Chapter 1
It was Wednesday at Ailson's house on Willowbrook Street, and the black cat clock on the wall paws stuck at 10:00 pm just now. The temperature was surprisingly warm this spring evening with no clouds in sight as said on the weather report on the radio. Hayvile was blessed to have all four seasons, including every state of America. Because they have seasons in the colder times, days are longer and nights are shorter while in the warmer temperatures, days are short and nights are long depending on if the person who runs the clocks in the country maintains them and changes on time.
Her home was quiet for the Black African woman to enjoy herself with some reading on the couch in her cozy black silk nightgown that had a similar fabric to her usual clothing like a pair of blue jeans and long sleeves shirt with a crescent moon in the center. As a dynamic housewife of sorts, this was the only time she could have peace. She has been busy with her chores like cooking and cleaning the home, a mother of 2 who has been known to bring joy to a mother's heart but sometimes can be a handful like her eldest and husband who constantly bother her with their ridiculous arguments over their damnable sports games on the television with cups of apple juice, beer, and caramel flavored popcorn while she vacuums. She even thought her chore was complete when of course her eldest would accidentally slip popcorn kernels on the anti-dirty carpet as he celebrated when his football team won.
But luckily for him, she was too exhausted to start an argument with his inconsiderateness and recleaned. Everyone was in bed around 9:30ish when she decided to veg out on the couch with her book and a cup of jasmine peppermint tea beside her to relax her nerves. She noticed how the sky became dark with clouds in the window a few meters away from her when she heard a thunder crackle and began to rain on the glass and found it quite soothing. Of course, not the ear-razing clashes of thunder but the sound of the rain flowing down the window seal making a tinkling sound as it ran off to a river of water making its way down the driveway.
She loves when it rains as her African herbs and vegetable garden in the backyard can be watered so they can grow to be ripe and juiced when she picks them tomorrow to make a delicious chicken salad for dinner. She also enjoys it because of the merchant in the town who would sell beautiful spring flowers in her little florist shop like her favorite moon lilies that her husband had given her since the day she gave birth to their children. The flowers were a decent size to put in a vase with white petals and a yellow interior. Even though they were poisonous to humans she still would keep them with proper caution.
A few minutes later when her novel was getting good, she heard quiet footsteps coming down the stairs and toward her at a slowed pace. She glanced up from her nose beginning in the book to see who it was, nevertheless, it was her nearly 3-year-old daughter Tasha in green sea turtle-covered PJs, barefooted with her extensive brown monkey plushie she called George around her arm.
“Aw baby, what are you doing up so late? Is there something wrong?” Her mother asked with a concerned look on her face.
“I -- I don’t sleep in my bed mama, too scary”. The little one said quietly, grasping her soft toy closer to her.
“Too scary? What do you mean too scary?’’ Before she could even answer a loud thunderclap roared and purple lighting flashed through the window which made her rush to her mother and duck her head under the blanket at the bottom of her mother's feet. Eliana now understood what she meant and set down her book on the nightstand and reached out her hands toward her daughter. The little one crawled under the blanket to a warm embrace from her mother. She felt that her body was shaking and fresh tears came from her chocolate eyes.
“Shh!, it's okay baby, Mommy is here to protect you from harm.” She said in a very calm manner, giving her a tender kiss on her forehead as she buried her face into her nightgown when she heard it again. Eliana tried to calm her down as mother nature was not doing any favors to her young, so she attempted to rock her back and forth gently,rubbed her back in small circles, and sang words that represented endearment and security as her father did when she was a young girl.
A moment went by as Elina noticed a slight change in her daughter's emotional stress as a few tears went down her cheek and her shanking crease as she stroked her back once more.
“You okay now Tashie?” It took her a second before slowly nodded her head as her mother wiped her fresh tears with her thumb and rewarded her with another kiss on the forehead which made her smile a bit and giggle.
