"Momma, you have no idea - I knew that awhile back!" Derrick shook his head and winked at Vivian.
"Well, I'm going out to gather up the others, let them know Meribel has treated us for supper." Shanna stood and made her way through the kids who were standing around talking loud, looking to play on the Play Station next.
Sheila was across the room speaking with Meribel and Sylvia; the kids were too loud and all three mothers were giving orders. "OUTSIDE!"
"Momma, come here. Look at that one, what do you suppose I'm gonna do about him?" Derrick asked, gaining his mother's attention and standing aside, next to Vivian, so they both could see what he was talking about. The object of his attention was his son, Shawn2 - peering up into Crystal's laughing face as if the heavens had blessed him with an angel that he could see.
"Lord... has that boy got a crush on her?" Gert asked.
"I'm afraid so. Sasha's been teasing him to no end on the drive up here. I'm thinking he's got it bad."
"What's his name?" Vivian asked, not familiar with all of his kids and their names.
"Well, the one with his mouth just about wide open, eyes glazed, staring up at Crystal is Shawn2 - called that, for obvious reasons. That little one jumping up and down trying to get my wife's attention is my youngest, Joseph. Giggling and whispering in Angela's ear, is my Sasha. The tall one with the basketball forever under his arm is my second oldest, Marcus, and next to him is Luis, and my other son is outside, hasn't come in yet. He's DJ, or Derrick Jr. - he's going into pro-football. This coming season is his first. After this, he'll be going off to training camp with his team."
"Wow! Which team is that? I love football!"
"Philadelphia Eagles! We're proud of him. It's gonna be tough with him away from home so much, but we'll be trying to get to most of his games."
"That is fantastic! Jake and I will definitely want to go to some of his games, for sure!"
"And your team?" Derrick asked.
Vivian grinned, "I'm afraid it's not the Eagles, but now that I know family is in there, I may have to abandon my team. Da'Bears, of course!"
"Oh, my goodness! You've got to be kidding me!" Derrick guffawed and then, "You're not serious, are you?"
"Don't start! Don't start! Just leave m'Bears alone! And you not gonna stand here and tell me you've always been for the Eagles, I bet I can guess your team! ThePackers!"
Derrick grinned and blushed, "Hey! Green Bay Packers rule!"
"What?! The cheese factory?! Cheese curds?!"
"Young lady! Shame on you! Don't you start on Green Bay! What's "Da'Bears" done, since they won in '86 and made that incredibly embarrassing, shameful music video? Huh?!"
Vivian started laughing, "Okay, okay, okay - I give, I give! Don't bring that up, I'm ashamed enough of that as it is! Wasn't they pitiful!? Couldn't dance, didn't have no rhythm! Couldn't sing - that's why they haven't won anymore more! Lord has struck them with a 20 year penalty fine! That's just to make sure they never do that mess again!"
When Derrick laughed, Vivian saw it. Yeah, the good looks were there. Shining, glowing, gleaming. He was a joy to talk to, re-affirming her earlier thoughts. It was an incredible feeling, belonging to the McPherson men.
Sylvia and Sheila came over and started clearing away much of what they were preparing, Gert was finishing up the chitterlings and was putting them on to cook. Meribel helped by setting out the food she'd brought, grinning, she glanced at Vivian, "Chica, mami, I see you still hanging in there. I can't believe somebody got Jake to settle down." Meribel commented, reeling from the news and drew closer to ask Vivian, "Is it the real thing? You in love, for sure?"
Vivian blushed but didn't hesitate, "Oh, yeah, and uh, I think he feels the same." Vivian answered, noticing that all ears were trained on what she was saying. Sheila, Sylvia, Gert, Derrick and Meribel, wanting to hear the details. She laughed at them, "What?!"
"Come on, girl, dammit! Spill it! Has he said it?" Sheila pushed.
"Let's hear it, let's hear it!" Gert urged, "You two said the, I love you - yet?"
"Look at you women!! All in for the 411!" Vivian exclaimed.
"That's right, and you takin' too long! You said it yet? He said it yet?!" This came from Sylvia.
Vivian's eyes rolled up gleefully, and with a big fat grin, she bobbed her head, "YES! He said it! He said... I'm gone marry you, lil'girl, and you gone marry me!"
