CHANA THOMPSON

Chapter 3

Grandma

 

  It was Friday evening at the Pompey house. The downstairs rooms were filled with the smell of baking food and the lively atmosphere that seemed to have started in history class continued along at home. They had guests over. Fawn and Susie were there. They planned it this week while they were at school. The girls were doing karaoke. During this time, Amber and Brie rang the bell to visit. Her mom threw some frozen pizzas into the oven for everyone to eat. In addition, she made a delicious vegetable soup as an appetizer and to add something healthy to the meal. Justine, who hadn’t left immediately after Mom’s arrival, was sitting in the kitchen talking with her as she bustled along. Adonia didn’t have anyone over at the moment, but her friends normally came and went by the early evening.

  Amber was battling Susie in a singing game that tested up to four singers to see who stayed in key longest. They were both really good. Everyone else moved onto the kitchen table to snack on some tortilla chips with salsa and homemade guacamole, Mom had put out. It was noisy in the room.

  Adonia was stuffing chips in her mouth while singing loudly the song being played. She danced next to the table. Krista, Gianna, Fawn, and Brie were sitting at the table, drinking juice and eating chips as well. They were talking as loud as possible to be heard over the music coming out of the living room. Mom was standing next to the oven singing and dancing to the same song. They couldn’t even hear it when Dad came in. They just noticed his form in the entranceway as he walked into the kitchen.

  “Hi, Dad!” the girls said almost in unison, while Adonia ran over to give him a hug.

  “Hi, Honey!” said Mom and gave him a kiss.

  “Hi, Mr. Pompey!” Fawn and Brie piped in.

  “Hello, David!” said Justine, having almost a smile on her face as Dad came into the room. She liked him.

  “Hello, everybody!” answered Dad.  

  After saying hello, the girls went immediately back to the conversation they were having before his arrival.

  “I think we should sing the song, ‘Don’t Cha’ from the Pussycat Dolls or ‘Wanna Be’ from the Spice Girls,” said Fawn, after taking a sip from her juice.

  “Yeah, those are good songs, but I don’t know which one I like better,” said Brie.

  “I like ‘Don’t Cha’ the best!” Gianna added in.

  “How long do I have to wait to go?” asked Adonia impatiently.

  “All four of us are singing the next time, you have to wait for the round after that,” Gianna answered her.

  “I don’t want to wait!” said Adonia and started to cry.

  “Oh, please! Don’t start crying because you don’t get what you want!” said Gianna loudly.

  “I want to sing, too!” said Adonia trying not to cry.“You can go for me, okay Adonia?” said Krista with a smile.

  “Really?” asked Adonia.“Yes, really!” answered Krista.

  Adonia started dancing for joy around. The other girls looked at her, shook their heads, and started laughing.

  “You’re going to have to go in the next round with Susie and Amber. Someone else could go too, since we have four microphones,” said Gianna pointing over to the microphones.

  “Me! I want to go!” said Brie, as she got up to go over to the living room to hear the music louder.

  “Okay, let Brie go again,” said Gianna. “Fawn, we can take turns in other rounds.”

    Dad, who had stopped in the kitchen for a moment to eat some of the chips, escaped into his office. Perhaps, there were too many girls in the kitchen? He’d be back when the food was ready. That’s when he always showed up again.

  Susie and Amber came running into the kitchen laughing.

  “I am so thirsty, Ms. Pompey. Can I have something to drink?” asked Amber after she calmed down a little.

  “15 points! I can’t believe you beat me by 15 points! Nobody beats me!!! Nobody, but nobody beats me!” said Susie in such a funny way that everybody except Justine started laughing.

  Amber ran to the other side of the table.

  “Help me, she’s crazy! Somebody help me!” said Amber laughing and moved further away every time Susie came in reach of her.

  “Stop! No running games in the house! Things always wind up breaking or someone gets hurt!” intervened Mom with a soft yet penetrating voice. It stopped both of them in their tracks, but it didn’t help at all their giggle attack. “I finished the soup, does anyone want any?”

  Everyone said yes. They were all hungry by now. Moving over to the dining room that was next to the kitchen, everyone sat down at the large, oval, hardwood table. It was supported in the middle by a curved piece of wood that narrowed then broadened out again at the bottom, cut similar to a style that was popular in the seventies. Around the table were black leather chairs in a very modern design.

  The dining room walls were white except for one wall that was covered in a layer of stones similar to the way the Romans used to build their walls. A shapely, beauti­ful, crystal chandelier hung over the table and one wall had a long, rectangular, abstract painting of something beige and white, which they would joke about and give different names. Everywhere in the house, upstairs and downstairs, were hardwood floors, except in the kitchen that had a matte finish on dark, grey-colored, stoned tiles.

