This is the house where we grew up. A brand-new house
in a neighborhood
still becoming itself. Fresh concrete curbs rounded and smooth New school.
New friends.
New neighbors—
not Mema, not cousins anymore. The smell of new wood and paint. New furniture.
My new room. Our new address rhymed, and mom drilled it in my head in case someone found me lost in this new part of town Foundations were poured around us, Wooden frames kept sprouting up, and we picked up scraps of drywall
to make hopscotches on the street. Oh, my new baby sister! The cute yellow room prepared for her arrival.
The bassinet.
She was real and she was in there. Her precious face and soft hair. Black-and-white TV in the kitchen Color TV downstairs Lying on the carpet between the console speakers To experience True Stereo Spider plants hanging in the windows.
A magical terrarium on the coffee table. The piano with the music...