miss annie

petersburg


my nellie appropriation








miss annie lives in the historic district of petersburg, on what seems a quiet little road (although apparently is not at all far from a more dangerous part of town) in a tiny little house which has been her place of residence for about 60 of her 81 years on this earth. we pulled up in front of her house last tuesday afternoon, i became excited at the sight of her porch covered with potted plants. i knew that what i would see inside might mean more to me than what it would to andre; to him it was just his grandma's little house, the same one he had visited with her in since he was small. he was also not looking forward to seeing the man he called "his brother's father" , aka "shady", miss annie's 55 year old son and my own son's grandfather. i had met miss annie before, although she did not remember my name or that me and andre's baby was a boy. nonetheless she was very excited to see us. i entered the dim living room, and first noticed a soap opera droning quietly of the tv, then all the photos all over the wood paneled walls. i stood with miles in my arms and admired them, especially the ones that had faded out to a reddish tint, the people in them bearing afros and flower patterned button up shirts. this is the stuff i was looking for. i was left in there alone for a minute, and then a skinny robe clad old man stumbles in the room and with a raspy voice asks if that was the little guy. i said " yep! here he is. this is baby miles" unintentionally speaking as if to a child or a person who couldnt understand english very well. "so this is the man whose sperm created andre" i thought to myself. shady. shady whose father was grady. shady who made little shady, who didnt even care to tell old shady that a little shade tree was born. that would be my little miles, whom miss annie pronounced loudly "mile!" emphasis on the i, the s dropped off completely. miss annie told me about how all the people in the photographs, forgetting many of the names. i caught a glimpse of several polaroids which i think i will wait till next visit to inquire about. i took the opportunity to get my own photographs of shady and little shady together, and miss annie and miles . i even got a picture of miss annie eating chicken, which i am sure i wont show her, and im sure i may be accused of perpetuating a stereotype, but it was just for myself. i had to hold back from laughing when i heard "momma, give me some money so i can go get somethin to eat!" which sounded so all too familiar .............. little shady and old shady are almost painfully similar in more ways than one. but old shady had to ask for money from his momma because she has to keep his own from him to keep him from buying crack. little shady only asks because he is broke........
miss annie told me i better bring her some pictures to add to her collection so i will be back.