  After placing the soups on a serving tray, Mom put them on the dining room table and gave one to each girl. Magically, Dad appeared out of nowhere and went into the living room to turn down the music before he came into the dining room with a bowl of soup in his hands.

  “Pizza again, Mommy?” asked Adonia, as the smells from the oven slowly filled the room.

  “It’s fast to make. If you don’t want any, Adonia, then have something else. Make a sandwich or I could make a salad,” offered Mom.

  Adonia didn’t answer. She just wrinkled her face, grabbed at her spoon, and started to eat the soup. Fin­ishing pretty quickly, she asked for seconds.

  Everyone ate heartily the soup. Before they were finished, Mom got up and went over to the oven taking out two pizzas that were crispy and looked delicious.

  The smell from the cheese filled the room. Plates taken out of the kitchen were laid in front of each person. The pizzas were placed in the middle and everyone took a slice and started eating, except Adonia, who looked on with sharp distaste. The soup filled everyone up, so after a short time, they were ready to get up and continue the singing competition. A few slices of pizza were left on the table.

  “I guess I shouldn’t put any more pizza in the oven,” Mom said smiling and looking happily at everyone.

  “Oh please, don’t, Ms. Pompey, we are SOOOO full!!!” said Susie.

  “Don’t, Mom! I’m stuffed!” Gianna exclaimed, holding on to her stomach as she spoke.

  Justine, who was still eating, looked at what was re­maining, considering if it was enough for her.

  “I think it’s enough Stella,” said Justine after careful thought. “I’ve got some leftover fried chicken in the re­frigerator I was going to take home with me. We could eat that.”

  Mom looked at the girls. “Any of you want some fried chicken?”

  “No, thank you, Ms. Pompey!” said Fawn while getting up from the table.

  “I’m so full, if I eat anymore I’ll explode!” said Brie.

  “Could I have one piece?” asked Amber.

  Justine jumped up to take the chicken out of the refrigerator. “Anybody else want any?” asked Justine again. No reply came forth.

  “Young ladies, I’m going to have to interrupt your singing session for the evening news, and don’t worry, it’s only half-an-hour,” announced Dad. The bomb dropping news came as the girls were heading for the television.

  Every night when Dad was home from work, he had to watch the evening news on the television in the living room sitting at his favorite place on the sofa in front of the large screen, even if they were in the middle of watching a film.

  The girls groaned. Dad smiled as he went into the living room, turned off the music, and put on the channel for the evening news which was about to start in five minutes. The girls went back into the dining room and sat at the table looking rather dejected.

  They could hear the TV from the other room. The moderator was speaking, “Now, we are going to give an account of a local miracle which happened this after­noon at the Spring Rock School in Nyack, New York.”

  Hearing the beginning of the report, Susie and Fawn squealed in excitement.

  “They’re talking about our school,” said Susie. “Come, let’s go watch it.”

  Susie, with Fawn beside her, ran into the room. Gianna, Adonia, Amber, and Brie followed. Krista looked at them and reluctantly walked behind them.

The kids either sat somewhere around her dad, or stood up to watch the broadcast. Mom and Justine walked much more slowly behind them with Justine biting into the chicken leg she was holding.

  “Maria Rivera, a fifth-grader attending the school, was found unconscious in one of the school’s corridors. Soon after the arrival of the ambulance, Maria regained consciousness. What makes this story unique is that Maria was born with a spinal deformity rendering her incapable of walking upright without some form of as­sistance. This assistance was in the form of a crutch, which she used to get around with. Upon awaking, not only was Maria able to walk without it, but also after intensive medical inspection and observation, it was found her entire spine had been straightened. It is back in its appropriate place, as though it was always that way! We have her mother and father here. Ms. Rivera, tell us about your daughter’s condition...”

  The camera focused in on Ms. Rivera and her husband.

  “Well, we are as surprised as everyone else,” said Ms. Rivera. “Our Maria wasn’t able to walk until she was way over 4-years-old. We prayed and prayed for her and after a lot of regular exercise she was able to remain upright if someone helped her. Most operations that were suggested to us were way too risky. The doctors said she would remain that way for the rest of her life. By the first grade, she was able to get around using a crutch. And now, the entire problem has disappeared!!! Dios mio!” her mother said crossing herself. “When we talk to her, she doesn’t understand it either. But, it’s gone.”

  “We’ve already gone to our church to thank God for this miracle! Friends and family have been coming over all evening to celebrate with us!” Mr. Rivera added in, wiping tears away that were forming in his eyes.

