𝑳𝑨 𝑪𝑯𝑨𝑵𝑻𝑬𝑼𝑺𝑬

𝑼𝑵

♱♱

𝑺𝒂𝒍𝒐𝒎𝒆 𝑷𝑶𝑽

My hands squeezed the brim of my dress as I look down the passing streets.
Thick smog hung in the air, the houses were different from back home in Louisiana. They were all dull and saddening, it seemed as my father went down the rode in our car it got even more depressing. The sun peaking through clouds tried to do it justice but I was not liking it. The only joy I saw was kids running around, housewives doing their duties, and men coming and going from work either with a smile or snarl on their faces. Despite the clear poverty here in Small Heath it still had quite a bit of liveliness from it's inhabitants.

I let out a deep sigh sitting back in my seat, body aching after what felt like hours in this awful position.
"Chérie what is the matter dear?" I look over at my father with an deadpan  at him as he knew the answer to his question. "I know it is not like your grandmother's home-"
"Lafayette in general." I cut him off and he let's out a sigh.
"I know but you will come to see that there was nothing there for us." I scoff at his words. "Don't act like that now, there was nothing in Lafayette or the states in general for me to provide or protect my family." His tone shifted to a more serious tone.
"Protect" I thought to myself, Small Heath was nothing but white folks. The only color I've seen was the grey and black coming from the buildings and streets. At least in Lafayette I had people who looked like me and I could relate to them.
"You will have your Uncle Pierre and his family, don't forget how close you are to Clara." I let the foreign name linger in my brain. "Also Uncle Robert and his family lives there as well."
"Papa don't tell me we'll be staying in a house with all of them." He let's out a hearty laugh, I haven't heard that since the funerals.
"Oh no no no, mon dieu, Uncle Robert and his family lives in the neighboring house. Me and you will be sharing a house with Uncle Pierre." I groan slumping in my seat.

My Uncle Pierre and Aunt Beatrice did not know how to stop having kids. Those two had a whole band of children. Now knowing this I knew I'll be sharing a bed with my cousins.
"Salomé it shouldn't be any difference to you, don't forget you shared a bed with your cousins before you left."
"Papa who said I enjoyed it." I grimace remembering getting random limbs thrown on me, getting spit or even pee on me. I hated sharing a bed with small children.

"We made it!" My father's enthusiasm snapped me out of my self-pity.
He pulls up close to another car most likely belonging to one of my uncles.
"Salomé look at me." The car shuts off and I can hear him shift around on the leather seats. I turn to look at him.