Tuesday, March 1, 2011

The Beginning. The End. The Next.

Big light eyes, curly light hair, playful, and a bit of a momma's boy, Ky Mani Ja'Quade Henderson was born February 28th 2009 at 7lb and 6 ozees. Note to all potential criticism of the child's name: It has purpose, so chill. We just call him "Mani" for short, anyway. One day me and my cousins/ his uncles decided to ambush him with couch pillows whenever he entered the living room. It seemed like a great idea at the time since we lacked cable television. We got him twice, but he would not allow a 3rd, since on the 3rd attempt he came back with a toy shotgun. Where the hell did a 2 year old boy learn that from, C-Murder? Get kicked out the club, come back with a gun and air shit out. I definitely had a talk with his mother about that, but not before laughing hysterically for a good 10 minutes.

Brown skin, loving eyes, and always with much to say, Mia Winstead left us on February 28th 2009. Sometimes referred to as Mamma Mia because of her motherly nature, which was sometimes interpreted as nagging from those not paying attention-present company included. One of her more popular reoccurring gripes was her bed. It was an old ass California King, lumpy as hell, teetering a thin line between bedroom furniture and landfill fodder. I, on the other hand still had the sweet taste of victory from upgrading from floor, to love seat, to couch, so to me, any bed would suffice. Needless to say, it was a tough pill to swallow seeing so much of our money go towards that, instead of an LED TV, or a new cellphone that I didn't need. On February 28th, 2009 she got her wish, and I got to see her in rare form, relief. It washed over both of us like a tidal wave. 

Dark skin, watery eyes, and at a loss for words, I sat in our packed house the day before her funeral. I was in our bedroom, upstairs, trying to ignore the chants outside my window to come out. I was in the middle of a heated NBA 2K battle where I lost by 3 points after failing to score before time expired. Frustrated over my defeat, I decide to head outside to see what the fuss was about. About 5 of my closest friends and relatives frantically try to describe to me the rainbow that was seemingly perched atop of the roof of our townhome. Unfortunately I came too late, and it was gone. but before I could climb one step to reenter the house, it reappeared. It was just as they described. Hovering right above the roof our row of houses, close enough to poke with a stick. It was like she came back just for me, as if to say, I'm ok. Her timing was impeccable.