  The moderator appeared again leaving the two parents in the background.

  “Doctors at the hospital which examined Maria have no explanation for her sudden recovery only repeating that her form of birth defect is normally permanent. So there we have it, a modern miracle in New York. This is Kim Thomas reporting. Back to you Stacey in the Studio.”

  The sounds of everyone talking loud in the living room made it impossible to hear the next story on the news.

  “I can’t believe that happened at your school today!” said Dad over the other voices.

  “Mr. Pompey, we saw the ambulance and thought at first someone had asthma. In history, Mr. Reed told us what happened. All the teachers were talking about it!” said Susie, standing up in excitement as she spoke.

  “I had forgotten about it until this report came on TV! Isn’t it cool that something like this happened at our school?!!” exclaimed Fawn.

  “Wow, that happened at your school? You’re so lucky! Do you know that girl?” asked Amber, looking as animated and interested as almost everyone there. Everyone, accept Krista.

  Krista sat quietly on the sofa and watched the inter­actions going on around her. No one noticed, consumed as they were in the topic of the moment.

  “Didn’t seem like anything special when I went to pick you girls up!” said Justine, as she took the last bite from the almost meatless chicken leg. She stood up. “They’ll do anything to get their ratings up! What a story! Who would believe that anyway?” said Justine derisively, as she walked back into the kitchen, her hips swaying side to side.

  “I wish we had a miracle at our school!” said Brie grinning, ignoring Justine’s comment.

  “I’ve seen her walking around the school. I mean itis pretty hard not to notice her with the crutch and all,” said Gianna.

  “Yeah, I’ve noticed her, too,” added Fawn.

  “Me, too,” said Susie. “I’ve helped her with her tray at lunch.”

  “Someone always helps her with her tray at lunch,”said Gianna.

  “Well, they’re not going to have to anymore! That’s a fantastic story! I love seeing something positive on the news!” said Dad. “Now, if you would all quiet down, I can watch what’s left of the program.”

  The sports report started and they knew better than to interrupt now. Some of the girls went into the dining room where they could talk normally. Justine put on her things and said goodbye to everyone. Looking back at the television as though she had just seen a load of nonsense, Justine left the house.

  Dad, Mom, and Krista remained in the living room.

  During the commercials, Mom got up and went into the dining room to clean up, then came back and sat in a large space between Krista and Dad. Dad was looking intensely at the television. Mom whispered to Krista, “Why aren’t you excited like the rest of the girls?”

  Krista took a moment before she answered.

  “I’m content, Mom. I’m not excited or sad. Just content,” she whispered back.

  Mom looked at her curiously but said nothing more. Krista looked around her and for a second could not see her surroundings, just a blast of warm, beautiful love, which was so blinding that, everything else dimmed. In it she saw herself. Then, it all disappeared as it had come. The sounds from the commercial on television became louder and she remained quiet for the rest of the evening. Letting Adonia sing for her, she watched the others have fun until it was time for them to go home.

  No one was to know that it was through her that Maria had been transformed, and that this, yes this, was just the beginning.

  Saturday morning revealed itself through the beams of sunlight falling onto her bed waking her up as they did every time the sun shined strongly enough. Krista slept peacefully with very few dreams. The tingling sen­sation was constant and she was starting to get used to it. She woke up thinking of her friends in Germany and a nice feeling of the times they had together. In the dream, she understood that they are always with her. She had to focus on the present and not on the past.

  Getting out of bed, Krista decided she would start on some of the homework given over the vacation and see how much she could finish. Taking the books she needed out of her school bag, Krista sat at her desk in front of one of the two windows in her room. She could see more buds had appeared on the trees and bushes and a fresh light-green color was becoming prominent everywhere. Birds were flying back and forth outside and she looked out at a tiny view of the river she so loved to walk next to.

  Krista loved large expanses of water like the ocean, big rivers, lakes, and even small streams. The constant movement always had a soothing effect on her. She banned the thought from her mind. Math. She had to do math right now. After working for a while, Krista could hear movement in the hallway. Sometimes, she left her bedroom door open at night, but lately, she pre­ferred it closed so that she could have more privacy. A hesitant tapping could be heard, then the door opened. It was Gianna.

  “You’re doing homework?” asked Gianna astonished. “Don’t you want to enjoy your first free day?!!!” 

  “I’m doing it differently this time. I don’t want to do everything in a rush on the last days of the vacation,” Krista answered her, still holding the pencil in her hand waiting to continue.

  “Well, not me!” said Gianna. “Have fun, I’m going downstairs to watch TV!” With that statement she was gone, leaving Krista’s door open as she left.

