The cool water numbed Faith's throat as he listened to Gene and the father argue. The old man mumbled under his breath, never challenging his son for superiority. Gene on the other hand was pointing his finger telling the old man he was going to get the lawn mowed no matter what. The old man startled Faith, during the course of the argument he had never raised his voice until then. With a loud boisterous voice he spoke up.
"That Dolly Dagger of yours is going to get you killed one day and it just might be today. Don't thank I don't know what you up to boy. I been in this world a mighty long time to notice when de milk is sour. And your'n sho nuff rurnt. But if you thank you fen to be up in my house with a half pint to sour you got another thang coming. Today I put my foot down! No more!"
The old man trembled as he spoke. His eyes stared at Gene. The silence had Faith in suspense. They both stared at each other until Gene spoke.
"You are the craziest old man I have ever seen. I'm paying this boy to mow this yard. Besides summer coming up and I don't want no snakes crawling up in this old rickety house. Now I'm gone go and show this boy what to mow and when I get back in here you and me can have it out if you want to?"
Gene was silent as he reached for Faith's cup. He took the cup and told Faith not to worry he was going to pay him for mowing the yard. He walked back to the kitchen to put the glass away disappearing for a brief moment. That's when the old man turned and spoke to Faith.
"Look boy this yard don't need no mowing. If you want to mow something I can send you round to my sisters house. Her yard need mowing. Whatever he paying you I will pay you double. Is it a deal?"
He stuck out his hand for acceptance to the deal just offered Faith. Just as Faith was about to shake his hand to accept the offer, Gene walked from around the corner. He yelled at his father.
"Get on away from here old man! Get I say!" Gene talked to the old man like a dog.
The old man flinched as if he were a dog and cowered over in a corner. Gene opened the door to show Faith what needed mowed. Turning back towards the old man Gene spoke.
"I'm just trying to show this boy how to make some money like you showed me. Is anything wrong with that?"
The old man was silent for a second. Then he began to pray. "Lord forgive me for my sin's, throw them in the sea of forget...
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Tuesday, October 06, 2009
Faith's Bar Miztvah part 23 #420 episode 184
"Man don't come from man, man come from God!," and with those words he welcomed Faith into his yard. He stood watching Faith as he approached with the lawnmower. His pants shod his bony hips, hanging so loosely that it showed below his waist. They were Sunday past pants. To old to wear to church, yet too new to throw away. He had no shirt on, only a vest to match his Sunday past pants. His bald black head turned a pale pasty pink at its crown. The largest patch being at the front. It's pinkish hue seeped into his dark skin just above his left eyebrow.
"Go on and look," he growled from the porch. "While you staring, you got a plank in yours just the same!" Faith approached with caution. Who was this man, mumbling this nonsense? Faith slowed his pace to a stop, at least ten yards from the porch. He stepped from the porch. His loud voice was reduced to a whisper. Faith could not tell what he was saying but as he got closer, he could make it out.
"You get while the gettin' is good. Look down at yah feets ain't nothing but gravel dere. I don't need you to do no mowin for me, this yard ain't been mowed in 7 year I know. Now you get, get I say!
Faith was scared he did not know whether to stay or go. His feet said go, but his heart said stay. His heart told him he was a man. His heart made him remember the twenty dollar bill in his pocket. Just as his legs were about to decide that the old man was crazy. Gene came from the house.
He came down from the porch shaking his head. "Don't worry bout daddy, he old and set in his ways. I say this yard needs mowing and that what I meant." He grabbed the old man by his shoulders, turning him around and slightly pushed him towards the door.
Gene invited Faith in for a cool drink, Faith accepted. The walk from his Aunt Lela's had been a hot one.
"Go on and look," he growled from the porch. "While you staring, you got a plank in yours just the same!" Faith approached with caution. Who was this man, mumbling this nonsense? Faith slowed his pace to a stop, at least ten yards from the porch. He stepped from the porch. His loud voice was reduced to a whisper. Faith could not tell what he was saying but as he got closer, he could make it out.
