1/
#AmazingGrady, Day 15
Stepped onto the E elevators on a Saturday morning, joining a young man who looked like me. We gave each other a nod.
Him: “Morning, doc. What floor?”
Me: “Good morning, friend. 10, thanks.”
Him: *pushes 10*
Me: “Preciate you.”
*ride in silence*
#AmazingGrady, Day 15
Stepped onto the E elevators on a Saturday morning, joining a young man who looked like me. We gave each other a nod.
Him: “Morning, doc. What floor?”
Me: “Good morning, friend. 10, thanks.”
Him: *pushes 10*
Me: “Preciate you.”
*ride in silence*
2/
Him: “Hey doc? Where you from?”
Me: “Me? I’m from California.”
Him: “No, I meant like, where you FROM FROM.”
*silence*
Usually this kind of thing feels like a microaggression. But this young brother could easily blend into my own family. I decided not to overthink it.
Him: “Hey doc? Where you from?”
Me: “Me? I’m from California.”
Him: “No, I meant like, where you FROM FROM.”
*silence*
Usually this kind of thing feels like a microaggression. But this young brother could easily blend into my own family. I decided not to overthink it.
3/
Me: “Umm. Born in Compton. Raised in Inglewood.” *holds up hand gesture* “West syeeeeeed.”
*laughter*
Him: *squints eyes* “But where your peoples from?”
Me: “Alabama.”
Him: “Alabama? I was thinking you was something else.”
Me: “I say we’re all ’something else.’ ”
*nods*
Me: “Umm. Born in Compton. Raised in Inglewood.” *holds up hand gesture* “West syeeeeeed.”
*laughter*
Him: *squints eyes* “But where your peoples from?”
Me: “Alabama.”
Him: “Alabama? I was thinking you was something else.”
Me: “I say we’re all ’something else.’ ”
*nods*
3/
Me: *shrugs and smiles*
Him: “That’s real.”
Me: “So tell me, friend. Where’re you from?”
Him: “Straight out the A. Fourth Ward.”
Me: “Gotcha. Like, your peoples, too?”
Him: “Yep. Born right here in Grady. Just a regular ass n*** from Atlanta.”
*silence*
Me: *shrugs and smiles*
Him: “That’s real.”
Me: “So tell me, friend. Where’re you from?”
Him: “Straight out the A. Fourth Ward.”
Me: “Gotcha. Like, your peoples, too?”
Him: “Yep. Born right here in Grady. Just a regular ass n*** from Atlanta.”
*silence*
4/
Me: “So, why are you at Grady on a Saturda?”
Him: “To see my grandmama. She been real sick.”
Me: “I’m sorry to hear that. Are y’all close?”
Him: “She my heart.” *eyes glistening* “I see her every day.”
Me: “I bet she’s so glad to see you everyday.”
Him *nods and looks down*
Me: “So, why are you at Grady on a Saturda?”
Him: “To see my grandmama. She been real sick.”
Me: “I’m sorry to hear that. Are y’all close?”
Him: “She my heart.” *eyes glistening* “I see her every day.”
Me: “I bet she’s so glad to see you everyday.”
Him *nods and looks down*
5/
After that, I asked his name and told him mine. I told him that I thought his grandmama was a very lucky woman to have a special grandson who came to see about her every single day. I meant it.
*ping*
We reached 10 and the doors opened. By then we were old friends.
Yup.
After that, I asked his name and told him mine. I told him that I thought his grandmama was a very lucky woman to have a special grandson who came to see about her every single day. I meant it.
*ping*
We reached 10 and the doors opened. By then we were old friends.
Yup.
6/
I stepped out but then turned back to face him with my hand on the door jamb.
Me: “Hey grandson? Can you do me and your grandmama a favor?”
Him: *looks up* “Yes, ma’am.”
His brown eyes were still glistening a little. I realized how much they favored those of my youngest son.
I stepped out but then turned back to face him with my hand on the door jamb.
Me: “Hey grandson? Can you do me and your grandmama a favor?”
Him: *looks up* “Yes, ma’am.”
His brown eyes were still glistening a little. I realized how much they favored those of my youngest son.
7/
Me: “Please don’t ever, ever refer to yourself as a ‘regular n***’ again, okay? Like, ever. Because you’re not.”
Him: *staring at me while we both hold the door as elevator buzzer starts going off*
Me: “You’re something else, okay?”
I meant that part, too.
Me: “Please don’t ever, ever refer to yourself as a ‘regular n***’ again, okay? Like, ever. Because you’re not.”
Him: *staring at me while we both hold the door as elevator buzzer starts going off*
Me: “You’re something else, okay?”
I meant that part, too.
8/
Me: “Alright then, grandson. Go see ‘bout your heart. I know she waiting on you.”
Him: “Alright then, doc.”
Me: *smiling*
Him: *smiling back*
Both of us: *fist bump*
I love this place. ❤️🏥
#somethingelse #iseeyou
Me: “Alright then, grandson. Go see ‘bout your heart. I know she waiting on you.”
Him: “Alright then, doc.”
Me: *smiling*
Him: *smiling back*
Both of us: *fist bump*
I love this place. ❤️🏥
#somethingelse #iseeyou
