This the Devil Will See

This the Devil Will See! 1960. New to our new neighborhood, I wondered how mom and dad had gotten so rich? For the first single-family home of my life, And I realize only now, of theirs, too! Two floors. with, basement and attic, plus garage, A biggish backyard, little one in front, On a short, quiet street, which at the time We moved in, had begun a turnover into one of The first integrated areas in our city, where just north Atop the visible hill, about two-centuries before, General George Washington had stood, pointed (the story goes) and said, “There lies a plain field.” So I thought, too, a beautiful, peaceful area of green To which we’d even brought along the stray tiger- Cat we’d found stray...Here To tranquility...It seemed... I found only one other little girl with whom To play; three houses away; age 12, three years Older; named Nancy. And, we spent enough time Together for mom to declare she didn’t like Nancy. Not sure why. But, this was the only girlfriend I’d had since the age of five, so It was going to be, although wishing to God that It hadn’t been...for the days upon days We did stuff together, for the life of me, I only recall one afternoon. There was some undefinable reason, I’d angered Nancy and we stopped walking At the side of my house far under the small, kitchen Window. Then, there by the foundation Where, along the path, a narrow strip Full of Lillie’s of the Valley grew, She towered above me, in height and breadth, Accusing, “You know what you did!” I had not the slightest clue. “Well,” she snorted. “You know what hell is?” To which she waited while I think I nodded. She raised her hefty, right hand to run a finger Twice across my forehead, then took a step back (I supposed gazing at her handiwork) to announce, “I put an ‘X’ on your forehead. When you die, they’ll see it and send you to hell!” I believed in things invisible, but not in that. I doubted she had such a power. What was this? I’d turned to watch her stomp off Her last steps ever by me. It wasn’t an insult, But it felt like some sort of assault — even At that age, only 10, I knew my young being And knew my soul Stood in good stead: I was left Just...Wondering. And,I wonder still what God thought of those Two minutes in my life, if anything at all. Was there a reason? Lessons? Does God forget? Even the unremarkable? An event hardly worth a note, but one so strange, So odd, I’ve never forgotten that afternoon hour; The lillies’ fragrance; her scowl; her touch; her size; Her loathsome dooming bullet missing my soul. Thankfully, among the very few of my childhood’s Bad memories: a most fortunate childhood I had In comparison to the very so many in time’s account Of kids chased by bullies, by bulllets, by hunger, by Their own spirits’ aching for a hope for anything Better than this...as it goes on... Nancy’s Caucasian family moved away within two Months of an African-American family buying The house next-door to theirs. They may well not Have been missed by any neighboring soul. ————————————————————————————————————- (c) sally Young eslinger 2/3/21 God be praised. Bless us, every one!