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Mahogany (Episode 3)


hide instead of fetching for Josie’s son. Suddenly I heard voices and music coming from the shed. I walked on the narrow path leading to the sound. I walked inside not caring to introduce myself and called out for Nate.

No answer, everyone was too busy laughing or singing. So I called out to him again in which the music slowly comes to an end. The seven black male musicians sitting in chairs surrounded by four young negro women all turned to face me. With the music stopped, my nerves seemed to jump and dance to their own rhythm. I made sure my face showed no trace of my shyness. When suddenly, a male voice starts to sing - still with no music in the background but he kept on cue.

“Ooo..What is your name?...Most beautify African flower...What is your name?" He sang and came into view from behind one of the other male musicians.

All of a sudden, I seemed to stumble as I tried to focus on his sensuous eyes that were pulling me towards him with such intense energy. My heart started to race, my palms started to sweat, and my toes were crossed hoping none of these young women was his steady lady. I soon noticed everyone was waiting on my response. So I opened my mouth, and I released what was bottled up from my soul: a vibe of pure energy.

“Ooo...My name is Jewels…like the sweet… Jewels of the Nile of the motherland. Yeah..Oooo..yeah...my name is Jewels Sands...Ooo...what may yours be?" I sang smoothly even though my whole body felt like a tidal wave just hit me.

“With a sweet voice like that by all means, call me Nate…Nate Washington.”

“Do I hav’ too do everythin’ around here…Nate!!!” Josie yelled from the back porch. “If you don’t come out front and help Jo-Jo and dem with those packages…I’ll pop a left up side yo' head youngin'."

“Coming momma…you can not go anywhere…” Nate managed to say before walking towards the back porch with four of his friends following behind him. I had to blink my eyes in order to stop the trance I just experienced as the remaining three male musicians continued to play and the young women mooed over them.

I wanted to sit down and listen to the music as well but the thought of Josie screaming and making a scene told me to go inside and finish putting
The copyright of the article Mahogany (Episode 3) in Writing from Harlem is owned by Nichel Anderson. Permission to republish Mahogany (Episode 3) in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

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