"You get while the gettin' is good. Look down at yah feets ain't nothing but gravel dere. I don't need you to do no mowin for me, this yard ain't been mowed in 7 year I know. Now you get, get I say!
Faith was scared he did not know whether to stay or go. His feet said go, but his heart said stay. His heart told him he was a man. His heart made him remember the twenty dollar bill in his pocket. Just as his legs were about to decide that the old man was crazy. Gene came from the house.
He came down from the porch shaking his head. "Don't worry bout daddy, he old and set in his ways. I say this yard needs mowing and that what I meant." He grabbed the old man by his shoulders, turning him around and slightly pushed him towards the door.
Gene invited Faith in for a cool drink, Faith accepted. The walk from his Aunt Lela's had been a hot one.
Friday, October 02, 2009
Monday, September 21, 2009
Faith's Bar Mitzvah part 22 #420 episode 182
The twenty dollar bill she gave him felt like responsibility. He had did what the men did, he had worked. He had sweat. He had been paid. He was surprised at how different the twenty felt, compared to the dollar bill. It surely must have been worth more than just twenty of the inferior dollars. With all its beauty they should have made a 30 dollar bill,he figured. He thought of how he would design his 30 dollar bill, while pushing the lawn mower towards Gene's father's house. He looked back at his Aunt Lela's house proud of his work. Turning towards the funeral home he lowered his hands around the handle and climbed the hill. The road was newly paved, which made it that much harder in the April sun. When he reached Gene's father's house he was tired. The only thing that made him feel better was the thought of the 20 dollar bill in his pocket. He would give his mother ten. That would leave 10 for him. His Aunt Lela told him she could take five of it and put it up for him. She said he should never spend all of his money as soon as he gets it. Faith figured she was just trying to pull one over on him. He had heard of her shrewdness when it came to money. He declined her offer.
Thursday, September 03, 2009
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Faith's Bar Mitzvah part 21 #420 episode 180
He had heard the many versions of her infidelity. Sometimes the stories were told in anger, at other times with a love so winsome it was like music to the ears. Old folks say, "teeth and tongue fall out, but you don't pull your teeth in spite of." So at this moment and for other moments to come, Lela was the matriarch. They did not always agree with her but the respect she was given mirrored royalty.
She taught lessons to both young and old. Once teaching Sarah how to sew and Mary how to skin catfish. On this day she would be showing Faith how honest work and attention to detail can make even the pickiest of the picky nod their head in approval. He was to mow her yard and then make his way over to Gene's father's house to tackle his yard. He took a breath and leaned into the mower, pushing it to the crest of the hill. It would be easy now. The terrain leaned a helping slant, and the mower practically rolled itself down the hill through the streets of downtown Winnfield.
Past the bank, with it's ever present logo of a black cat. Old Negroes' said it was to stem the flow of black money being deposited. Said White folks believed every Negro scared of a black cat. It must have helped too, because of all the times his mother had taken him with her to the bank, it would always be the one next to the post office. The so called Negro bank. Past the five and dime store, pharmacy and gas station on the corner. He passed the jail where the Negroes barked behind a chain link fence. "Where yo' Momma at?" One barked. Faith kept his head pointed straight. "Hey boy! Ain't you Darlean boy?" Not until they mentioned his mother's name did he turn. Still not saying anything. "Tell yo' Momma, that her cousin Bulldog say brang him some cigarettes up her." Faith shook his head. "Take it easy little cuz." Faith had not idea who the man was. But he would be sure to tell his mother when he got home.
He thought about Lela the rest of the way. Mostly about were the stories true, that they said about her. He had heard many stories just sitting around the kitchen table when his Aunt Learna and Darlean would get to talking about what Lela owed them. Faith found out later in life that the women were talking about the land up in Dodson that they owned. Only problem was that Lela had had a head start on putting the land in one name, hers. While Dalean and her brothers were in foster care. Lela made sure the land stayed put in her name. Darlean and the others complained to no avail. The land was Lela's and the mineral rights that she sold, allowed her to purchase the house she was walking around telling Faith just how she wanted it cut.
