by himself,
he could not get enough. Miles and Marvin beckoned him to stay for just
one more hour. They needed sunlight. The sun never set on Emit Till. The
sun would never set on Emit. Chief Sitting Bull was the first to notice
this.
The evening rolled on. Jesus Christ came through. He could
not wait to see Billie. They harmonized together. JC spat fire, too.
Jam Master Jay had written something for him, and he was anxious to
check it out. Flo Jo stopped dancing and went to check on Rosa.
Rosa,
Redd, and Richard were usually the last to join. They were at the river
Martin created. He created a river that was longer than the the Nile.
Peculiar animals would come to drink from the river, and this fascinated
Richard, Rosa, and Redd. They enjoyed each others company. They
rarely spoke to each other as they sat there at the river silently
watching. More than anything they appreciated having companions to enjoy
this pleasure with. The river was a most peaceful place. Not counting
the time Jimi, tried to climb an animal that looked like a cross between
a Black Stallion, and an elephant. Hendricks was thrown head first
into the river, which got Redd started. He made Nefertiti laugh until
her eyes teared, and her side ached. Laughter, even so much as the
slightest giggle, meant a perfect Black baby was conceived.
To be certain there is always something to be tickled by in my heaven.
Edited by Anomis - October 01 2007 at 11:47am
Wow 24 views and no response WTF! But this is very interesting though Left Eye was a builder lol I think she would be more of a demolition expert!
Karen Shelton2015-08-04 19:59:35
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