Chapter 19
My Mama has a boyfriend now. His name is Joe and he works on the railroad. She met him at the restaurant where she works. He’s a friend of Aint Ruby’s boyfriend, Red. What a name, huh? Aint Ruby has a baseball hat that he gave her with his name, Big Red, written right across the front. Her and Mama giggle when she says, Big Red, makin’ the word, big, go on for a long time.
I know I ain’t got no business pokin’ fun at his name though because people at school have started callin’ me Wanda Woman. I don’t really mind that one because it is so much better than what they started out callin’ me; Wanda the Witch. I hated that one a lot!
Bigmama has a lotta family that’s real old like her. They say my name like Wanderrrrr. Every time I hear it I just wanna scream. Wanderrrrr! Ugh!
There’s a girl in my class named LaWanda. Don’t that just take your breath away? Man! I wish Mama had thought to add a La to the name that I’m not even supposed to have anyways. I figure life would have to be good for somebody who has a fancy ‘La’ in front of her name, don’t you think?
Anyways, now that I got a new nick name schools not so bad here. Jason is actually goin’ and that has put me in shock. My teacher is nice to me and I met a girl in my class who wanted to be my friend. Her name is Tina and we hang out together everyday.
We both love Little House on the Prairie, Gilligan’s Island, and singin’ as loud as we can. At recess we get side by side on the swings and sing that song, Love Will Keep Us Together, by The Captain and Tenille. It’s our favorite for right now.
When I get home from school I get to play with Sandra out at Bigmama’s house ‘til Mama gets home. I love stayin’ out at Bigmama’s because she always has something good to eat. The other day she made us some teeny tiny fried apple pies and they was so good I dreamed I was nibblin’ on one in my sleep.
This weekend some of my family is comin’ from Clover to see Bigmama. I’m so excited because I miss everybody so much, especially Uncle Ben and Aint Lyn.
When we lived back there we would all come see Bigmama all the time. Now, they will all come here to see us! They’re gonna get here on Saturday. Mama has her date with that Joe man from the railroad so she said we can stay out at Bigmama’s while she’s gone.
Mama let us call Aint Lyn on the telephone one time. We didn’t get to talk long because it cost lots of money and Mama don’t make all that much at her job. Before I hung up the phone Aint Lyn told me that if I ever need a place to live then her home was gonna be my home, too. I don’t know why she said that. I have my own little house now. My Aint Lyn is just so nice like that.
I remember back when I was a little kid she would let me stand on her feet and she would dance me all around the room. I still remember the music that played was something about, turnin’ your radio on. Aint Lyn would look down into my face, laugh, and say, these are the good ol’ days girl!
I bet you she misses me as much as I miss her because we did have a lotta fun together. I think I’m kinda fun to be with. I don’t think Mama thinks so, but I can even make Bigmama laugh out loud.
One time when we lived with Aint Lyn, I was climbin’ up on the kitchen counter to get something outta the cabinet and Aint Lyn walked in and said, oh my goodness child where did you learn to climb like that? I turned around, still hangin’ on to the cabinet door, looked her right smack in the eyes and said, my real daddy is a monkey.
She laughed so hard she said she like to peed her pants. She said to me, girl you’re funnier than a monkey on a strang!
She’s funny herself so it’s easy to be funny with her. She makes me laugh all the time. I wish I knew how to make Mama laugh.