Her dark, winkled, stubby finger pointed towards the large ditch that ran in back of her house. That's how far her yard stretched. She made sure he understood that's where she wanted him to stop mowing too. Johnny Ray pulled up just as he was making his second past towards the ditch. The mower drowned out his voice. Johnny Ray tried to amplify his voice by cupping his hands together making a human bull horn. Faith pushed the lever from the picture of the rabbit, past the turtle, to the stop position. The motor died on command. Only then could hear Johnny Ray.
"I was saying to push the mower down the hill and pull it up, it'll make things easier on you." Lela shot Johnny Ray a glancing eye. She spoke slowly, "You the Nigga she got down there now?" Johnny Ray chuckled, his reply skirted the danger of disrespect. Informing her to ask Darlean. With that he patted Faith on the head and turned to his car wishing Lela a good day.
The tires screeched as he started up the hill, seeming to inform Lela of his displeasure in her questioning. Lela's eyes followed the yellow Buick up the road. She mumbled under her breath about Darlean letting anybody around them. Faith pulled the cord of the lawnmower, the motor came to life drowning out Lela's insulting words about his mother.
She taught lessons to both young and old. Once teaching Sarah how to sew and Mary how to skin catfish. On this day she would be showing Faith how honest work and attention to detail can make even the pickiest of the picky nod their head in approval. He was to mow her yard and then make his way over to Gene's father's house to tackle his yard. He took a breath and leaned into the mower, pushing it to the crest of the hill. It would be easy now. The terrain leaned a helping slant, and the mower practically rolled itself down the hill through the streets of downtown Winnfield.
Past the bank, with it's ever present logo of a black cat. Old Negroes' said it was to stem the flow of black money being deposited. Said White folks believed every Negro scared of a black cat. It must have helped too, because of all the times his mother had taken him with her to the bank, it would always be the one next to the post office. The so called Negro bank. Past the five and dime store, pharmacy and gas station on the corner. He passed the jail where the Negroes barked behind a chain link fence. "Where yo' Momma at?" One barked. Faith kept his head pointed straight. "Hey boy! Ain't you Darlean boy?" Not until they mentioned his mother's name did he turn. Still not saying anything. "Tell yo' Momma, that her cousin Bulldog say brang him some cigarettes up her." Faith shook his head. "Take it easy little cuz." Faith had not idea who the man was. But he would be sure to tell his mother when he got home.
He thought about Lela the rest of the way. Mostly about were the stories true, that they said about her. He had heard many stories just sitting around the kitchen table when his Aunt Learna and Darlean would get to talking about what Lela owed them. Faith found out later in life that the women were talking about the land up in Dodson that they owned. Only problem was that Lela had had a head start on putting the land in one name, hers. While Dalean and her brothers were in foster care. Lela made sure the land stayed put in her name. Darlean and the others complained to no avail. The land was Lela's and the mineral rights that she sold, allowed her to purchase the house she was walking around telling Faith just how she wanted it cut.
Her dark, winkled, stubby finger pointed towards the large ditch that ran in back of her house. That's how far her yard stretched. She made sure he understood that's where she wanted him to stop mowing too. Johnny Ray pulled up just as he was making his second past towards the ditch. The mower drowned out his voice. Johnny Ray tried to amplify his voice by cupping his hands together making a human bull horn. Faith pushed the lever from the picture of the rabbit, past the turtle, to the stop position. The motor died on command. Only then could hear Johnny Ray.
"I was saying to push the mower down the hill and pull it up, it'll make things easier on you." Lela shot Johnny Ray a glancing eye. She spoke slowly, "You the Nigga she got down there now?" Johnny Ray chuckled, his reply skirted the danger of disrespect. Informing her to ask Darlean. With that he patted Faith on the head and turned to his car wishing Lela a good day.
