Pearls for My Father: When Mother Falls Short

By Latifah Free

X, is a strong man with a simple heart and an ultimate goal. A goal of raising his family in his childhood community. A community now infused with a shadowy undercurrent. With his wife at his side he was elated and prepared to make a difference. But upon his return and unbeknown to him; everyone in the community was not as welcoming or accepting. X is resilient but is met with challenges and secrets of his wifes past. Secrets that would bring turmoil to his marriage, causing him to second guess his decision about returning home. Every achievement he makes impacts the life of his family. Now with a change of heart he must choose between his life, his wife, and a childhood friend at the expense of his greatest gift. His son.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: May 23, 2017
• ISBN: 9781524693398

Latifah Free

Latifah free is a short story writer who received her formal education from the University of Milwaukee Wisconsin. She resides in Wisconsin with her husband and children. Latifah enjoys expressing herself through creativity and short stories. She wants to provoke debate through dialog in literature. Her books include, Most Dishes are Better Served Hot Pt. 1, Damn Dishes Pt. 2, Pearls for my Father, What she won’t do, and two controversial stories, Flowers have Voices and No Stones Thrown.

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© 2017 Latifah Free. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse 05/22/2017

ISBN: 978-1-5246-9341-1 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-5246-9340-4 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-5246-9339-8 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2017908084

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New American Standard Bible (NASB)

Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation

Dedicated to my fathers Mujahid Sr., Von

and my grandfather, Leotha who has transitioned but is not forgotten

Nothing happens in the earth that has not already been planned.

Entreat me not to leave you, or to turn back from following after you; for wherever you go, and wherever you lodge, I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God, my God. Where you die, I will die and there will I be buried. The LORD do so to me, and more also, if anything but death parts you and me (Ruth 1:16 – 17 NKJV).

Contents

Part 1

My Brother Comes First

Session 1

Session 2

Session 3

Part 2

Coming Home

Section 1

Section 2

Section 3

Part 3

Only For My Son

Part 1

My Brother Comes First

Son, I want to apologize to you.

For what, Daddy?

For knowing that I will not always be there with you, for knowing you’re going to struggle and not being able to reach out to you. For not being able to hug you, to share with you, to comfort you, and for sometimes not being able to give you what you need.

Now, son, I want you to understand that once you reach the natural earth and begin getting older you will soon forget and become frustrated by your circumstances. Certain obstacles and situations will cloud your judgment. You may even scream and curse. You may start to doubt the universe and become angry. You will question your existence; you will forget.

But daddy, Baba, I’ll still have memories, flashbacks, and details of my story. I can always reflect. My dreams will be of both of you.

Yes, son, but it will only be details of your story and not of mine. In our walk here, we see all, but we only agree to our own path and our own journey. We forget the details. We are led by our destiny, our dreams, our passions. Trust me. Your earthly life, you’re flesh will push you further away from the knowledge of our relationship, our time together in this realm. You will forget your universal placement. When this occurs, you must seek our ancestors. When you are older, when you are in the world, you must go deep within yourself and bring out the spirit that is within you. Do you understand?

Yes, Daddy.

Are you sure?

Yes, Daddy.

No, Baba, I can’t do this. I don’t think he should go. He’s not ready.

It’s not your decision, my child, and he is ready.

Yes, Baba.

Now, I must reveal my story before it’s time for you to go. Baba and I will share in explaining and revealing the story to you. You can ask questions if you choose. I just want you to remember not to faint on your journey, and all will be well. Are you ready?

Dad, I am prepared.

Baba.

No hesitations. Proceed, my son.

I remember when I met my closest friends in elementary school. We were all new to 5th grade and new to the school. We all stood alone along the playground fence as rejects watching the other children play carelessly, not inviting anyone of us over to play. A schoolteacher then came over and gathered us together. She said, All of you look like you could use a brother, a good friend. We introduced ourselves to one another. Man, Eli, Robert, and me. I’m X. My father calls me X because my father and I have the same name and my middle name starts with an X. So, instantly, all three of us became joined at the hip and were inseparable. We did everything together. It was like we were long-lost brothers. I had their backs, and they had mine. We all had hopes and dreams of going places we had never dreamed of. We were boys on a mission daily; young, ambitious, full of life and rambunctiousness. The years went by like the clothing styles. We were truly on our way to a life-long brotherhood. No questions asked. No conditions.

