Chapter 27
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Keyshia could not hold any food down and refused to get out of the motel bed over the next two gloomy days. Clyde tried to get her up and about, maybe to go visit her relatives, but she didn’t have an ounce of strength to move. Seeing her daughter was just too much for her to handle, especially with him. Never in a million years would she have thought that she would ever see her daughter again.

Clyde waited on her hand and foot, giving her massages, feeding her soup, and even carrying her to the bathroom and bathing her. He constantly asked her if she wanted to talk, but she told him that she wasn’t ready.

To keep her mind off the events that had transpired, Keyshia sought refuge in Harlem Girl Lost. The more she read, the more she began to grow inspired as the main character in the book went through insurmountable pain and injustice yet rose to the occasion again and again. By the time she completed the novel, the first one she’d ever read, Keyshia seemed to have purpose, a new meaning to life despite what she’d been through.

By the third morning, when Clyde awoke, he was surprised to see Keyshia standing over him, smiling and dressed to a T. “Get up, sleepyhead, we got some shopping to do and some family to see.”

Clyde chuckled and said, “Glad to see you back, baby.”

Since Keyshia was the oldest—she had four younger brothers and one sister she hadn’t seen in over six years—she wanted to go shopping at the mall and surprise them and her mother with gifts. She racked up on video games, toys, basketballs, and other sporting goods for all her brothers, and dolls, a CD player, and various games for her sister. For her mother, she bought some expensive perfume and jewelry. After they’d purchased everything, she was ready to see them.

Even though the area in which Keyshia’s family lived was considered the city, Clyde couldn’t help but think differently. He passed by many homes that still had outhouses, and many of the children were tattered-looking and outside playing barefoot. Keyshia assured him that many children in the South chose not to wear shoes when they were playing. He had to also get used to all the people who waved and said hello to him as he drove. Keyshia had to explain that this was traditional and everyone was being friendly.

“Goddamn, Keyshia, I ain’t used to all this waving.”

“That’s just that southern hospitality.” Keyshia smiled.

“I mean, they don’t even know me and—” Someone pulled up to Clyde at the stop sign and suddenly waved. With a fake smile, Clyde waved back at them. “See what I mean? If they did this shit in New York, people would give them the finger.”

Keyshia laughed. “Well, get used to it, buddy, ’cause this how they get down in the South.”

When they finally reached Keyshia’s family’s home, there was no driveway or anything. It was a shabby-looking house that sat on a plot of grass surrounded by thick vine oak trees. The area was nothing like downtown Charleston; it was more backwoods and open. Clyde knew that her family was dirt poor. Keyshia looked around nervously, not spotting a soul, when suddenly a little black face appeared at the screen door. He had on a pair of shorts but no shirt or shoes.

Keyshia smiled and put a hand over her mouth. “Oh, my God, Clyde, that’s my youngest brother, Damon.”

As soon as she said that, another boy, much older, rail thin, and tall, peered out the door, but this time opening it. He squinted and put his hand over his eyes to see who was in the car. Keyshia opened the car door and stood face-to-face with her closest brother, who was only eleven months younger than she. He recognized her instantly and asked in a thick southern drawl, “Keyshia?”

Keyshia nodded and said, “Kevin?”

He yelled at the top of his lungs and jumped off the porch and embraced her tightly and swung her around. The loud commotion caused everyone in the house to come outside, and when they realized who it was, they began yelling also and running up to her and giving her tight-wrapped love. All her siblings jumped all around, as jubilant as if she had just come home from the war, all calling out her name.

“Keyshia!”

“Sister, welcome home!”

“We missed you!”

The last person to come out was her mother, who had one arm wrapped around herself and the other one covering her mouth. She was already emotional. Keyshia looked up and saw her and walked to the porch and up the three steps. She stood face-to-face with her mother, who was now much, much shorter than she, saw the tears in her eyes, and said, “How you doin’, Mama?”

Her mother’s lips began to tremble, and tears exploded from her eyes. “I’s okay, chile. I’s miss you much!”

They embraced, and Keyshia closed her eyes, feeling for the first time in six years the comfort only a mother can give. The whole family came to the porch and surrounded them and joined the family reunion hug. They wiped their eyes and laughed heartily as they pulled themselves apart. Keyshia turned around and waved for Clyde to come over. He walked up the steps with a cool New York swagger, and they all beamed bright and proud at their sister’s guest.