  Krista managed to finish math and start language arts when the next interruption came. Adonia stuck her head in the door, “Krista, do you want to play with the Barbie dolls with me?”

  “I’m doing homework right now,” answered Krista.

  “Please! Gianna doesn’t want to play with me,” pleaded Adonia.

  “I can’t, I’m doing my homework right now. And anyway, after I’m finished I want to go outside,” answered Krista.

  “Please, Krista! Can’t you do your homework later?” asked Adonia insistently.

  “I want to do it now, Adonia, not later. Sorry!” with that, Krista turned back to her homework and contin­ued working. Adonia, with a disappointed look on her face, turned away and went into her own room.

  In the hallway, the sound of her mother’s voice filled the house, “Girls, be dressed within an hour. We’re meeting up with family for lunch!”

  “Yeeeeaaaah!!!!!!” could be heard from Adonia’s room.

  They had a lot of family, mostly from Krista’s Mom, living all over the New York area. This was the main reason Mom wanted to move back here again. There were aunts, uncles, cousins, second cousins, and of course, her grandma and grandpa. Most had moved up from the South during the Great Migration of Af­rican-Americans between 1914-1940. Dad’s family was smaller and he was an only child because his Dad died at a young age and his Mom never remarried.

  Mom and Dad were both born in New York. Mom grew up here, but Dad was taken to live in Germany when he was a toddler. His mother, Grandma Eva, is German. Her husband, Grandpa David, was a black serviceman in the American army stationed in her hometown of Bad Hersfeld, Germany. They met, fell in love, got married, and then moved to New York when he was discharged from the army. They faced many difficulties because she was white but love overcame them all. When Grandpa David died of pneumonia, Grandma Eva took Dad back with her to Germany. It is where he grew up as a child. It was a romantic story that Dad loved to tell about the father he never really knew. Krista enjoyed hearing it.

  Sometimes, Krista would think about the other stories her parents would tell. How Dad met Mom while she was taking a German language course in the city of Cologne, Germany. Mutual friends introduced them, and after that, you couldn’t tear the two of them apart. After a period of time, they married and Krista and her sisters were born.

  Casting those thoughts out of her head, Krista did a bit more homework with her eye on the time. She then finished up, putting some of the things away. What she still had to do, she left out on her desk, then got up, and went into the bathroom to wash up. A song from last night came to mind and she started humming it as she came out of the bathroom. Her dad came at that moment out of his bedroom.

  “Good morning, Krista!” he said, while smiling a big ‘It’s Saturday!’ grin. “I had that same song in my head all last night and now here it is again!”

  “Sorry, Dad!” Krista said and went laughing into her room.

  Looking into her closet, Krista picked out black jeans and a purple sweater to wear. Taking socks out of her sock drawer, she put them on, and then went downstairs. No one was in the living room, kitchen, or the dining room. Krista went into the fridge and took out something to drink. With the glass in her hand, she went into the living room and turned the television on. The local news was on and another report regarding the ‘miracle’ was being aired. Krista turned to a channel with cartoons. Bugs Bunny was defending himself against Elmar Fudd. She watched while the others, one by one, came downstairs dressed to leave the house.

  “Who are we meeting with?” asked Gianna, while looking in the mirror next to the living room entrance. She must have liked what she saw because after briefly patting her hair into place, she walked into the living room and plopped on the sofa next to Krista.

  “We’re going to the Chinese buffet with Grandma, Grandpa, your Uncle Bobby, Aunt Leshea and their kids, Aunt Cheryl with her boyfriend, and Uncle Tyron with a new girlfriend we’ve not met. Oh, and Justine is coming with her sister,” said Mom, as she wrapped a belt around the long, thin sweater she had on.

  The phone lying on the coffee table next to the sofa rang. Gianna ran over to it and picked it up even though it was closer to Krista. Typical Gianna! She thought the calls were always for her and in one way she was right, most of them were.

  “Hello?” asked Gianna, already sitting back on the sofa. “Yes, she’s right here, one moment. Krista – it’s for you!” Disappointed, she passed the telephone to Krista.

  “Hello?” asked Krista, after putting the phone to her ear.

  “Hi, it’s Michael. I and some of the other kids from class were wondering if you want to meet us at the mall this afternoon?” asked Michael, his voice sounding slightly nervous.

  “I would love to, but I’m getting ready to go out to eat with my family. Sorry! Let me know the next time everyone’s meeting and I’ll try to come then,” said Krista, while looking at the television.  

  “Okay, I’ll tell everyone. Bye, Krista!” Michael said with a hint of disappointment.

  “Goodbye!” said Krista, with that she hung up and kept watching TV.

