Grandma Nini
Grandma NiNi
We don’t know when
But she’s at it again
By and by it rained
A rumbling roar,
Near deafening ,
Awakened grandma from her silence
A flicker of light crossed the sky
And her words came to life
Stiff necked, a compass now
Circling all about
Does the boy have any people here?
What boy?
My cousin
What cousin?
From her father’s side of the family ,
Mother maintained
I’m older than him
Are there any dead people in this house?
I denounce any dead people in this house in the name of Jesus, mother said
He used to tease me
Those ladies and gentlemen are my cousins
I won’t let him see me because I have nothing to give to him
She raises a finger to the ceiling
Their house is behind this mountain
Pass me the scissors they must have cut up the black plantains
Drunken speech mama calls it
Have anyone died here
You’re scaring me , her daughter Rose says
Who is looking over the house?
I’m leaving
I’m going home
Don’t waste anything
I’m not eating now
I don’t know about later
Help me get down
She says to her grandson over the phone
You’re bringing me home
To your mother’s house
I need you to come see me
I don’t feel well
Come right now
I don’t feel well
Help me get down
You’re bringing me home
She said to her grandson upon his arrival
to his mother’s apartment
Who has the sac
Keep your mother’s items in there
Take the bag for me
I won’t put it around my arm
Only you can see it
So you can take it I say
I’m going to hold them in my hands
I’m not used to carrying these small bags
She tells me
You’re not going right now
You’re too busy occupied with everything else
There’s no money in there
There’s nothing in there
She giggles and says there’s nothing in there
What will you put in there? I ask
What do I have she answers
You have plenty of things I reply
She yells ,go tend to the pot
It’s you’ll I’m waiting on
Go look in a piece of cloth and take some coffee for me
It’s in a piece of cloth on the floor
I brought it with my own money
How come I arrive at my sisters house and not greet her
Oh my goodness it’s time for me to get out of here
There isn’t any salt, grease or seasoning
See what food you’ve got and bring me something
Put it in something else so it doesn’t shatter and break
I’m tired
Take that machete off the front porch for me
Marckincia, look to see if the food is ready
Look to see if that’s your mother’s chair
You must think I’m done
I talk to you and you ignore me
A thief just entered a woman’s house , she said
Someone’s got your mother’s lips
They’re covered
Don’t let anything fall on you
Marckincia Jean
Narrative
05/14/20
Copyright © Marckincia Jean | Year Posted 2020
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