"Mama said..."

It was another hot day for students as they made their daily track at the end of the school day. The heat reflecting from the freshly laid asphalt street sucked away the little bit of energy Bonita had as she approached home. The skies were radiating eighty eight degrees on her shoulders and carrying a bundle of books only added additional stress to her petite physique as Bonita struggled with each step. With a quick but short stride Bonita runs along her tree lined neighborhood flanked with brick tutor houses seeking refuge of the cool comfort of her own home. "Hi Mama. I'm home." Mama is in the kitchen as Bonita enters the front door. She kicks off her shoes and throws her book bag down on the sun porch. Bonita was met with an array of sun rays upon entering the front room of the house. Relieved to be home, she threw her book bag down on the floor. Mama was always on Bonita along with her six brothers and sisters about throwing their bags and coats on the sunroom floor. Mama would say, "Pick up your belongings and take them to your bedroom where they belong." She was very particular about the way we took care of our house. Bonita's mama loved a clean house. Literally, Bonita's mama believed in the home is where the heart is. Mama believed that a cluttered house makes for an unhappy home. "How was your day at school, Bonita?" The question repeated itself everyday but it gave Bonita a sense of security just to hear it. Mama's voice was like a song bird in a garden but Bonita was happy to know that mama was nestled in the kitchen preparing dinner. Bonita, a bright cheerful girl who loves being around her mother as much as she enjoys hanging out with her friends charges into the kitchen where mama is cooking her popular everybody in the house likes, um, um, good, fried chicken. Bonita enters the kitchen, "Nobody fries chicken like you mama and you always made sure we eat good and always desert to satisfy our sweet tooth." "School was alright, mama." Bonita shows little enthusiasm for what happened in school today. Bonita really enjoyed school but not as much as she enjoys her friends. They meant everything to her. It was not uncommon for Bonita to bring friends from the neighborhood home to meet her mother. These would be children her mother never met before. Bonita's mama would greet them with smiles and hugs as if they were her own. Mama's smiles were always warm and friendly so the neighborhood kids looked forward to visiting the Gladney's house. Mama didn't mind the kids from the neighborhood visiting as long as she was home to check them out. The scrutiny never bothered Bonita because she knew her mama had genuine concern for her and her friends. "What do you mean alright, Bonita? It was alright, said Bonita. "What did you learn in school?" Mama would ask. "We learned a lot" Bonita's response had the tone of evasiveness. "Describe what you learned, Bonita?" Bonita tries to change the subject. "Mama it's hot in here. Why can't we get air conditioning?" It was a hot day and Bonita was already feeling worn from the heat. Discussing school really wasn't what she wanted to do. Bonita thought about her attitude for a moment and her conscience asked her "How dare I give the impression to mama that I don't want to be bothered, as hard as mama works to provide for us." Bonita realizes she needs to get rid of her "Ms. It. .. plus a bag of chips" attitude. Bonita might have been naive but she wasn't stupid. Bonita begins to reflect; ... Mama believed in giving all of us a chance to talk about what was on our mind. Every once in a while I would find myself sitting at the kitchen table discussing the day's events with mama. Sometimes I had the nerve to complain about the time spent answering mama's questions but mama always remained calm and patient with me. I knew I had to open up and be honest about how my day went because Mama wasn't settling for less. I was always amazed at mama's ability to be there to listen to me and my other six siblings. We are really blessed to have a mother like mama. Bonita goes to the front of the sun porch and grabs her book bag and started dumping everything in it on the kitchen table. "What do you have here Bonita, mama said? Bonita plucks out a torn notebook with markings all over it. She pulls out a slew of loose papers turned in every direction. Then she finally lugs out her tattered five inch math book from the bowels of one of many school book bags. Bonita, a bright cheerful girl who loves being around her mother as much as she enjoys hanging out with her friends charges into the kitchen where mama is cooking her popular everybody in the house likes, urn, urn, good, fried chicken. Bonita enters the kitchen, "Nobody fries chicken like you mama and you always made sure we have a balanced meal with veggies and always desert." "School was alright, mama." Bonita shows little enthusiasm for what happened in school today. Bonita really enjoyed school but not as much as she enjoys her friends. They meant everything to her. It was not uncommon for Bonita to bring friends from the neighborhood home to meet her mother. These would be children her mother never met before. Bonita's mama would greet them with smiles and hugs as if they were her own. Mama's smiles were always warm and friendly so the neighborhood kids looked forward to visiting the Gladney's house. Mama didn't mind the kids from the neighborhood visiting as long as she was home to check them out.