  “What did that boy want, Krista?” asked Gianna, filled with curiosity.

  “If I could go to the mall this afternoon,” replied Krista, not turning to look at her. Her eyes remained glued to the television.

  “Who is that? Which boy wanted to go to the mall with you?” asked Gianna, staring intently at Krista.

  “Michael, from my class. But he was calling also for other kids from the class. They’re meeting there together. It’s not what you’re thinking, Gianna,” said Krista, now turning to look at Gianna’s intense staring, then turned back to the TV.

  “Ohhhh!” said Gianna, her imagination rolling at top speed.

  In Gianna’s class were constant stories of who was in love with whom, who was together, and who just broke up. Who knows what she had gotten out of that phone call, but from the look on her face, it was something.

  “He’s probably in love with you!” said Gianna, with a convinced look on her face.

  “I don’t think so, Gianna,” answered Krista, now totally distracted from the television.

  “And he asked the other kids to come to cover it up, because he’s too afraid to ask you to go alone with him,” said Gianna, continuing with her speculations.

  “I doubt that. Can’t a boy just like someone as a friend?” asked Krista, looking skeptically at Gianna.

  “Not often,” said Gianna wisely, “Not often.”   

  “You read too many romance books,” said Krista and turned back to look at the TV, except now the commer­cials were on.

  The last person Mom was waiting for, Adonia, finally came downstairs. Mom had to call her many times because she had started playing again in her room.

  “Girls, put your shoes and jackets on. Come on. It’s time to go,” said Mom, as she opened up the closet and picked out a pair of boots to wear.

  Dad came out of his office and also started getting ready to leave. Krista switched off the TV and got up with Gianna, preparing to go.

  Opening the front door, Mom went out to wait in front of the garage. On the weekend, as long as Dad was coming along, he usually drove. They were taking his car today. It was an older black SUV model, which he had gotten at a good price. It was in really good con­dition and Dad had strict rules about not eating in his car. Not drinking in his car. Not eating candy in his car. Not chewing gum in his car. We would ask him, ‘Can we breath in the car, Daddy?’ and his usually answer was, ‘If it makes stains, then NO!’ Dad drove it out and they all got inside. With the remote, the garage door closed and they drove off. It was nice to be in the car, driving on the highway that took them into the New York City area.

  It was always a big contrast when they left the quiet suburbs. The scenery outside the window would change from mostly trees and towns with low buildings to the city where the buildings got bigger, and bigger, and even bigger. Skyscrapers imposing their will upon the land­scape. And people, so many people! They were every­where. Running from one place to another in a seeming never-ending fashion. One could feel lost there, or as Mom would say ‘get lost’, so they had to always stick together and never go anywhere without the rest of the family.

  Grandma and Grandpa had a house in the City of Yonkers that borders New York City and specifically the Bronx. In the Bronx was where they were probably going to eat. There Grandma and Grandpa’s favorite Chinese restaurant was located and they never wanted to eat anywhere else. If you took them somewhere else, they would always complain and compare it to that Chinese restaurant in the Bronx, so Mom and her brothers and sisters decided to just meet them in the place they liked the best so they wouldn’t have to hear them complaining before, during, and after the meal. 

  Uncle Bobby and Aunt Leshea lived in a co-op, not far from the restaurant, with their four kids, 17-year­-old Shawn, 15-year-old Aaron, 13-year-old Candice and 7-year-old Crystal.

  Aunt Cheryl lived on the Upper East Side and Uncle Tyron lived in the Village, two different neighborhoods in Manhattan. Uncle Tyron would often complain about why the family wouldn’t come into Manhattan to eat, because there were so many good restaurants there, but he still always came when they met, unless he had to work.

  The Pompeys turned off onto the exit that would take them to the restaurant. After parking in the parking lot, they got out of the car and walked over to the restaurant. The hostess greeted them and took them over to the table they had reserved. No one was there yet. They ordered something to drink while they waited.

  Within ten minutes, Grandma and Grandpa came in. Adonia stood up and ran over to them to give them a hug and kiss. Gianna as well. Krista stayed seated. Grandma and Grandpa were both somewhat over­weight and two cheerful, fun people to be with. The kids loved it when they met up.

  The sound of the door could be heard. Entering the restaurant came Justine and her sister, Janine. Janine lived in the Pelham Bay area of the Bronx and Justine had gone to pick her up because she didn’t have a car. They were the children of Grandma’s sister, Shirley, who died years ago in an accident at the factory she had worked at. Grandma helped out their father, Leroy, many years in raising them, after her death. He died a number of years afterward leaving the, then, teenage girls orphans. Since both were over ten years older than Mom and her brothers and sisters, they helped Grandma and Grandpa babysitting and doing chores in the house. They were like older sisters to Mom.

