I always wondered why grandma had that mark on her knee. Mom never told me. Every time I ask her she says, “You’re too young to understand.”
As we turn onto my grandparents driveway that’s all I can think about. Well mom can’t say that now, I’m 18. Grandma has always been open with me, I can ask her a million questions and she’ll answer all of them.
I see grandpa on the lawnmower. The smell of grass is my favorite. Even though, the south can be boring if you don’t have anything to do, but I love the quietness.
Waking up to the sound of crickets, not sirens. The smell of dew in the early morning. Actually seeing the stars at night. Coming down to my grandparent’s house always makes me happy, the open space.
I roll down my window and stick my head out. Grandpa always cuts the grass when he knows we are on our way because I told him I love the smell of fresh grass.
“Hey Grandpa!” I yell from the car.
“Girl, he can’t hear you and don’t go distracting my father. He needs to focus, you’ll have time to say hi when we get inside.
I looked at mom to make sure she didn’t catch me rolling my eyes. She didn’t.
Dad parks by the house. I see the Dogwood tree that grandpa and I planted last year. Everything looks the same. Right in the back, I see the pear tree and grape vine. I can’t wait to eat from them. The fruit is always so much sweeter down here.
I hop out of the car. I see grandpa by the shed locking it up. I remember when me and some of my cousins were kids we tried to sneak in that shed. One night we did and grandpa was waiting. We had our flashlights out and as we were walking in, I see something. My cousin Terry yells, it’s a bear, we run out. Grandpa was dressed in a bear costume and scares us big times. He knew we were coming.
“How are my favorite people?” Grandpa opens his arms and I embrace him.
“We are good papa, how are you?”
“I’m hanging in there baby, taking one day at a time.” I see more wrinkles than the last time. His glasses are still big along with his smile. He has on a plain button up, with khaki pants.
I watch them go into the house but grandpa is taken smaller steps then usually.
The smell of the apple pie fills the room, my grandparents know the key to my heart. I know grandma is in there cooking a Thanksgiving meal.
I find grandma in the kitchen as expected. I see her sprinkle some kind of spice in the big pot. Grandma is only 5 feet but she knows how to make her way around the kitchen. If she has to she will pull out a stool in a minute.
“Hey Babies, come on in and give me a big hug. I’ve been waiting for you guys.” She takes off her apron and walks over to us. Her salt and pepper hair is glowing as the sun peeps through the blinds. She has on a blue dress that hits her ankles. I know she made it, I can tell. She tells me all the time don’t waste my time going to the store.
The love my grandparents have for us fills the room. I always love being here, I don’t ever feel like I need to be anywhere else in the world. She comes to me and smiles. I hug her, she smells like honey and fresh fruit.
“Megan, you done got so big. Oh my lord, look at you. David you better start getting your gun ready. These little boys gonna be after her soon.” As Grandma says that Grandpa hits my dad’s shoulders.
“Don’t worry Mrs. Sharon, I have my gun ready. Mr. Louis already taught me how to use it.” He winks at grandpa.
We all laugh. If they only knew I had a boyfriend, they would all flip.
Grandma ties her apron back around her waist. “Rebecca and Megan, start putting the plates, silverware and napkins on the table. I’ll start bringing the pots.”
Dad and grandpa head to the living room while the women of the house get everything together. Mom gets the plates and I get the silverware. I help grandma bring the hot pots to the table, and mom gets the lemonade and water from the fridge.
“Is that everything grandma?” I ask her, as she brings the last pot to the table.
“Yes baby, go get your father and grandpa.”
I yell, “Come on guys, it’s time to eat.”
Grandpa is struggling to get out of the seat, so I walk over to help him get up.
“Thank you, these bones of mine are getting old.” He smirks at me but I know it’s true. We walk arm in arm into the dining room.
“Rebecca, can you say grace please?”
She takes a deep breathe, “Thank you Lord, for bringing us down here safely. Thank you for my family whom I love so much. Thank you for blessing my parents and keeping them strong. Continue to watch over David and Megan. And bless this food that has been prepared for us, in Jesus name. Amen.”
“Amen.” Now it’s time to eat. Grandma made all of my favorites, candied yams, potato salad, collard greens, ham, homemade biscuits with honey and butter dripping from the corner. I was starving. On the plane ride, all I had was some peanuts and a ginger ale.
No one is talking, everyone is eating. Everyone looks happy.
………….AFTER THE DINNER………….
“Louis and David, Megan will bring you all dessert. Let us women have some alone time.” Grandpa and dad head to the living room.
Grandma passes me two slices of apple pie and ice cream. I take it to them and comeback to help mom and grandma.
“How’s everything Megan? Are you ready to go to college?” Grandma asks me as she starts cleaning the pots.
“Yes! I’m so excited but nervous at the same time.”
Mom looks at me, “I wish you were staying in the city or at least closer to home. California is so far away.” She doesn’t want me to go far but UCLA was one of the few colleges that offered me a full scholarship for Tennis. They have a winning team, so of course I want to go there.
“Baby it’s too late now, she’s going. All you can do is pray for her.”
“I know ma but it’s hard. I just want to be close so if anything happens I don’t have to take a plane.” She puts her head down and continues to wash the plates.
