My father named me Wite after my mother. And my father and mother did loved eachother. I believed they loved each other. They just went through a lot of rough times and heartache. I guess they got so mad that they could not stand eachother anymore. I still believed that they loved eachother but was too hurt to admit it. Or they thought that if they admitted that their heart would be broken again. So naturally my parents divorced. I remember seeing Dad for Thanksgiving and seeing Mom for Christmas. Dad would make the best Sweet Potatoe Pie and he showed me his secret so I could make it when I grow up. I spent most of my time with Mom. Mom wanted me to learn and study to be the best I could be. She wanted me strong and smart even more than her. And Mom would sing all the time. She would sing silly songs as well as spiritual songs. Mom loved singing. And she caught me singing in the bathroom while cleaning. And I was singing 'I Love the Lord.' Momma asked me why was I singing that song. And I did not want to answer. You know how children can become hurt over their parents, where they feel that they are caught between two sides. And they don't know how to approach one side. So I lied and said I felt the Spirit of God. And Momma suspected that I was lying but she did not want to test the Spirit. So she suggested that I sing for the church. She suggested that I auditioned for the choir. I was scared and uncertain. I tried to tell Momma the truth but Momma said that I had to be at the audition front and pronto. And I told her that I am not trained and I don't have the right song. I complained about my looks and I complained about how everybody thinks I am terrible. But Mom exclaimed that singing for the Lord is more important than what people think about you. I tried to reason with Mom but she did not understand even that kinda cute church guy might be there and interested. And Mom said as soon as you get the lead I will send for your Dad to come. I got excited and jumped up. Mom said Wite you are suppose to be singing for the Lord and for His glory alone. I said Amen Mom Amen. So I got my chores ready, I did all my homework. Lord knows they throw a lot of homework on someone special. And thank God for tutors or you will never make it out of high school. Just when it was my turn to audition, Momma came in the audition and I sung 'I Love the Lord' by Richard Smallwood. And I was feeling good, I lifted up my hands like Aretha Franklin and put everything I had into that song that the choir kept saying 'I'll haste to his throne.' I was right Mr. Gene did not think I was that good. And I saw Momma marching down the aisle and said her daughter can sing and will sing or she will tell the pastor. Mr. Gene was shocked and admitted and said I only need instructions. And Momma excused me out of the church. Mom said that she had to hurry because something happened to Dad. I asked Momma how bad it was? She said Child I hope he doesn't give up on Christmas. And as soon as we reached the hospital, Dad was in ICE and he could talk. He could hear and he could see. Dad had been crying and Mom cried too. And I tried to tell Dad that I could sing. And after Dad told Mom that he loved her, she asked the doctor if I could sing to him. And I begin singing 'I Love the Lord'. And Dad begin to calm down and get up out of his depression and saddness and sit up and clap. And Mom asked the doctor about Dad and the doctor said everything is working properly. Then after weeks and weeks in the hospital, Dad came in a wheelchair to the service where I led. And I asked the Pastor of Interfaith Alliance of Bourgnew Church if I could dedicated my performance to my father. I reminded them of how my father was my best friend and my role model along with my mother. And how I love him so much and need him even more. I admitted that I first started singing this song because I was hurt over my parents' separation but God has healed me. And I sung 'I Love the Lord'. And the crowd and audience wanted a second song so I invited my mother who was sitting with my father to come to the stage. And we sung 'Amazing Grace', I sung the first stanza while the choir hum then Mom sung the second stanza. And grandma who was the Mother of the Church sung the first stanza again with the choir. The church was an uproar even Daddy wanted to stand and shout. And after church that cute guy AJ asked me out and Momma and Dad approved.
About the Creator
Matthew Primous
I am a Black Scholar, International Scholar, & Google Scholar, & 3-Time Eber & Wein Best Poet., Nominee for Poet of the Year, 2020 Black Author Matters Winner, 2 time Akademia Excellence Essayists,& 2022 Honorary Muckrack Journalist.
