• A Blackbird's Serenade • (GxG)

"Eternal Souvenirs"

Tiana

I'd missed the smell of sweet apple cider and faint almonds the second I stepped foot inside. The color, and the way it'd kept the same vibrancy from childhood, now matter how gray the world became as I grew older. The familiarity, and the comfort... I missed the way it's always felt like home. My place of refuge, no matter how hard the outside world got.

Because now, this place was a part of that world. A smack in the face, full of harsh reality.

Earlier today was full of promise and wonder, in contrast to the inferior dread coursing through me now. Journee was right, the learning experience there was something else, and it was only my first day. But it only made me want to know more, and to master as much as I could, as fast as I could.

The anticipation of touring in just a week was more exciting now than I'd expected. And it was scarily aspiring, how this was only the beginning.

"It's a lot, but it hardly feels like a job," I said, sitting across from my father at the dining table, with Journee beside me. He'd insisted we both come have a sweet treat with him, since my mother was out with her neighborhood club. "Everyone's really nice."

Grinning softly, he looked between us "And how long you two gonna be gone again?"

"Six months," Journee answered. "Tina says it may be longer, dependin' on whether or not they'll add dates."

"So damn near a year I ain't gone be seein' ya?" His arms folded as he sat back, shaking his head.

"Daddy we'll be back before you know it," I laughed.

"Mmmmhm, you gone forget all about your old Pops- tsk."

"I'll call everyday," I assured with a playful smile as Journee giggled. "Promise."

"Mhmmmm..." He then paused before his expression turned a bit serious. "You plan on tellin' ya mama?..."

Feeling Journee's eyes on me, and my father's, I glanced to my lap. "I was hopin' you would..."

He sighed. "Gabi-"

"Pops I'm not talkin' to her-" I said quickly, meeting his gaze. "Besides, she'd probably shut the door in my face before I could tell her anyway-"

"Tee." The serious call of my name made me press my lips together as my attention went to my fidgeting fingers. "Listen, I understand, and I'll tell her for you... But honey she's your mother, you two have to talk at some point."

"You told her that?" I looked at him again, finding his face giving me all the answer I needed. "Then I don't see a point in revisitin' this conversation."

A hint of stillness fell as I tried to push thoughts and feelings of my mother as far back in my mind as they could go. I was tired of getting sad about it. To a point where my sadness was spurring into anger.

"Journee," my father then said, now with a faint smile tugging his lips. "Tiana used to play baseball, she tell you that?"

Giving him a look, my eyes widened a bit. Lord, here we go...

"No sir, I don't believe she did-" I looked elsewhere, even as I felt her glance at me. "I thought baseball was strictly for men?"

"It is. They didn't have a softball team at her high school, and she was a big Jackie Robinson fan," he smiled as I did the same, shyly shaking my head. "Even got his autograph, sittin' up there in that bedroom of hers-" his finger flicked up before resting back on the table.

"Wait really?" Her voice held surprise, and I blushed the second our eyes met in a glimpse.

"Mhm," my father nodded. "That Viola though- oh boy she wasn't havin' none of it," he chuckled, shaking his head. "Stubborn as can be- just like Tiana. She'd yell at Tee for wantin' to play, then yelled at me for coachin' her."