Home: A Short Tale

Photo by Sherard Campbell on Unsplash

Looking at the remnants of my great grandmother’s home (or, as we called her, Mama or ‘Grand Dame’ to you)—it was here I learnt Prophet Elijah came to visit, ghosts and evil spirits get revenge and grief turns into song between Nova’s knees singing of burials while braiding hair.

Here was my first experience of death and that buildings could sway to negro spirituals that grip the soul. Of where insanity and family charity intertwined. The place where generations grew under poverty’s roof. One cent candies and possessed snakes came from the neighbour's house.

Imprinted forever upon little Nikkie’s soul: Mama’s lap and watchful gaze rocking on the porch, a hard black woman turned soft with babies placed in her care.

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