KISS THE GROUND

Wake up Marcus! It is time to go! You not going to get excited about leaving to go to the States. My cousins all hung around the end of the bed like some good all fashion gossipers, just waiting for the next bit of juicy neighborhood news. If they could read my mind, it would have told them, I really don't want to leave. I know … I know. Everybody always saying that America is the land of opportunity, so I guess I should make myself look excited. I certainly did not want to disappoint my mom and dad and all who were “coming out of their pockets” to see the first Baine to head to the States. At least I am not going to be like so many who leave home and don’t ever come back or take “donkey years” to do so. Boy! One day I would eat those words. Yeah! You said it … “never say never”.

Sandra was there looking as beautiful as always and the family too! Hey you all, listen. I really think you all should know this. I am going and get my degrees and I am coming back. I ain't leaving Sandra to run off with just anybody. She looks at me and laughs. I said, girl I aint joking. If you tell me right now to stay, I will unpack my bags and I ain’t moving another muscle from here. Sandra had these eyes, that when she looked into mines, it was as if she was reading my heart from some open book or something. I felt she knew that I knew what she was going to say and what I wanted to hear, she knew that I knew that she would not say it. “No you go on and get your education, I will be right her waiting for you”. That was the motivation I needed to get on that plane and say goodbye to my family and woman.