Have you gotten your copy of my new book: a collection of serial tales & flash fiction, Séduire (E-Book and Paperback) yet?
I recently signed up to write on Substack as well. Poking the Bear’s Belly for Fun is a place of healing as I speak about the most recent events with my place of employment as it pertains to racism and discrimination. I welcome your visit.
Have you gotten your copy of my new book: a collection of serial tales & flash fiction, Séduire (E-Book and Paperback) yet?
I recently signed up to write on Substack as well. Poking the Bear’s Belly for Fun is a place of healing as I speak about the most recent events with my place of employment as it pertains to racism and discrimination. I welcome your visit.
Miah is a sister-cousin/cousin-sister, but she is clueless. She only knows her big sister Kelsey is the light of her little six-year-old world. She is temper-tantrum goodness and field trip busy. She finds Kelsey lying down on their living room couch, softly whispering to herself.
“Kels, you talkin’ to you?”
“Hey, Miah. Yes, kiddo. I’m talking to myself.”
“What you sayin’?”
“Everything’s gonna be all right.”
“Oh . . . Okay, then.”
Miah rushes toward the staircase–her fiery red hair sailing in the breeze. She is clueless, and that’s a good thing.
Gloria Aduwala, known as “Nana Glo”, is sunshine and spiritual positivity. Kelsey finds her outside enjoying a spring breeze after a period of consolation with her father, Kazi.
Nana Glo greets her first grandchild with a light-hearted smile and a bear hug.
“What’s ailin’ ya, child?”
“Why didn’t you tell me, Nana Glo? I’m adopted . . . but I’m still family.”
“Child, what’s this I hear?! Why didn’t I tell ya?! That’s fuh ya parents to say. Not ya Nana. Ya still family–everything how it’s ‘sposed to be, child. Ya where ya should be. Ya loved right. Ya clothed, fed, and got a roof over ya head. Ya where ya should be, Kelsey Aduwala.”
Kelsey turns to hug Nana Glo–sinks her timid teenage face into her nana’s bosom–lets out a loud sigh.
“I’m where I should be.”
Kelsey’s parents, Kimya and Kazi, have given their lives to raising a beautiful, intelligent, God-fearing, encouraged-to-question, and free-thinking group of children. They are full of life, love, and determination. They don’t fear having hard discussions with their family, but this subject . . .wears them out.
Kimya was Kelsey’s birth mother, Leila’s best friend. Kelsey’s father, Kamal, was Kazi’s younger brother. When Leila found out she was pregnant, in true rejection form . . . Kamal broke up with her–denied the child–shunned Leila from that moment forward.
Kelsey was born. Leila asked Kimya and her boyfriend (at the time), Kazi to christen the baby as her godparents. They vowed to do whatever they could to care for Kelsey if needed.
Shortly after Kelsey was four months old, Leila took her life. Kamal, finding out the news two days later, took his. Kimya and Kazi stepped in: a best friend–a brother–godparents–parents.
Kelsey would be theirs. They would raise her as theirs. She would know true, unconditional, and undeniable love. And she has.
The day they both dreaded is here.
Tyson is a firecracker with hair that sings and eyes that lure the most anxious passerby. He is a tag-along brother. He follows Kelsey everywhere she goes. At eight years old, you’d think the kid had his own friends with which to play, but he dotes on his big sister fiercely.
The day Kelsey went digging for her origin, he told her what he heard his parents discussing.
“Mommy said to Daddy, ‘If she ever finds out from anyone else, we’ll have Hell on our hands.’ Oops! Sorry, Kels. I cussed.”
“You did, little buddy. And that’s all right. So, they said I’m adopted, huh? That’s what you heard?”
“It’s what I heard.”
Taking in this newfound knowledge, Kelsey wraps it up in her mind and saves it for the day of confrontation. Someone is going to tell her the truth.
A Cornered Gurl 
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