Soul Food Sunday

We switch places. “I skin the chicken. I strip the membrane. I slice the sausage.”

“You got it, baby”, says Granny. “Now when you’re finished, come see me”.

I skin and skin… and strip and strip…

… and slice and slice and slice.

My hand hurt.

My arm arches,

But I don’t quit.

Soon chicken, ribs, and sausages stack up next to the sink.

“I’m finished.”

Granny checks my work. “Good job, baby. That’s the best-looking meats I’ve seen in all my life.”

“The grill is ready,” Roscoe Ray yells. He scoops the meat in a pan and disappears through the side door.

“Well, everything is cooking now,” Granny says. “We take a break. I take a nap. Your momma, God knows what she’s about to do. But you, go on outside and play.”

“But I don’t want to play. I want to make something special.”

Granny chuckles. “Baby, every food we make is special. Soul Food Sunday is about coming together. It’s about us being family, working together, a team! And we have everything, baby.”