  Janine didn’t have her daughter, Christine, with her. Christine was 26 and her only child. Sadly, she was dying of a rare blood disease and didn’t go out so much anymore. They only saw her when she had a strong day. Janine helped taking care of her at home.

  Justine and Janine gave Grandma and Grandpa a hug, and then sat in seats next to them.

  The door opened again and Aunt Cheryl came in. She was thin, pretty, and normally reserved. Cheryl worked as an accountant in the city. Her boyfriend, Sergio, was Italian and cute. He worked as a salesman in a company close to hers. They met years ago on their lunch break at a restaurant they both went to. Everyone was wondering when they were going to get married since they’d been living together at least five years. At first, his mother was against the relationship because she wasn’t Italian and was black, but now with him getting older and older, she just wanted grandchildren. Who knows when she was going to get them, because they both seemed to love working more than anything else.

  Everyone greeted the new arrivals and they sat down with them at the large table.

  “How is everything going?” Mom asked her sister, Cheryl.

  “Everything is fine. My boss can’t seem to do without me. I keep getting more and more to do at work. Recently, they’ve given me an assistant. He is such a great help! I can focus more on special accounts,” said Aunt Cheryl, while playing with the chopsticks which were on the table next her.

  “That’s great, Cheryl, now you can enjoy the extra money from the last raise! You hardly had time to go shopping! What kind of life is that?!!!” said Mom laughing.

  “I’m glad things are working out at your job,” said Janine, settling down in her chair. “It sounds a lot better than the last time I saw you.”

  “You’re sure right, Janine! She was starting to get me depressed just listening to her. I was about ready to go to her job and personally speak to her boss! Remember what I told her teacher in the fourth grade?” asked Justine in a lively voice.

  “I remember!!!!” exclaimed Janine and started laughing.

  “What did you tell my teacher, I forgot...?” asked Aunt Cheryl.

  “You came home crying because of a 'D' you received in math. After I checked the paper, I saw that half of the examples marked wrong were right. The way you wrote a 5 looked sometimes like a 6. I stormed into school the next day and had it out with her!” said Justine. She could hardly keep from laughing as she spoke.

  “That never happened again!” said Janine, laughing even louder now.

  “You’re right...it never did!!!” said Justine, joining her and talking louder, which she did whenever she got together with the family. It was almost like another person was there, until she spoke to Krista, of course. But if she ignored them, it was almost like listening to teenagers speaking. It was the only time Justine was really relaxed with other people, other then her mom and dad, and she did quite a bit of complaining with them as well. 

  Watching them together, Krista wondered what had changed Justine. She sensed something, but it was still far away.

  As Krista was thinking, Uncle Tyron came into the room with a really beautiful girl holding onto his arm. Uncle Tyron always had beautiful girlfriends, one after the next. This time she was breathtaking! Flawless ebony skin, fantastic shape, and dressed like directly off the cover of a magazine. We would always ask him when they weren’t around, ‘Where do you find them?’

  It was an ongoing joke. Uncle Tyron always insisted that they found him. When one looked at the designer suits he wore most of the time and that handsome charming face, maybe he was telling the truth…

  All the men in the room, who hadn’t noticed my mom and Aunt Cheryl, were trying not to be obvious and looking at her. Even the women were looking!

  Uncle Tyron came to the table and formally intro­duced everyone to his new girlfriend. Sergio almost knocked his glass over getting up to shake her hand. Her name was Liselle.

  “I am so hungry,” said Uncle Tyron after helping Liselle with her seat. “I can’t believe I got here before Bobby! He lives right around the corner!”

  “That’s one slow family!” said Grandpa, looking around in contentment at everyone sitting at the table.

  Everyone agreed laughing and started telling stories about other occasions they were late.

  “The boy was late for his wedding! He had Leshea waiting at the church for him!“ said Grandpa.

  “Really Grandpa, you’re just exaggerating, right?” asked Gianna, after she finally took her eyes away from Liselle. She was obviously also impressed.

  “Nope. Almost brought her to tears. She thought he wasn’t going to show up. Of course he took so long because he still couldn’t decide which shoes he wanted to wear with his purple silk tuxedo and matching hat.

  "That Bobby! He sure loves to dress up!” Grandpa laughed as he was saying that.

  Everyone else laughed, too. Bobby, though only somewhat attractive, was notorious in his youth for being an extravagant dresser. Girls were always trying to pick him up. He would drive around in his used sports car, living a carefree, easy life, until Leshea cast her spell on him, and put him under lock and key.

