to hug him back.
Oh, one more thing, he adds. That favor you wanted, it’s been delivered.
No way, how’d you do that?
I’m a rock star, I can do whatever I want.
Where’d they put it?
The school.
So cool, Dad. Thanks.
No, thank you, son.
For what?
For giving me a reason to be better. For you.
I’ll see you when you get back.
It’ll be soon. Gotta make sure the dormitory gets started before I bail. I love you, Blade.
C’mon, don’t get all mushy. Let the kid go, Rutherford, Uncle Stevie shouts.
Joy and I leave
the hospital
relieved
that Rutherford
is keeping
the night watch
over Sia.
Tuesday, 2:30 am
When we get back
to the village,
there are no drums
no dancing children
no soccer balls
no Fela
no men cutting
no women washing
and laughing
at the day’s
happenings,
just me
and a river
of Joy
bathing
beneath
the African night.
Let us sit, she says,
so we do,
under the coconut tree.
She holds my hands.
You have finally met your mother. How do you feel?
Full. Happy for once.
That makes me happy, my friend.
Is that what we are, friends?
That is the best we can be. It is the beginning of all things that really matter.
How do you do that?
Do what?
Make everything sound so dayum good.
I have a request.
Anything.
The song you sang for Auntie Lucy was a treasure. Did you write that?
I wish. It’s a famous American rock song.
Maybe one day, you will write a song— For you?
For all of us, for Konko, she says, letting my hand go.
Why do you hold my hand?
Do not read anything into it, Blade Morrison. It simply makes me feel good. Like a— Natural woman?
Now, that is the kind of song you can write for me.
Maybe one day, I will.
Track 14: (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman
ROCKER: ARETHA FRANKLIN / ALBUM: LADY SOUL / LABEL: ATLANTIC RECORDS / RECORDING DATE: FEBRUARY–DECEMBER 1967 / STUDIOS: ATLANTIC STUDIOS IN NEW YORK CITY
Some people say it’s spiritual, the relationship between
a woman
and her God.
Some people say it’s about how real love makes you feel
after you’ve been rescued
from yourself despite yourself.
When the right person comes along after a long, hard rain.
Funny thing is, her producer, Jerry Wexler, was driving down the street one day
contemplating a song idea about the natural man when he passed by the amazing songwriter, Carole King.
Word is,
he shouted I need a “natural woman”
song
for Aretha Franklin, and the rest is platinum history.
Sometimes Fate
Is
Just
That
Simple.
Sleepy Serenade
She dozes off right there.
So I carry her onto the bus, place her
in one of the bunks, shoot a quick text to Storm to let her know we’re both okay, and then take the last step of my journey before the roosters and the morning taxis bring in
the new day.
I read the letter.
Dear Blade
As I sit and write this, I look over at your blue-black eyes and copper smile. You are the happiest seven-year-old I’ve ever seen. You’re reading comics and practicing guitar with your dad. And, I’m sad. I’m sad, because if you’re reading this, it means I’m gone.
I know you’ll wonder why we never told you your story before now. Blade, sometimes it’s difficult to explain family and secrets and why you want to keep some things sacred and sealed until the right time. Perhaps there will never be a right time, or maybe right now it is just when you’ll need to read this.
I love you, son. Your father loves you. I don’t know how we got so lucky to find you, or maybe you found us. What I do know is that we were meant to be a family. We may have adopted you when you were just born, but you came to me in a dream, almost a year earlier. I remember your face. I remember your big, curly hair. I remember every second of our journey together.
Lucy November was just a girl. I used to babysit her.
She never wanted to watch TV or play games, she was always reading National Geographic, talking about how she wanted to see the world. Save the world. I bet, if you go looking for her, and you find her, Blade, she’s off somewhere changing the world.
You must know she didn’t want to give you up. She had some bad things happen to her, and it scarred her. And it scared her parents. I think they thought they were doing the best thing for her by giving you a fresh start. I never worried that she’d survive though. Lucy was smart and funny, and even after everything that happened, she never lost her laugh.
When you meet her, and I’m sure you will one day, you will see it written all over her face. You will hear it in her Louisiana twang. When you do go looking, I want you to have your guitar with you. Play something special for her, Blade. I promised her you’d be okay. Show her that you are.
Forgive us, beautiful boy made of strings and frets, soundboard and a bridge, and turning pegs and chords.
You are made of pure music and soul and love. And, you will always be a Morrison.
Rock and Roll, Baby,
Mom
Conversation
You’ve been up all night?
How can you tell?
Your eyes are blood red.
Something like that.
Your American pillows are too soft, she says, stretching her neck. What time is it?
About ten.
Oh my, I need to go.
First, can I show you something?
Is it coffee?
It’s a surprise.
Well, it will have to wait. I cannot be late for school. I already missed three days.
It is at the school, so you will not be late.
Very well. Let me freshen myself up. Please leave the bus first. It will not look good if we walk off together.
I was a gentleman. Nothing happened.
People’s minds prefer the worst.
True. I’ll see you at the school. Towels are in the drawer beneath the bed.
Oooh! A shower. Nice!
Surprise
Pretty much
the entire village is gathered
at the school,
marveling
at the glistening white machine
at the front
of the room.
When Joy
walks through
the door,
I shush
everyone
and present
her with
A washing machine? Blade, Blade, BLADE! This is a washing machine. Why would you do this?
Why would I not?
The entire village applauds
and Joy
buries her head in my chest,
her eyes
warm and
full of gratitude.
This is what friends do, I say. My father will get the plumbing for it, but it should last for a while.
She kisses me,
and my whole world is her right now.
The celebration continues
outside
with each
of the women
in the village
hugging me
and thanking
my family
for our kindness.
After I hug
number nineteen, I find Joy
and ask her
if she will
go to Accra
with me
for a proper date.
You think because you buy a girl a washing machine that she will have a date with you?
I bought this for the village, not just for you, my friend, I say almost sarcastically.
Hmmm. You make a good point, Blade.
. . . .
Are you happy?
. . . .
Blade.