"WOOO, WOO, WOOOO - nail his butt to the wall, young lady!!!" Derrick shouted beside her as Gert did a little happy dance. Laughing, Sylvia, Sheila and Meribel started singing, "...Go-in' to the chapel and they're - gonna get ma-a-arried - goin' to the chapel and they're - gonna - get ma-a-arried - gee I really love him and we're - gonna get ma-a-arried - goin' - to the chapel - of love..." They harmonized and laughed.
"Hush that will you, 'fore he hear it! Don't scare'em away before I drag his butt there!" Vivian warned, even though she was laughing with them. Derrick grabbed her, hugging her to him, saying, "Don't you worry your pretty little head, if I have to help you drag him there, he'll be there!"
"Thank you, but, in truth, I don't really want to do that, not really. I want him to walk in, proudly, on his own. So, everybody chill - don't let on when he comes in that I said anything."
"Mami, your secret is safe with us!" Meribel sang.
The pig was prepared and ready to go over the fire. All the wood that was needed, was stacked near the pit, leaving Jake to add logs as the night progressed. Every four hours, he would lower the pig as it grew closer to being cooked through. Having completed the set up of that task, hungry, all five started back across the road to get something to eat; leaving the pig, covered, and on the table with the rod in place. When the time came, it would take only a moment to place it on the rack above the fire.
Dennis had already decided instead of staying at the hotel, he would spend the night out with Jake, watching what he felt, was the main attraction! A pig roast! This would be his very first, and he planned to enjoy it to the fullest! That meant, sitting right there, watching that baby cook. Assisting Jake, of course, keeping him company. For now however, the need for immediate food was on their minds. Right away they noticed Derrick's van and of course, the kids were all out in the yard, running and playing. Sylvia had moved her car to the far side of the house, leaving the driveway clear, because the boys were out and the basketball was bouncing, as they played, shooting hoops. The garage was cleaned and emptied, thus accommodating the tables which would be holding the food, keeping it out of danger in case of rain. The grills were set up along the fence where Shawn would be grilling, starting at the crack of dawn. Everyone was directed to park on the far side of the house in the grass, so the front was clear to set up the other tables and lawn furniture where all attending could sit and eat, also, the wide long driveway was perfect for dancing, once Mundo set up to jam the day and night away.
"Hey, tio! You gone shoot some hoops with us?" Marcus asked Shawn, bouncing the ball. While distracted, Luis stole it from him and started feigning moves. Mundo and Zachary were split between getting something to eat, or joining them for a game or two.
"Can I get a rain check?" Shawn asked, as Jake and Dennis went ahead of him in the garage and out the back to the basement door.
"Sure you can!" Marcus agreed, now hovering about his brother's back, guarding in defense as he set up a shot.
"DADDY!!! SOMEBODY'S HERE!!!" Angela shouted from the front porch where she and Sasha sat, she stood watching and then with Sasha on her tail, took off to tell Sylvia.
Shawn turned to see Lucas and Lydia pulling up on the edge of the drive. A big smile spread across his face. "He-e-ey, you made it!" He greeted, dodging hustling young men grappling for the hoop. He walked to the truck to see Lucas looking around and Lydia getting out with a need to stretch her legs.
"An' bout time, too! Where you wantin' me to park?" Lucas asked with Shawn leaning on the door of his tow truck. "Pull right up on the lawn over there, next to your daughter's car, th
at's fine." Shawn stood away so he could do so. He turned to Lydia, who was looking around. "Lo-o-ord - no wonder my chile moved up here. This is absolutely - beau-ti-ful. Oh, my goodness - wide open, fresh air."
"It is, isn't it?" Shawn returned, giving Lydia a welcoming hug and kiss to her cheek.
"Yes, indeed! All these kids! Who they belong to?"
Shawn grinned, "Most of them are Derrick's, a couple of them are ours, your grandson Mundo. MUNDO! Come greet your grandparents!" Shawn yelled for him as he was getting into the game. Mundo stopped mid-dribble, smiled, passed the ball and made his way to them just as Lucas was coming from the truck.
"Hey, grandma! How you doin'?" He asked, hugging her, followed by a kiss to the cheek.
"Just fine, boy, when you gone get that stuff out yo'head! I'on like them dreadlocks! Look dirty! Like you ain't washed yo'head! Sho' ain't combed it - not with that in there."
Mundo blushed, "I'm thinkin' bout gettin' it cut for school, grandma. I start this fall."
"Well, good for you! Get that cut off and cleaned up and trimmed out. That's how I like to see our young black men. You be handsome then, right now, you look like you don' rolled up out the gutter and need a bath!"
