Mr. Tan

Chapter 45: Rise & Shine, Hope and Reality

It's been a few months and it's almost the end of May. Anyone who's a senior in High School should know what the end of the school year represents; senior trips, exams, and most importantly graduation. Senior graduation was to be held on June the 3rd in the school's  auditorium. It was late May with it's hot and humid days and rainy nights. Things between Earl and his daughter were rocky at best. Ava had an attitude and a stubborn streak a mild wide. Ava attended Clark Howell Elementary School and it was located on the other side of a viaduct and some cotton fields.The school was a dark bricked one level building with teal colored double doors at the entrance that looked like it may have been a factory at one point. Ava HATED school and she did what she could to keep from going on most days. Most mornings were spent with Earl fussing at Ava about being late to school. He wanted Ava to be up, ready and well fed before she had to walk to her bus stop. Ava's bus stop was a block away. Earl always made sure his daughter had a hearty breakfast in her stomach, a lunch packed and her homework done before he sent her on her way. Unfortunately, Ava had to attend summer school this year to catch up in her Geography. A week ago when the letter came from her school letting Earl know that Ava had to attend summer school or face repeating the 5th grade, Ava threw the biggest temper tantrum. Ava was even bold enough to tell Earl "no, she wasn't going to summer school and that he couldn't make her". Today I stood home from school due to the fact that I wasn't feeling good. I've been up vomiting throughout the night. I opened my eyes at 6:15 in the morning to the sound of Earl and Ava talking. I could hear the sound of Earl's footsteps coming towards our bedroom. He came inside holding a steaming mug of tea. He put the mug of hot tea on the nightstand. He was still in what he slept in; a pair of red pajama bottoms and no shirt. 

"Mornin' baby", he greeted, as he sat down on the bed next to me. 

"Hey, honey", I replied, still groggy and my mouth tasting sour. 

He leaned over and kissed me on the forehead.

"Still feelin' bad?", he asked.

"Yeah, but I'll be fine", I replied.

"Well, I gotcha some hot herbal tea", he said. I know you sick but I got's ta go to work an' I won't be back til later on tonight. You think you can handle yo'self an' keep an eye on Ava? If not, I can stay here, might have ta hire somebody who can manage my Juke Joint unda me. 

"I got it, go to work. I think I can handle a 12 year old girl", I replied, waving my hand in the air.

"You sure?", he asked.

"I'll probably be better by later on this afternoon", I responded, giving Earl a little smirk. 

"Oh, okay, well I guess you ain't interested in nothin' to eat, huh?", he asked. Jus' got done makin' a pot of hot, buttery grits, got some ham and eggs, too.