Creating Cora

September 15th, 1985

Cora’s Pov

I turn the tv on and the music starts playing. It’s I Love to Love You Baby by Donna Summer. I remember this song. Uncle Floyd would play it on Saturdays when it was time for Sapphire to go on stage. It was playing at the club that night. I remember it like it was yesterday.

I walk around the pole before jumping on it and sliding down.

“Weeee,” I said as I played on the pole.

I put my doll down so I can get a better grip and do it again getting up higher this time.

“Yall better get her down before her mama sees her,” my Aunt Hattie said at the bar while she held my little brother William.

“Pow,” I flinch as the sound of a gun goes off.

“Cora Jean get cho ass down from there now,” Madea’s voice boomed.

I get down off the stage as she walks towards me. Next thing I know she slaps me.

"Mable,” my Aunt Bam screams checking to see if I was alright.

“Don’t you ever get on a pole again. You hear me,” she scolded me.

“Yes ma’am,” I answered, not wanting to get slapped again. By this point I’ve learned that trying to explain to my mama is pointless.

When we got home she didn’t apologize for hitting me. She just cooked dinner and sat me down and explained to me that stripping isn’t something I need to even think about doing and that I need to focus on getting good grades in school.

She still leaves every night to strip at the club. Me and my brother practically grew up there. The workers would take turns watching us while Madea worked the pole.

I remember all the dancers’ routines in amazement since I was 3 years old wishing I could be a ballerina just like them. They looked so graceful and angelic that I sometimes forgot about the smell of drugs and liquor, and sleazy men stinking up the whole place.

After seeing me on that pole, Madea never let us go to the club with her again. I was 8 the last time I was there. Now I spend most nights at the neighbor’s house, Mr. Brown. He’s cooky, but at least I’m somewhere safe I guess. William stays at his dad’s house.

“Cora, you wanted a ham sandwich? I got some chips too,” Mr. Brown said, peaking his head out of the kitchen wearing his special apron that he only wears when he’s making a masterpiece that some people just call sandwiches.

“Yeah, can I have 2 with lettuce and tomato,” I asked.

“Coming right up,” he answered.

He’s strange and funny dressing, but it’s kind of nice having him in my life. I don’t know who my dad is and Madea’s latest boyfriend doesn’t exactly fit the bill. Mr. Brown will just have to do. And his wife, Ms. Mattie is nice too. She’s not here right now because she’s working a shift at the hospital.

“Cora, go wash your hands and come eat,” he called out.

I go to the bathroom to wash my hands. I stop and look at myself in the mirror. My hair, my tangled eyebrows, my brown eyes, my nose, my lips, my chubby cheeks. I get told all kinds of things at school about my weight and the way I look, but for the most part people leave me alone because they don’t want me to beat they ass or my mama to either beat or shoot their entire family.

Sometimes it still bothers me though. I wonder when I’m gonna have a boyfriend like all the other girls in school. I mean Gordon and I are close, but he’s not my boyfriend, not yet anyway.

Yeah I have a crush on my boy best friend. Sometimes I get the feeling that he might feel the same way, but I know I’m just being silly thinking something like that. Hopefully he’s at school tomorrow.

I turn the light off in the bathroom after drying my hands.I walk to the dining room. Mr. Brown pulls out my chair before sitting in his own chair near me. He holds out his hand so that he can pray.

“Bow your eyes and close your head,” he said, making me laugh to myself.

He always says things in his own twisted up way.

“Father God, thank you for this food. Thank you for every person that had a hand in getting it to this table. May it be a nourishment to our bodies and fill us up to make it through another night. In Jesus Name we pray, Amen,” he prayed.

“Amen,” I said.

I take a bite of my sandwich and my eyes roll back in my head because it’s so good. Mr. Brown really does have sandwich making magic.

“This is really good Mr. Brown,” I spoke.

“Thank you Cora. I put my special sauce on it this time,” he replied.

“What’s in that sauce again,” I asked.

“A little bit of none of your business and a lot of not telling you seasoning,” he answered.

“Come on, I’m not trying to sell it. I just want to be able to make it at home when Mama isn’t able to get up and cook or when I just want a nice snack,” I pleaded.

“I tell you what. How about I make you some an put it in a bottle for you,” he said.

“Yess! Thank you Mr. Brown,” I exclaimed.

“Deal now you gotta come to Bible Study with me on Thursdays,” he said.

“Wait, I never agreed to that,” I said.

“Well that’s the only way I’m gonna make the secret sauce for you,” he replied.

“I already go to church every Sunday and choir rehearsals on Wednesdays, now Bible Study too. Pretty soon Jesus is gonna get tired of seeing me,” I complained.

“Hush up that whining. Besides that’s not a good thing to joke about,” he said.

“I’m sorry Jesus. It’s just that I’m 15, a teenager and I don’t want to miss out on all the fun,” I explained.

“I understand and when you are older you will understand my intentions too. Jesus gave his entire life. Not just some of it. All of it. He deserves much more than some days of the week or just a few hours a week. I’m doing this because he loves us so much and he will never leave you even if you leave him. I want you to have a fighting chance Cora. Some of your classmates will never have that chance because nobody thought to teach them about Jesus. Just remember that you can love Christ and have fun without putting your soul in danger,” he responded.

“Plus Mattie shifts changed up so now she’ll be home on Tuesday instead of Thursday so nobody will be here anyway,” he added.

“So what I’m hearing is that I don’t have a choice but to go to Bible Study,” I asked.

“Yep,” he replied, going back to eating his sandwich.

I got the idea for two books about Cora a little while ago after I was reminiscing on my favorite Meet the Browns episodes, so I decided to start writing. Now this doesn’t mean I can fully devote to it, so just enjoy my ADHD hyperfocus moment for now! As always let me know if yall like it so far!