Her tranquilness will not last forever her mother knew since this was only the beginning of it and needed a solution to help her overcome her fear. She pondered repeatedly moving her fingers through her daughter's short soft dark brown locks while she snuggled her head between her bosoms. She started to chuckle because the warm air from her nose tickled her half-bare chest. Not even a second later an idea popped inside her mind which made her snap her fingers.
“You know sweetie when I was your age I used to hate it when it started thundering and hid under my covers every chance I got or ran to your grandparents to sleep with them. But your grandfather taught me a little trick about how to soothe a storm by counting .”
“Counting?” Tasha said, as her eyebrow rose with curiosity.
“ Yes, counting! We count how many thunderclouds are leaving from before to determine the storm's disappearance time. Let's try it so you can understand okay baby?’’ Her little girl went silent for a moment but nodded her head before locating her mother's hand. She grasped it once she found it under the blue blanket around her. Eliana didn't mind as long she feels comfortable and safe the better her little trick will be efficient.
“Okay count with me, sweetie…. 1 ..2 ..3 …4-- They counted in unison even though Eliana was much more audible than Tasha who quickly stopped her counting and then nuzzled herself against mother again when a white flash flew across the window with a low rumble a few seconds afterward.
“Good Tasha, a few times the storm will be over”. Her mother announced, grabbing her favorite stuffed toy she accidentally dropped when the thunder frightened her. She presents it to her as her eyes open from the soft fabric of the monkey’s fur scratching her nose.
“George!” she squealed, taking her plushie from her mother's hand. She hugged it firmly not wanting to let go of it. She sniffed his little hair on top of his head, humming in delight as the scent had a strong fruity smell like strawberries ironically. Eliana washed him not so long ago when Tasha was taking a nap on the couch from the beginning outside playing with her brother Dj. She noticed how the plushie had dirt all over it and decided to put it in the washing machine while her daughter slept. Luckily she was still sleeping during the process. When the dryer was almost done with its cycle Tasha began to wake up as the machine buzzed to indicate the laundry was dry, Eliana grabbed a basket and put the fresh clean laundry in it before taking the plushie back to its owner.
“Now you have George to help, are you ready to continue baby?”
“Mhmm.” she nodded.
“Good, now follow along with me…” Just like before the two African women counted profoundly as their progress wasn’t in vain. The several minutes of their counting tune was like a lullaby to a cranky baby or the son of god himself Jesus. They said in ancient texts that rain and other weather are described to be God's emotional reaction to the world he created for his children. Elinia and Dwayne were no exception when believing in this belief as they were both Christians, catholic of course. Like most black americans in their state and some white folks, Dwayne likes to call them. The storm settled down a bit where the rain wasn't crashing down on the window seal and the loud booms of thunder began to outnumber in sound by nocturnal animals chipping and croaking in the long green grass in the front yard which Tasha found much more pleasant for a natural nature lullaby. She yawned.
¨Getting sleepy baby?¨ Her mother asked, gently stroking the child's head.
¨Mhmm¨
¨Ok you can sleep on me for a while since I am not going to bed anytime soon okay?¨
She didn't have to tell her twice as the little one lay down in the center of her mother's chest with her monkey tight in her grip as she released another yawn that was very contagious to her mother who hovered a hand around her mouth as her eyes began to water.
She didn't want to sleep after she finished her book which was almost coming to an end and also her motherly instances were kicking in telling her to keep an eye on her youngest while she slept just in case she needed someone to protect her from the hidden demons of the night or her having night terrors. Eliana looked down at her little girl who was just a few seconds away from dreamland and moved one of her strong arms around the child's body gently to hold her close then used her fingers to remove some hair away from her daughter's forehead to plant multiple soft tender goodnight kisses which Tasha hummed in tune and close her eyes and drifted off to sleep.
It's been a few hours in half when the clock charmed and the night was peaceful with no change in weather. Elinia decided to watch the news on the television since her book was boring her and watching politics and the weather report seemed to be more amusing. She put the tension on low volume so it wouldn't interfere with her sleeping child slumber who seemed to be having good dreams when begin in her mother's arms. Tasha rarely sleeps this long on her mother nevertheless when she cuddles with her. The sight moments she felt when her mother's chest moved upward as she inhaled oxygen through her lungs like a balloon being blown to a great length then exhaled slowly as it decreased sensing that her mother is calm. She even tell Elina was more relaxed when she slightly moved her head a bit closer to her right breast with her ear pressed against it when she heard it.
