Turn The Page

"Mom, where are we going?"Lyssa asked. We had been sitting in the car for hours and i could tell she was getting impatient. She and Paris was just talking up a storm and then Paris got tired and fell asleep on her arm.

"We're almost there."I said, still keeping my eyes on the road.

She glanced out the window again."But can you at least tell me where we are, because this doesn't look like Santa Barbara or Los Angeles."

"We're in Encino, you daddy and I used to live here before we moved to Santa Barbara."I explain.

"When did you move?"She asked.

"In 1986."

Her grew wide."Wow, i wasn't even born then."

"Your right, you weren't born yet."

"Were you and daddy married when you moved?"

I nodded."Yes at that point we had been married for two years."

"How long have you been married now?"

"We have been married for eighteen years."I said after thinking about the divorce that dropped us one year behind.

"Wow!" She looked out the window again."Hey mom, is that a cabin?"She asked as she pointed towards the cabin on the far right.

I nodded."Yes and this is one of the places I'm taking you and your sister."

She gave me a confused look."Why are you showing us this?"

I turned into the gates and drove up the rocky path."Because my mother and I spent a lot of time here when I was little."

"You and Grandma Leah?"

"Yes, and also, your daddy and I spent a lot of time here also."I said as I turned the care engine off. As soon as I did that Paris popped her little head up and glanced around.

"Where are we?"She asked.

Lyssa told her in an instant. After helping them out I led them towards the cabin, Nothing had changed about except the fact that it was getting old, It was build back in 1935 and it was now 2003. So it was sixty eight years old at the time. But some how it still stood up Strong on the land, I could here the lake moving in the back. i helped Paris up the steps and we went in. The inside was dusty and dirty and i also expected that, taking that no one had been there since I moved to Santa Barbara. But I could still see the memories inside. I took the girls on a tour on the inside telling them where mother and I did certain things what my favorite things to do in here were. They found it rather interesting. Lyssa couldn't stop asking questions and Paris was just asking why I did this or what something was. Then I took them around the back and showed them the lake that was behind there. I explained to them that during time my grandmother was still alive there was prejudice in the world and that they didn't treat black people the way that they should be treated. And the fact that my grandmother spoke her mind to anyone she wanted to didn't help. So when she said the wrong thing to a white man then she would get my mother Leah and Susanne and they would have to hide out in those waters until they left. Lyssa thought that was the most amazing thing she ever heard. Then when we got back to the car and I was getting ready to take them to the next place Paris asked this question."How did Grandma Leah die, was she sick?"

I never realized that I didn't tell them how she died until she asked me that question. I froze for a second."Umm, well, she died in a car crash. In this very town."I explained. I didn't want to tell them about the drugs your anything, i was going to wait until they got a little older before I told that story. When I felt that they would be old enough to understand.

"Were you in it, mom?"Lyssa asked, her whole face was filled with concern.

I shook my head."No, I was with Susanne."I said. "i was your age, Paris, when it happened."

She gave me a look."I hope nothing happens to you like that mom, because i don't know what i'd do without you."

I smile stretched across my face."Well, let's hope that God allows me to stay here with you."i said as I started the car and did a 'U' turn out of the property. I drove farther down into town toward the cemetery where mom was buried.

Paris had a horrified look on her face "Mom, is the dead people going to pop out of the ground  like they did in daddy's video?"She asked.

I bursted with guffaw."No sweetheart that's just make believe."I said. I told him she was too young to watch that video. I thought to myself.

"Oh okay, but can you still hold my hand?"

"Sure."I said as I held my hand out for to grabb.

I led her towards mother grave which was still the only one on the hill, by the bench. Lyssa ran her fingers across the fancy writings."It's pretty."She said. She looked up at me, her gray eyes glistening in the sunlight.

"It is isn't it."

"Mom, don't you miss her?"She asked.

I let out a long sigh."Yes I do, very much. But you know what I do?"

"what?"she asked.

"I do what she told me to do, She told me to never let go of the memories we had together and to always hold her in my heart and you know what?'

She raised both her eyebrows.

"Now, i know that she's with me, she's not there physically but she's there mentally and emotionally. And if there were to be anything that happened to me, i want you do the same thing, you to Paris. And I want your brothers and sister to know that to."

"And daddy!"Paris pointed out.

I chuckled."Yes, but daddy already knows that." I held my hands out to get a hug. They both ran into my arms. I understood why Paris was scared that something would happen to me. Not many people have such tragic accidents that happen to in the family, and come to find out it wasn't an accident, It was done intentionally.  I would hate if I had to leave this world with my babies still growing up. Although I didn't have the problems my mother had, still like Kiara says, shit happens whether you like it or not, and whether or not your prepared for when it happens determines whether or not you can handle it.