Unhinged √

3.

You can keep as quiet as you like but one of these days, somebody is going to find you.
- Haruki Murakani

            Early bird gets the waffles, mama used to always say, even when there was no waffle. I still got up earlier than the rest of my brothers because the early bird always got something except on Sundays when we didn't have anything until after the church service.

"Yo reverend. Preparing for the service already?" Tyler was always loud even first thing in the morning and I knew our brothers would be up soon.
"It's almost time to leave". I replied, slipping on my old dress shirt that was lined with mismatched buttons.

"It's 8:00am". Greg said, folding his hands beneath his head, his long legs barely contained by his little mattress.
"It's 8:45 and mama said we have to be there before 9". I sat on my bed close to the door and pulled on my shoes.

"Mama said we have to be there by 9". Tyler tried to mimick me and the twins laughed, finally rousing Trevor, our oldest brother who just got off his bed and strutted to the bathroom. I followed closely behind him but went down to the living room instead.

      Mama was seated on the centre table humming with Pokello, my little sister knelt between her legs. She was trying to tame Kello's wild curls. Pokello was only two years old but her beauty was undeniable and mom was always excited to enhance it in any way she could.

Pops said she had always wanted a daughter to gossip with even as we all knew Tyler was the better gossiper. I think she just wanted to braid hair and tell girl stories.

"Morning mama". I greeted as I pulled a lock of my sister's hair, earning myself a surprisingly hard swat.
Mom freed one of her hands to pull me close, giggle my short hair and place a quick kiss on my forehead.

I'd never admit it but I think she knew how much I loved her forehead kisses even though it earned me the mama's boy tag from my brothers who thought it was gross.

"Your brothers still in bed?"
"No but they just got up".
"Those little... Tyler! Greg! Chris! Y'all better get your asses dressed this minute if you don't want hell rained down on you this morning!"

Mama was African and could be strict and scary, Pops said it was a trait she got from her papa. We didn't know him, we didn't know any of her family members because mama said we didn't need them. They hadn't been in support of her and Pops union.

Her papa said he was rough, not good enough to be the father of her children but mama was already carrying Trevor. They weren't at the wedding, weren't there when Trevor was named, didn't care when they moved away so she moved on but I think she still cared.

         She finally managed to make Kello's hair look less like a forest and helped me button up my shirt. My brothers came tumbling down in a few minutes, barely dressed. Mom sighed as they dashed out the door, picked up Pokello and I walked ahead of her to the church down the street. Pops never came to church with us, mama said he needed his rest after working the entire weekend.

The St. Paul's Anglican church was the only church around our neighborhood so every Sunday morning was like a barbecue party with people exchanging greetings and stories about what they had gotten up to during the week. My brothers ran off to find their friends but I stuck with mom and Kelli and we took our seats somewhere in the middle.