Faith's Bar Mitzvah part 19 #420 episode 178

Lela was his mother's mother, sister. Darlean loved her. Her love ran deep. Often she had dreamed of meeting her. While in L.A., she had tried to contact her by using what she had learned in business class. She had used block paragraphs with her signature exactly 3 lines down under the salutation. When she signed it she made her D with a massive curl, in hopes that it would impress Lela. When the letter came back, return to sender, Darlean felt a loss so profound it hurt her to her very core. She had called the operator assistance so many times, using all the names she could remember to find her family. Bonner, Crockerham, Scott, she had used them to no avail. Sometimes she would call just to hear the operator tell her that there was no listing for a Lela Bonner, Scott or Crockerham. Little did she know, Lela had married a railroad porter by the name of Carter. Lela Carter. It was such a common name Darlean kicked herself for not thinking of it during her nightly calls. So simple, it hurt.

Lela was one hell of a lady. She had been born with a withered leg. Her father, not trusting doctors did not let them operate. He said it was because of what they did to Negroes in the Great War. Because of his distrust, Lela struggled. Her crutches were her means to the world. She hopped along for 24 years before she had saved enough money to get the wretched leg cut off. She hopped for 24 years. 24 years of sneers. 24 years of crudely crafted crutches. Hopping along through the rain, heat and trials of mother nature. She longed for movement without those common wooden legs she could not live without.

She had only had the bandages off for 7 months when Darlean's mother died. The first 2 months were pure hell, but the next 5 brought her joy, unspeakable joy. She had been and went and been and went again. The wind felt better, the water tasted sweeter. Everything was vibrant including her. She had felt the arms of a man. She had touched his ears when she felt heaven between her stump and leg. He did not mind. They had drank Club House gin all night. She danced, danced twirled and smiled. Smiling, smiling, smiling.

She told Darlean her Uncle Henry told her about Mattie's death. She said she was confused between freedom and responsibility. That's why she let them go. That's why she stood in the background with her new leg and new love. She did not want to let the moment go. So she let them go.