Tish don’t like me travelin’ ‘cause then she got to do extra chores and she say she don’t got nobody to talk to when I’m gone. She say, “Immy what about yo’ girls, they gon’ miss they momma they gon’ worry sick ‘bout you out on the road.” But truth is they ain’t worried about me travelin’, they know their Uncle Henry will keep me safe, him and Rufus. They’ll miss that ol’ dog more’n they miss me. Pearly might get a little sad the first night but I know Chinquita and Parnice don’t care at all that I’m gone; big girls like them be more interested in boys than where they momma at.
So, we travelin’. We takin’ the bikes and I insist on riding the trike, ‘cause it’s got a nice big wagon on the back that you can put lots of stuff in. You can even put a person in there if you got to, and I like that. We often see people walkin’ when we travel and I like to be able to offer a body a lift. Meetin’ new people is one of the things I miss about travelin’; always so interesting to hear people’s stories about where they was when everythin’ happened. I never get tired o’ that.
“Why you wan’ take the trike,” say Curtis. I tell him I want to be able to pick up people and he shake his head and say I’m crazy and I say, “well maybe so but at least I ain’t ugly like you.” Anyway the trike has a nice big fat seat and I need it. God done endowed me up top and on the bottom, and them little skinny seats on the other bikes be too uncomfortable for the week it will take us to get to Houston.
We gon’ take the Old Ten Bridge; it the quickest way through the ‘Chafalaya. It’s still mostly in good repair but you need a guide for the parts that are breaking down. We ax around as we prepare to spend the first night in Grosse Tete. Rufus he run ahead to meet all his doggy friends; by the time we get into town they got a big ol’ tail-waggin’ party going, and now everybody know we comin’. Ol’ Melvin he greet us as we get off the bikes; he was a friend of Momma’s from before so he know me. “Girl,” he say, “I ain’t seen you in donkey’s years. Where you headed?” I tell him where but I don’t tell him why. Henry he understand and I see him punch Curtis in the arm ‘fore he can talk. Thank goodness Henry with us.
‘Nother good reason is that he brought his horn, the old one, and people jus’ plum love hearing him play. Word spreads around town and ‘fore long we have a big group jammin’ an’ listenin’ an’ dancin’. Me and Melvin we get up and dance a bit and then Curtis he try to cut in but Melvin say, “no anh-ah, get on outta here boy and come back when you old enough to know how to treat a woman.” That make me laugh ‘cause Curtis is sure ‘nuf old enough, he my age, he got wrinkles all around his eyes. White folks age faster than black folks it seems, least, they show it sooner. I don’t mind Melvin hoggin’ me all night because I ain’t gon’ dance too long anyway; I rather just sit by the fire and listen. I love listenin’ to Henry at home but I love it even better when we get a group of ‘em up there together jammin’ with each other. It’s jus’ one long song that just keep goin’ all night, with solos and new melodies and all kinda beats and rhythms; it’s like angels singing. It’s like magic.
It's always hard to go to sleep on nights like this but eventually I just can't keep my eyes open no more. 'Course Curtis is there as soon as I start to bunk down. Rufus he growl at him; he always sleeps wit’ me if the girls ain’t around. Curtis he act all offended; I don't know why he thinks things is gon’ be different when we on the road. Henry he notice though and he stops his playing just long enough to tell Curtis off and I can get some sleep. See, that's another reason why I don't travel alone with Curtis. He gets ideas.
We back on the road by sun up and even though it's hot I don't mind since you get some breeze on the bike. I don't even have to pedal now since this boy Jamal has decided to come with us too. When Henry done tol’ him ‘bout the reeds he got all interested. He play sax too. He ax me why I'm on this trip since he know I don't like to travel much but Henry he start talkin' 'bout the music last night and Jamal he leave me alone. His momma know though; I already done talked to her. She built like me, we done had this talk before. She gon’ make me two new shirts if I can find her a 48FFF. And let me tell you, Miss Eileen, she know how to sew.
In Lafayette we pick up some more folks. I know they mommas too and I gots to start a list now. But that's why Curtis keeps a notebook, and pencils ain’t too hard to find if you know where to look. It will be sad when they all gone and ain’t nobody figured out how to make 'em again. I guess there must be pencil factories somewheres but I don't see how people would spend their time trying to figure out pencils when they could be growing food. You never know though, somebody might be doing that. I ain't never heard of it though. I think Curtis be thinkin’ on it sometimes; he got him a unopened pack of Spiderman pencils that he been savin’; he think nobody know about it. But I know.
