Because I Love You

ChatGPT generated image Once upon a time there was a family of brothers, Jaden, Larry, Melvin, and Michael. Jaden was the oldest, next was Larry, then Melvin, followed by Micheal the youngest. One day, they went fishing with their father, something they all looked forward to whenever their father had the time. Their father was a great man in the town, the Mayor, and he rarely had time to spend with his family, but Sundays was his official day off. “No city work tomorrow,” their dad would announce on Saturday nights. And when his wife was away for the weekend visiting her relatives and not taking the boys to church, he would add, “I’m taking my boys fishing!” The boys would squeal with glee, especially Jaden and Michael. Jaden always wanted to drive. “Can I drive, please?’ “No Jaden, not until you get your permit.  “But you started driving when you were 15.”  “That was a different time, son. One day you will be driving your brothers around, just wait.”  Their father’s word...

I put Aaron on the potty seat in the bathroom, he was 20 months old, then I went into the kid’s bedroom to finish nursing Ana. After I finished with Ana, I heard Cannaday’s high pitch voice coming from another room, “Be still Aaron. Be still.” I was so busy getting ready I forgot Aaron was on the potty seat. It was December 1988 and we were getting ready to attend a Kwanzaa celebration and dinner. This was going to be our first big family outing since having Ana in August. We were living in a two‐bedroom townhome. The bathroom and bedrooms were upstairs and the living room, kitchen, dining room, and family rooms were on the first floor. I assumed their father was in the basement level of our townhouse ironing his clothes. I tightened up my bathrobe and headed for the bathroom down the hall to get Aaron off the potty seat. The light was on, and Aaron was sitting quietly on the “throne” while Cannaday, his 3 ½ year old big brother, was standing in front of him. The “throne” is a pott...