Peace Through Chaos

"It's so hard to forget pain, but it's even harder to remember sweetness. We have no scar to show for happiness. We learn so little from peace."
― Chuck Palahniuk, Diary

XXXX

"I'm in a bad way, Bigmama."

"If you are at my door, Deputy Sheriff Richard Sinclaire Grimes, I would say you were."

"I.."

"You don't need to explain shit to me. I need to explain shit to you. When you walk through this door, I am the fucking boss. This is my home and no one running shit but me."

"Yes...Bigmama."

"I know it's a hard pill to swallow and it had to take a lot for you to come here. Your own mama Ella would have wanted it this way if she was still living. Now, listen up! You better explain it to your kids before they step on this porch that I don't play games. I mean every bit of what I say. I say jump, you jump. I ain't mean. I am fair."

"Yes, Bigmama."

"We pray before we eat and we attend bedside Tabernacle if you too sick to get up to come to couch side Baptist. I know you ain't a religious man but for you to stay here until you can get back on your feet, you will respect our GOD even if you don't believe in him."

"Yes, Bigmama."

"I have no idea how you and Lori was raising all those kids on the money you earned but here, you will have a roof over your head, food to eat, and a bed to sleep on."

"Thank you, Bigmama."

"You eat what I cook any allergies-pick it out or don't eat. I don't have no talk back here and absolutely no fornications of any kind. If I ain't fucking ain't no body else fucking. Not in my house you ain't. I be damned."

"I understand, Bigmama."

"How many kids you got again? I can't make heads or tails of what I can see from the porch into your mini-van parked in my driveway."

"6."

"How many are boys?"

"2"

"Ok. The girls will all share a room. I have a big enough one."

"Thank you, Bigmama."

"You got Carl and what is the other one's name?"

"Andre."

"That's the one who stutters?"

"Yes, Bigmama."

"Him and Carl will share a room. You will have your own. I got plenty of space."

"Judith is allergic to peanut butter."

"Who the hell eating peanut butter here? How old she is?"

"She's 12."

"I hope she can speak up for herself."

"She can."

"Good."

"They can all speak up for one another now, especially with what happened. Carl is very protective of them."

"How old are the youngest?"

"Twins. They are three years old."

"They ain't doing baby talk?"

"No, Bigmama. They can speak up."

"Well, you go on back to that vehicle of yours and I need you to make it clear. Make it clear to Carl especially. This is my house. I don't need no confusion. Peace lives here. If they can't accept the rules then they all including you will be on the street. I heard about Carl. I understand. I don't blame him one bit. I would have shot Lori too. Difference between Carl and I...I would have shot her dead. Now get your kids and come on in. I made some collards, barbeque chicken, Mac and cheese and Sweet cornbread."

"I have a place lined up, Bigmama."

"With who?"

"Jessie."

"She was good friends with Lori. What the hell she want with you, Richard?"

"She left her husband and got her own place. I didn't ask her to do that. I would have never asked her to do that. I just thought I tell you upfront just in case someone whisper it your way."

"She trying to start something up with you?"

"I am not ready for any relationship. I-"

"She crazy? Yeah. She leaving one house to play house with you with all those children you got?"

"She has two boys."

"She crazy? Yeah. Glad to know you ain't no fool."

"I am just not ready for any of it."

"Richard, go on and tell your kids like I said and I will get plates ready."

"Thank you Bigmama."

XXX

There was no rest to be had until nightfall when Big Mama was finally able to kneel at her bedside with the good book open where she read aloud any random passage that always seemed to reflect for the day she had or the day ahead:

Ephesians 4:23, NLT let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes.

Big Mama climbed in her bed. She placed her bible and her glasses on the night stand before turning out her lights. She was at peace even though she could hear life still moving amongst the halls and from the creaking of the spare bedrooms floor boards.

It was half expected that peace took some time to settle in for those who had nothing but Chaos for so long. Bigmama knew eventually they would feel it. Peace. The experience of true peace is like nothing else and eventually a person cherished the calm that it brings and loved it enough that they would one day demand it for their own lives.

Bigmama only had one goal in life and that was to introduce Peace through Chaos.

XXXXXX

A/N:

This has been tinkering around in my head as I was writing the True Black Mamba Dances with The Red Viper. I am still shaping that story and hope to post it soon with my eyes closed of course because the presentation may be unusual...Anyway about this story. I am not sure how long this one will be or if anyone would be interested but I thought this was an intriguing way to present BIGMAMA with a story exposing a story. Not sure if this will be short or long but I will have it in a complete status as quickly as possible.

Devil is a Liar. I re-read it and just felt that I wrote with how my brain led me and I can't do take backs. Yes it was a crazy story and I marked it completed because I think I laid the ground work for it to happen the way it happened. Writing should be fun and my attempt to go back and do a re-write gave me a headache even though my intentions in hindsight should have been an EPIC Walmart love story...lol. I may take a look back on it in the future but...

Side note: Thanks to all guest who reviewed other stories and Alexis who has reviewed quite a few of my stories under Guest. Those who have an account here, Thank you just as much. Enjoy!