Drums, Drums. Drums, welcoming the faithful. Pulling them to move to dance. Shango conquered the forests. All human challengers. When Sassafrass hit the door, the smells overcame her. Incense, smoke, whiskey, rice & beans, lamb curry, honey. Sassafrass fell on her knees in the face of Madrina Mbewe, Mama Kai, Madrina Iyabodé, Madrina Kai, Papa Aklaff, & Padrino Musa, Padrino Obalaji, & Mama Sumara, receiving the Ibejii. One by one the followers went to Shango’s mountain of apples to pray & reveal their most secret desires. When Sassafrass lay flat on her stomach before Shango’s bounty, the seven holy ones laid hands on her. Sassafrass was blessed. She’d risen off the floor. Her body had been seized by Shango, He’d taken her. When the holy ones removed their hands from her shoulders, back, calves, & head, she just lay there, oblivious to everyone. Palms open. Sassafrass prayed that she might have a child. You leave your palms open that the gifts of the gods might have a place in your life.

When Sassafrass could finally move, Mama Mbewe & Mama Sumara assured her that her wish had been granted, but that she’d fall from grace very soon, if she didn’t abandon Mitch.

“The new one shall be cursed, if you don’t renounce the father. Believe us, he is unclean.”

Mitch was in Baton Rouge under all the magnolias, nodding out. Having a grand time, thinking ’bout his first gig with Coltrane, not realizing Trane was dead awready. In the tumult of the Bembée Sassafrass saw Mtume Satá swallow sticks of flames. Shango had chosen him, Shango had given him the gift of eating fire. Madrina Iyabodé whipped thru the celebrants in command of Shango’s Ax. She threatened all solid matter. Madrina Kai trembled with such power that no one dared touch her robes. Mitch arrived in his I-been-wearing-these-clothes-since-you-guess-when attire; no one noticed but Sassafrass & the gods. Brothers, from only Shango knows where, surrounded him. The presence of such a mean spirit was forbidden. Mitch, of course, began his usual tirade of “muthafuckah-my-woman-is-in-there.” If he’d known she was pregnant, maybe, he’d have acted better. More than likely, if he’d known, he’d have raised more hell.

But he didn’t have an opportunity to be a fool or a jackal. No one could stop it. The drummers could only feed her more. The other dancers moved from her path. Sassafrass was in the throes of the wrath of Oshun. How dare you betray me? Her foot stomped. How dare you not recognize my beauty? Her hand brought forth the mirror wherein she admired herself. How dare you make no preparations for my child who is a gift of las potencias, the spirits? She grabbed up a jar of honey from Madrina Sumara’s hand, danced. Sassafrass danced, tore thru the crowd, spreading honey on the faces, robes, hands of those Oshun chose.