By William Campbell
The door opens and I see Mama's shadow at the top of the stairs. The bright behind her hurts my eyes. The food smell makes me hungry. Here, you eat that and you don't make no noise. I got company coming over and you better be good this time. She tosses the food down. I pick it off the floor and eat.
I am being good, like Mama wants. Gnawing at my food listening to the furnace go tap, tap, tap. I don't hear Mama's footsteps. Don't hear Mama's music playing like when she dances. Maybe I should make the bad noise, but I don't want to make Mama mad again, no, no.
Mama says she has to use the chain because it used to belong to my Daddy. I wish he would come and take his chain. If he takes it, then Mama can't use it to make my back hurt wet anymore. Mama says as long as I stay quiet when she has company over, I won't get the chain. Now I stay quiet.
Mama's gonna have company. I know cause she's playing music. Mama says it's Bay Toe Van, Choo Pan, Vaug Ner, but I don't know nothing about them because I'm even dumber than my Daddy. I tell Mama I like the music. I can sing for you, Mama. You want to hear?
You don't know nothing 'bout no singing, she says. That preacher fella is coming over and he ain't gonna bless you if he knows you're down here.
Is he gonna bless me with Jesus?
Mama tells me to shut up. You stay on your cot like you're supposed to.
I stay quiet like Mama says. She's gonna get the Holy Spirit put inside her right, and I ain't supposed to make not one sound. Not one sound.
I hear the music playing and the dancing footsteps. I want to dance and sing. I'm not supposed to, but maybe the preacher will like my singing and put the Holy Spirit inside me too. Yes, Jesus loves me. Yes Jesus, love me!
The music stops and the door opens. Mama tries to stop him, says there's nothing's down there he wants to see, but he doesn't listen. He screams when he sees me.
Oh my God! Abomination!
Bless me with Jesus! Bless me with Jesus!
He tries to run, but Mama's waiting for him at the top of the stairs with the chain. I close my eyes and try not to listen to the sounds of hurt wet.
He's done screaming. Mama pushes him downstairs, and then puts the music back on.
The preacher blesses me. The meat comes off easily where the chain left deep hurt wets. I chew all the way to the bone. I nudge him, but he doesn't move. He must be all out of Jesus blessings.
Mama left the door open. The bright hurts my eyes. Maybe I'll go upstairs.
I want to find Mama and make her bless me too.