When I left, I finally looked back. I was no longer frozen in time; I was finally re-entering the world as if for the first time.
I was here, present, moving, and finally breathing. Finally, I accomplished what I had yearned for so long.
I was livin...
" You know where the kitchen is, you can go on and get it yourself" She said as she sashayed to the back room.
"So that's your aunt?" I said trying to fill the dead silence that had emerged due to Emmanuel's constant chopping of his order.
" What gave it away, its definitely not her winning personality" I threw my head back and let out a laugh. We sat back in silence for a while as Emmanuel finished his pancakes. His aunt would occasionally come out to see how we're doing or greet incoming customers. The sunrise bringing with it an onslaught of hungry customers.
Stuck in my own world I imagined what they would have thought of this place. I remember the times back in our wood kitchen all huddled over the stove as my grandma would make her version of crepes every Sunday morning. My grandpa would put on old Jackson 5 records, dancing and sneaking bites every time my nan wasn't looking. My nan would then scold my grandpa as he ate his pancakes bathed in syrup and butter, otherwise known as a heart attack and diabetes on a platter. My grandpa would respond that that's the way his mother and grandmother taught him. After breakfast as I washed the dishes my grandpa would make a clearing, take a puff of his cigar and rub his stomach.
" Now belezinha listen, this puff is my lucky cigar. Everytime I've asked your avo to dance with me, she always said yes." He would say in a thick accent, looking at me intently making sure that I listened carefully, as if the thirty-year marriage had no impetus on my grandma's decision. I'd laugh and my nan would scold him again for storytelling the day of rest. They would both laughed as my grandpa twirled my nan around the kitchen while I watched them with yearning.
Their Images fading I saw Emmanuel regarding me with an inquisitive look.
" You go to Auburn University right?" Startled by his question I nodded my head, and he continued on. " I know, I just wanted to see if you knew I go there too. Judging by your reaction you ain't got no idea who I am"
" Am I supposed to?" He rubbed the back of his neck, showcasing his toned arm with ink peaking from under his shirt.
" Damn, Ice cold as always. I've seen your locs around the school. I transferred three years ago to play ball here" I nodded my head confirming my suspicion that he definitely was not from here.
" I wanted to ask you earlier but didn't want to be all in your business but where are you from?"
" What you trynna say that I don't belong here?"
" Well, yes. I thought it was implied." he shook his head again.
" Brutally honest as always" He took another bite of his pancakes and took a swig of his coffee then grimaced. "To answer your question I was actually born here, but my folks and I moved south of the border, to Louisiana when I was six. I moved permanently back here when I was nineteen."
" Really? I can't imagine the change. Did you come with your parents" His smile faltered a little.
"Nah, just me, my aunt and my uncle Dominic. How about you were are you from?" He 'said swiftly diverting the attention from himself to me. I had forgotten what It was like to be in the hot seat, I wondered if I should answer him truthfully or try to keep him at a distance like I did others.
" I'm actually not from this continent at all. My family moved a lot when I was younger, we spent most of our time in Mozambique a small country in southern Africa, Belize than we finally moved here when I was fourteen though we lived outside of the town"
I was never good at lying anyway.
" Wow that's impressive, you came here by yourself?"
"Yes," But when needed I could lie.
"Nice, how was that?"
" Y'know, just had to get through it." I looked around the place admiring all the records lined up next to the jukebox. "What are you studying in school?"
Thankfully Emmanuel took the bait and changed the topics to lighter subjects. We spent over an hour at the cafe making light conversation with Pierrette or Ette as everyone else called her as well as meeting her husband Dom, whom unlike his plump short wife. Was very thin and tall, rather than tawny skin he had a deep ebony tint to his skin which was complemented by his pearly white smile. Dom's thick Louisianna accent made all the stories that he told all the more interesting and funny. For the first time in forever, I felt blissfully happy. After what felt like 15 minutes, Emmanuel was dropping me off back in my car. He parked his car next to my own, The events of last night still at the forefront of the mind, the lawn was cleared of drunken university students.
" Nice car". I looked at him and couldn't help but agree my 2002 Jeep Wrangler was my baby. I made sure to always take good care of her.
" Thank you, thanks for the ride"
" No problem, you cool peoples. You're kind of fun too". I smiled and got into my car starting my engine and rolling down the window I thanked him again and offered him a smile.
" Though you did give me the worst coffee I've ever tast-"
" Aye aye aye , I told you about that beforehand and you agreed, so technically I'm not to be held responsible" I rolled my eyes. " So can I call you a friend now?"
" Maybe"
" You play too much" Emmanuel gave me one last lingering smile I sped off home to take a shower before I went ahead into work. 'Hopeless' by Dionne Farris accompanied my thoughts. What would usually be the soundtrack of my life didn't quite resonate with me as much as it did a couple of days ago. For that, I was grateful.
"Now it's time for me to move on " I sang on my way home. One hand on my car window sill, the other the steering wheel and an easy smile plastered on my face.
