Sunday, after church, 99 cent store
looking at the grapes and other fresh food items
taking longer than usual to decide on the green or the red
began to wander to other parts of the food section
looking at the refrigerated meats...I don't eat meat
but fascinated by the whole chickens
bacon strips side by side with the Aloe Vera Juice
umph, yea I'll pass...as I turn left to return to the fresh foods
a seemingly older man says "hey, you're a looker"
I smile and nod trying to get back to the grapes
he then says quite loudly...one notch below yelling
"Good lookin' you a head turna, turned my head"
in bashful-uneasy mode I say thank you
trying to escape the food section by quickly walking
towards the check-out register...I heard a voice say
"Hey you didn't get your grapes...where you from girl?"
Huh? Oh wow he's following me...what to do...
"Girl where you from, I'm from Louisiana, Shreveport!"
Oh he got my attention...see I got family around Shreveport
"Well I'm really from Homa, H-O-M-E-R" he said
Ahhhh nice, that's where my grandfather is from, I responded
looking at this man from head to toe...really looking
and thinking if he cleaned himself up
he might actually be a head turner
well, he went on to tell me who his people were
why he left his wife in 75' and moved to Cali in 78'
that he has twins, a boy and girl, Stacy and Tracy
and now he lives on Hollywood Boulevard with his Uncle
I couldn't help but wonder if he was being literal
I mean about living on Hollywood Boulevard and all
definitely had that "I'm in transition" thing about him
he didn't smell or anything but wore that dirty orange cloak
on his pretty brown...common among those who reside
outside on sidewalk floors with tent ceilings
no judgement just reality...anyway
I continued to listen to him...his voice, the cadence
his colloquialism reminded me of my elders long gone
his features made me think we might actually be related
and after about 15 minutes I announced I had to go
he said "give me your number girl" and I said no
"why not you and I could be good together"
I laughed, told Jesse, that was his name Jesse
told him that it was nice meeting him
and Happy Sunday
then I headed back towards the grapes
Jesse walked out of the store talking to himself
handheld shopping cart full of food in tote
the store alarms didn't even go off
and while everyone saw him leave
no one said a word including me
I decided on the red...and scene
by Shonnese C.L. Coleman
No comments:
Post a Comment