Grandma walks over to my mom. She dries her hands on her apron and lifts my mom’s head. “Megan is a wonderful girl, she’s smart, well-mannered and I know she will be just fine. I know that because you raised her. David is a great father, so I know no matter how far she goes, she will remember everything you guys taught her.”
Grandma was right, I knew better and I knew I would be fine. I have a couple of friends who are going to UCLA as well. So I won’t be completely by myself plus a cousin of mine lives in Cali. I can’t knock my parents for worrying but everything will be okay.
“Thanks ma I needed that.” She leans over and gives grandma a kiss on her forehead.
“I will be fine guys, I will call you every day! Well every other day.” We all laugh.
“Just remember Megan, not everyone is your friend and be careful of those boys.”
Grandma comes over to me, “Let’s have a small talk, Rebecca finish up the kitchen. Me and Megan are going to my room.”
I don’t know why but Mom gave strange.
We go to my grandparent’s room. I use to love coming in here when I was younger it was so big. I would try to climb in the bed but it was so high, I never could get up there. They have pictures of me , my parents, family members ,President Obama, Malcolm X and Rosa Parks. I can tell that the quilt on their bed grandma made just by the colors. Almost everything in their house she sewed or grandpa built.
“Sit on the bed, while I get this photo album.” She gets this huge book and sits next to me.
“Here it is.” She stares at this particular picture for about 5 second then she hands it to me.
“Who is this nana?”
“It’s me and my sister Angel.”
“You had a sister? I thought it was just you, Uncle Ben and Aunt Jess.”
A sad look came across her face. I never saw her this sad before.
“I know. I had a sister name Angel. She was about 14 years old in this picture. I was 16. We were like two peas in a pod. We did everything together. She was my best friend.”
“What happened to her? Mom never mentioned an Aunt Angel.”
“Well your mom didn’t know her but I told her about Angel when she was younger because she reminds me of her so much. Vibrate, determined. I guess God sent me your mother because I was lost.”
“Angel and I would go to the store together and get groceries for our folks. Our mom was very ill, so my dad would write a list and make us go to the store. Back then there was still segregation. So there was only one store in town owned by a white family called the Jones. They had a son name Donald who was 15 years old. I always caught him and Angel smiling at each other. The Jones were nice people but they didn’t want a black girl with their son.”
“I would rush Angel out of the store so his parents wouldn’t catch on. I remember one day I slept in late and she went to the store by herself. She came home talking about all the free candy Donald gave her. I told her not to get too friendly with him but of course she wouldn’t listen. So one day we were leaving the store and Donald’s friends were outside of the store.”
One yelled, “I heard that nigger likes Donald. You think her sister will like me.” They all started laughing. Donald was standing there not saying a word.
Angel and I kept walking. The one who made the comment, kept talking, “You heard me niggers. Your white boy can’t save you.”
Angel turned around and said, “No one wants you! Now leave us alone.” I wish she didn’t say anything but she was the feisty one.
At this point, the boys got up. Donald was telling them to relax. The one boy said, “Oh yeah, come here.” They all started chasing us. Angel and I ran as fast as we could. It’s only two of us and four of them. We dropped all of the groceries and ran through the woods. We could hear them laughing in the background. I tripped over a rock. I couldn’t get up, I looked at my knee and it was bleeding badly. Angel stopped to check on me.
“Get up, they are coming!”
“I can’t Angel, just go, run.” We were both scared at this point. We looked up and the boys were right there. Donald as well.
Donald yells, “Just leave them alone. They weren’t bothering you none.”
“No we have to teach them a lesson. The one that likes you ain’t hurt yet.” Four of them start walking faster towards Angel. I try to stand up but I couldn’t.
“Leave her alone, she ain’t do nothing.” I start hopping over to them, the boys start pushing her. Donald is just standing there. I try to stop them but they start pushing both of us. I fall.
I try to get up, I scream, “Leave her alone, please.” I hear a thump.
The boys run and I look over at Angel she isn’t moving. Donald is shaking her. I walk over, her eyes weren’t moving. I put my ear to her mouth but I felt nothing.
“Donald do something, please.” I’m crying and punching his back. It’s his fault my sister isn’t breathing.”
Grandma starts to cry, I start to rub her back. I never saw her this upset.
“He gave her CPR, but at this point it was too late. I saw blood coming from her head. When they were pushing her she fell and hit her head really hard on a rock. Back then they didn’t have any experienced black doctors and they didn’t have many white doctors that would help black people. I will never forget that day. My folks didn’t blame me for her death but I blamed myself. I wish she would have listened to me maybe she would be here today.
She takes a moment.
I think about Angel every day, especially when I look at this mark on my knee. I know she is watching over me and my family. I learned from that situation that family is very important. All we want in life is for our loved ones to be safe and to make the right decisions. I always thought to myself that I should have told my parents about Donald and Angel. But if I did, it probably would have made things worst. Everything happens for a reason Megan. Your parents want you to be safe, they love you. Me and your grandpa love you too. Just always remember to pray. ”
“I will Grandma, I promise.” I give her a hug. Now I realize that this is the moment I have been waiting for. She waited until I was old enough to understand. I am no longer a little girl but a growing woman.
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Expression Of Sound 