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Soout of our lips

Then my mama calls for us from the foot of the stairs

And the moment’s over

Twenty minutes later—and a very unco Bobby’s ear off about a hundred and one different things—we’re heading into Spruce Fellowship in a crowd of giggling ladies, all of theeons and she’s got a bag of bird seed

“Where’s your pa?” asks Bobby as we enter the church, all the noise of chatter following us into the echoey, so to church with your ma?”

“He kinda leavesevery Sunday, as far as I understand it So to do with him-and-her ti my own parents’ idiosyncrasies over the years”

“I don’t understand my parents either,” confesses Bobby

Suddenlyacross the lobby “Nohat’s your mother doin’ all by herself, Bobby?”

Bobby lifts his face “What? Where?” He looks off

I follow their line of sight Mrs Patricia Parker stands at the other end of the lobby, fidgeting with her purse and glancing around herself, looking like a sweet, lost lady in a sea of strangers, despite her likely knowing each and every face here

“That ain’t right,” my mama decides “That wo” She turns back to give a wink at Bobby “You boys find yourselves a seat I’ll go have a little girl-talk with Patricia and keep her company, then sit with her inside Go on, now”

With that, h the lobby like she owns the church, and soon, the ladies are having a pleasant exchange at the other side of the lobby In no ti a s for her sweet face

Even all the way across the lobby, it makes me smile

Myor two, now and then

The ladies, both husband-free, take a seat inside together—at my mama’s insistence—while Bobby and I find a small available spot near the front, all the way to the side by the s

We’re squeezed so tightly on this long crowded bench, our shoulders and arether, and our faces are super close whenever we turn to each other to speak

Or whisper “You look really handsome today, Bobby Parker”