Flower Among Ash
by
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Sticking Around
Taniqua was playing in the sandbox with her children when Tommy joined her. “They say once a man twice a child”, he said as he approached her.
She turned around to see who it was, “When you have children, you do anything, almost anything to make them happy”, she replied
“They are all yours?
“Oh gee! I am liking you even the more”
“Sorry if I offended you”
“Oh really. You need some home training on how to be tactful. You lack the wisdom on the people skill area”
“This you know from the one question I asked?
“Yes. I do not need to hear anymore, and yes, they are all my children and I am not ashamed”
“What is your name? Tanisha interrupted the two.
“What is your name? Tommy replied with a question
“You cannot answer a question with another question” Taniqua corrected Tommy
“My name is Tommy”, he told Tanisha.
“I know what letter your name starts with”, she said proudly.
“What letter is that? Tommy asked.
“Your name starts with the letter T. I am going to be six soon and I am going to graduate and I will be going to the first grade the next school year”
“When will that be?
“I don’t know”, she said shrugging her shoulders. “You should ask my mom. She is the one that told me all that stuff”, she said and continued playing in the sand box.
“I bet you cannot tell me what letter my name ends with? Tommy asked Tanisha to see how Taniqua would react.
“The last letter of your name is E. Tom…..meee. Isn’t that right mommy? She replied with her focus on what she was building in the sand.
“Is she right mommy? Tommy teased.
“Leave my daughter alone. She is learning phonemes, which she is good at, and by the way, if you listen to the end sound of your name; it does sounds like an E. It is hard to distinguish the sound the letter Y makes at her age. Bug off!
Tanisha got back into the conversation,” Mommy, is it a long or a short sounding O in Tommy? She asked.
“Lets ask Tommy”. She turned her attention to Tommy, “Well, Tommy; is it long or short O?
“Short, I think” he replied feeling unsure.
“I think so too. It sounded like a short vowel”, she answered and ran off to the swing.
“Are you here to push my buttons or it is hard for you to think that gifted children can live in the ghetto?
“Well, I’ve never met people living in places like this before”
“Why do you come here to live? Your view of the people living here is so dismal and minimal. Are you not afraid of getting too close to our grimes? Nevertheless, we are just disfranchised” Taniqua informed him.
He sat beside her in the sandbox, “It has been along time since I’ve been in a sandbox. Which University you atte
nded?
“Life”
“Did you ever….
“High school”
“You speak as if you know a thing or two”
“Pardon moi. I speak like I know something. Were you expecting me to be illiterate? I am currently attending life’s university. It gives you a higher degree than book knowledge. Book knowledge is not all that it is cracked up to be”
“Did you dropout of school?”
“You are so tactful and for your information, I almost graduated from high school. I could have. I was completing extra courses hoping to get a scholarship. I could if I wanted to but, I wanted more than just graduating with the minimal requirement plus I am currently in college”
“I like you”
“Once again, you are very tactful”
“So”
“You don’t even know me. We met just a few weeks ago! How can you like me? OH! I see. You are here to fulfill some fantasy you should be with a Black woman. After you’ve fulfill your mission, what then?
“Whatever you want”
“I get it. You see me with four children and you assumed that I am easy. I do not fall easy like the autumn leaves”
“Not from my perspective”
She stood up and was going to let him have a piece of her mind, “You are pitiful. You disgust me. From the moment I saw you; I knew I was not going to like you. Please leave me alone!
“Hey! I am just pulling your strings. By the way, you people claim that you are misplaced, misjudged or whatever, but it is ok for you to assume that I am not a nice guy. I could be the one for you. Your deliverer!”
“Why are you picking on me and my children? Is your life so unfulfilling that you decided to take it out on me? I do not need to be delivered. I am quite happy. Do not feel sorry for me”
“Ok! Just trying to make conversation. I am a bit shy so I might say stupid things”
“Really!
“Lets start over. I see you are sensitive when it comes to certain subjects so I will not talk about that stuff. Ok, starting over; Nice day eh?
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About the Book
A life laminated by tragic experience does not seem to stop Taniqua from embarking on the arduous task of undoing past mistakes. Her life has been smeared with unprecedented circumstances in a purlieu that seems to shut the downtrodden in isolation even in a big city like Toronto. If you are like Taniqua, it would be easier to throw in the towel than to be combative in a situation that seems determined to keep her impoverished and friends that seemingly do not support her and who don’t have the same optics. Yet the death of a child coupled with regrets couldn’t prevent her from pursuing her dreams.
About the Author
Angela James is an avid poet. She obtained both Masters in the USA and her undergrad and a college degree in Ontario, Canada. She is passionate about writing and wants it to be a career choice soon.She considers herself a dreamer and is not limited by circumstance in the pursuit of those dreams. She is a mother of two children and a grandmother of a little girl affectionately called Zen. Angela is an educator for over nine years. Her favorite thing to do as a teacher is to read to students while bringing books to life for them.