It's a chilly October morning, but none the less i more then welcome the chill as i embrace the feeling of freedom after 17 long years in prison. I tilt my head back and close my eyes inhaling deeply. Tasting the air as a free man.
"Allah Akbar"
I whisper to myself. As i open my eyes i hear foot steps approaching. I look in the direction of the sound and find my mother smiling. As we meet, she embraces me in a hug that only a mother can give her child and says,
"The time has finally come, son. I missed you so much!"
I squeeze her pulling her in closer, kissing her forehead.
"It feels like I've waited all my life for this hug ma. I'll never allow them to pull us away like that ever again."
I close my eyes as tears roll down my cheeks still holding her in my arms lost to everything else around us. I soon feel more and more arms begin to embrace me. I open my eyes to see my 2 sons, now grown. My daughter that was my little princess, now a grown woman suitable to be a queen. My sister, still looking like she's 15 years old. My step pops and my brother off to the side along with my nieces and nephews laughing also waiting for their turn to get a hug.
"With all of yall, is it enough room for me to get home?"
I say laughing. They laugh as well.
"There's plenty."
My mother says. I embrace everyone one at a time, sharing laughs and words.
"Let's get as far away from here as possible, don't want them to change their mind."
I saying walking to the bus they pulled up in. I peep inside looking for my wife. I look back and everyone turn to my mother.
"where's my wife ma?"
"I haven't heard anything from her in like a week."
"I told her be here ma."
"I know, i gave her the number to your phone by the way so she may call you. The phones in my purse, i'll give it to you once we're all inside."
I climb on the bus and take a seat by the window.
"My first ride without handcuffs and shackles."
I think to myself. With everyone else now on the bus, my step pops pulls off.
"Here."
My mother says handing me the newest Iphone.
"Thank you ma."
As i grab the phone, everyone looks at me smiling.
"What?"
I ask and they just look at one another. I look around and nobody says anything.
"Okay now what yall have going on?"
"Don't pay them any attention, they probably high off that stuff."
My mothers says laughing.
"Yall up to something."
I say looking back at the phone in my hand. I touch the screen trying to turn it on and nothing happens. I look on the sides and the top and can't find the power button.
"How do i work this thing?"
They all bust out laughing and my oldest son says.
"I told you he not going to know how to work it."
"Awww shut up."
I say laughing.
"Show me how to work this thing so i can call your step mom."
I hand him the phone and he shows me how to turn it on followed by how to work it.
"Sooo, dad.. How did you meet Gift?"
My daughter asked.
"It's a long story baby."
"Well seems to me this is the perfect time for stories."
She says smiling.
"You've been something different every since a little girl you know that?"
I say laughing.
"Well if you remember i had the white girl i was planning on being with. But i did her a favor and she ended up showing her hand and i took the favor as a lost and cut ties with her. I had my home boy post me in a pen-pal group and Gift sent her email address. I added her on Corrlinks and we started talking. When she told me she was from South Africa i thought it would just be a long distant friendship. But the more we talked the more we connected. She sent me her phone number and that's where most of my phone mins went. Mind you, I've never seen her. All i could go off was the picture she painted with words. Dark skin, thick in the thighs with alot of booty. Real African booty.
"She told me her eyes change colors, and she was short with little feet. Her voice was like a cool breeze on a muggy day and her laughs like a glass of the finest wine. The more we talked the more i see she was everything i was asking Allah for. I asked her to send me some pictures to my facebook so my homeboy could mail them to me and she did. When he got them, he told me i was going to like her and that he had sent them. When i got them, i thought i was being catfished. I had your uncle Tron's wife facetime her and she told me she was beautiful and i better not mess it up. That day i allowed my heart to open to her fully. We could joke with one another, sing with one another and talk about anything. I kept her blushing by telling her how beautiful she was and in between all that, we fell in love baby girl and started planning our future together. Now we're married, she's here in the states and a doctor like she said she wanted to be. How we were able to make each other fall head over heels without a touch or a kiss from across seas is beyond either of us. But no woman can compare to Gift baby girl. She's all i've ever wanted."
"Awwww how cute dad. I like her to be honest and i think yall are cute together."
"Well that's a good thing. I don't need the 2 of you bumping heads."
I said laughing.
"Now let me call her to see why she not on this bus."
I dail her number and hit the call button. After a few rings she picks up.
"Hello my buubiesss.. Sorry i couldn't make it."
"Hey Mrs. Bubies.. Where are you? You know i wanted you here."
" I know beby but i had to take a last minute trip back home to mom and Nene. I'll be back in a few days."
"Is everything okay?"
"Yes they're good. I'll tell you about it when i get home okay?"
"Yea i guess. I just looked forward to all the planning we had done that's all."
"I'll make it up to you i promise. Ma has the keys to the house and your truck. Everything else is how you asked it to be okay?"
"Okay Nana.. Well handle your business and call me when you can okay?"
"I will my love. I love you."
"I love you too."
I end the call and for the rest of the ride we all try our best to play catch up and build a bond again. When we got close to Yorktown Virginia it was about 4pm. I tell my step pops to drop me off at my house so i can get the prison dirt off me and change. When we pull into the neighborhood i look at all the townhouses and think wifey picked a great area to live. We pull up to my building and my mother hands me the keys. I kiss her on the cheek and tell her i'll be by the house soon and get off the bus.
As i walk in the door an amazing aroma hits me.
"Ummm It smells good in here."
I close the door and begin to explore the house. Everything was as she said she wanted it. Black curtains, black and grey furniture, the kitchen had black counter top's, a black stove, black refrigerator, black accessories an everything was so neat. I go to our bedroom and open the door. It was like heaven on earth.. Everything was pure white all the way to the carpet besides the bed frame.
