First Spark

The churches have just unified and we colors are with the whites now, as daddy would but it. Today is the first mixed service, I never really liked going to church. The paster is loud; the candles smell weird and the perfume. “Georgia Henderson” Ma calls from down the hall from my younger brother’s room, “Get your ass dressed and feed your sisters” Virgina my eldest sister walks by holding our littlest brother Jayden, “Georgia, go get ready and do not bring your slingshot” I roll my eyes and grab my church clothes from the closet.

Every time it is the same, choir practice, serves, taking the bus there and back. I grab my prayer beads and knees Infront of the cross “please Lord watch over my brothers and sisters as we go to church today” I get up and head to the kitchen that smelled of grits and eggs. The eight of us fit snugly into the room. The twins yelling for bacon, my sisters fighting over the last couple of hair bands, little Jayden screaking in his highchair, “Mama can I just stay home today,” I ask grabbing my plate, “This mixing of the races ain’t going to last if Daddy and the other men have anything to say, ‘bout it” Mama tried to argue pointed at the table and told me to “sit.” After breakfast We head down to the bus stop up in town. We all hold hands as we cross the road. The church crowd always made this day worse. Big hat’s stiff clothes and you can hardly see anyone. I bump into someone and fall down “sorry little bits” my uncle says running after his kids. “Are you okay?” someone says behind me letting me up, “It’s hard to see in this crowd.”

“Yeah, we should be used to it” I say brushing off my dress. I turn around and see the cutest little nose I have ever seen on a boy my age, blue sparkling eyes and hair that shines like the sun, “I…I am Georga, and you are new to this.”

“I am Adam and I have no idea where the bus is…” he says looking around and straighten his back “I lost my mother in the crowd and then I got pushed in to a sea of…” he looked at me and turned a little red.

“Black people?” I giggling. We talk some more as we head onto the bus hand in hand. Like the city bus our church bus is now segregated, “Sorry Georgia, I tried to fight the rule,” the driver says tipping his hat down, but your friend can sit in the back with you.”

“I can sit in the back?” Adam asks and his face lights you like a charismas tree, “I have always wanted to.” We walk towards the back and get strange looks. My friends from school turn away snickering before we reach the back. The bus falls quite as more people notice. I loosen my grip on Adams hand and try to pull away but he catches it and pulls me in close “are you okay?” Some of the men who work with my father stand up and Adam steps in front of me, “do you know these men?

“Yes they work with my father” my uncle walks over and tries to grab me, but Adam pushes me back and we find a sit in the front. The ride was long and I felt uncalmable being in the front I got stares and people whispered. The bus stopped and we all started to pile out. I sat still as people passed by, which confused Adam. Once everyone was off the bus we left, we sat our goodbyes and went to find our families. I found Ma and Daddy where we always sit in the front arguing with a white couple, “we always sit here” my Daddy yells, “just because your.”

“Let’s not make this about race sir.” A formular voice says from behind the people, “We have also sat in the third row at our old church please can we sit together as…” It was Adma holding back his father talking to mine, “God intended”. I walk over to try and say something but as soon as Adam sees my face he smiles, “Georgia, I thought you went to find your family?” Before I could say anything my Daddy yells that I am his daughter, Adam’s father starts yelling back saying something about not giving their seat to a… “Father” Adam stands between them and yells, “This was their church first if we must sit in the back we will” he points out where he was talking about.

“You have choir Georgia, got now” Mama says. I squeeze pass—Adam’s hand touches my back as I pass—running you towards the stage I apologize for being late. Before service I look back at Adam on last time and blow a kiss his way.