The tires screeched as he started up the hill, seeming to inform Lela of his displeasure in her questioning. Lela's eyes followed the yellow Buick up the road. She mumbled under her breath about Darlean letting anybody around them. Faith pulled the cord of the lawnmower, the motor came to life drowning out Lela's insulting words about his mother.
Friday, July 03, 2009
Faith's Bar Mitzvah part 20 #420 episode 179
He came from pimps and whores. His father, so be told by his Aunt Learna, knew how to dupe an Ofay so good they run him plum out of town. Darlean always told them stories of him. Mostly about his jealousy, and temper. Like the time he whooped her because another seller of flesh told him about a big legged girl he had conquered the night before at the Bucket of Blood. Darlean said she was at home cooking some rice. Said she remembered, because the rice had began to scorch. She went to turn the fire down and that's when his dad come through the door full of venom. Slapping her to and fro. She said she did not know why. A couple of months later the boaster of the big legged girl introduced his dad to her. His dad's apologies accepted Darlean and Robert went on. She said, she knew, she should not have told him. But they were in love. He would understand, and she felt he did at first. But things began to change. She bet her life that her secret had prompted his jealousy and greed. She forever regretted telling him.
That was what he knew about him, his daddy. Buster the street hustler. The big Negro from Phoenix. Faith did not know him, he knew mostly stories, negative stories that made him love her more. She was it his all and all. Now his all in all was waking him with a gentle nudge. He had had a dream about his dad he told her. He was standing beneath a neon green sign grinning at him. He remembered he had a huge gap. Darlean told him he must have went to bed with him on his mind. She said his dad would be proud of him going out and getting work. The smell of bacon made her words collide with his hunger, and she lost. He interrupted her impromptu acceptance speech on behalf of his dad, to inquire about the bacon and eggs smoking on the stove. She said it was for breakfast and his lunch.
"Aunt Lela wants you to mow her yard. Said she would pay you 20 dollars. Johnny Ray gone meet you over there to give you a few pointers." She hurried him off to wash his face and get dressed.
Faith lurched up the hill with the lawnmower seemingly grinning at his struggle to make it to the top. The lunch his mother prepared sat atop it's white motor, anchored by a stretch rope. He knew his Aunt Lela would be extremely picky about how he cut the yard. She was a shrewd woman. Queen of the whores that was his mother side of the family. They all were whores. Not pearl swinging gum chewing whores. But rather, "Ain't them bacon and eggs good whores, ain't that a nice roof over your head whores. They knew how to use what the Good Lord had given them to keep the lights on. And Lela was the best.
That was what he knew about him, his daddy. Buster the street hustler. The big Negro from Phoenix. Faith did not know him, he knew mostly stories, negative stories that made him love her more. She was it his all and all. Now his all in all was waking him with a gentle nudge. He had had a dream about his dad he told her. He was standing beneath a neon green sign grinning at him. He remembered he had a huge gap. Darlean told him he must have went to bed with him on his mind. She said his dad would be proud of him going out and getting work. The smell of bacon made her words collide with his hunger, and she lost. He interrupted her impromptu acceptance speech on behalf of his dad, to inquire about the bacon and eggs smoking on the stove. She said it was for breakfast and his lunch.
"Aunt Lela wants you to mow her yard. Said she would pay you 20 dollars. Johnny Ray gone meet you over there to give you a few pointers." She hurried him off to wash his face and get dressed.
Faith lurched up the hill with the lawnmower seemingly grinning at his struggle to make it to the top. The lunch his mother prepared sat atop it's white motor, anchored by a stretch rope. He knew his Aunt Lela would be extremely picky about how he cut the yard. She was a shrewd woman. Queen of the whores that was his mother side of the family. They all were whores. Not pearl swinging gum chewing whores. But rather, "Ain't them bacon and eggs good whores, ain't that a nice roof over your head whores. They knew how to use what the Good Lord had given them to keep the lights on. And Lela was the best.
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