Little Gray Hoodie Coat

By Cynthia R. Hobson

Little Gray Hoodie Coat is about how the McDaniel family manages to make it through hard times to a better life. The McDaniels are an African American family headed by a single mother named Lillian. She has two young daughters, Jasmine and Lillie. They are initially homeless and live in a van. Through the help of a kind acquaintance, Lillian becomes a resident at the Augustus Tolton Homeless Shelter. The Shelter is located on the south side of Chicago, Illinois, and is owned by the Saint Augustus Catholic Church.

The McDaniels encounter other characters in similar situations, and their interactions portray the importance of family and friends. The stories take place in the early 90s and in current times. Through the eyes of children, the reader learns that not all children are well off and secure. Though dealing with lifes sometimes-harsh realities, the stories are sprinkled with humor and triumphs. Love, faith, hope, charity, and perseverance are interwoven themes.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Aug 11, 2014
• ISBN: 9781490844954

Cynthia R. Hobson

Cynthia R. Hobson is a writer and artist born and raised on the South Side of Chicago. She now resides in Elk Grove, California. In addition to A Place in Time, Cynthia’s other published works include a children’s novel, Little Gray Hoodie Coat, and short stories, “The White Dress,” “Love Is Kin to Sadness,” and “50 Years Is Not Enough.” She is a member of the Elk Grove Seniors’ Writing Group and Black Women Tell Tales. Cynthia has displayed her art at the Sacramento Fine Arts Center, Elk Grove Fine Arts Center, SMUD Art Gallery, and other venues and events.

Book preview

PART 1

LITTLE GRAY

HOODIE COAT

1

PANCAKE SATURDAY MORNING 2013

I t was Saturday morning in Chicago, and it looked like it was going to be a warm, humid, summer day. The sun was out, but the weather person said to expect thunderstorms by late afternoon. Chicago thunderstorms can be alarming because of loud crashes of thunder and big lightning bolts flashing across the sky. Sometimes it rains on one side of the street and not on the other. Chicago weather is funny that way.

Jasmine and Tommy Austin have two kids: Olivia is six years old, and Eddie is four years old. They live in a pretty, brick-front, two-story row house located on the South Side. Their home is within walking distance of Lake Michigan.

The sun was shining through the slats of Olivia’s bedroom blinds. She heard something, peeked out from under her bed covers and said, What’s that noise? Oh, it was Missy.

Missy, a black-and-white mutt, was looking up at the bed. She thumped her tail on the floor, waiting for Olivia to get up, but Olivia was lying under her covers and thinking about what fun the day was going to be.

Olivia said to herself, I hope Mama will tell me more stories today about when she and my Aunt Lillie were little girls. They make me wish I was a little girl with them back then. Then Olivia sat up and started to smile. What are all those good smells coming up from downstairs? I better get up and go see. Come on, Missy!

Olivia opened her door and started down the hall, when all of a sudden, bam, her brother ran smack into her. Whoa, you’re going so fast, you almost knocked me down!

I smell something yummy, Eddie whispered. I gotta get downstairs now!

Just then Tommy came out of his bedroom and said, Good morning, Olivia and Eddie. How are you two this morning?

We’re good! they said at the same time.

I gotta get downstairs! added Eddie.

Hey wait up, Eddie, his father called, let’s all go down together. Missy scampered down the stairs in front of them.

When they got to the kitchen, Jasmine was cooking at the stove. Eddie said, Morning, Mama. Mmmm, I smell bacon.

Olivia said, Yeah, and I smell sausage.

My, my, my, said Tommy. Look at the stack of pancakes on the table. But, what I like most is how pretty Mama looks this morning. Don’t you think she’s pretty, kids?

They answered, Yeah! Jasmine smiled and blushed as she looked at their dad.

Then Eddie added, The pancakes are pretty too.

Olivia looked at her brother and shook her head. You are too much, Eddie. Everybody laughed, and the dog wagged her tail.

Jasmine asked Olivia to set the table. Then she scrambled eggs and added them to the table along with the bacon, sausage, and pancakes. She set margarine, milk, orange juice, and cane syrup out too.

Tommy helped himself to coffee from the coffeemaker on the counter, and he poured a cup for Jasmine. Then they all sat down.

Eddie said, At last, we can eat.

Not before we ask God’s blessing, said Tommy. They joined hands and prayed together. Bless us, Lord, and this food we are about to eat from your wonderful bounty in the name of your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen!

While they sat at the table, Olivia noticed her mother looking at her in a thoughtful way. What? Olivia asked.

Jasmine answered, Oh, I was thinking about how much you look like your Aunt Lillie when she was your age.

