"Life is pleasant. Death is peaceful. It's the transition that's troublesome."
― Isaac Asimov
Uncle Charlie was in the middle of a conversation with Granny. His attention was in two places, the white people inside of his home and Granny filling up his brain with the day's events.
"...bags and bags of clothes. Right now, we just waiting for they Mama and a Daddy to finish up. A sight I tell ya! Your girl child knows. She knows she's pregnant. Crying about it every time he reminds her she ain't fat, just pregnant. He staying on her about it. Won't let up with reminding her like she ain't been knocked up each and every damn time he come sniffing around."
"Indeed?" Uncle Charlie's voice was layered thick with concern.
"Those two supposed to be getting dressed." Granny's tone was skeptical. "Sleeping together, showering together. I really believe that silly flower child would have a hundred times more babies if Michonne doesn't go through with getting her tubes tied since she is now accepting Mike being out of the picture. Nothing cute about it if you ask me, Uncle Charlie."
"Nobody needs to ask if you volunteering your two cents, Granny. Back in my day and yours, it was just about normal. Not the time to criticize, I say."
"Know better, do better, ain't that what you say?"
"Indeed."
Granny continued, "God as my witness if those two don't stop it and be more mindful, they will create mannishness. Not something they should want entertaining young minds, I say. Too much devilment between them. Suppose to be the grownups? Aches my soul as much as it does yours. But I got the kids all in order. Just did another headcount. Not very difficult to do since there's a working television in every room. It is good that they all close in age and mind."
"Good thing when we all can enjoy the same thing on one working television."
"For true!"
"They all eating?"
"Higher than off a hog, I say."
"For true?"
"Yes, Indeed! The truth I speak."
"My happy boy?"
"Which one? They all happy."
"The smiling one. You know who I'm talking about, my Marty boy!"
"The Daddy says, let him eat when and what he wants. He is grazing on everything like vegetables with a real preference for juice, soda, candy, and potato chips." Granny rolled her eyes.
"True?"
"Indeed. That boy-child will run things, but I tell you right now, Marty ain't running this Granny."
"Chips and soda," Uncle Charlie chuckled.
"A daddy got them plenty of chips and soda. Kids have been enjoying themselves. Had a nice breakfast earlier."
"The Daddy is taking care to meet their basic needs." Uncle Charlie declared.
"No child needs snacks. I'm telling you, Uncle Charlie there are all kinds of it lined up on the table in the other room where I had to move it. Temptation got these kids in its grip, I say. TV. Eat. Race back and forth from the table to get back in front of the television. I had to threaten my slipper to some bottoms to get them to sit still. Every single time. Then I have to take my eyes off of all of em when I take my baby Gladys and Knight to sit on the toilet. You know that Andre and Marty just be waiting for the last second to go. Especially that boy child, Marty. Constantly. Those two just don't know how to just bring their little behinds from out the bathroom. Ain't got to worry about the rest of them. They pretty much listen."
"Don't let those treats go to waste."
"You know I know better, Uncle Charlie. You and your sweet tooth will cause diabetes if too much, you hear?"
"Don't let it go to waste, Granny." Uncle Charlie implored.
"I plan to pack it all up before we leave here. Got some powder donuts I know you like. I know you ain't had that in a while, Uncle Charlie."
"Been a long time. All boy child and girl child counted for, you say?" Uncle Charlie sought reassurance while also aware of the amount of time he was spending on the phone with Granny. Regardless of the eyes in the back Granny's head, the likelihood became great that one of those children would tip toe-off. Try as he did, Uncle Charlie couldn't for the life of him imagine what kind of place Granny was keeping watch in that had other tables in rooms and more TVs than one could watch.
"Of course, praise God, it ain't hard to do! They just about hypnotized right now. TV on and they ain't moved. Easiest time, I had in a long time tending each wild head while they sit still and watch. They've been bathed and everything. We just waiting and waiting for those two to come out of that other bathroom way down in the last room. I kept the bed in the front. Glady's and Knight stayed put with me. Abigail and Billie joe together. Jasmine has a bed, Andre, and Marty together. Your boy child Carlton had his own big bed. Everyone slept good on these here mattresses. It was tempting to sleep just as strong. But I'm on watch. I have to be."
"Got to, Granny."
"Got to, indeed. Bolted up high those other doors. Every single person has to come and go through mine. No way I'm sleeping like them, and have one of these kids sneak on out to see what they can see because they think they can. Looking like angels but led by the devil, I say. No way to leave without going pass me. Don't take too much fumbling around to wake me up, you know."
"Indeed."
"Right now, they have been holed up a good amount of time now, just about. Don't seem like they Mama and A daddy ever plan to finish up in there. Water running like they glad they ain't got to worry about the water bill, cable or lights."
"From what I recollect, boarding houses have it included."
"We ain't in no boarding house, Uncle Charlie. This is much more different and helluv expensive. Saw the price on some papers he done signed. I hope it means legally got, and there is more of it, I say."
"Expensive, you say?"
"Where we at, Yes, indeed. Indeed it is!"
"Give them a few more minutes, Granny. A husband has to get used to his wife."
"I plan to do just that once I'm off the phone reporting to you like you wanted me to, Uncle Charlie. I hope you ate what I had boxed up in the refrig for you?"
"I got it from the icebox. I did. Indeed, I did. Good and cold."
"I've done showed you five times how to work that microwave a Daddy got sitting there on that counter. You've gone and got too senile?"
"Crazy to think I would starve in a short period of time, I say."
Granny laughed, "You crazy, yeah."
