My name isn't important. Really, when you stop and look at it through the eyes of the Lord, none of us is really all that important. We're just His servants, sent upon this earth to praise and glorify His Name.
So, let's just call me Brother Al. See, Al is a good name. It could be short for Alan, or Allen, or Albert, now that Albert King? Man, but that boy could play that guitar. Or Alvin. Alvin Lee was another boy could play. Close your eyes, you'd never know he was a white boy. Or even Alistair. I met a Reverend Alistair once.
So, let's just call me Brother Al. I'm going tell you, this story took place in Savannah, Georgia. I'm going tell you that because it just isn't important, the where it took place. I'm hundreds of miles away now. No one here knows about none of that. TO them, I'm just Brother Al.
My daughter Michelle was just turned nineteen on that day. I begged and threatened, but she just wasn't about to go to college. As she pointed out, she was lucky get out of high school.
I met Geraldine right when I was starting out; I'd graduated with a doctorate in Divinity after getting my undergraduate and my Master's in Theology. I was all set to do my interning under the good Reverend Michael; he had one of the biggest churches in Savannah.
After we celebrated, after we led the flock to the cool waters of salvation, Brother Michael and I stood and he introduced me to his people. He introduced me to Sally and Leroy, and their niece Geraldine and her daughter Michelle. Now, Sally and Leroy, they were some good people, taking in their niece when she found herself in the family way. That's what the Good Book tells us we're to do.
Geraldine was a very pretty eighteen year old girl, skin the color of a cup of hot cocoa. Michelle was just fixing turn two and her skin was the color of peanut butter. Geraldine had her hair colored, it looked like spun copper, a kind of reddish gold.
I know I met a bunch more people after that, but Lord knows I don't remember a single one of them. Next Sunday, once again, I'm standing with the Reverend Michael greeting the fellowship, but whole time, I'm just keeping my eye on Sally and Leroy and Geraldine.
Geraldine and I went to a good restaurant, served some fine soul food. We went for a walk, then got us some ice cream. The kiss I got at the door of her Aunt and Uncle's house had the promise of more, a lot more.
Five months later, Reverend Michael performed our wedding ceremony. I also adopted Michelle; Geraldine did not know who her father was. She'd gone to a party and when she woke up the next morning, head hurting something bad, she found herself in the family way. Her mom and dad didn't believe her story so kicked her out. I tried to get Geraldine to invite them to the wedding but she didn't even want to hear about it.
Seventeen years later, I was the pastor of my own church. Geraldine and I had not managed to have any children of our own, but I told her, Michelle was all the daughter I needed. The Commodores had a song, Brick House, that described Geraldine and her daughter. I mean, they both had the thirty six twenty four thirty six. I knew we was looking at trouble when it came to Michelle; she was even prettier than her mother, and with a body like that, the wolves did come sniffing around.
Even though Geraldine was a married woman, the wolves were constantly at the door for her too. And, though it grieves me to say so, sometimes I did believe Geraldine encouraged the wolves to come around.
It was Saturday, Geraldine was in the kitchen and Michelle was in there helping. Seemed like there was a whole lot of cooking going on for just the three of us. Geraldine fired up not one, but two fryers and that was a mess of mashed potatoes and not one but three cans of the small peas. And a whole sheet of biscuits.
When I asked what's all this; who we got coming over, Michelle giggled and told me it was a surprise. Geraldine was real happy too so I just left it alone.
Lord knows, I didn't want to leave it alone; see, Michelle had been going out with this white boy named Trey. I'm not prejudiced, Lord knows I got nothing against white people, but Blacks should be with blacks. Whites should be with whites; they already stole enough from us blacks.
Looking at how Michelle was dressed, ass all hanging out those shorts, breasts all but popping out that shirt, I couldn't help but think, I should have done my duties as her father, should have shown her how a black man satisfies his woman. Maybe then, Michelle wouldn't be running around with that white boy Trey Lott.
Minute she turned eighteen, I really should have shown that Michelle just no one can do it like a brother can. I mean, look at her momma. Geraldine is good and satisfied with the one time on Friday and the one time on Saturday. And sometimes? I feel the fire burning in my belly after a good service on Wednesday? I can't help but pull my woman into our bedroom and lay down on top of her.