  The restaurant door opened and Uncle Bobby and his family walked in. Uncle Bobby and Aunt Leshea had put on quite a few pounds over the years, but he still liked to dress well. He had a large, red-patterned shirt on, which hung loosely over the matching pants, and a hat in the same pattern. Flashy, flashy! Aunt Leshea had a pretty dress on and the kids, looking hungry, piled into the remaining seats. They all sent curious glances in Liselle’s direction until she was formally introduced. Shawn and Aaron were whispering to each other and laughing.

  “It’s about time you all are here! I’m hungry, let’s go and get some food,” said Uncle Tyron. Before he had completed the sentence, he was already standing up to get something to eat. Liselle didn’t look anxious to eat and remained seated, while Grandpa, Grandma, Dad, Sergio, and all the kids jumped up immediately. Uncle Bobby got up slowly and followed them. The rest of the women were left at the table.

  Going over to the buffet was a phenomenal visual feat. There were over 100 dishes and, in addition, the salad bar, appetizers, soups, and desserts. Some of them weren’t even Chinese! There was pizza, stuffed pasta shells with cheese, macaroni and cheese, and fried plantains, just to name a few. Grandpa put less on his plate every year, he’d say ‘Quality, not quantity,’ but the others piled stuff on like there was going to be a war tomorrow and this was their last meal. Looking at the large selection, Krista went through all the dishes being offered. She wasn’t very hungry and not much was being offered without meat. From the Chinese dishes, only a bean curd dish with vegetables, broccoli with garlic sauce, and string beans in a black bean sauce. There were a few vegetarian Italian dishes being offered. In the last row were French fries, fried plantains, and garlic bread. She took her time deciding what she wanted.

  Back at the table, Aunt Cheryl, Liselle, Aunt Leshea, Justine, Janine, and Mom were talking.

  “Are you in a rush to eat?” Mom asked them.

  “I’m not in a rush. As a matter-of-fact, this place scares me. Their chicken wings are delicious, and the fish dishes...let me tell you, the fish dishes are really good!” said Aunt Cheryl, and then took a sip from a glass of water she had in front of her.

  “I’m just glad they have a salad bar,” said Liselle. “I try to avoid buffets if there’s not a salad bar there.”

  “You look like a model. Do you do any modeling?” asked Aunt Cheryl.

  “From time to time. Right now I’ve got a role on a new series which should be released in the beginning of next year,” said Liselle smiling.

  Aunt Cheryl warmed directly up to her. Aunt Leshea, Justine, Janine, and Mom sat there listening to the con­versation trying to decide if they liked her or not.

  “That sounds interesting. Is it a comedy or drama?” asked Aunt Cheryl.

  “It’s a really interesting hospital drama, so I have to learn all kinds of medical terminology. I actually think I’m a doctor now, so don’t have an accident, I will operate!” said Liselle and smiled. She took a sip of the water in front of her. “It’s really challenging and the biggest role I’ve had so far.”

  “Well, good luck with that!” said Janine obviously impressed with her job.

  “Why, thank you!” said Liselle beaming at Janine.

  “Well, I hope you can act! The most depressing thing to watch on television are shows where the actors aren’t believable in their roles,” said Justine looking Liselle directly in the eyes as she spoke.

  It became quiet at the table for a second.

  “I’m sure you’re good, or you wouldn’t have gotten the role,” said Mom trying to make up for Justine’s rudeness.  

  Liselle fell silent.

  “Too many bad shows on TV. That’s why they premiere and before you know it, they’re cancelled! If they would screen the people better in the begin­ning, that wouldn’t happen. That’s why I prefer my talk shows. What you see is what you get. No one badly pretending....” continued Justine as she ignored the uncomfortable looks around her trying to warn her to stop talking.

  “Excuse me, but I’m hungry!” interrupted Mom, changing the topic, “I’m going to get some of the few dishes I can eat here. Anyone else coming?” With that she stood up looking at Liselle indicating for her to come along. Liselle took the hint.

  “Okay, let’s do it!” said Liselle, as though she just volunteered to hike Mt. Everest. She stood up and followed Mom over to the food.

  “We might as well get up and go,” said Aunt Cheryl to the four remaining women.

  They stood up leaving the table as some of the others slowly came back from the buffet area with their plates loaded with food. Krista’s plate was pretty empty, just salad and broccoli with garlic was on it.

  It was always fun being around their cousins. First of all, it was cool because they were around their age. Second of all, they were just cool. Whenever they got together, it was as though no time had passed by. It was like they were brothers and sisters.

