Finding Dignity by J. Marie Darden

Author:J. Marie Darden
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Strebor Books
Published: 2005-07-15T00:00:00+00:00

Home Again!

[LEXINGTON, KY 1994 ]

29

[D IGNITY ]

“W here’s my Dignity?! Take anything you want, but leave me my Dignity!” Uncle Sam marched into the kitchen with a flourish and sparkle. He had this way of lighting up a room with his silly sense of humor that contrasted with his overbearing size and countenance. He was six feet five, had slick, coal-black hair and skin to match. Always dressed impeccably, always smelled fresh and new, and always had something ridiculous to say. This time he had picked up the magnifying glasses Aunt Lette kept on the counter for reading her mail and the Bible, and he was peering around the kitchen corner, searching for me. Having the two of them together in the same room with me felt just like Christmas. I forgot my age as I rushed into his arms.

“Uncle Sam! You big silly! Here I am!” I barely came up to the middle of his chest, but I burrowed into it, feeling like a child again.

He picked me up and spun me around. Gave me three big squeezes before setting me on my feet again. “There’s my girl! You looking mighty fine, too. Mighty fine! Made the dean’s list again, too, I suppose.” He turned toward his wife. “She gets her head smarts from me, Lette, and her good looks from… someplace else!” He winked at me, teasing Aunt Lette like he always does. He smacked his wife on the behind and pecked her cheek.

“Yes. I did make the dean’s list again, but not straight A’s this time. Got one B. School can get so boring, Uncle Sam!” I sat at the kitchen table and peered up at my uncle, sort of introducing the idea that I am disenchanted with school. This way, if I truly decide not to go back, they will think back and remember that I was not happy, even at the beginning of the summer. Aunt Lette didn’t let the comment go unnoticed, though.

“Boring, you say? Umm-hmm. Now, in addition to everything else, those professors got to entertain you, too? Well, naw they don’t! Diggy, it isn’t the college’s job to make fun for you. You just get your work! You’ll have time for fun later, after you done given the valedictorian speech and marched across that stage. Naw. Don’t start this bored foolishness now!” She poked out her lip and scrunched her brow as she pulled the chicken out of the oven. It was crisp and golden brown, and I swooned at the sight of it.

“Now, Lette, Dignity’s just a young thing. Hard for us to remember a time when spring itches at you so bad, the last thing you wanna do is be inside of four walls with some fool teacher. Natural that she be bored, swift as she is.” Uncle Sam pushed his sleeves up and, getting directly in Aunt Lette’s way, began washing his hands at the sink. Uncle Sam is a bit of a clean freak, too. That’s where I get it from, I guess.

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