Chapter 19

I cried. She laid me down on my bed and sat there. Then she managed to squeeze in with me and hold me. I settled into her fat and fell asleep.

When I woke up it was dark.

I looked up at the ceiling. I was hungry; my stomach was empty, but it didn’t matter. I felt so empty and believe me, the physical pain had nothing on the way I felt inside.

I looked to my left and saw that the bed was empty. I sat up fast. It had to be lights out, and I knew my roommate hadn’t gotten released. She was an old white lady whose family didn’t want her. I didn’t speak to her too often, but I wasn’t a total bitch. I mean what does a black fifteen-year-old girl have in common with a seventy-year-old white bitch?

Okay, she was probably thirty, but she looked every bit of seventy.

I began wondering if maybe she started wandering again when a voice scared the day lights out of me.

“How do you feel?”

In the corner of my room sat a little table and two chairs. It was our makeshift desk and dining table for those times we didn’t wanna eat with everyone else and wanted some me time.

I could not see who it was, but the voice was familiar.

“Okay,” I said exaggerating.

I actually felt good; I felt a little lighter, like a large weight was lifted off my shoulders. I can’t really explain it. Maybe it was relief. I don’t know, but it felt like I could actually breathe, you know like my sinuses were clear.

Still, I said okay because that’s the customary answer; it leaves room for improvement.

“I arranged for Charlotte to spend the night down the hall,” the voice said.

I stretched, and it felt good.

“You hungry?”

I wanted to say no but said, “Yeah.”

“Come on.”

I got up.

The light by the table switched on, and sitting there in all her bulk oozing out was Dr. Richards. I was surprised.

I slowly walked to the table.

“I brought you something from home because this shit ain’t good enough fo’ dogs.”

I smiled and looked down.

I was still angry at this bitch; she was the reason I couldn’t leave. I blanked out the thought of her comforting me as I wondered why she was being so nice.

The silence grew awkward, so I said, “Is that tripe?”

Her eyes got big.

“Girl, what you know ‘bout tripe?” She smiled, “I knew I liked you.”

I laughed a little, and it felt good.

“We gonna have dinner. It’s passed twelve, but hell, people need to eat.”

I sat down with a smile as I realized she’d stolen the first laugh I’d had in years.

“Okay, we got some fried chicken; you know we love that. I got catfish. I didn’t know what you’d like, but I knew from your chart that you was raised by one of us, so one of these would hit the spot.”

I felt a sharp pain, a longing as I watched her happily explain each dish. We were really in her element. I’d thought it was leftovers, but she done went home and worked her ass off. It was all just prepared and just for me.

I was gettin’ hungrier by the second. My mouth was literally watering.

Then I saw the last dish. It was in a pie tin covered with foil.

She lifted the foil and said, “And for dessert-”

“Sweet potato pie,” I said, and the pain took over.

G-dub was the sweet potato pie queen.

My eyes were stinging right before the dam broke.

Dr. Richards sighed and said, “We have a lot of work to do.”