wisdom

There's a place in my hometown that serves the best jerk chicken made by the oldest woman I've ever seen. That's not said with any disrespect, mind you. Mama Ti is known and loved by everyone who lives there. She's fair, patient (except when she's tired of your whinging), and treats everyone as if they were born to be her very own grandchildren. Many's the time I ended up with a heaping helping of advice alongside my meal.

I first met her when I was seven. My father had been killed in front of me by a business associate and I stopped talking as a result. My poor mum was beside herself with her own grief and concern for me but had no choice other than to keep working and tend to my needs. My classmates would tease me, adults would give my mother their opinions on the best way to make me talk, but nothing worked. I'd had enough of the taunts and bullying one day, and I ran away from school. Mama's Ti's was the place I chose to hide.

I remember this kind face looking down at me when I ran and hid under one of the tables in her tiny restaurant. She managed to coax me out with the promise of a cola, and even though I was terrified of getting into more trouble, something told me I could trust her.

"You're Ms. Claire's boy, aren't you?" she said to me.

When I nodded, she placed her hand on my head and gave me the most sympathetic, understanding look I'd ever seen.

"I know about your daddy dying and I know you haven't talked since then," she continued. "I see those kids teasing you for it too."

I stared up at her and I remember thinking that she was the first grown up I'd met who treated me as if I understand what she was saying. Everyone else around me, including my poor mum, seemed to think that losing my words had made me into some sort of dunce.

"You know what I think?" she asked as if expecting me to answer. "I think you should come here after school and help me out. You want to do that?"

I nodded again, not sure how this woman would be able to convince my mother to let me do that but having every confidence in the world that she would.

"Anyone asks me why you don't talk, I'll just tell them you're shy and it's none of their business."

And just like that I was given the chance to start healing.

One of the things I regret most about leaving my home is losing the chance to tell Mama Ti what she's meant to me for all these years. I'm sure she knows but I still should have told her.

it's the strangest thing

My boss was right. I'm not much for the party scene in this town - it's too much at times - so he tells me to meet people in a calmer, quieter way - online. I thought he was mad because everyone knows the internet is full of crazies. No way in hell I'd want to make friends there.

So I try despite my many reservations. Wouldn't you know it, I've actually met a few people through an introduction I made in a community. A community that doesn't even exist here in the real world! It's cyber (I think that's the word. Virtual?) How brilliant is that?? I'm absolutely amazed and find it far easier to chat up new people when I have more time to think about what I want to say.

Here's a bonus. My typing is getting faster by the day.

No plans to become an internet "geek" yet but one never knows what could happen.