Man, you crazy. I’ve never met anyone like you.

This is so exciting, X.

My mom told me not to walk down this far.

Robert, stop being scary, ya mama’s boy.

I’m not scary, Eli, and if being a mama’s boy keeps me alive, then so be it.

X stops the guys at the mouth of a cave.

I believe that’s blood.

What blood, X.

You know.

No.

Come on, Robert, come in with me.

No, you don’t know who’s been in this cave.

Come on, scary cat.

No.

Come on, Robert, we can’t go in without you.

Alright, I just hope we don’t get into any trouble.

Robert, who’s going to know we were here? It’s just us. I’m not going to say anything. Are you all?

No.

No.

Who’s going to know?

I guess nobody, Eli.

Exactly.

So, this is where it all happened.

What happened, Man?

This is where those drifters raped those two girls. They killed one and the other is still in critical condition.

Man, when was this.

About three months ago, it was all in the paper and on the news. Nothing has ever happened like this before. You remember, X. They searched for three days looking for those girls.

Not really, Man.

See? this is exactly why I’m going to become a detective, and you all will be walking the streets. Ya’ll don’t remember anything. If you read the paper you would know a few things. Catch up on what’s going on in the community.

I read, and besides, who wants to be walking the streets. I’m planning on being a judge.

You Robert, a judge!

Yes, Man, me.

Okay, then I’ll catch ’em and you can lock ’em up.

Cool with me.

What about you, X, you can be the District Attorney.

No, I want to build things.

Build things?

Yes, Man, no need to get excited. I said I’m going to build things. See the configuration of this cave, it’s exciting isn’t it, all the geometrical shapes.

Exciting to whom?

To me, Man. I like the shapes, forms, and textures.

Yeah, it’s about as exciting as watching my grandmother clip her toe nails, bent over with her butt cheeks hanging out, then her back locks up because she was bent over too far trying to cut them.

"Man, nobody wants to hear about that. That’s private family stuff.

Ugh."

Robert, I was just trying to give X an example.

An’ it’s the only example you could have come up with. A visual of your grandma’s butt. You couldn’t say something like watching paint dry, watching the grass grow, watching the fan spin on a hot summer day, none of those examples ring a bell.

Mm, nope, can’t say that they do.

Eli, you didn’t say what you wanted to do.

Since you asked, X, I want to make money, make money, and make more money.

How are you going to just make money?

I can create, invest, or invent something. Who knows? I just know I’m going to make money and get married.

All the boys say in unison.

Get married!

Yes, it’s the only way to be, one woman for a lifetime, like my mom and dad.

I guess, but I’m not too sure about the whole marriage thing.

Why, Man?

What if she doesn’t like you…like you… like you like her. What if you fall short of what she sees, or if she falls short of your expectations.

I don’t know, move on to a woman that does maybe. Do I have the answers?

No, Eli, just keep harassing her until you grow on her.

Robert, you crazy.

Crazy enough to know it’s working. You know Frances?

The girl you’ve been stalking since 5th grade.

You are very observant, she would be the one, Eli.

We have been secretly talking on the phone.

Secretly.

Yes, secretly, Robert. Her parents said she can’t talk on the phone to boys until she’s sixteen, one more year.

Robert, you’re going to get her sentenced lengthened if she gets caught.

Doesn’t matter. I can still see her at school.

I know what you mean, Robert. Halo gets prettier every day I see her. One day, I can’t wait. I know I’m going to make some babies with her, all boys. I believe one day our sons will be the best of friends and having the same conversation.

"Quick, somebody hold this man down before he flies away. Eli, she might find somebody else. Besides, you only think she’s pretty because she has Native American blood.

Correction, Man, she is beautiful.

"Keep it up, stalker, and her grandmother will blow some smoke on

you."

Very funny. I’ve met her grandmother, and she happens to be a very sweet lady.

Right now, but put your hands on her grandbaby. Yo head will be on one of those totem poles.

Her family isn’t mean, Man. They are good people.

Okay, get trapped up in all this…. Man waves his hands around.

Man, what are you doing?

You know, Eli, all this.

Man waves his hands around again.

Man, they’re very spiritual people.

Eli, what do you know about being spiritual?

She can teach me, my little angel from heaven.

Eli, snap out of it.

Man, I’m dreaming about our life together and our boys.

How do you know she’s the one?

Why do I have to keep explaining myself? I just know.

What are you going to name your sons?