Shawn tried not to laugh, but ended up doing so anyway, patting Mundo on the back, who took it all in stride; he knew his grandmother. "Yes, ma'am." He grinned and turned to look at the man coming up next to her.
"Mundo, that's your grandfather, Lucas Henry Martin, your mother's father." Shawn proudly introduced them. "Lucas, this is your grandson, Armundo Edgar Payne Jr."
Lucas felt a pang of conscience, here was his grandson, and it was the first time he'd ever laid eyes on him. He could already see that the young man had quite a few of his features, looking like his mother, Sylvia, who had looks more like himself.
"How you doin', sir, nice to meet you." Mundo held his hand out to him. Lucas grabbed it and gave it a solid shake, "Glad to hear it, young man, how old you now? I forget?" Lucas asked, Shawn had told him not so long ago, but it had slipped his mind.
"Eighteen, sir, be nineteen first of the year."
"Well, now, that's alright. You gotta sister too, where she at?"
"Don't know, sir, she round here somewhere."
"She's probably in the-..." Shawn started to say, when his wife, screeching with joy, came out with Angela behind her, "Oh, my god! You made it!! Oh my god, I can't believe it, you actually came!" Sylvia was so happy, her eyes were filled with tears to see them there, at her home. Stunned, choked up, she didn't care how she may have looked. To see her mother and father, there - together, brought her close to crying. She went straight to her mother, and hugged her tight, fighting back tears of pride. For once, her parents were present too. It didn't matter that she knew they were coming; heard they were coming; had called and said, they were on their way; and yet, she still doubted that they would actually show up. Kept deep within her mind, was a safety guard to prepare her for when she figured they'd call and say, for whatever reason, they couldn't make it after all. She'd set that notion in her mind and was prepared. Prepared to do what she'd always done, play it off as if it didn't matter. But it did matter, "Oh, thank you! Thank you so much for coming!"
Lydia was momentarily speechless by her daughter's reaction, it showed just how neglected she had been by them. "I told you we was coming when I talk to you on the phone." Lydia said softly with her daughter clinging to her, not in a hurry to let her go.
"I know, mama, but - ... I'm just so happy you came. That you're both here! You don't know how much it means to me, that you actually came. Thank you." Sylvia whispered, choked up inside. She stepped back, embarrassed by the fact that this should be such a big deal to her, when it shouldn't be. Yet, fact was, her parents were, 'no showers' - so for them to be there, gripped her internally. Trying to real herself in, she wiped at her eyes, realizing how she must look. She turned to her father, who was trying to fight off the feelings it evoked in him to see her so moved.
"Hi." She softly greeted him, feeling a bit awkward, she approached him, and gave a slight hug, not so tight as the hug she gave her mother. Granted, they'd had that day together... but that was all it had been; just a day, separated by years since she last saw him.
"How long was the drive?" She asked, stepping back to Shawn, grabbing his arm to her as if she needed it to hold onto. Because of her vibes, Shawn instinctively knew, putting his arm around her and pulled her into his side. Sylvia brought Angela before her, as if a shield, feeling self-conscience before her parents.
"Not too bad, now we here." Lucas stated, looking from her to his new son-in-law. His daughter and son-in-law stood before him, and it was as if they were strangers. He supposed he had no one to blame but himself for the awkward moments, after all - he'd been the absent parent. Yet, his son-in-law's eyes were filled with understanding and welcome, no judgment against him there. Lucas never imagined any of his children married to white folks, but in this instance, he had to admit as far as he could tell, she'd chosen well.
"Well, we couldn't be happier to have you, now that you know the way, it'd be nice to see you here more often, regular even." Shawn encouraged with the invitation. "Anyway, you're here now - and uh, well - this is my daughter, Angela Rae. Angela, this is Lydia, and this is Lucas, Sylvia's parents." Shawn introduced her.
Angela smiled, "Nice to meet you."
"You too, young lady, you too." Lydia smiled down at her, then looked up at her daughter. Who was now smiling softly, quietly staring at them. Suddenly Sylvia realized that, and snapped out of her trance, smiling brighter and started again, "Well - this is our home, what do you think?" She asked.
"I think you don' did well for yourself, gul'! Yo'neighbor don't mind all these kids and noise?" Lucas asked.
"Lucas! That's his house." She corrected her husband and then turned to Shawn, "Ain't that right? Yo'house right cross from my daughter's? Or is this yo'house and that's hers?" She asked to be clear.