Our first night as husband and wife, Geraldine had her some ideas. She even wanted to use her mouth on me and suggested I use my mouth on her. Well, let me tell you, I set her straight right then and there. Sex is for procreation. Her mouth cannot conceive, and my mouth cannot impregnate. Then she wanted to get on top; I wondered if I had somehow married Lilith, the disobedient wife of Adam.
And speaking of Geraldine, looking over as she bent to put the biscuits into the oven, the hem of her sundress rose up showing nearly all of her bare legs, just about to her haunches. I was about to order her to put on more appropriate clothing, but, it was hot in that kitchen, all that cooking going on.
Just when Geraldine pulled the biscuits out of the oven, I heard Trey's motorcycle coming down the street. That's another thing I don't like about that boy. Bad enough he's the wrong color, and did I tell you he's twenty five years old? What's a twenty five year old boy doing with my daughter? But he also rides a Harley-Davidson motorcycle. He calls it a hog.
I almost took the name of the Lord in vain; there were more motorcycles. Did my daughter invite the whole Hell's Angels for Saturday lunch?
I got out my chair, ready to tell these thugs they were not coming into my good Christian home. Geraldine, my wife, the woman is supposed to be subservient to the husband, told me to park it as she walked to the front door
Right in front of me, like I wasn't even there, Trey walked into my house, came on up into my home and hugged my wife and kissed her, directly on her lips. Then he introduced his older brother Jim and wouldn't you know it, Jim hugged and kissed my wife too. And just like I'm not even there, Trey hugs my daughter, got his hand right on her buttocks; those shorts were just too short. Jim does the same thing, kisses Michelle and gives her buttocks a fondle.
Jim introduced Tom; he's the second oldest boy. I'm livid as Tom gives my wife a kiss and Trey and Jim were in the way, but it sure looked to me like Tom gave my wife's buttocks a good squeeze. I couldn't see if Tom did anything to Michelle because Trey then introduced his younger brother Tiny Tim.
Tiny Tim had to bend over to come into my house. The man was a mountain. He had long hair, all of them had long hair, but Tiny Tim's hair reached his buttocks. The man was so big he was only wearing a pair of overalls and boots and the overalls looked mighty tight on him.
"And this is my baby brother, Ed," Trey said.
I didn't see Ed, Tiny Tim had his massive hands on my wife's buttocks and was kissing her, one of those open mouthed kisses. And Geraldine, my woman, my wife, was returning that kiss.
My wife kissed Ed and told them dinner was ready and waiting in the dining room. Normally we eat in the kitchen; I never thought to look into the dining room. If I had, I'd seen it was set up for eight people.
I objected when Tiny Tim took my seat at the table. Geraldine, my wife, my companion for these past seventeen years told me to sit down, park my, she used the word ass down at the table, told me to put my ass in the chair at the other end.
I got one thigh. They didn't even save me a chicken wing. I got a thigh and maybe a spoon of mashed potatoes; the gravy was all gone and a couple spoons of the peas. There wasn't even a biscuit left.
My wife told me to go ahead and bless the meal. She told the Lott boys that I was some Reverend of some church. She said it just like that. Like it wasn't that important.
I blessed the meal; after all, I am His servant. I asked that He bless it and nourish our bodies as he nourishes our souls.
I tell you, my blessing lasted longer than that meal did. And, much to my horror, these delinquents, these heathens and Pharisees, they brought alcohol into my home. They brought cans of beer into my good, God-fearing home. And both my daughter and my wife partook of the evils of alcohol. Right in front of me, as if they hadn't a care in the world.
After Tiny Tim let out a tremendous belch, how rude, how uncivilized, my daughter says it's time for her announcement. There was no way I was ever going to let her marry Trey Lott.
It was worse than that. Oh, it was much worse than that. My daughter told me she and Trey were going to live together, fornicate, partake in the sins of the flesh. And, she was going to be a dancer. Where had I gone wrong? My daughter was going to be standing in front of strangers, removing her clothes for thirty pieces of silver.
Trey laughed and said maybe she should show me. The deviant had the nerve to suggest that my daughter perform for me, for her mother, in front of these thugs, these criminals.
I got to my feet and told them all to leave my home at once. I told them they were not welcome in my home, and no, my daughter was not leaving with them.
My wife, my rock, my shelter from the storms of life told me to sit my, and she used the 'N' word, told me to sit my 'N' word ass down. Geraldine told me that these were her guests and they were staying.