Olivia smiled and asked, Do I really? I love Aunt Lillie. She’s beautiful and so much fun.

You have a lot of her ways, Tommy chimed in.

Olivia’s face lit up, and she said in an excited voice, Mama! You said you would tell me about Little Gray Hoodie Coat. Can we do that now?

Well, first you two need to wash up, brush your teeth, and get dressed. Second, we have to clean up the kitchen and dishes. Then I will tell you the story.

Can I hear the story too? asked Eddie.

Me, too! said Tommy. Missy wagged her tail, pranced up and down, and barked twice.

Jasmine laughed and said, I guess this is going to be a family affair.

After everyone was dressed and the chores were all done, they went into the back porch sunroom. Jasmine sat down on a big stuffed chair. The kids sat on beanbag cushions in front of her, eagerly waiting for their mother to start the story. Tommy sat down in a reclining armchair, waiting too. Missy rested between Olivia and Eddie.

Looking at Tommy, Jasmine said, Sweetheart, please speak up if I leave something out because you were there too. Let me see. It was back in 1993, and it was my seventh birthday. We were homeless then …

2

HOMELESS 1993

M y sister Lillie and I live with my mother Lillian. My father, Darryl McDaniel, was mean to my mother and us, so we ran away from him. He used to be nice, but now he drinks a lot and falls down. I don’t know what happened, but he changed. He became scary. I’m glad my mother divorced him, but I’m sad we don’t see him anymore.

We live in our gray-and-silver Toyota van in the back of Mr. and Mrs. Sharma’s gas station. They are from India and talk India-style English. When they talk, their voices sound like music, and that makes me smile. I like them a lot because they are nice to us. I looked up the meaning of their name on the computer at school. Sharma is a name from India, and it means shelter. I thought, How nice!

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When they found out we were homeless, they looked sad. Mrs. Sharma told her husband to let us use the back of the station to park our van, and Mr. Sharma said, Yes, we will do that. They leave the station washroom open so we can use it. There are lights back there too, so we won’t get scared at night.

Before we got to stay in the back of the gas station, we sometimes stayed in a shopping mall, a parking lot, or the park. Once the police came, rapped on our van door with a stick, and made us move. We stayed under a subway train bridge once too. It was dark and spooky under there. I was glad when morning came. Ma never parked there again. She always says, Thank God for Mr. and Mrs. Sharma!

We each have a sleeping bag. My sister and I sleep in the back of the van. In the winter, Ma puts two thick comforters over us to keep us extra warm. My mother sleeps on the second-row bench seat.

Lillie made us laugh once when we were about to go to sleep. She said, Our bedroom is baaad! I bet you all the kids would like to have a van bedroom like ours with their own private bathroom outside the door. And, it goes with us wherever we go. That was so funny. I agree with Lillie. We do have the badest, most tight bedroom of all.

Tomorrow is April 28, 1993, my birthday, and I will be seven years old. Lillie is five years old. Tomorrow we get to sign up to stay at the Augustus Tolton Shelter for the Homeless. Ma found out about the shelter when she met Mr. Jackson at the Dollar Store where she works part-time. When he learned that she was homeless, he told her about the Augustus Tolton Shelter where he works. He said he would see what he could do to get her in the shelter. Ma told us she felt Mr. Jackson was a very kind man from the very first time they met. That was two months ago.

Ma said we would like it at the shelter because we won’t have to worry about the weather and being safe. She also said we would have beds to sleep in, a place to shower, and food. But don’t get me wrong. My mother always takes good care of us no matter where we stay.

I don’t know what Ma has planned for my birthday, but she always makes it special. She doesn’t have very much money, so I know not to expect too much, but I will like whatever she does.

Wake up, my darlings, Ma whispered. It’s time to get up.

I yawned and said, I’m awake.

Lillie mumbled, I’m still sleepy.

Ma said, I know, baby but we have to get started so we can get to the shelter early to sign in. We have to make sure we get a good spot.

Lillie and me got up and grabbed our clothes, washcloths, soap, and toothbrushes. It was chilly outside, so we wrapped up together in one of the covers. Ma opened the sliding door of the van. We jumped out and quickly ran into the bathroom.

It was so cold in that bathroom; our breath was coming out like puffs of smoke when we talked. Shivering as I looked around, I said to Lillie, I can tell Ma has been in here already. She left the comb and brush for us, and she sprayed some good-smelling stuff in here.

Lillie said, Yeah, Ma always does nice things like that. Look, she left headbands for us to put on our heads too. Lillie bent over to tie her shoes. "Jasmine, what do you want for your birthday? You know, it’s today. Oh, I forgot