One of the people from Lafayette is Lily, a white lady about my age. Even though I’ve known her for years we ain’t never really talked; she a book person, always lookin’ for books to trade so I guess she must read ‘em. Don’t do much talkin’, that’s for sure. She say she lookin’ for some books about brewin’ and other stuff, she got her a list, too. I show her my list and don’t say nothin’, she just smiles then writes 42D on the bottom. “No kiddin’,” I say, ‘cause the way she dresses in them baggy clothes I never noticed she was that big. She just nods, still smilin’.
So now we got us a nice little ol' caravan goin’: we got the trike and our two bikes, and five more bikes and two of ‘em have trailers and that's a total of twelve people, plus now Rufus he got a couple o’ doggy friends runnin’ wit’ him. We'll probably pick up one or two more folks (an’ dogs) ‘fore we hit the ol’ state line. Always do. People love a caravan and we never mind waitin’ while they pack up; the more the merrier. Not like Houston is goin’ nowhere.
In Rayne we pick up some old friends of Curtis: Danny, Vic and T-Paul; he calls them the frog people. Back in the old days Rayne had a frog festival every year and you can still see the faded murals of frogs all through town. They got their bikes all tricked out, painted green with toy frogs hanging off the front. They crazy, but in a fun kinda way that looks like it will be nice having them with us on the road. Danny’s momma a 42FF and his wife is a 28D. Got me a backache just lookin’ at that skinny little thing, I hope I can find what she need. Both very nice ladies.
With them frog people, now we got fifteen. They say they tickled to see us, they been wantin’ to go to Houston for a while but they heard some bad stuff from a traveler and it made 'em want to wait for a bigger group. Curtis says what kinda stuff they done heard and they say they heard about a group of wild chirren that got hold of some weapons and be robbin’ people for food, somewhere by Houston. Curtis says they musta heard false rumors but allows as how he ain't been west for about three years now.
In Lake Charles we gotta float the bikes across ‘cause that ol’ bridge done fall apart long time ago, and anyway that's a steep climb and ain’t nobody want to mess with that on bikes. Going on the loop would take too long so we float. It’s so nice bein’ on the water. Rufus and his friends they keep jumpin’ off the barge and jumpin’ back on and shakin’ and jumpin’ off again until we all wet and laughin’ our heads off. Then we get back on the road and pick up another three by the time we hit the ol’ state line. In Orange the frog people introduce us to a friend of theirs, old guy named Rafael. Rafael's wife Jean is a 38F. Small compared to me but I ain’t gon’ deny that she need support.
Curtis ax him do he know ‘bout the rumors and he confirms what they already done told us. Of course this annoys Curtis but he ain't stupid and he tries to learn everything he can from this fellah. Henry is there the whole time; I can see that he's standin' there listenin' to everything, not saying nothin'. Henry he a good listener, I think that's why he such a good musician.
After we bunk down I can hear 'em still talkin’ late into the night. Funny how folks forget that tent walls don't keep out sound, or maybe they think I'm already asleep. Henry say, “well what you
think, how we gon' get in the city now?” Curtis say, “well I don't know but if we do like Rafael say and take ninety at Beaumont maybe we can avoid all that mess.” Vic he agree and he ain't laughin’ and jokin’ now. He say “Rafael he gets news from lots o’ people and he a good man and we trust him.”
When Henry comes into the tent he see I'm awake. I say I just got one question for you little brother: do you trust Rafael? Henry say, “yeah because Vic trust him and Curtis he trust Vic.” He say, “I know Curtis get on your nerves but he a good man and he would never put you in harm’s way. Why ain't you never hooked up wit’ him, anyway?” Henry ax me. I say, “why don’t you stop playing sax and take up basket weaving?” which is my way of saying why don't you just go to sleep and mind your own bidness.
