“Front Porches & Corner Stores: Letting Go

“Mother Howard these children don’t know nuthin but church on Sunday, now what we gon do bout that? Ooh Wee! Lord knows they sho gon miss Sundays Momma!”

JE swore fore God he wasn’t gon let his daddy provoke him to anger again and his momma wasn’t gon have to cry out to the Lord the way she did that night. Memories rushed in; taking him back. It was time to leave fore he wore out his welcome. He could feel it, just like soldiers them old blues wanted to march up from inside, but he humbled himself.

Honey slept, JE stayed up and Addiemae was right. It took everything in him not to kill Luke when he brought his beautiful sister back home damaged like a worn-out tire, he couldn't use no more. Said he was wrong as two left shoes. Said he did good not to bleed out and die but he was sho nuf gon bust hell wide open. Even though it was in him, JE didn't wanna do wrong. He got up early the next morning to catch his daddy at the breakfast table.  Put on civilian clothes, grabbed the newspaper from the nightstand and went downstairs in a good spirit. Sat at the table shaking inside hoping to get the words out that tried to back up in his head. Snapped through the pages, put enough bass in his voice to be heard. Spoke matter-of-factly as if they’d already been in a conversation. His daddy watched tones of voice; he was careful to mind his tone and braced himself respectfully.

“Daddy, this here newspaper from Chicago.” He stopped talking, raised the newspaper, offered it to Daddy Howard and waited for his reach. Once he reached, he started back talking again. “It says there’s opportunity, good schools for black children, and industrial jobs. I can’t buy property yet but they built three new buildings sixteen stories high, with affordable rent in a black community. I got an Army buddy up there he’s the superintendent of the workmen. Said he got a job waiting for me if I want it. Me and Honey gon take advantage. Y’all done helped more than can be expected, God knows we thankful. But you raised men that take care their families so it’s time we be bout our way. A man will never be a man in another man’s house.”