Momma Gone by Nina Foxx

Author:Nina Foxx
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Brown Girls Publishing

Twenty-Two

Our punishment would be simple enough. I should have known what it would be, and was not surprised as I stood in the kitchen, listening to Daddy talk to Granny Hambay-el. She marched us straight back through the house and into the kitchen. There would be no plastic chairs today, not yet.

My father sat at the table where we usually sat for dinner. It was covered with a real cloth tablecloth today, a pretty one actually, embroidered, instead of the heavy plastic one we usually got to eat on.

I was not used to being in this type of trouble; Daddy had come home from work early to get here to punish us. My stomach felt heavy and my feelings of defiance washed away.

I was truly afraid.

Granny Hambay-el motioned us into a corner, against the wall. We stood with our backs to the flowery kitchen wallpaper, silent, afraid to speak. I had to go to the bathroom, but I even was afraid to shift, even to do my bathroom dance. There was going to be a storm. I could feel it.

Daddy did not look at us. He sat at the table, with his head heavy in his hands, his elbows pressing down hard. I looked, wide-eyed, knowing that Granny Hambay-el boxed Little Man’s ears for putting his elbows on the dinner table just yesterday, wondering whether she would do the same to Daddy. We all were under her control, even Daddy, and he didn’t even know it.

She took a seat at the table across from Daddy, and surprisingly, the stern look that met us at the front door disappeared, and she smiled. She even put her teeth in for Daddy’s visit. This was serious.

“Don’t you fret, mon,” she said. “I take care of these young ‘uns. The devil him play his tricks today, but I know what to do.” She glared in our direction, her lilting voice sounding sweet and proper, almost musical.

“I can’t imagine why they did this. They are normally so obedient.” Daddy’s voice was low. He didn’t look at us, and they both talked like we weren’t in the room, like they would talk about a dead person.

Like they talked about Momma.

“If I can’t control them, they will take them away, and I don’t know if I can bear for that to happen. They are all I have, you know. And Sweetie looks so much like Elva. There is already talk in her family about trying to fight for custody.” He rubbed his hand through his hair. “I don’t know. Sometimes I think I should let them get what they want. Maybe they can do better than I can. I’m a single man, all by myself now.” He paused. “But I would miss them so much. It’s like a father’s love doesn’t count for anything.”

Granny Hambay-el reached over and stroked Daddy’s arm. I did not know she knew how to comfort anyone. Little Man and I looked at each other and I sighed. We had not heard one word about people trying to take us away from Daddy since the funeral.

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