Next morning our road friends are all happy as can be to follow Curtis and Vic off ten and get on ninety. Now I know I ain’t the only one could hear things through the tent. I have to say I'ma little bit nervous. Them dogs is one thing, but I'm glad we don't have no kids with us on this trip. As it is they’s more men than women and that suits me fine. They all good gennulmen and they make the work load so light it almost feel like I'm on vacation.
When I was little Momma and Daddy took us to Disneyworld; Henry don't remember much since he was jus’ four but we had a good ol’ time I can tell you. But what I remember too is that Momma spent a lot of time in the hotel at the swimmin’ pool while Daddy took us in the park. We would get to the hotel all tired and sweaty and there was my momma, layin’ out on the side o’ that beautiful crystal blue swimmin’ pool, right where we done left her that mornin’, and still dry as a bone. I would say, “momma you dry, ain’t you gon’ swimmin’ yet?” She would say, “no baby, I jus’ sat here all day, me and Maya Angelou” and then she would pat her book. That's when I foun’ out that sometimes doing nothin’ is more fun than doing something. So I'm perfectly happy right now to just sit in the back of the trike and let Jamal do the pedaling. I just hope we don't run into any trouble like them wild chirren.
East Texas is pretty nice country. Lots o’ trees like south Louisiana but more pines than big fat oaks an’ it ain’t so marshy. Still got them big skeeters though; they all over down here. One time I ax Curtis how far north he ever been and he done said, “not far enough to get away from the skeeters,” so I guess they everywhere.
We in the outskirts o’ Houston ‘fore too long and it is not pleasant. Too much concrete ‘round here, makes a body nervous. Ain’t too many folks livin' around here neither. Ain’t nobody gon' live somewhere they cain't grow food. Just ain't smart nowadays. Me, I like it better out where they's trees ‘round me and I grew up right smack in the middle of the city. But they was always lots o’ trees, even in the middle o’ town. Not like here. Ain’t nothin’ but concrete and asphalt. This is just terrible. Even the dogs seem nervous, they stickin’ close to us now.
Everywhere I look all I see is messed up buildings and piles of debris. ‘Bout five years ago we done got some bad rain an’ wind and we all figure there musta been a hurricane. Then Curtis come back from a trip and filled us in. Galveston had got plum slammed. He said it was terrible. I can see that it musta hit up here too, at least the tail end of it. Tree limbs still all over, in buildings an’ stuff. If people were livin’ ‘round here they woulda cleared it out by now.
Jamal say, “hey mister Curtis, why ain't nobody done cleared this here mess out yet?” Cher bebe, he so young he don't understand ‘bout the big deserted cities. Grosse Tete ain't exactly a big town, never was. That's what's funny about the apocalypse, it saved the little towns. If you want to call it that.
I'm still thinkin’ about this stuff when all of a sudden they's all kinds of screamin’, sound like it’s coming from everywhere at once. The dogs start barkin’ they heads off. They’s a bunch of people all over, holdin’ sticks an’ bats an’ knives and all kinds o’ mess. Henry unstraps his machete and hands me his sax case. He don’t take his eyes off the people coming towards us. Curtis rounds everybody up quick in a circle with me and Lily in the middle.
As they get closer I can see these must be the wild chirren ‘cause they don't none of 'em look older’n twelve. They all hollerin’ and screamin, tryin’ to scare us I guess. Fortunately none of us is scared, not even Jamal. He standin’ close to me with a baseball bat; I guess he feel protective since I been ridin’ behind him all this time, an’ he already done tol’ me his momma tol’ him take care o’ me.
Since we ain’t doin' nothin but starin' at ‘em, we not runnin’ away or nothin’, I guess they confused cuz they start hollerin’ less an’ lookin' toward this one chil’ in particular like they watchin’ him to see what he gon’ do. This one boy be hollerin’ and jumpin’ around like crazy, he don't even notice what's goin’ on till the other ones sort get quiet. So now I am really confused; is this what all them people worried ‘bout? A bunch o’ screamin’ kids? And how they think they gon’ get anything offa folks by just screamin’? I mean those knives and stuff look scary but they ain't nothin’ nobody else don't have when they travelin’.
Curtis say, “how long you think they gon' keep this up?” and Henry he jus’ shake his head, still lookin’ at that one loud boy. Jamal he ease up a little, he see now this ain’t gon’ be bad as he thought. Everybody else tense but not scared lookin’. Even a fat ol' middle aged lady like me knows basic hand to hand, and this jus’ a bunch of kids. Prolly less than twenty now that I start countin’. T-Paul he just set hisself right back down on his trike, like he waitin’ on something. Danny he laugh at this, so do a couple others. Then we all gigglin’.
