Long Time, No See

Chapter I: I "The Past"

Momma always says, that "playtime comes after God's time".

That's why every Sunday, she takes me to the big, wide, park next to our house. It's so big that when you open the door just across from our house you can see the giant willow tree that sits in the middle of the park, on a tall, steep and green hill. Daddy says that hill is where God sits and watches all the street from. Daddy doesn't know about the old man that sometimes sits there at night coughing and drinking something brown from a bottle.

Momma says daddy needs some time to prepare his sermon for next week, so she takes me to the park from after Church to six in the evening, 'cause then she has to make dinner. 

Daddy is a pastor at our local church while Momma is a teacher at a large private school in the super rich part of town. 

I used to always ask momma why she didn't teach at my school but she says its cause that would be unfair to the other kids who don't get school with their moms. I think she just likes using her posh voice that I hear her use when she's calling work. 

Momma hugs me everyday before school and tells me to be strong during the day, like Jesus was when they killed him. But I don't have holy powers, and Jesus didn't go to my school so it's hard sometimes.

When she talks to Grandma, Grandma says I'm a "scraw-nee" thing. I don't really know what that means but I think it means small because Momma always says back that she's "feeding her plenty" and"don't know why she so tiny".

Daddy always says he'll pray about it and Grandma always kisses her teeth when he does.

Momma's taking me to the park today again. 

I'm wearing my favorite dress, the white one with the yellow roses all over the skirt. Momma has my hair slicked down into a "sen-si-ble" bun. It makes my head feel real stiff. Momma says its cause it's made with wax. 

Momma always leaves me to play in the park by myself whilst she chats to Sheena. Aunt Sheena is my neighbor, her and momma aren't really related but I still have to call her Aunt Sheena or else momma pops my head and tells me to "remember your manners!"

The park is mostly empty, but there's somewhere for kids like me to play. The sandbox is my favorite place. I like to line all the left behind toys in a line in the sand, and pretend I'm a teacher teaching a class, just like momma.

"Very good headless barbie! Answer the next one please.".... "What's that headless barbie?... One-eyed Rag-doll is cheating in the test? Well then one-eyed Rag-doll I'm giving you a timeout! Please leave the sandbox until I call you back."

I pick up one-eyed Rag-doll and bob his body so his legs look like they are walking out of the sandbox, then lean him against the side with his arms crossed together.

"Lunchtime children! Please go and get your lunch boxes". The lunch boxes are just stray stones I find in the sandbox, I line up some stones and place them in front of the toys. 

"Alright eat up childre-" but I'm stopped by the sounds of new voices coming from behind me, I immediately drop the male army man in my hands.

"Why is she talking to herself? What a weirdo". The voice continues this time closer to me and getting more and more familiar...

Kaden's here.

"Kaden look she's got your action figure! Look! Look!" A squeaky voice shouts and I drop my eyes to the toy laying almost off lap, half in the sand.

No, no please no.

"Hey, you're right Ryan she does". Kaden says standing over me now, his body behind and yet somehow over mine still sitting in the sandbox makes me freeze as if he's thrown water on me.