Rain Drops on My Head:

We made it to your grandfather�s house by six that evening. He pulled out his key and unlocked the door. He turned to me before we went inside.

�Now remember what I said about my family,� he said. I nodded at him.

�Yes, mama expects respect,� I said. �Papa barely talks, Aunt Jimmy asks many questions, always say �yes sir,� �no sir,� �yes ma�am,� �no ma�am,� use manners, Trish is very blunt, Cousin Andy is flirty, and Uncle Chuck is also flirty.� Jim nodded at me.

�Very good. I think you�re ready,� he said. Your grandfather opened the door.

His family sat around the dinner table in the dining room. They looked up when they head the door close. Jim and I stood inches from the table.

�I�m home,� Jim said. His family all stared at me. Your grandfather grinned.

�Everyone,� he said. �This is Starlette.� I gave them a nervous little wave.

�Hi�� I mumbled. Nobody spoke. His sister looked me up and down. She sneered at me.

�This is Starlette?� she asked. �She�s just a skinny little white girl!� I tried to stay pleasant then. Mama hit Trish in the head.

�Ow!� she cried.

�You don�t blurt things out like that!� your great-grandmother barked.

�But it�s true!� Trish wailed.

�Hush child!� Mama snapped. She turned to me.

�I am so sorry about that,� she said. I gave her a little smile.

�It�s okay,� I said. I looked at each of his family. Mama reminded me of my own mom. She looked like she ran the house with a firm hand. She certainly ate. Mama wasn�t fat, but she looked rather healthy. She even towered over Cousin Andy. Uncle Chuck patted the chair next to him.

�Take a seat, Starlette,� he offered me. I gave him a little smile.

�Yes sir,� I replied. Jim and I joined the family at the table. Uncle Chuck looked like a nice, normal guy. Nothing like the randy pervert your grandfather made him out to be. Mama rose to her feet.

�Good, now that we�re all here, I�ll go get the food,� she said. Mama walked into the kitchen. As we waited, I looked around. It feels weird to be the only white girl at a table of black folks. I tried to keep smiling. Come on, I thought to myself. They are nice people. They aren�t going to kill you! Relax, girl!

Silly to think like that, I know. It was different times, Frida. Different times.

My thoughts were interrupted by someone grabbing my hand under the table. I looked to my right. Jim gave me a little smile.

�It�s okay,� he mouthed at me. �Remember what I said and everything will be fine.� I only pressed my lips together and tried to smile. Mama came back out with many plates of food. Texas� finest, I must say. Rich barbecue. Soul food cooked with rough hands. Pork, all of that pork. Freshly cooked green beans. All served with sweet tea. I don�t think I�ve seen so much food in my life. When we got our plates, I didn�t know where to start. When I took the first bite, shock slapped me in the face. Mama looked up and noticed my face.

�What�s wrong, child?� she asked. I shook my head.

�You made all of this?� I asked.

�Yes,� Mama said. �Why? Is that a problem?� I shook my head.

�No! This is great!� I said. �I�ve never had food like this before!�

�Really?� Aunt Jimmy asked. �What do you usually have?�

�TV dinners, microwave food, stuff like that,� I answered. Everyone gave me a funny look. I couldn�t understand it.

�What?� I asked. Aunt Jimmy smiled and shook her head as she reached across the table and gently took my head.

�You poor child,� she told me. I fell into a loss of words at that moment. My eyes shifted over to your grandfather for help. He only shook his head at me. Clearly, I was alone on this one. I glanced back at Aunt Jimmy. Her smile crept me out.

I still had so much to learn.

1984