Redemption's Long

She was 350 pounds. Worn face. A little boy.
Stories of horror that made my head spin. I said, you don't have to pay me. I babysat everyone. She bought me a red pencil skirt that looked funny on my shifting body. A black waistband and long down to my ankles. I thought it looked weird but I think I picked it. Choosing me. I found it in ninth grade with the bolo tie and the black and white checkered shorts. A man's black dress shirt, long sleeved, to cover the new growth and red marks. I wanted to hang against the wall, cool like, next to the lockers with boys with overgrown hair. I didn't speak then either. You have to write something positive, Kikah. You'd be great for our dance team. But I want to be an artist on the skin! I pointed to my own arm. I thought I was in trouble when they called me in. Fuck! Let's talk about your scores. We need to talk about your future. Then Tennessee. Graduated at 14 from Mt. Olive Christian Academy. After the charismatics. (Which I liked. We got to go to Dairy Queen for lunch. I love snakes. John said for the first time, hell no!) They talked about college then but John said no, Kikah's not ready. We already got to lie about her race! Has anyone ever? She kept asking until I passed out in church. Pews hurt. They thought it was the holy spirit. I'm glad I could oblige.