Page 36 of Saving Grace
His entire demeanor changed
He nodded and grinned fiendishly.
He’d been looking forward to running from the bad guys for a while.
“Today is the day,” without further question he got on the floor and hid under the blanket that I kept there for him.
I didn’t see, but heard the doors to the museum explode open, but Atticus was too late. I had already started the car, shifted into gear, and wrapped my fingers around the steering wheel. Foot on the gas, I drove away without looking back this time.
I had an hour and a half trip to get back home. I called Ms. Joyce to make her aware of what was going on. She was the lady from the wedding boutique who saved me. I’d kept in touch with her over the years. Six years earlier her family was talking about putting her in a hospice when they found out she had cancer, they thought she wouldn’t make it because they couldn’t afford the treatments she needed. With the money I received from Atticus’ grandfather and my mother’s dead husband I kept that from happening. After her health rebounded, she came to live with me. And she had been helping me raise AJ ever since.
She answered sounding groggy. Like she had been sleeping, though it wasn’t even six in the evening.
“What you want girl? You always manage to call me at the most inopportune times. I ate the rest of that good pound cake you made and was napping good befo—"
I had to cut her off.
“I’m coming to pick you up. We’re leaving tonight.”
I heard the sound of rustling before she asked. “Why, what happened?”
“He found me.”
She chuckled. “So…this is the perfect time to tell him about that old dirty granddaddy of his and about his son.”
“Then what? What if he doesn’t believe me or doesn’t care. There’s too many variables.”
She sighed. “I don’t like the decisions you’re making but It’s your life. I’m getting up to pack now. I’ll see you when you make it home.” She hung up.
I knew she would have an attitude when I got there but wouldn’t let it impede on my plans.
“Momma, was that Granny? What she say? Did I do good? AJ asked.
I looked in the rearview mirror. I could see him half sitting half crouched.
You did really good, baby. Just stay down until Momma tells you it’s safe.”
He crawled back onto the floor and under the blankets before questioning me.
“You told Granny we’re leaving tonight, Are we moving or just going for a while? You said if we had to run from the bad men we’d be moving and I wouldn’t get to say bye to my friends. But I ain’t seen no bad guys yet. So do I get to say bye to my friends or no?” He rambled.
“Yes, we’re moving.”
I exited the highway. I had mapped out how make my way through the countryside back home. Less chance at being caught.
“Okay. You didn’t answer the question about my friends, so that’s a no, but what if I just went over to Shane’s house really quick to get my Smash Brothers game I let him borrow. Please” He whined.
I opened my mouth to reprimand him. I’d told multiple times about lending his things to people, but then I remembered our circumstances. It was not the right time for a lecture.
“I’ll buy you another one.” I said instead.
After hearing that he changed subjects. “Can we move to Atlanta? I want to go to the aquarium and the Coca Cola factory. Granny Joyce said that’s where all the Black people are at too. She said I’m light skinned, but I’m still Black and it’s safer around other Black folks. If you don’t fuck with them, they won’t fuck with you and most won’t let nobody fuck with you either.”
Shaking my head, I resisted the urge to laugh. AJ was so smart and mature for a seven-year-old. He’d already skipped the third grade. He was like a sponge picking up on everything, even Ms. Joyce’s cursing.
“Don’t curse.” I scolded.
“But why? Granny Joyce does and she lets me.”