Lub dub…lub dub …lub dub.
Yes, the lovely sound of her mother's internal lullaby that was playing harmoniously in her ear while growing in the womb has never faded away from her mind. Hearing the sound of a parent's heartbeat is magical for any child who would have the chance like their parents hearing theirs on the fifth-month ultrasound. Tasha enjoys it very much. It is very fascinating to her young mind as something in her mother's chest was keeping her alive. Occasionally Elina would move slightly to a comfortable position on the couch that may reduce some pressure of her daughter's head pressing against her bosoms without waking her but instead made the sound of her thudding heart more audible.
Elina noticed it, and chuckled since it was very adorable when she would try to mimic the rhyme in her sleep while muttering "Bam!..bam!..bam..bam!.¨ or something like that but still cute. She impresses for someone her age can hear that well especially when she has very ..uhm pretty large breasts for a five foot eleven woman but she could assume she was destined to be a doctor when she grow up since there had never been a female on both sides of the family and it would be a special occupation for her to carry but at the same time her choice.
Minutes after and stupid commercials decided to interrupt an important announcement about the president being hospitalized after he apparently went rolling skating with his daughter and fell off a ten-foot ramp and unfortunately broke his buttbone.
Elina sigh in disbelief for a man his age should know better than to be careful on high platforms but her sighing surely stop when a craving for chicken seems to approach her mind when a ad that seems to have a certain fried chicken restaurant was promoting a special combo with a twelve herbs spices chicken tenders with sides mashed potatoes with brown savory gravy and greens and buttermilk biscuits finally a large drink of your choice under 10 dollars. Elina couldn't help herself not to retrain the unbelievable deal for chicken since they would say that on television but when you reminded the cashier that they always denied it and you just stood there bamboozled, hungry,and ready to throw hands from Dwayne part of it.
What's even worse, another commercial about a sale of enormous organic watermelons was broadcasted at a farm a white gentleman with a southern accent was going to harvest tomorrow to give to people who bothered to come by which would oblivious be the black folks even though it was quite stereotypical.
¨Mhmm! I wished I had some of that melon.¨ She pondered, then felt her stomach gurgle as the craving for it grew stronger and of course it woken the sleeping Tasha.
“Oh excuse me sweetie for waking you.” Tasha didn’t hear her mother as she had just been woken up from a wonderful dream of playing hide and seek with George except he can talk and walk just like any other and watching butterflies emerge from their cocoon in the garden until she heard that weird noise.
"Mmm..yes mama." She yawned faintly rubbing her weary eyes,that prefer to be close and just lay back comfortably on her mother's chest for a moment, until she heard it again but this time the growling sound was coming from Elina's tummy. She giggled.
"Hehe hungry mama?" The African woman blushed and nervously nodded her head in response.
"Kinda it's just these commercials that are making me hungry, so sorry if my stomach may have startled you.”
“That's okay I go, get snacks for you mama.” The little one declared,pulling the blanket to the side and lifting her tiny feet over the edge of the couch moving away from the warmth and comfort her mother provided.
“Oh Tashie, I'm fine, you don’t have to get up just to do that.” Elina coaxed, her daughter didn’t fall for it and continued to head to the sumi dark hallway that led to the kitchen which is ionic since she is afraid of the dark but luckily it automatically switches on the lights as she comes by. Elina smiled at the fact of how sweet her daughter is, compared to the time when she was her age and didn’t really care much when her parents told they were fine when actually they weren't and wondered where she got that type of mentality from? Her husband probably does not.
