Grandma Harris spoke as she and Cynthia came to join the family for dinner. Pit was getting it from all ends and he could not wait until it was all over so that his family could cut him some slack. Besides, he hated to make his mother and grandmother stress over him or anything for that matter.
“Yes ma’am,” he said as he looked around the table at all the beautiful women in his life.
He smiled. He loved them all and they all loved him. They all took such good care of each other as well. Then he noticed his mother did not have a plate in front of her.
“Yes ma’am nothing, what you gon’ do when your wife here have some babies. You gon leave ha hea all alone wit em while dey all wonda whea daddy at and when he comin home?”
“Oh no Mama Harris, we’re not having any babies no time soon,” Kale replied, and started to worry about her sister again.
“You o’n know dat. lil girl, the good Lord give ya kids when he ready, not when you ready. All I know is ya’ll betta get right befo’ you do start buildin ya family. God will not continue to bless you long as you keep goin’ ‘gainst His will. Get married, son. Do the right thing by this girl cause all this shackin up and fornication is not pleasing to Him. After you done all that, then you can make me some great grandbabies.”
Just like every other old school mother, Pit’s mother and grandmother were constantly trying to gain them some grandchildren. Good old school black women, as they were, were known for trying to feed you good, both food and babies.
“And the Lord tells me ya’ll gone make some beautiful and smart grandbabies, that is after the wedding. This child must carry your name ‘fo she can carry your seed. And when will this wedding take place anyhow? I may not be here too much longer and I want to see ya’ll married so that you may live and build a generation da right way.”
“Mama, why you not eating?” Pit said concerned, but mainly just to change the subject.
“Don’t worry bout me, I ain’t hungry. Plus, I ate while I was cooking,” Mama Harris answered.
“You sure you feeling okay?” Pit asked.
“Yes, just as long as you stay planted here in this house then my bad feeling will go away. Maybe then I’ll eat more.”
“I promise, Ma, I ain’t going nowhere tonight. Don’t stress yourself so much; I will be alright.”
“I can’t help it, I feel like you two are all I have left. I never hear from the others no mo’ and if sumtin’ was to happen to one of ya’ll, I’d lose my mind.”
“Mama, we gone be okay,” Cynthia and Pit both said in unison.
Just then, there was a banging at the door followed by the doorbell.
“Now who could that be?” Mama Harris asked looking at her wristwatch.
“I don’t know Ma, but I’mma check and see.”
Pit placed his fork on his plate and rose up from the table, heading toward the front door. His mother started to pray a silent prayer as she placed her hand over her heart and she braced herself with the other on the countertop. The banging continued and got louder. Now who the hell is this knocking like they the damn police? Pit thought to himself. He did not bother to look out of the peephole, but when he swung open the door, he realized who it was and half wished he had looked first. Two uniformed police officers stood before him.
One flashed his badge and introduced them, “Beaumont Police Department. We are looking for a David Harris, is that you?”
“Yes, why?”
“You are under arrest.”
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