EUGENE: The week before graduation Momma says, (THELMA) “Eugene, my father would like to meet you.” (EUGENE) I’m stunned because I knew he cut her off for marrying Daddy. I say, “After what he put you through–after the way he treated you and Daddy?” (THELMA) “He’s a strong man who stuck by what he felt. He worked hard to provide for me and he gave up a lot. My daddy didn’t have any kind of help from his family. His father left them and he had to help support the family. He didn’t have the education he should have–can’t you see that? People saw him as high yellow trash. White people hated him and other black people too–and I hate to say it Gene-darker skinned people really hurt him–he suffered Gene. He can’t help the way he is. I want you to see him–YOU ARE GOING TO SEE HIM. He’s still my daddy and your grand-daddy and I love him.”

ALMA: Her–Odelia’s voice is rough slack–the vowels are absent–the vowels that are present are slurry/lost in her throat/with or without gin they are slurry and lost in her throat.

EUGENE: I ask Momma, “Why does he want to see me?” She can’t look me in the eye. She says (THELMA) “I sent a picture of you and he sent a message back saying it was okay for you to visit him”–

ALMA: I will not let the words get lost or slurry in my throat–I want my voice to be clear–heard. I hear her and I hear my own voice. I CANNOT STAND MY VOICE–

EUGENE: So I go visit him–“this man”–my “grandfather”–my blood/kin. I drive there slowly my eyes alternately looking at the road and the clock. I don’t want to get there too early nor do I want to be there late. I park the car and walk up to his–my granddaddy’s porch and I ring the bell. My heart is in my mouth–it feels like my heart is in my mouth. I hear him inside walking toward the door and I break into a sweat. He opens the door and we stare at each other–we’re standing there, both our mouths slightly open. We’re looking at the old/young versions of each other–

ALMA: I look at her–Odelia’s body. I look at her body and see what my body will become. I look at her and see that it will become thick and wide.

EUGENE: We continue to stare and finally he–Granddaddy Eugene invites me into his house–a house filled with furniture–antique furniture and light–his house is filled with light and darkness. It’s strange how his house is both light and dark. He leads me into his parlor and appraises me–