Free How to Knock a Bravebird from Her Perch : The First Novel in the Morrow Girls Series (9780985751616) by D. Bryant Simmons Page B

second I heard his voice my heart went pitter patter in my chest. I nodded hello like he was standing in front of me, afraid that I’d give it all away by the sound of my voice. He asked me if I could talk and I muttered something that sounded like yeah. The phone cord stretched all the way across the kitchen so I went back to washing the dishes. Wasn’t long before I ran outta dishes. Clara just stood there, watching me with that curious look she had. “I gotta go.”
    He wanted me to meet him for lunch. Said he couldn’t stop thinking about me, he wanted to see me, talk to me. But I couldn’t do that. What would folks say? No good was gonna come outta meeting up with some man. He asked me again and I ain’t say nothing. But he gave me his number anyway and I scribbled it on a piece of paper and hung up the phone.
    “Mama.” I damn near jumped outta my skin. Jackie stood at the table with both hands on her baby hips. “Next time you go out I’m going with you. Okay?”
    I agreed. And two days later I told Aunt Clara I was taking Jackie and Nat out to lunch and to the park. Nat was still too little to get much use of slides and sandboxes but she liked the outside air alright. We went to the food counter at Woolworth’s. Jackie loved it. She wanted a big milkshake and a plate full of fries. I ordered both for her just to see if she’d actually finish it. She sat up like a big girl and did me proud. All the ladies said how ladylike she was. I couldn’t take the credit. I’d tried to tell her that her dress shoes shouldn’t be worn to the park but she was so hard-headed. She wore them around the house same as I wore slippers. I even caught her wearing them to bed once or twice.  
    After lunch, we walked the few blocks to the park. I saw him before he saw me. I stopped dead in my tracks. What was I doing? Using my kids as chaperones? If Ricky ever found out …
    “Belinda!”
    Too late to back out. He wore a tan corduroy suit that barely fit him. He took my hand and laid a quick kiss on my cheek before checking out our chaperones.
    “Don’t kiss my mama. She my mama.”
    “Well, I’m a friend of your mama’s. Nice to meet you, little lady.” Jackie shook his hand like she’d done it a million times before. “You can call me Heziah. Can you say that?”
    “Yeah.”  
    But she ain’t try. Her mouth twisted to one side like she was thinking real hard on it. The laughter from the other kids drew her eye and off she went. We sat on a nearby bench, me and Heziah. I kept an eye on Jackie and a foot on the stroller, rocking Nat until I was sure she was asleep.  
    “She’s cute. They both are.”
    “Thanks.”
    “I got kids.” He gave it up like it was common knowledge and stretched one arm along the bench behind me. “They live with their mama in Cleveland. I don’t get to see them much anymore.”
    “Oh.” I couldn’t think of anything else to say to that.
    “A boy and a girl. Hazel and Louis, both teenagers. Folks say they look like me but I’m not sure I see it. Besides being lanky as all get-out, I mean. They definitely got that from me! They...um...well they’re good kids. Smart. Good to people. What else can you ask for? Right?”
    “I guess.”
    Heziah tugged lightly at the ends of my hair. It tickled a bit so I was squirming around trying to get out of it. That was real funny to him. “Why you always wiggling around like a worm on a hook? If you want me to stop, just say ‘Heziah stop that.’ And I’ll stop. See.” He showed me both his hands so I would know it wasn’t a trick. “Speak up, Belinda. How are people gonna know you’re there if you don’t speak up.”
    “MAMA, WATCH ME!”
    A giggling Jackie ran up the steps and flew down the slide. She made it to the bottom then surprise flooded her face when nobody was there to congratulate her. She ran to the edge, to the border of all the woodchips, and just looked at us. My baby that saw everything looked at me talking to this