ODDS OF LOVE - SEASON 14

Episode 148

" This is quite.... quite extraordinary food," Oscar Oswell said as he sat beside Keisha in her new red and black striped dress that night at the Duncan family dining room table. " What is it ? "

Members of the family, which included not only Keisha but her sons Jamal and Justin, her daughter Nicole, her mother Harriet , her brother Jeremiah and Jeremiah's fiancee Bliss , all smiled slightly at each other as Keisha said softly to him," I told Mama not to but she insisted on fixing it. I'm sorry if it's not to your liking, de....Oscar. "

Harriet clicked her teeth and shook her head which was adorned with her very best " for special occasions" wig. " Nonsense, girl. The man said it was extraordinary , didn't he ? I bet you never had pig feet and ham hocks before, have you, Mr. Oswell ? "

Oscar looked at Keisha and then her mother with his big oddly innocent brown eyes. " Why , no , no I have not. But they are very enjoyable. Quite tasty in fact. My compliments, ma'am. I have had soul food before. My great aunt Agnes and I took a trip to New York and went to a lovely little restaurant. We had.... I think you all call them chitterlings. "

Jeremiah hid his face behind his napkin as he laughed discreetly.

Nicole rolled her eyes.

Bliss said charmingly," Well , actually, we all call them chitlins. And , they're an acquired taste to most of us. I can't stand them myself. The taste. Or the smell. Nasty. "

Justin shook his head in disgust as he nibbled at his bowl of salad instead. " It's all gross. Soul food is one of the most unhealthy foods our race can eat really. My health professor taught us that our unhealthy diet is the direct cause of the high level of hypotension and heart disease and such that run rampant in the African American community. And , it's a negative stereotype from slavery days according to Dr. Abara , my sociology teacher."

Harriet sighed. " Education is good but too much education..... Ain't nothing wrong with soul food, little boy. Your grandfather and I raised a family on the proceeds of soul food. Tell your teachers that. "

Keisha looked at Oscar with apologetic eyes and he reached over to cover her dark brown hand with his white one. A fact that none of her family ignored. Especially Nicole whose face tightened sharply. " My son , Justin, is a freshman at Yancey Woodward Memorial College. He's undecided in majors though. "

Oscar nodded as he took a tentative bite of the collard greens on his plate. Then he smiled in appreciation. " Yes. That's an excellent school. And, being undecided is perfectly fine. Perfectly fine. I was undecided myself until my sophomore year of college. "

Jeremiah looked at his other nephew Jamal who was very quiet since arriving at the house after checking out of the Moss Center. "Jamal has been accepted at several colleges too. "

Keisha lifted her head proudly. " Yes. Jamal was accepted last year early admission to Harvard, Yale , Stanford, University of Maryland and Howard. So many really. There might be more I'm forgetting. My children are all so smart. "

Oscar smiled widely at her. " Like their mother."

Keisha lowered her head in embarrassment although she still smiled slightly.

Jamal snapped," Fat good it does me now ! "

Then he banged his fist on the table in frustration ,  startling them all.

Suddenly there was a knock at the front door. A loud insistent knock that seemed very bullying in nature.

Jeremiah got to his feet before Keisha could stand up. " Relax, sis. I got it. Be right back. And, Jamal , man , chill out. Nobody meant anything bad. "

Then he went off to see who was at the door. To his curiosity it was Detectives Nate Jacks and Vincent Fisherman.

Jacks smirked at Jeremiah and handed him a piece of paper. " Got a  warrant here to search this house. For any evidence connected to the A&B robbery. Step aside, lawyer. "