Ayana Cherry & The Tabernacle Glorious

There was a baby crying in the front row. The high pitched wails spoke of the depression of this place. The young, black mother at first tried to soothe the child with a pacifier, only to have it spit up. Next, she tried a mix of incomprehensible words with a slow nose-to-nose rub. This was ineffective. The wails only seemed to reach a higher pitch once the woman’s face rose up to give room for its explosion. Then, she tried rocking the baby in her arms as she bounced her knees. This only served to cause a break in the rhythm of the child’s wailing. Finally, frustrated with all of her attempts, and heeding the curious stares of the other sullen faces who awaited the sight of a loved one, she lifted herself from the bench, grabbed up the soft, flower print baby bag, and stomped down the center aisle. Only the closing door behind her was able to mute the screams of her child. On the faces of those in the official room was a sense of relief. Increased activity in the court room signaled that the judge was nearly ready to proceed. The tall, blonde haired bailiff broke off his private conversation with the similarly blond, wafer-thin stenographer to take up his position at the edge of the room. The door at the rear of the room swung on its hinges to let in a stream of women and children. There were no men here, which Sherrelle thought odd. The women hustled the brown and black children to the row near the front in order to get a good look at their dad, uncle, brother, husband, or son. Next, there was the smooth roll of luggage as a trio of lawyers entered, among them Viola Sparks, who was representing Peaches as a favor for Dahji McBeth. She stopped suddenly when she saw Sherrelle seated near the middle of the bench of the middle row. “Hey Sherrelle,” she said with a smile on her tan face. Her burgundy business suit fit her thick frame with professional intentions. The golden silk scarf around her neck was a nicely added touch, Sherrelle noted to herself. “Hi Viola,” she responded. “I like those shoes,” she added, reminding herself that she had to get herself a pair of Vuitton red bottom shoes. Viola sat down next to her after placing a soft leather briefcase on the seat between them. “It’s my only vice,” she replied with a slow wink of her hazel eyes. She had the face of a harried woman who could be made beautiful with a little time and effort. “I ain’t mad at you. We need to get you in some Hoodsweet.” Viola’s face brightened. “I already have some! Dahji gave … By the way, is he coming today?” “He said he was.” Sherrelle’s attention was diverted by a familiar figure coming through the doors at the back of the courtroom. Marlin. She nearly jumped from her seat. A wide smile spread across her face as she looked to him with a glowing appraisal. “Who is that?” Viola whispered, having looked to see who it was that had Sherrelle’s attention so thoroughly. “My neighbor,” she replied as she lifted her hand so that he would see her. Viola pressed her lips together and made a groaning sound that made her body jerk. “Some neighbor,” she said, taking another look at the dark, muscular man. “Is that the one Dahji got on the Colts?” There was a new recognition in her eyes. “The same … Hi Marlin!” Sherelle called to the end of the row as he stood watching. She’d never before seen him in a suit. It was always work-out sweats and t-shirts. He looks absolutely divine, she thought to herself. Viola stood from her seat. “Well, session is about to start. I’ll go back and see Peaches now. Is there anything you’d like me to tell her?” “Let her know that I love her and to be strong.” Her face grew serious. “What’s going to happen today?” she asked. “Well, this is arraignment. Sometime this week we’ll have an evidentiary hearing.” “Could she get out when that happens?” “If the judge has a reason to do so. We’ll see,” Viola said with a hopeful shrug. “Thank you,” Sherrelle said before Viola sidled her way down the aisle. She shook Marlin’s hand and said something in a low voice that made him smile, before she turned towards the front of the courtroom. Sherrelle tried and failed to control her outrageous grin at the sight of Marlin in a suit. “You look nice,” she managed without showing too much enthusiasm as he sat down next to her. And he smelled good. “Thank you.” “You clean up nicely,” she added. He looked to her for a moment and took in her presence. Her chocolate legs escaped from the hem of a suede skirt. Her breasts pressed against the peach suede of her blazer. She reminded him of a day time television soap star for the way she was poised and polished. “You act like you like what you see,” she crooned with a sexy nod of her head. “I like the way you pinned your hair up,” he responded as he pulled at a loose curl of thick hair that spilled from the bun at the back of her head. Diamond encrusted platinum hoop