Where the River Ends

Chapter One

  The rain had been pouring for days on end, giving a sheer glaze to every little thing in sight. I love this type of weather. It adds character to everything. Suddenly, the leaves become rich and poignant and the sky masks itself into a misty grey color while the birds make their way across it. The tranquility of the weather also seemed to find its way into our home. I watched as Ma roamed about the about the house humming along to gospel songs she played out on our old radio. She swayed her hips as she cooked in the kitchen, taking short breaks to sing a long to her favorite parts.

As I stared out into the yard I saw Pa walking towards the house. The vast mountains behind him made him look so small and fragile, like he could just be blown away by a strong burst of wind. I watched as he approached the house and he could be seen for what he was. Strong, broad shoulders made up his body, his stoic face gave him a touch of mystery, but Pa was the furthest thing from mysterious. Pa was a simple man. Born and raised right here, in little Marlton; he never went to college, married my mom right after high school and then they had me.

He entered the house, his hands burdened with sacks of rice and bags of potatoes. Pa always seemed to do things so effortlessly with a certain calmness that seemed unusual at times, maybe it was because he never showed any emotion or spoke very often, but nothing seemed more than he could handle. I've spent many days wondering if I could live a life like that, but I knew my restlessness would get in the way of living a humble life.

"Eddy, is that you darling?" my mother yelled out enthusiastically from the kitchen. Her thick New Orleans accent gave so much soul to every word she spoke. Grandma used to say how much her voice reminded her of the old jazz music they used to play in the bars when she was younger.

"Oh, what took you so long baby? we nearly starved ourselves to death," she said as her face showed signs of worry.

"It was busy out in the market, the rain got everyone in a panic," Pa replied hastily as he placed the bag of potatoes and rice on the counter.

"Aaliyah, come on in the kitchen and help me with dinner," She called out to me. I stood up relentlessly, I have never been the homemaker type, in the exact words of my home ec. Teacher, "some women are just not skilled in that department." Ma still tried to instill it into me anyway, she got to me into baking biscuits for church and cooking casseroles for old Johnny down the street.

"Oh, this is gonna go up as one of the best dishes in the whole damn town, mhmm... I can already tell, these potatoes are the perfect size and just the right texture to make a wholesome meal. Oh lord, we're gonna have a feast in here," She yelled out. "I need you to cut these potatoes up nice and round."

I grabbed some potatoes and started cutting, Ma loved to brag, usually without a reason to. But I had to admit, Ma's food was utterly delicious, perfect all around. The church sisters would always ask her how she made her dishes and she'd just laugh and say I just added a bit of love is all, can't make anything good without love. The sister's would laugh along, but the envy showed in their fake smiles and laughs.

"I'm gonna put some aside for old Johnny, he's gonna love this," Ma said as she stirred the soup around, pushing her face towards it to smell the aroma. Old Johnny was mom's friend from back in high school. They were inseparable, she always said. They did everything and anything together, she had countless stories to tell about their endeavors. But as time passed, they grew apart.I spent a lot of time over at Johnny's house when I was younger he was like an uncle to me. I don't remember much of the time we spent together, but I do remember when he helped me build a lemonade stand and told me that I was going to be great entrepreneur. I smiled and nodded, having no idea what such a long word meant.

"Poor man, never got married, don't got anything children to call his own, what a sad, sad life."

"Ma, stop it. Old Johnny is just fine, maybe he's found happiness in something else," I didn't bother to hide the annoyance in my tone.

"Oh hush now, you don't know nothing. Family is happiness, marriage is happiness, you mean to tell me you can be happy all alone? Well go on then."

The kitchen grew silent, there was no point in arguing with Ma, because it would never end. Grandma used to say arguing with Ma was like a Tiger catching its prey, she won't stop til she completely salvaged it, and boy was she right.

At dinner, Ma said grace and we ate in silence as we usually did. Ma hated the idea of talking during dinner, she claimed only unmannered folks did that.

After we were done eating Ma gave me the leftovers to send over to Johnny's house.

"You go straight there, and straight back. I don't want you walking alone at night, that's when ungodly things happen," Ma said shaking her finger in my face.

She was always paranoid. Merlton, was the calmest place you'd every step foot in, people slept with their doors unlocked, practically wide open. Johnny's house was a fifteen minute walk from our own, and it was recognizable from anywhere, the old thing looked like it was going to fall down any second. Everyone tried to tell Johnny to move out before it collapsed on to him one day, but he refused. If there's was one thing Johnny was, it's stubborn, way to stubborn for his own good.

I walked on to his porch, I could only imagine how nice his house must have been a couple years ago. Behind the rust, rotting wood and decomposing paint, I could see something, something quite beautiful. I knocked on the door, waiting for him to let me in.

"Johnny, it's me Aaliyah. Ma sent me over with some of her potato soup."

There was no reply. It was strange. Johnny damn near ran to the door at the smell of Ma's food. I knocked again. "Johnny, you in there? The potato soup ain't gonna eat itself." I knocked again, harder. "C'mon your not gonna have me send this back are ya? Ma's gonna be real upset." No reply. "Well, I'm just gonna leave it right here on the doorstep, you come get it when you're ready." I placed the containers on the doorstep, wondering what was keeping old Johnny from coming to door. After a couple minutes I left and made my way back home. I stumbled on to my bed right away, when Ma came in.

"So how'd Johnny like the soup, probably made his night huh?." She said pitying him. I didn't know how to tell her that he didn't come to the door, Ma cherished her cooking and I didn't want her thinking old Johnny's refusal to come to the door was an insult to her cooking.

"Oh you should have seen him Ma, he was smiling ear to ear." I lied straight through my teeth.

"Just as I expected," she said with a knowing smile, then she left.

The next morning, I was woken up to a loud cry. I jumped out of bed and made my way to the living room. Ma was crying hysterically, a stream of tears were flowing down her face as she tried to brush them away. Pa had his hands wrapped around her trying to console her.

"Oh no, no it can't be. Not old Johnny," she cried, trying to catch her breath.

"What's going on?" My voice trembled. I hadn't seen Ma cried in years, I had forgotten how disastrous it looked.

"Johnny, he's....he's dead." She yelled out in pain, and the tears came pouring down her face even harder.

I stood still, shaking my head trying as I tried to process the words that just came out from her mouth.

Johnny is dead.