"They're both of our homes. Originally, I owned that property, and your daughter owned this one. Come on, let me show you around."
Before they took another step, Gert came out of the house, "Hang on a minute! Wait for me-e-e!!" She shouted. "How come you all didn't tell me your momma and daddy arrived?! I was in the bathroom, come out and hear they was here! All that noise down there! Jake and Dennis squaring off with their plates! Both of them looking at each other like one scared the other gone get more on his plate! I swear! Ain't nothing scarier than a room full of big men, all of'em big eaters! That Dennis had me in tears, laughing at him! Shawn, I had to hurry up and set some aside for you, then rush out here! Can't have you all thinking me rude; that's why I come today! Main reason to fetch your momma and daddy with me, take'im back to the house! They ain't gonna wanna stay round here with all these kids and racket! A person can't hear themselves think! Wait till Jake's boys get here! Then Kathy Ann's - believe you me, you'll be glad I came to get you! Any-who, how you all doin'? How was your drive? I'm Shawn's, Derrick's, and Jake's momma! Gertrude Eleanora McPherson, people just call me, Gert ... mighty nice to make your acquaintance!"She finished on the last of her breath.
Lucas shook his head, looking from Shawn, who was grinning at the look on Lucas' face. Lydia had already talked to her on the phone, so had a preview of Gert. "Well, it's mighty nice to meet you, too, finally! Yo' son was just about to show us around here. This my husband, Sylvia's daddy, Lucas Henry."
Gert held her hand out, "Nice to meet you, Lucas Henry!"
"Yeah - well... nice t'meet you, too. You must be from the South." Lucas greeted in return, shaking her hand.
"I sure am! Greenville, South Carolina - got family in Mississippi, too; got family all over the South. My husband and I found some cheap land here in Wisconsin so many years back, and we relocated here. Been here ever since; raised our children here."
"Well, it sho'. And where yo' husband at now?"
"He at the house. Ain't often you can get my Bart to ventur
e off his land, he's a homebody, I'm afraid. You'll be meeting him when you follow me home."
"Emmm, we'll see. Don't see why we can't just get a room, I'on know if I like the idea o'puttin' ya'll out."
"Lucas Henry Martin - I will not hear of it! We family and we need time to get to know one another! Now, you stayin' with us, and that's that! I been lookin' forward to meetin' you, too, and now that you here - we'll be having ourselves a good time! Loosen up, ol'man - relax - you'll be just fine! There be too much catchin' up to do, t'be fussing with a hotel when we got rooms to spare!"
Shawn was turning red on the spot. Sylvia smiled, watching the ever changing expressions on her parents face. Gert took a bit of getting used to, especially from black people. Her personality was the last thing you'd expect from someone like her. Yet - the more time she spent with them, the more she saw Gert in her husband. Shawn was a lot like his mother in many ways, compassionate, deep, open and loving, with his own ideas on life, and then he had a great deal of Bart forced in on him.
"Lord'a'mercy, Gertrude, you know you somethin' else!" Lydia laughed.
"Lord Jesus..." Lucas mumbled low, "...gone be stuck wit' this crazy ass white woman all weekend." This under his breath, but Shawn made out a bit of it and erupted into laughter. Lydia jabbed him with her elbow, "Hush now, mind yo'self, Lucas!" She spoke to him under her breath, receiving a grumbled growl back from him for her efforts. Gert smiled, unfazed, "Well, son, let's get this tour underway, we ain't got all day! Times wasting, I'll be taking them on from here in a few!" Gert directed.
With a long deep sigh, Shawn smiled his apologies at Lucas, and held his hand out, leading the way with his wife on his arm. Gert walked along with Angela under an arm, with Sasha joining after a moment under the other, following Lucas and Lydia.
Shawn pointed out their land boundaries, telling them about the plans they had with his home, how it was now being emptied for tearing down, to be rebuilt into a much larger home. He used that moment to slip in there his consideration for building a separate building for his work that he could leave and go to. Sylvia's eyes shot up to him, surprised to hear that. Shawn went on, pretending not to see the look that crossed her features, smiling the whole time as Lucas agreed, "I'on blame you, man gotta have a place to go - get away from these women! Otherwise, won't be gettin' nothin' done; need to build that firs'!" Lucas griped in behalf of Shawn.
BOMAW 7-9 Page 31
