The Miracles of My Mistakes

It was getting close to Thanksgiving. Sandra could tell because all the junkies and the working girls kept coming by dropping off foodstamps, washing, dusting, and cleaning out the garage. Doing anything they could do to make Naana tell them too make sure they come back and get a plate. This was Sandra’s favorite time of the year because the house was always full of people partying, drinking, and giving her money.

Sometimes Nanna would let her stay up late to serve drinks and dump ashtrays. Diane (Uncle Gator’s bottom bitch) had taught her how to pour beer, mix drinks, and how to water down the drinks of those who couldn’t handle their liquor. Sandy had gotten hip to most of the loud mouth drunks and watered their drinks down from the get go. She never had to fix Naana a drink. Oh no, Lou Lou (as everyone called her) kept her purple bag in her apron because she didn’t believe in letting everybody drink up the good shit.

One night around a quarter to four in the morning Sandra was thumbing through her Auntie Cookie’s party albums. She chose Signifying Monkey and put it on the record player. Then she dumped her last ashtray, walked around the large oak dining table, and kissed her Naana goodnight. Naana tipped her five dollars and told her to go get some rest so she could make the nine o’clock church bus.

Young Sandy retreated to her bedroom that she shared with her aunts Carol and Debbie. She knew the working girls were of no relationship to her, but what else was she supposed to say when her friends teased her about living in a whorehouse. She climbed onto her top bunk and began counting her tips. The lion was about to kick the monkey’s ass when the door opened and a tall dark figure approached her. Sandra informed the intruder that Carol and Debbie were out for the night. His response was, "when you gonna start working Lil’ Mama?" Sandra tried to scream as the man grabbed her by her neck and kissed her hard on the mouth. She could taste the cheap drinks she had been mixing all night. He released his grip from her neck and reached under her gown. She screamed again as loud as she could. Suddenly she heard glasses shattering, the record scratch, and then four gunshots. Sandra’s attacker took his last breath between her legs.

Uncle Donald and Naana pulled the lifeless body to the floor. Gator kneeled down over the would be rapist, rolled him over, and removed a switchblade from his lapel. Then slit the man’s throat with his own knife. Sheila emptied his pockets and Kenny and Sam drug his body out of the room. Cookie came in and helped Sandra change her bedding. She didn’t say much just muttering about how much grown pussy it was in the house and asking the Lord why an old ass man would want to fuck a child.