A minute went by and the African woman zoomed through the channels, hoping there aren't any more food ads that can make her hunger even worse, or make an unnecessary downpayment on watermelon tomorrow as she goes food shopping with the children when finally her baby girl has come back. She had a nice size bowl of red and green grapes which she must get from the fruit section of the refrigerator and a candy size chocolate nature grain bars from the pantry. Elina couldn’t help but giggled as she realized Tasha must have eaten one or few as there were some crumbles on her mouth.
“Am guessing you may have some yourself, huh baby?”
“Mhmm.” Tasha smiles cheekily and wipes her mouth with her sleeve before setting done the treats on a nightstand beside her mother then, comes back to her original spot in Elina’s lap that she so greatly fonds..
“I got food that will help your rumbling tummy,mama.”
“Aww thank you sweetie, and yes it will hopefully satisfy me for now if anything.” As a reward for her, Elina gave her a tender kiss on the cheek,which in return made the child giggled as her soft lips tickle and let her mother enjoy her midnight snack while she lay her head against her soft bosoms but this time stayed awake as she wasn’t that much tired and wanted to ask her mother a question that been coop up in her noggin since a few hours ago.
“ Uhh mama.. I have question?”
“Yes Tasha; what is it?” Elina replied, after swallowing a few chewed up pieces of grapes and caressing the child back.
“Where does wain come from and why do it make scary noises?” Elina knew she was going to ask this good question eventually, and tonight was a perfect opportunity for after what happened. She thought about it for a moment on how to explain it.
“Well, rain comes from when the humidity surrounding us becomes too humid which would cause tiny micro water droplets to vaporize and rise to the atmosphere, it condensates into a white fluffy cloud because …. are you getting confused sweetie?” She asked, looking down at Tasha who had a slightly confused but overall dumbfounded expression from what she ingested from her mother's scientifically accurate definition.
“No but, tell me more..please?”
“ You’re almost three years old, and understand the basics of the water cycle..wow I am so proud.” A prideful smile foamed on her face and kissed her daughter's forehead, knowing that there is one person in the family that understands her fondness for geology and weather fondation.
"Ok, when these cohesive water droplets hit the earth's atmosphere, different types of molecules are found in the solution like: Salt, carbon dioxide and a variety of earthy soil matter will collide from the intense pressure and rain will fall as a byproduct of it.”
“Oh.. so it wains because shy is sad?” She said innocently which made Elina chuckled.
“Well something like that if you are referring to mine and your father’s religious text, “The Bible” where a great beginning God, whose job is to watch over humankind and water our plants for food.” She watched how Tasha’s beautiful brown brunette grew wide and mouth agape in shock while also intense enthusiasm, which she found was pretty damn adorable.
"Oooh! So God good person,but why do he make scary sound in shy?”
¨Actually itś is called thunder, it is a sound reaction when static elections, positive and negative are exchanged, creating the loud sound you hear. I know the sound of it may be terrifying to your young mind but as long you´ve have a study house and a father, sometimes big brother and me to hold you close,¨ She lowered her nose to rubbed against the younger ones to make her giggled and snuggled her closer.
"Ÿou will find there is nothing to be afraid of: and embrace this resourceful pheromone that our little world has gifted us. You understand my brave girl?"
She pondered for a moment, finger on chin humming inquiry about her mother's wise words, that she agreed with and now understood the whole meaning behind the thunderstorms and why she shouldn't be afraid with help from her family.
"Mhmm!"
"Good girl.¨ She smiled, stocking the child's hair once more. She can tell that this time Tasha is ready to head back to sleep, as the child yawned and grabbed her furry sleeping partner while snuggling comfortably on her body which is a place she would always want her to rest her little head at compared to her son, who ¨allegedly¨ claimed he too big to snuggle with his mama; but he could be going through a phase since he'd just seven.
¨Ẅell..someone is getting sleepy again but, don´t worry this time as I got a full tummy of grapes that wouldn't any disturbance..hopefully." Elina said, covering her mouth to belch to prove a point. Tasha merely giggled, she knew her mother was honest from not hearing her stomach growling in her ear; but instead her calming heartbeat to drifted her off to sleep.
Lub dub!..lub dub!..lub dub!.