That’s easy. Eli jr., Elijah, Elias and Isaiah Eli in that order.

What if she has a girl?

Robert, there is no room for girls.

So, what if she has a girl.

The guys stare at Eli.

What? A girl can’t be named Eli?

Um, no! Robert and X say together.

Mm, hm. Well, ya’ll don’t fall into his little fantasy world, especially you, Robert.

Oh, like you, Man. Have us in a cave pretending to look for evidence. You don’t even know what you’re doing.

I do too, Eli.

No, you don’t.

Let’s go, before we get caught.

I’m with you, X.

Wait, let me collect some evidence.

Man whips out a plastic bag.

Man, you crazy. Let’s go.

If you really want to do something, chip off some of these crystal formations for study.

No X, it’s boring.

This one has some blood on it.

Oh, thanks, X.

See? We both win.

Just like a team, X.

Robert, let’s leave them.

I’m with you, Eli. X and Man are losing it.

No, we are destined to be together.

Whatever gets you through the day, X.

Man, hands X another plastic bag from his other pocket. X finds several rocks he thinks are interesting. Man looks up. He taps X.

Hey X, Robert and Eli are really leaving us.

I guess we better go.

The boys run off quickly catching up with Eli and Robert.

So, X, you never told us who you like.

It doesn’t matter who I like, Robert.

Why the secret, X?

It’s not a secret. I just don’t want to spoil my chances.

What about you, Man. What girl do you like?

I haven’t decided. I like several girls.

Like who.

Janine, Kara, Cheryl, Debbie, Diane.

You can’t have a harem of women.

Maybe not in this country, Eli.

But you have to be wealthy to have all those women. You said you wanted to be a detective.

Eli, I’ll just have to be a world-famous detective.

Yeah, you will be world famous. The headlines will read big and pretty. A dead world-famous detective polygamist, he married four women who plotted to kill him.

Yeah, yeah, I do have one girl in mind. She keeps catching my eye.

Who!

The guys say in unison.

No one in particular.

It better not be my girl.

X, how am I supposed to know who your girl is if you won’t tell us?

You won’t tell me who is the particular girl you like.

Okay, X, let’s say it together on the count of three. Ready? One, two, three!

Pamela!

They both yell.

No, you can’t have Pamela.

No, you can’t, Man.

Why not.

You already have a clan.

This is true. I can’t help it if the ladies like me. All this sexiness is unbearable. Okay, you can have her, I guess. You do only have just the one.

Oh, gee thanks, I appreciate it.

What are friends for, X?

Hey guys, you want to eat at my house?

No thanks, Robert. Cause the last time they had us eating quails’ eggs, unknown spring rolls, sea biscuit’s, and who knows what was in the stew.

Man, ya’ll ate it.

Yes, Robert, but that was before we knew what your mom was feeding us.

Oh, Man, please. Are you saying you didn’t like it?

I’m saying I can do without the blue mountain oysters, bat stew, and cow’s tongue.

What are blue-mountain oysters anyway?

Trust me, Eli, you don’t want to know.

I’m going to X’s house; his mom makes the best food.

I’m with you, Man.

I’ll have to check first.

X, your mom never turns us down.

But I still have to ask.

Well, walk me to my house.

Okay, Eli.

The guys walk Eli home and Robert decides to stay. X and Man walk another block to X’s home. They enter the house by the carport.

Hey Ma.

Hey handsome, hi Man, you’re eating dinner here tonight?

Yes, mam.

Okay, I’ll set a place for you. You boys go wash up. Tell your sister to get her head out of those magazines and come down. I see your daddy pulling up. Hurry now.

The boy’s run off to wash. X’s dad enters the home. He stands watching his wife at the stove.

Mm, I love hot stuff near the oven, especially buns.

Hey, there are children in this house.

He walks over and kisses her on the cheek.

You miss me? I’ve missed you today.

Papa Bear, you know I just sit and think about you all day. I can hardly get any work done around here.

You better.

He pops her on the butt.

The boys.

They’re old enough to know what grown people do.

Papa Bear, go wash now.

Okay, me and you later. He points two fingers back and forth.

What, Daddy?

Oh, son, you startled me.

X’s mom giggles.

You boys have a seat.

X’s mom places the food on the table as they wait for X’s dad. He comes out of the bathroom calling.

I’m coming, Mama Bear, don’t start without me.

Never. She announces back.

He rushes to take