"Turkey Bacon. It's like saying "shoot" instead of "shit." It just doesn't quite carry the moment."
― George Takei, Oh Myyy!
"Can we taste it, Uncle Charlie?"
Carlton spoke for his siblings, who were eager to eat their breakfast, and since his Daddy wasn't around to give instructions, he deferred to his Uncle Charlie. His new Grandpa Senior and Grandma Ella were pretty much outranked even with Granny present.
"What kind of meat is this?" Granny asked the gray-haired female food server.
"Bacon," Rosa replied with a thick Spanish accent.
"Yes, indeed." Granny shook her head in disbelief. It was too early in the day to have Uncle Charlie riled, and he being without his comic papers for his boy child to read to him. This was going to take some getting accustomed when it came to dietary and routine.
"Looks to be from the sickest hog I know." Uncle Charlie inspected his strip by holding it up by his fork. "In all my years, I have never been served what looks to be meat from what has to be one of those diseased hogs on that discover channel, I say."
"Yes, Indeed," Granny agreed.
Ms. Ella squealed, "Oh Dear Uncle Charlie, it is not from any pig! It's turkey bacon!"
"From what Turkey?" Granny questioned.
Uncle Charlie fathomed from the information provided that it wasn't implausible since whites were known to eat just about anything as was proven right then. He wasn't going to count what was left for slaves to eat during times he could actually remember, but no one seemed to believe his tales when he told them with great accuracy. Either way, to him, it was indeed an inedible form of bacon from the looks alone. Turkey bacon was something Uncle Charlie knew he would surely recognize if it were ever served to him again without a choice of a healthy hog. For Uncle Charlie, this would be another morning in a home that was not his own. He would much prefer some oatmeal with a no brown sugar option. Well, maybe a light sprinkle, if it ever came down to choosing between the thick warm oat cereal over bacon from what still didn't look like it came from no turkey. Uncle Charlie answered Granny, "Not a healthy turkey, I can tell you that, Granny."
"It isn't actually from a Turkey. It is soy-based. Vegan." Replied Senior.
Ms. Ella smiled happily at her husband, who had spoken, and then at each of the children seated.
Granny was surprised to hear a response from the man of the house. It was the most he had said since they had been there, and it was going on two days. Senior Grimes's silence was often heavy enough where it wasn't difficult to keep him at arm's length but still maintaining a watchful eye on him around the children. Granny had her thoughts, but she kept them mostly to herself or from her lips to God's ear through constant prayer since they were temporarily living in the Grimes home. They were only staying until Uncle Charlie's house repairs were completed. Luckily the house was large enough, with more than enough space to prevent any clashes. The children were all of their primary focus, especially now that the newborns had arrived.
The children waited patiently for Uncle Charlie to give Granny the go-ahead for them to bow their heads and pray. It was confusing for them to watch their Granpa Senior and Grandma Ella begin to eat without at least a moment of silence.
"No praying again?" Granny questioned the rules or customs at a table delivered on short notice to hold the large brood.
"For what?" Seniors' question was posed directly to Granny.
"To bless it for one. To bless it for two." Granny snapped back. "And to also thank God that Uncle Charlie doesn't have to ask me what it is that is on our plate that in no way looks like bacon."
"You've never had vegan bacon?" Ms. Ella was surprised by what she was hearing.
"We hardly had enough regular bacon to go around. But then when their Daddy came back, he made sure we had a good supply and kept it steady. Never no mention of any other kind of bacon. I mean, why in the world would anyone go out of their way for not real turkey bacon when they could have the real thing?"
"Probably because it is healthier?" Senior ventured.
"When money is handed out all fickle, the poor ain't trying to buy something that is supposed to be meat but ain't meat. None that I know of, and sadly I know plenty."
"That is for true. Certain things you look for a hog to provide, and the same goes for the turkey. Plants should be just that, soybeans, and whatnot. You want a hog, why would anyone go looking for a turkey?" Uncle Charlie remarked in agreement with Granny.
"Indeed. Thankful to have oatmeal. A pot of beans and cornmeal to make muffins. Stretch to you can't stretch no more. Especially with a lot of mouths to feed," Granny helped to add for good measure.
Senior did not consider which personality had provided the information on what to serve to keep the peace during breakfast, lunch, and supper time. "Our son Richard indicated you have fond memories of dishes containing no meat and things that could be grown from the ground and not in plastic." To Senior, it described a vegan. He was a vegan, and so was his wife, Ella.
"Making do with what you have doesn't make it fond, but it does make you appreciate the night with something on your belly." Uncle Charlie responded with dignified ease as he asserted himself as the much older patriarch. He sensed an unease between Senior and Granny. And, from what the kids' Daddy told him, they were going to be guests for awhile in a house that was too big to ever feel like home.
Piecing together what was shared and hearing the information her husband provided caused unshed tears to fill Ms. Ella's eyes. She imagined the many years of hardship that her grandchildren must have endured while she and Senior had quietly denied their existence. Granny's revelation pained Ms. Ella deeply. The vague account was heartwrenching to hear. Guilt kept their hearts heavy. "Oh, dear children, eat. Eat!"
None of the children stirred. Their eyes flitted from Uncle Charlie to Granny for permission. Marty picked up his bacon and gave it a quick sniff and lick to Granny's immediate disapproval before placing it back on his plate.
"Child, you know; WE pray over the food. How many times I got to tell you any other way is the upset stomach way?" Granny spoke directly to Marty, who smiled sheepishly at his plate. He had planned not to eat if he could get away with it. And seated next to Granny, it was highly unlikely.