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My Angel Mikey
I always believed in angels since I was young. My brother and I had a painting of an angel walking children across the broken bridge carefully. My name is Miguel and my brother is Henry. At a young age I knew there were demons and devils but somehow when I prayed everything will be better. And one time when those dark forces came to disrupt me, my angel will appear and give me the words to say. I found out later it was the Lord's prayer. I knew I needed protection because this world got a lot of flaws and leaks. I did not want to be caught off guard. It did hurt me when we moved and I could no longer see my Penpal Sidney. I think he liked my Mom but I guess life goes on. Somehow I just pray and things work out. I guess praying helps me in more than ways that I could explain. I prayed to do really really well and I try my best to do what Momma and Daddy said. And somehow my prayers get answered. And yes I say thank you to HIm. How else do you think he would answered me over and over again. As I get older i realized the more I need prayer, the more I need to be mindful of others, the more I need to be thoughtful. Daddy and Momma broke up. And they did not know how to tell us. I was lost and wondering if they loved us. But I knew from Momma's kisses and Daddy's hugs. They did not leave us. They did not forsake us. I knew that they still care and I wanted to be good to at least come out good. I had big hopes and dreams. I wanted to preach or teach or be respected or something. I asked Momma what I should be. And I asked Daddy what I should be. I even asked Henry what i should be. All of them asked me what I wanted to be. It kept changing time after time. Afterall I just was child, the youngest, children dream all day and all night. Children need guidance and children need hopes and dreams and love and faith. And even when they become grow they need angels. That's when the unthinkable happen, my Dad left us in a car accident. They said it was not his fault but Momma and all of us were hurt and devastasted. Momma never looked the same. She cried night and day everytime she drove by the hospital. We tried to tell Momma not to drive by the hospital but she did not cared. As I grew older, I was distant about learning. Dad was my first teacher and he taught me to do art and music like Henry. I loved Dad's music and I loved Dad's drawings. Henry and I used to listen to Dad's music everytime we went to school, church, or anywhere. We both thought he was really really good. I guess I was sad. Sad about losing Dad. Sad about losing my best friend in the world. And I told my school's counselor after sometime when she asked why I wasn't so into school and learning. And that's when I met Mikey, I called him my angel. He was just like Dad. He was cool and funny. He taught me how to dance and sing. He taught me about girls and the difference between girls and boys. He looked like an angel. And he knew me so well. We spent months and months together. I showed him that I learned Hip Scotch. And that I like having the playground all to myself so I can play with every part of the playground. And Mikey knew I was a little selfish but Mikey helped me. Michael was my world but he had to leave. I remember that day that like it was yesterday. Mikey held back tears and he told me that he cares about me and love me. Mikey was strong, he picked me up, a big ten years old and he hug me carefully like I was his own. Mikey hugs really really really tight. And I told him and Mikey said So you will remember me when you grow up. And that was the last time I saw Mikey, my angel. Momma said that Michael was good to me, that he showed me how to be a man. And that he was my angel sought from above. And I said Daddy must have sought him. I then showed Henry and told Henry about my angel Mikey. And after Henry saw the drawings of Mikey. Henry began to make fun of me and say that my name starts with an 'M' and Mikey's name starts with an 'M' and that I am imagining Mikey. And I was just ready to fight with Henry when a lightning flash between us. Henry was scared and so was I. I said that I told him Mikey really exist. And now God is mad, we should pray. And that day I showed Henry how to pray, I kneeled down and folded my hands and said the Lord's prayer like Mikey taught me.
By Matthew Primous5 months ago in Writers
THE ENVELOPE PLEASE
Fiesta! ¡Olé! It's Cinco de Mayo and time to celebrate the ASK ME IN DECEMBER the unofficial challenge winners. The creators had fun and it was fun reading all their entries. From Ballads to the Blues and a Villanelle to a Haiku, I was honored by the forty-four entries.
By Babs Iverson2 days ago in Writers
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