“Everybody, I want you to meet my boyfriend, Clyde Barker.” Everybody submerged him and gave him equal love. Keyshia looked at all the faces and said with great pride, “Guess what?” All eyes lit up like a Christmas tree in anticipation. “I got gifts for each and every one of y’all.” They all jumped up and down joyously, making the porch feel like it would collapse.

“The stuff is in the car, and all I need is help.” Each sibling jumped off the porch and ran toward the car, waiting for their early Christmas presents.

Keyshia watched her brothers and sisters tear through the bags and scream with excitement. She personally handed her mother a white box.

As her mother held the box, she blushed and said, “You’s got this fo’ me?”

Keyshia nodded proudly. “It’s for you, Mama. Now open it.”

Like a little girl, she blushed again and untied the red ribbon around the box. When she lifted the cover and saw a gold necklace with a cross pendant, her hand flew over her mouth. She repeated, “Dis fo’ me?”

Keyshia nodded again. “It’s all for you, Mama! Let me help you try it on.” She fastened the necklace around her mother’s neck. Her mother looked down at the necklace and felt it. She giggled and thanked her daughter with a hug. They stared at each other, and both knew that a lot of wrongs had to be answered for, but now was not the time.

Her mother’s smile grew big and she said to Keyshia and Clyde, “I’s hope you all ain’t eaten none, ’cause I’s ’bout to feeds y’all a sho-nuff hearty meal ta fill them bones you carryin’.” She wrapped her arms around Keyshia and Clyde and led them inside.

Clyde was surprised when he entered Keyshia’s family’s home. Though it looked small and dilapidated on the outside, inside it was spacious, clean, and well maintained. While Keyshia, her mother, and her little sister were in the kitchen preparing the meal, the brothers were in the living room showing Clyde the family photo album. He saw pictures of Keyshia when she was in her newborn, toddler, and preteen years. They all got a kick out of showing Clyde their sister at her best and worst.

It was as if Keyshia had never left as she fell right in step with her mother and they busied themselves inside the kitchen. They made homemade biscuits, fresh ham, sausages, bacon, pancakes, eggs, and grits. The entire family got a kick out of watching Clyde’s reaction when their mother brought all the food over to the table. Clyde had never seen so much food before. Keyshia told him that this was how they cooked in the South whenever someone had a guest or family over. She said it was a tradition.

When all the food was set up on the table, they joined hands and were led in grace by Keyshia’s mother.

“Lawd, thank You fo’ blessin’ us wit’ this food we ’bout ta receive, fo’ You are the Provida of our ration. I’s also likes ta thank Ya fo’ bringin’ my baby gurl back ta me spite the hardness I’s know she been through and not comin’ back with a heavy heart. Bless her mista friend, Clyde, and hope that they stay awhile.” Keyshia and Clyde peeked at each other, knowing she was giving them a hint. “Amen!”

Everyone repeated, “Amen,” and ambushed the food before them.

They ate and had fun talking about the past and telling Clyde how Keyshia was a tomboy coming up and how she was so skinny the called her Olive Oyl from the Popeye cartoon.

All through the meal, Keyshia’s little sister, Kenya, eleven years old, was eyeing and smiling at Clyde. She suddenly asked him, “Clyde, are you gon’ marry my sista?”

The question caught Clyde totally off guard. Everyone got real quiet and awaited an answer.

Clyde cleared his throat and said, “Kenya, me and your sister never talked about marriage. Us bein’ so young and all.” They hung on every word he was saying because they were very big on marriage in the South. Clyde saw all the eyes still staring and added, “But when the time is right, I’m gonna find the biggest, most expensive ring I can afford, then I’m gonna bring her back down here, in front of her whole family, and get on my knees.” Clyde looked at Keyshia, who sat across from him.

“And I will ask the loveliest, most gorgeous woman in the world, the only woman that I ever loved, would she have my hand in marriage so I can spend the rest of my life with her.”

Everybody turned their attention to Keyshia, who was ready to erupt in tears of happiness; she couldn’t hold them back and ran out of the kitchen.

All her brothers laughed, and their mother reprimanded them, “You boys hush!” She threw her napkin on the table and followed behind her daughter.

Kenya stared at Clyde and said, “Well, she look like she don’t want to marry you, Clyde, but I will!”

“Shut up!” all her brothers yelled in unison.