Jasmine chimed, "The first time you've ever said that, Granny! You always say any other way is the devil's way."
Granny clenched her fist while her other hand rested on the bible on her lap.
"Jasmine Amber, Jean!" Uncle Charlie admonished. "What has been said doesn't need repeating."
Jasmine pressed her lips shut.
"Indeed. That girl child knows she has been told, and she knows, word for word. Money on that, but I am a good Christian."
Uncle Charlie nodded as was customary to Granny's statement more out of habit than anything else. What he wasn't prepared for was what more Granny blurted.
"That Jasmine Amber Jean got a whole lot more of her mama than all of them together."
"How things would have been different if you would've trusted sooner than later, I say, Granny." Uncle Charlie shot back.
Jasmine didn't know to take any offense from Granny; her Mama was her Mama. Jasmine's cheeks and throat began to tint more a fever red as her eyes found only her Uncle Charlie's. He relayed forgiveness in his as he would always do with a slight nod once she nodded. She understood. Her relief began to take over, but she was still embarrassed, now more aware than ever that she must remain wary of her new Grandparents.
Granny unclenched her fist and reached for the closest hand to take hers, causing each of the children to participate instinctively.
Grandpa Senior didn't hide his surprise when he slowly took the small hand of his grandson, Marty, who kept patting his wrist until he had done so. His other hand connected to his wife, who held the hand of Andre and so forth.
Granny put her prayers into motion, "Thank you, heavenly father, for bringing your prompt revelation to this table. Please make away for me to produce sustenance that is recognizable from pot to plate. I say in Jesus' name, and if there is room for anymore blessing, please wake a mama or a daddy in the room upstairs. Amen."
Before a fork could reach a lip, Rick appeared in the dining room slightly disheveled. He was still wearing his blue matching pajama top and bottom, "Morning everyone. I am here for our babies. May I have them?" The moment he asked, every child who could get out of their chair went to embrace him excitedly except for Gladys and Knight, who tried to wring free from their high chairs but were stuck. They wailed. The noise was more than the house had ever heard within its structure, including the infants' soft cries seated in their separate carriers on the hardwood floor.
Senior looked directly at Granny and spoke through the commotion. "God, you say?"
"Amen," Granny confirmed with a nod.
Uncle Charlie sat back in his chair, "Next time Granny, add peace."
Lying in Rick's childhood bed, inside of a room that hadn't changed since the last time she was there more than ten years ago, Michonne began to remember. She was able to recall most of their beginning and every turbulent ending to their relationship. She was cognizant of the extreme emotions their bond carried. One thing for sure, she loved him more right then than she ever thought humanly possible. Peering into his eyes, she easily found the truth of his love and devotion for her. It was always readily apparent.
"How long have you been awake?" She had asked the second she realized she was staring directly into his softened blue eyes. His face just inches from her own.
"Not long."
"How long have I been sleeping?" Michonne had asked, slightly disoriented with the time and the number of days.
"A couple of days."
"Our babies?"
"We have 11." Rick reminded.
"I know."
Hearing her acknowledge was a relief to him. His anxiety dissipated rapidly.
"Bring them all to me," she whispered, brushing away a stray tear. "And get the polaroid. You will need it just in case you forget."
"I'm not sure what happened or why it happened along the way, Michonne. Leaving you is absolutely out of the question. It hurts me to think that I had. The thought eats me up inside. I feel like it could kill me if I let it. I won't let it rule me like before. What I do know is that I'm here to take care of you. I'm here to take care of the children we created. I can't imagine anything more I could ever want when you, my family, are All I need."
By the time Rick returned, Michonne had already freshened up and donned a fresh nightgown, her hair pinned on the top of her head. Her skin was still moist from the quick shower she had taken in preparation for seeing, holding, hugging, and loving each of her children who were excited to see her as she was to see them. She cried happy tears and provided wet kisses on every cheek and forehead. The eight were all well. Gladys and Knight remained glued to her hip until their Daddy told them to get down.
"Gladys and Knight, come down and let your Mama say a little something to your new brothers."
Rick took one child who had the fairest complexion of all his children, not including Jasmine Amber Jean. The three babies all had a full head of silky jet black hair. Carlton tried to help unstrap the other two from their seat until he was pushed out of the way by Abigail and Billie Jo, who were more efficient at the task.
"Pip, Piper, and Pippy? Which is which, Rick?" Michonne marveled that they were truly identical.
"I have no idea."
Sheriff Herschel finished cordoning off the perimeter with yellow caution tape of what was secretly a crime scene. The construction workers would be on-site by dawn. The Sheriff had planned to make his presence known to the crew. To give them a fair warning about crossing the yellow tape regardless of reason would be considered trespassing, which was a violation that would be punishable by a fine, including jail. He was on the hook for some things that could be called into question. He would have to answer to his questionable behavior during some, if not many, of the disappearances that traced back to his jurisdiction.
Plus, the glinty blue-eyed man had paid him a visit.
A/N: What happened was... Yeah. I am all over the place with my stories. I can't seem to focus on one without another one popping in my head. I have never taken this long to update and Yeah... I started back on Bang Bang and then realized I need to close out Consider Me and then I started back on til the Casket Drop prelude or interlude with the slave story...Yes, I am all over the place and getting no where fast. Just wanted to give a glimpse to my chaotic mind. I want to say thank you to every single person who continues to read my stories and give shout outs on Tumblr. Msj, who is thee most patient and forgiving reader, thank you for your nudges and everyone else that nudge with a review.
P.S. I love the reviews that trickle in and everyones anticipation for the next chapter. There's more to come with this story, just not tonight but definitely not months from now.
