To my loyal readers, the following is a sample of my latest published book, A Man’s Passion. If you are interested, it’s available online at Barnes and Noble and on Amazon in print and E-book formats. Thank you all for your continued support.
“Granny Hattie, are you ready?”
Hattie Black’s back appeared stooped, the wrinkles om her pale, ivory face pronounced, and the liver spotted hands held her walker in front of her to help her maneuver about her room of the assisted living facility. It was warm and sunny that early October morning in Coral Gables, Florida.
Dorothy, though everyone in their family called her Dot, just turned twenty and was engaged to a college football athlete named Rex. Dot’s nose piercing gave away her generation, along with the tattoo of a unicorn prominently displayed on her upper back and shoulder, to the chagrin of her great grandmother. Her brown hair had a natural curl to it. Dot wore white shorts, white blouse and sandals, her Ray-Bans held up on her head.
Hattie Black used her walker to pull herself up from the twin sized hospital bed. Her Georgia accent ran from her mouth as smooth as molasses.
“Soon, child, soon,” she replied as she moved slowly in the direction of her front door. “Dot, where are we going again?” She handed Dot an oversized beaded handbag, which she placed firmly over her young shoulder.
“Montgomery, Alabama. Remember? You wanted to go to that lunching museum. And I told you I would drive you there,” Dot replied pulling her sunglasses over her brown eyes. She sounded stressed and frustrated by always reminding her great-grandmother of things she wanted to do but seemingly, increasingly, always forgetting.
“I read in the newspaper a police officer shot another black boy.”
“Yes, ma’am, but they prefer we call them African-American now.” Hattie smiled at her.
“Not so long ago, child, my pa used another word. He used it as regular as clockwork.” Dot frowned. “And he would have called you an Oriol.”
“Did he live to see what happened? You know with the civil rights movement and desegregation?”
“Oh yes, he did. I hoped he would have changed over time, but he didn’t. I sure do hope he’s resting comfortably in the oak casket of his.”
Are you gonna talk about all that happened about that time on the way to Montgomery?”
Hattie’s azure eyes looked deep into her great-granddaughter’s face before she replied, “In time, child, in time.”
Dot grabbed Hattie’s cane made of oak too and handed it to her. “You can leave that thing here.” She left the walker just inside the door and secured the door firmly. She held Hattie’s left hand, while Hattie’s right hand grasped the cane and began walking toward the main lobby in a slow and steady gait. The reception nurse, Miss Georgia sat and waved at them with her large, fat hands. Her cocoa colored …
Jerry Schellhammer 