  “We heard about the ‘miracle’ at your school,” said Shawn, as he was eating a pile of General Tsao’s chicken and sesame chicken mixed together with a large side of rice.

  “Was it on the main news channel?” asked Gianna surprised. “I thought it was only on the local news.”

  “We could do with some miracles at our school, too. Mostly on Aaron’s report card!” said Shawn and everyone started laughing.

  “I’m gonna get you for that one,” said Aaron, not finding anything about that funny, looking annoyed at Shawn.

  “That miracle was at your school?” asked Uncle Tyron, “I partially heard the report but wasn’t really paying attention to the TV.”

  “Liselle, are you stopping Tyron from watching TV?” asked Grandma smiling as she was saying it.

  Liselle looked embarrassed and looked down at her food.

  “I was working at home. Working,” said Uncle Tyron then changed the topic. “It’s nice to hear a good story on the news. All the crime reports, accidents, fires, and just plain old bad news, can wear a person out.”

  “I heard the report as well,” said Aunt Cheryl, “and I have to admit when the father started crying, it made me cry, too.”

  “If any of you want to believe Cheryl, who in the fifth grade used to scare eighth graders, has a soft bone in her body….” Uncle Bobby started saying, while laughter and interruptions with other stories from Cheryl’s youth, turned the attention away from the news report.

  Krista sat at the table amongst her relatives looking across the sea of faces and was the quietest one there other than Liselle when no one was addressing her. They ate, laughed, and told jokes for a few more hours before everyone was ready to go. As before, no one touched her, and she touched no one. It was like she was in a little bubble separated from the whole room. The only one she noticed looking at her with an increasing pene­trating stare, was Grandma.

  Grandma was born in the South, in the town of Madison, Georgia. It was during the time of segrega­tion in American history, when black and white people weren’t allowed to do a lot of things together like eat in the same restaurants. The town was small enough for most people to know most people’s business, and it was well known in the area for its beautiful, antebellum houses.

  Grandma was the last of seven children and had numerous stories to tell of her childhood, like how she and her brothers and sisters helped their parents on their small farm or how they had to slaughter chickens and pigs. Something Grandma didn’t talk about much was her grandmother, except how close she was to her, and how much she loved her. There was something special about her grandmother. Something her grand­mother kept secret from most people, but not to her. And when she looked at Krista, she saw it. An Image.

  A flash. And that special something radiating from her.

  Grandma wondered why she never noticed it before today.

  Grandma’s mind went back to another time, so long ago, as she sat in the woods next to her grandmother’s favorite creek. They would go there together whenever they could, either walking or getting a ride from one of their relatives or neighbors. They called her grand­mother, Grandma May, to distinguish her from their other grandmother, Grandma Bee.

  Grandma May was always a very thin woman, and as the years went by, the angles about her body became ever more distinguished. Many admired her stamina. She would walk for miles, up and down hills, often carrying heavy packages. Grandma May made extra money sewing, and her creations looked store brought. Grandma had fine memories of those times. But what was most remarkable was the secret.

  “I’m going to have to talk to her,” thought Grandma, looking at her granddaughter with slight trepidation.

  Everyone got up from the table and was slowly filing out the door. The last minute goodbyes were said as the small crowd dispersed into different directions. All of them, except Uncle Bobby’s family who walked in the direction of their street, got into various cars to drive to their next destination.

  A light rain began to fall outside. Typical, unpredict­able, early spring weather. Even though Uncle Bobby’s family could have fit into some of the cars to take them home, all of them decided to walk, probably trying to work off some of the food they just stuffed themselves with. On the ride back home, the Pompey family talked about different topics from the brunch, Uncle Tyron’s new girlfriend, and the weather. By the time they got off the highway and turned onto the roads leading to their house, it was quiet in the car.

  The rain outside became stronger distributing wetness throughout the streets and onto the houses. Everywhere within its reach was changed into a shiny, shadowy, glistening world. The winds picked up, and as they passed by areas where the Hudson River could be seen, the turbulence was also evident there.

  Driving into the driveway, Dad opened the garage door with the remote. They drove inside and everyone entered, for a change, from within. Mom only allowed that when it was raining hard outside. They had to take off their shoes immediately when they stepped into the house.

  For the rest of the evening, the family relaxed watching a couple movies sitting together before the television. It took awhile before anyone could eat anything else. Gianna hardly talked on the phone (which was strange), and Adonia got bored by the second film and brought some of her Barbie dolls into the living room to play with next to everyone. It was a quiet evening and at some point they all slowly, one by one, went off to bed. The last one in the living room was Dad who fell asleep in front of the TV. After waking himself up, he turned it off and left for his bedroom.