"Well, make sure the direction leads them back here. I got his people here waiting."
"You know it ain't safe for his people. Don't he want them dead too?" Granny whispered the last part even though she was overheard by Carlton and Jasmine who both were taking mental notes on grown people conversation. One look from their Granny caused them to put their attention back on what Granny deemed a wholesome television show, Blues Clues.
Uncle Charlie declared while sizing up what he considered the two easiest kills if he were to take his commands from the meanest personality that called himself Sinclaire, hyped by Onne.
"If he indeed wanted them covered in daisies, they would have been with no help needed from me."
Uncle Charlie didn't have to debate or struggle with a decision like he had whenever Granny's name would appear on a once continually changing list of who to kill, who must die by her knife or by his pistol. Ella and Senior Grimes were two people who didn't realize they were designated a spot out back by their very own son. It was enough to cause Uncle Charlie to chuckle again.
"You know I got to tell them. Those two aren't good with surprises." Granny told Uncle Charlie. There was no way she was going to have information and withhold. She was going to deliver the news as delicately as she knew how.
"Do that." Uncle Charlie agreed.
"See you soon, Uncle Charlie."
"Alright, Granny. Keep em safe, you hear?"
"Always, Uncle Charlie. All I need is for you to be worried when there is no reason when I got my hands in the mix."
"Indeed. True."
"True Indeed!"
Uncle Charlie closed the flip phone. His mind was momentarily a hundred or so miles away.
"Everything okay?" Ms. Ella asked cautiously.
"They on their way back shortly."
"How long have you been waiting?" Senior Grimes asked.
"Two days. Whole. Granny had got the call to help while the Daddy went to go and see about my Girl Child. If anyone knows better, it is the Daddy. My Girl Child doesn't need to be in any of those hospitals."
"Which child is in the hospital!?" Ms. Ella became alarmed.
"My Girl Child." Uncle Charlie clarified. He couldn't help but wonder if the woman who had introduced herself as Ms. Ella was possibly hearing impaired. "I have never been keen on any place you can walk freely in but not out. Prison is another." Uncle Charlie affirmed. "Got us piled in deep like the ships that brought us over here."
Senior nodded and shared a glance over at his wife, who sat across from him at the kitchen table. They were both anxious to embrace their son and their grandchildren.
Uncle Charlie had their full attention.
Mrs. Ella's mind kept reflecting back to the clues that were apparent in the kitchen once inside, and it was more than the old white refrigerator and stove but a new deep freezer off in the corner and a new microwave on the counter. The table with the number of chairs was every indication their grandchildren existed. She was prepared to wait it out as was her husband, Senior Grimes. Ms. Ella also noted that Uncle Charlie's denim overalls and dingy white shirt were signs of extensive age more than appearing unclean. There was no denying the man's mind was sharp, and his words bared the weight of peculiar wisdom.
"Granny says all is okay when she got there. Told me so on this hear gadget they call a phone."
"It would be good to know when to expect them back."
"Only time can tell. If you count it as I count peace, I say steady is as steady does. You say you know my Michonne? What do you know about my girl child?"
"Very quiet. Very observant, watchful, careful. She was shy at first."
Uncle Charlie nodded his head. He was listening, trying to imagine the younger version of his Girl child outside of what he knew first hand and within the confines of his home, he still shared with her and Granny.
Senior Grimes added, "One thing I can confirm is our son, Richard has certainly been consistent even in all the chaos that comes attached to him."
"Indeed. Richard, you say?"
The two people nodded their heads.
"Well, I have to say you may be in luck if you are expecting, Richard. But around here, in this house, we try to avoid naming names. Around here, we call him a Daddy. I suggest you do the same."
"He wants us to call him, Daddy?"
"Didn't say that. I said a Daddy. He is a Daddy first. He is a Daddy that will only acknowledge two things, and the order usually centers around his children and his woman. Where ever they are is where he wants to be. Home."
"Home?" Senior glanced from his wife to the kitchen ceiling before he allowed his eyes to land back on Uncle Charlie.
"Home." Uncle Charlie paused before allowing his weighty words to continue, "I hope it doesn't come as a surprise that your son doesn't think too highly of you two." Uncle Charlie leaned forward in his chair, "Blames you for what happened."
"Sinclaire!"
Senior Grimes sat back in his chair before leaning forward with his arm resting more on the table, and his index finger pressed in the wood. "I'm not sure how much you know, but I lost my brother. I mean-The length my wife and I have gone to ensure HE didn't spend any time in a prison cell-to think this is the thanks we-."
"You still call someone like that, your brother?" Uncle Charlie pointed out what struck him to come to a full understanding of these two people still appearing on the list. Seniors' unfortunate truth was going to be an issue if he wanted any type of relationship with any of the people who mattered. Seniors' declaration was going to end his life, and most likely, Ms. Ella's if they were on the same page.
"Well, blood is blood. And all the bloodshed in and around our property doesn't make it less true."
"No wonder he wants you pushing up daisies!"
"We will take our chances!"
"Guess it is going to be a Daddy decision, after all."
"Do you hear me?"
Michonne nodded. They had yet to leave the bathroom, still nude, dripping wet from their shower. He was slightly flaccid, growing increasingly aroused by her nude form and the way he was able to identify an accurate term to what they were sharing, less sexual and more sensual.
"Are you fat?"
Michonne shook her head slowly, holding eye contact with herself and her very own reflection. She was mesmerized with Rick's husky voice and upon seeing her pregnant form. In the mirror she was fully present, aware, and startling singular.
"What are you?"
"Pregnant."
"With whose baby?"
"Ours."