Simon Now Understands: CHAPTER 3

So Funny I Forgot to Laugh

Simon pulled the colorful, patch work quilt, Mama had hand made, over his body tightly. It was a chilly morning and Mama refused to turn on the gas-powered heat because she accused the local gas company of taking all of our money.

 He had a good night's rest and today he could sleep in because he had a dental appointment. A smile lay on his face because the smell of bacon, eggs and buttered grits filled the room along with thoughts of which prize he would choose from the prize box after his checkup.

"Simon, it's time to get up, Sweetie", Mama whispered. "Go on in there and get a shower. We're leaving in an hour."

"Yes, ma'am.", Simon said as he hopped from the bed.

...

It had been a year since Daddy left and Simon was cherishing every drop of the Old Spice body wash that he used to shower with. It made Simon feel closer to his Daddy. He still had half of the bottle left and meticulously rationed it out daily. 

"Come on, Simon! Our cab will be here in thirty minutes!" Mama shouted from the other side of the door.

Mama didn't drive. She didn't have a driver's license. She never had to because Daddy was always there to take her where ever she needed to go. She vowed, after Daddy left, to get her license but it's  been almost a year and she still hasn't gotten it.

...

On the cab ride to school Simon played happily with his egg full of scrambled slime. He couldn't wait to show Jerry, his best friend, his new invisible braces and his slime. 

He hugged and kissed Mama goodbye. She ordered the cab driver to wait until Simon was all the way into the school before he left. Mama was over protective like that. She never wanted anything to happen to any of her babies, especially Simon.

...

It was 11:30 am, lunch time, Simon's favorite time of the day! Mama always packed Simon's favorite, peanut butter & jelly, salt & vinegar chips, a chocolate chip cookie and water. 

Simon's mouth was full and Jerry, across from him,  had just told a funny joke. Simon began to choke and as soon as he almost lost consciousness he felt a pair of large hands come from behind him and lift him up from his seat.

Suddenly he began to cough and the cookie was dislodged from his throat. Simon looked into the face of his hero and began to cry and grabbed his neck tightly. "Daddy?"

Simon Now Understands: CHAPTER 2

Simon Faces the Music

Simon's butt went numb after the third lick. His thoughts of his Daddy took away the sting that he'd normally feel. Mama lectured him but her words fell on deaf ears because Simon had already heard it all before.

How Simon wished his Mama understood him like Daddy did. If Daddy were here he'd say, "Son, I don't remember when I started understanding how to read but when you're ready it'll come. Your Mama just wants what's best for you." Simon could still hear his warm and soothing voice, the touch of his large hands massaging his head full of brown curls. 

"I miss my Daddy!", he finally yelled out when it was all over.

"I know you miss him, Sweetie", Mama whispered as she held him close. "So do I, every day." They sat on the edge of the quilt-covered bed and cried together silently.

Simon Now Understands: CHAPTER 1

Simon Gets Three Strikes, AGAIN!

As Simon arrived home the house was full of the wonderful aroma of Mama's homemade fried chicken, beans & rice with corn bread and a pitcher of sweet cherry Kool-Aid to wash it all down. But today Simon's stomach was upset and even though it smelled good, he was in no mood to eat or drink anything. He hung his head as he came through the front door.

"Close that damn door and get that jacket off!" Simon's mama yelled from the kitchen stove.

Simon slowly closed the door and appeared before his mama.

"I told you if I got one more call from that teacher of yours it was gonna be yo' ass! Didn't I?"

"Yes, ma'am", Simon said as he followed the leather belt, his Daddy's, that she was holding in her hand.

"Go to my room and I'll be there shortly"  she said.

Simon began to get hot, itchy and scared, all at once because he had been here before. The anticipation was more than he could take. He knew Mama wouldn't let him talk his way out of it like Daddy used to. It was at these moments that he missed his Daddy so much. Why'd he have to go so soon? Some days he wished he could go and be with him in Heaven.