When they hear us laughin’, the kids get confused and stop they hollerin’. Now it's just that one boy an’ he stops too, like all a’sudden he embarrassed. Curtis looks at him and yells, “what's a matter boy, ain't ya got none left?” Then Jamal he yell, “is the concert over?”
Everybody laugh at this. Now the kids is confused and they start bunching up together, whisperin’ and lookin’ around.
Not that one boy though. He mad now and he runs at Curtis with his knife up in the air. But ‘fore he can get to Curtis, Henry has disarmed him and he in the dirt panting. Henry got a foot on the poor chil’s neck. Now that he done hollerin’ I can see he very young, only a bit younger than Chinquita, my youngest. I cain't stand it. I gots to do somethin’.
“Get offa him!” I holler an’ I go over and knock Henry off and pick up the boy. “What's a matter with you boy, ain't you got no momma? Don't you know it ain't right to go runnin’ around with a knife hollerin’ at people?”
He try to hit me so I do what I useta do wit’ my babies; I just grab him and hug him hard as I can, an’ I rock him an’ stroke his head. Then I start singing that lullaby I sang to my babies. I hear Curtis sayin’, “Immy, what the hell” and I hear Henry tellin’ him, “shut up an’ leave her alone.” I cain't see what them other kids is doin’ but I cain’t hear 'em no mo’ so I ain't worried. After a minute this wild boy does what my babies always did—he stop struggling and hollerin’ so he can hear what I be singin’.
Then all of a sudden I feel something on my back, like somebody is pattin’ me. I cast my eyes sideways and there's a little girl standin’ there with her hand on my back. She has dropped her knife on the ground. Right behind her is some more of the chirren. I see Lily kneeling down with a couple of 'em, giving them food. I tol’ ya she was smart; them quiet ones always is.
Something is squirming in my lap and I automatically try to hold tighter to this boy cuz I think he tryin’ to get away. But when I look down I see that there is another one tryin’ to squirm in. The first lets him in and they sit there in my lap like a pile of little kittens all sleepin’ together. Then here come Rufus and just plumb lays hisself down with his head on my leg, and the kids start to pat him and say good doggy. We just stay like that, me singin’, Rufus pantin’ and the kids just sittin’ there for, I don’t know, at least twenty minutes. I stop rockin’ once and the big one he push with h
is feet an’ rocks against me, like to remind me, so I keep goin’. Finally I say, “I’m sorry darlin’, but my legs is fallin’ asleep. Immy ain’t used to bein’ on the ground so long with such big kids in her lap.” I gently get up and they let me, but they continue to hold my hands when we stand. Henry walks over and gives ‘em some food. The big one decides to talk all of a sudden and he say, “can I bring some food to Granny?” “Well OK,” I say, “can I come too?” I wanna meet Granny whoever she be.
Curtis he start to say something but Henry hushes him up and him and Jamal and Lily all come with me. They all come because they have kids pullin’ on ‘em to come. Lily got about five of ‘em on her.
We was in front of an ol’ strip mall when they started they hollerin’ and now they lead us across the messed up parking lot full of junk cars and debris into the biggest store. It don’t have no glass on front, just tarps and stuff hanging where the doors useta be. Looks like it mighta been a Wal-mart. We go through the tarps into a kinda porch area and they got a bunch o’ kids’ bikes all over, so we know now how they get around to get food. They got a bunch more tarps hangin’ where they useta have the entrance to the store. We go through them and it’s dim at first but they got light comin’ from some holes in the roof here and there and our eyes adjust fast. The place is filled with trash and don’t smell too good, kinda stale. They got ‘em a space cleared in between huge piles of broken shelving and stuff. At first I don’t see nothing but blankets all over with kids on ‘em. Must be about a dozen or so. Finally I see a cluster of chirren around one person; “is this Granny?” I say to my new friend. “Yeah,” he say and we go up to her. The kids look dirty and scared but at least they not screamin’ no mo’.
Enter the Rebirth (Enter the... Book 3) Page 41