Chapter 1
December 1973
I bop my head to The Jackson Five song playing on
the 8-track stereo as my cherry red 1969 Mustang convertible maneuvers around
the winding roads of Oneonta County. With the way this car handles the curves, I
should be there right on time for the emergency meeting Alma called.
My baby purrs as I stop the car
in front of the tall black wrought iron gates in front of the Theta Estate and reach
into the glove box for the remote control that opens them. When I press the
button, the gates open and I hit the gas and race up the pebble lined driveway
up the hill to the sprawling estate. I park the car in front of one of the
garage ports and inhale the sweet dew in the afternoon air as I grab my cane
and use it to help me steady myself as I step out of the car.
It’s a long shuffle down the
pathway and up the limestone steps up to the tall mahogany doors of the grand
Grecian styled mansion’s facade. Forty years ago I’d have made this trip in a
quick sprint. These days when I come to the Theta House I have to take a moment
to catch my breath before I buzz the doorbell. After a few seconds pass, the
door cracks open and I’m greeted by the Thetas’ housekeeper Esmerelda. The
petite bronze skinned Indian woman dressed in a black formal maid’s uniform
gives me a smile as I meet her brown eyes with mine.
“Miss Robinson. It’s a pleasure
to see you.”
“As it is you Esmerelda. Have the
other Sisters arrived?”
“They’re in the ballroom.”
All the way at the other side of
the house. “They couldn’t have used the dining room?”
“Alma says you need the
exercise.”
I thought I was getting enough of
a workout getting out of the car and heading down the walkway to the house. If
I knew things were going to be this hard years later, I’d have built Alma a town
house instead of a mansion. Esmerelda keeps her eyes on me as I shuffle through
the grand white marble vestibule. She gets the tall mahogany door for me and I
make my way onto the parquet floors of the main hall. I’m halfway to the
ballroom when I hear her rushing behind me. “Wow, you’re fast for a woman your
age.” Esmerelda says.
“You should have seen me doing
the hundred meters at Spelman.” I reply.
Esmerelda chuckles as she opens
the tall mahogany doors of the ballroom for me. When we step into the grand
room it’s decorated with Black tablecloths and curtains. With it being
Christmastime, I thought Alma would decorate it with more festive colors. We
only use Black linens here when we’re either examining pledges or when we’re
disciplining them.
Seated at the banquet table are
the senior officers of the Theta Sorority. Senior Grand Mother Alma Travis,
Senior Dean Mother Edna Flowers, and Dean Mother Millicent Anderson. They’re
all wearing elegant black sheath dresses, heels, and church hats along with the
platinum and diamond Theta pins on the breasts of their dresses. My friends
greet me with somber looks as I approach the table. They must have some really
bad news to report.
“Good afternoon ladies.” I greet.
“What’s with all the black?”
Before anyone says anything, Alma
gives Esmerelda a look and she walks out closes the door behind us. “Because
it’s a sad time for us all Andi.” Edna says.”
My eyes grow wide as I look over
at Millicent. I hope nothing happened to her baby. “Is Colleen okay-”
“No, Colleen is fine.” Millicent
replies. “She’s with her father upstairs.”
“Then what’s got everyone upset?”
I ask.
Alma’s dull brown eyes meet mine.
She chokes back tears. “Isis, we appreciate everything you’ve done to establish
this sisterhood for us. How you’ve helped countless young Negro girls grow up
to become great young women and even greater mothers. But there’s no way you
can continue on with our organization.”
No comments:
Post a Comment