Page 11 of His Strings Make Her Legs Sing
My eyes drifted to the woman leaned against the freezer door. She was tired, frustrated, and worse, without a solution at the moment to get the little girl to stop the breakdown she was currently having. I closed my eyes to zone into the tune that she hummed. I wanted to help, and I knew that the key was the song. Once I had it, I smiled at her choice.
I walked around my cart toward the girl slowly and cautiously. If she appeared to get more frazzled by my presence, I would back out. I softly began to sing the song that she hummed. I also mimicked her motion of knocking on every second freezer.
Her head snapped up at me. It took her a beat before she smiled and began to sing with me. We sang together and knocked on the freezer door. It was the best jam session I think I ever had. When we got within two freezers away from each other, I stopped. If she wanted to close the distance I would allow her to, but I wouldn’t invade her space without her permission.
My cheeks warmed when she stood in front of me. We both sang and knocked on the freezer door. I took the time to glance at the woman with her. I couldn’t determine if she was her mother or someone else. They resembled each other, but not closely enough to say that the little girl was her daughter. The woman’s face displayed a beautiful smile, and her hand covered her chest.
The song ended and my eyes locked with the beautiful girl with twisted ponytails down her back. “Hi, my name is Sundae. What’s yours?”
With a bright smile she responded. “My name is Callira Symphoni Wick. I like you.”
Her like of me felt like a validation that I didn’t know I needed. “Well, I like you as well. You have a pretty voice.”
Her rosy cheek complemented her milk chocolate skin tone. Her cheeks went toward her shoulder. “Thank you. My daddy tells me that all the time.” She pointed at the woman that now stood in front of the freezer door. “My Grandme tells me that too.”
Ah, her grandmother.“Well, they are both right.” I leaned in a little bit toward her. In a low voice, I asked, “Can you introduce me to your Grandme?”
Callira nodded her head before she surprisingly grabbed my hand.Wow! She must really like me.“Grandme, this is Sundae. She’s my singing friend.”
Her grandmother and I both giggled. That was another thing about individuals with down syndrome, and the same could be true for those on the spectrum. When they liked you, they liked you, but if they didn’t, it was fuck you.
I outstretched my hand. “It’s so nice to meet you. My name is Sundae Jacobs. I’m so sorry to intrude, but I couldn’t just stand by knowing that I could possibly help.”
“My name is Rella.” She stared at my hand for a beat, put her hand into mine, then pulled me into a hug. “Thank you so much. It’s been a long morning. You are such an angel.”
I let her hold on to me for as long as she needed. There were days when some of my special needs students came in after school and were on one. My sister or one of our teacher assistants would have to give me a break.
I rubbed her back. “I completely understand. My sister and I own a tutoring-aftercare business, and I specialize in special needs. There are times that I need a break too.”
She pulled back from the hug. “Really? That is amazing. Do you have a business card? I homeschool this one here.” She glanced over at her granddaughter who had found her way into the back of the shopping cart. “Well, I guess her meltdown is over. I think it would be great if maybe she could come in a couple days a week to socialize with other children.”
I reached into my crossbody and pulled out my monogramed business cardholder case. “Of course I do.” I handed her my business card. “I would absolutely love to have her join us. I mean, I am her singing friend.”
She laughed before she put her eyes on Callira. “I will surely talk to her father about it. I think it would take some anguish off his chest as well to know that she was socializing with other kids. Right now, it’s just me, her grandfather, and her father.”
I noticed she didn’t mention a mother.That’s not your business.“I look forward to hearing from you.” I walked over tomy new friend. “Callira, I hope I see you again so we can sing together. What song do you want to sing next time?”
Her eyes looked up and her finger tapped her chin. I saw it in her eyes when she knew what she wanted to sing. There was a sparkle there. “I know. Let me tell you in your ear. I don’t want anyone to steal our song.” After I moved my ear toward her, she cupped her hand and whispered the song title.
My eyes popped a little at her old school request. “Oh, we can sing that. I love that song. Make sure you practice because I am. I’ll see you later.”
She gave me the most beautiful smile. “Bye, Sundae. See you later.”
I went back to my cart and was on my way. The crowd long ago went about their business. I smiled at the thought of my interaction with Callira. I didn’t know that I needed it. Rella said that I was an angel, but so was her grandbaby.
I was in the grocery store for almost an hour just walking around looking at everything that I didn’t need to look at. I wasn’t sure how the intent was to just by groceries and I walked out with a few outfits.Damn superstores!
I left the store with more bags than I thought I would have so I had to get a XL rideshare. Thankfully, my driver was nice and helped me bring my bags to my doorstep. He was tipped handsomely. After I put all of my things away, I placed my sister’s things in my utility cart to pull them two doors down to her house.
I looked at my watch when I got to her door.She better be awake.I snuck out of Citrell’s house at seven-thirty this morning. Now it was only after nine. I did my courtesy knock before I put my code in her door to enter. “Sister! Where are you?”
I headed to her kitchen to start putting her groceries away. Moments later, she came into the kitchen in her house robe.
“Good morning to you too, Sis.” She stopped in her tracks before she got to the kitchen island. “Oh, bitch! You got that pussy worked out.”
My eyes bucked. “Wynsdae! You don’t know that. I could have had him bring me home last night.” I rolled my eyes at her before I turned to put water in the dispenser on the top shelf of her refrigerator.
Her head bucked back. “Oh, that dick must have been the bomb. There’s nothing better than shameful dick. That dick that makes you want to not talk about it because you might have phantom nuts.” She tittered at her own joke.
