Falling

Ten (Mary)

"I been looking high and low for you two!" Mary's voice bounces the sharp sounds of frustration.

Oh my! These two love birds is go'n to be the death a me. That Lyla has a lot of push up come'n in here...All gushy about volunteer'n and all. We'll I thinks she's up to some-thin...Just can't put my finger onto it.

"We just got ourselves a big shipment of canned goods. It needs to be sacked up. I be open'n the front door in one hour!"

"We'll get right on it, Mary!" They says, almost at the same time.

That throws a fright into my think'n. Think'n... My brain just can't stop ponder'n how I come to this place.

Ain't been a year yet since I was sort'n through the garbage behind the market, where the earthquake's fingers didn't reach.

I can't stop think'n about this guy...John...comes out a nowhere and asks me if'n I'd give him a help'n hand.

"Sure," I says. "Ain't got nothin' else to do."

"Well, now that settles it. You're going to start working for me."

Then he takes me to this here build'n and some sorrowful look'n people, my same black color. An', what'd you know he got this place and us up and run'n in no time.

Then, he puts this sign up over the metal pull-down door.

"Grace's Kitchen."

He says those words with all the love'n you could pour into the ocean.

"Whose Grace?" I asks.

He turns to me. His face all glowing deep.

"She's my best half!" He says.

Then he be tur-nin, without one more word and takes me to the back of...well...Grace's Kitchen.

"Here's where we are storing all the food supplies you'll need to get started. There will be more coming each month."

"Come'n from where?" I asks.

"Chicago," He says.

"Where that be?" I asks.

"The State of Illinois."

"Will you be pay'n me for my help'n?" There ain't no money in these wholly pockets."

He be take-in a gander at my dirty dress. 

"Of course. I'll give you a salary each month...I'll set up a bank account for you. Your money will show up each month in that account."

Then, he gives me this little square, plastic card.

"This is your key for getting cash when you need it. And, some extra for what you might need to buy from the market for the Kitchen. And, there's two small apartments upstairs. One of them is your's."

"Mary!"

"Yes, Sandra. What you be need'n?"

"Can you be ask'n someone to bring me some more flour from the back?"

"I'll git on it like a fly on a horses back!" That chuckles her up some.

I still hear her giggle'n on my way to the back of the build-din.

It's curious how John just up and disappeared at the end of the week. Never said as much as a good bye.

I sees Sam and Lyla sort'n cans a few steps ahead. They looks up and throws a set of smiles in my direction. It be good to see they's still think'n about our work.

I spot the rusty wheelbarrow, a sack of flour rest'n in it...ready to go. Where's that good for nothin' Pedro?

Well, slap my brain. John told me I needed to love the trick'n right out of folks if I was goin' to work here for him. Then he gives me this little book. Calls it a Bible. There's this red ribbon stuck between two pages. (1Corinthians)

"Open that and read chapter thirteen and verses four through seven. Those are your orders. Do that and you'll open a wonderful package of life for yourself. And, it's the way you are going to run this kitchen."

I ain't one of them go'n to church types. Especially since the earthquake done knocked the inside right out of the church down the street. But, I have to say...those words be sing'n a real nice song in my heart.

The day just sort'a slips out of morning into late afternoon before I is able to be take'n a breather an' remember what we done this afternoon. I do recall the bags of clinking cans that be find'n their way into some hungry hands an' carried down the street, make-in some families happy.

Then, I sees those two love birds walk'n out of the back room, hold'n hands an' all smily.

"Sam! Will you do me the favor of pull'n down the front door?"

Lyla is hanging out with me while Sam be busy-in himself  with the close'n business.

"Are you okay with us...you know." She clears her throat. "Working together?"

"Hey! I ain't go'n to get into you all's private business!" I turn my head and watch my fingers fiddle with the pages in the work log. "As long as you does your work."

"That's fair enough," Lyla says. Her words all silky spoken.

I look up and catch her eyes with a serious look. "I just don't want to see Sam get distracted...You hear me?" I be try'n not to sound as rough as I be feel'n.

"Sure. Sam's a great guy...and..."

"Ready!" Sam says. 

His face all full of a sunny side up feel'n. 

"I'll be back later tonight," he says.

"We're eating dinner out," Lyla throws in.

"Be careful. There be some thieving go'n down on the streets at night!"

I pulls back the little curtain an' looks through the window stand'n beside the shut metal door. I be see'n them walk'n down the street hand in hand.

"He's got the eye. I hopes he doesn't go lose'n it," I says to the window.