Nobody's Son by Zaria Garrison Page A

were pregnant until their water broke. She was standing in front of the street cart that she sold homemade necklaces from wishing for a holiday when she suddenly doubled over in pain. It made perfect sense to her that her daughter should be named Holiday as she is what turned up immediately after her wish.
    He also felt no embarrassment in telling her that his mother died in a mysterious accident while visiting his father’s family in Alabama. He openly told her that although it was never proved, most people believed that his paternal grandmother had pushed her down a flight of stairs because she couldn’t believe that her handsome, educated black son had married such a homely piece of poor white trash.
    Later, Butterbean remarked that Ellen had beautiful skin, and she briefly thought that he was giving her an actual compliment. Then he followed it up by stating that he normally did not date black women, but he made an exception in her case due to her light complexion. If things worked out the way he hoped they would, he told her he was sure they wouldn’t end up with any tar babies for children.
    The date went steadily downhill from that point as she struggled to keep from barfing while watching his atrocious table manners. Butterbean chewed his food with his mouth gaping wide open. The few times that he did close his mouth he smacked his big pink lips so loud the patrons at the next table could overhear the sound. As if he was down home on a farm in Kentucky, he took his bread and sopped up the sauce from his plate, then shoved it toward Ellen to take a bite. Declining, she glanced over at Jenise and Reggie to give them the signal that she was ready to leave, but they were too engrossed in each other to notice.
    When it seemed to Ellen that things could not get any worse he decided to explain to her why he did not believe in God. Ellen was flabbergasted as the Web site they’d met on was supposed to be for Christian singles. Butterbean explained that he was not a Christian and he wholeheartedly did not believe that God existed. He felt the notion of someone being able to have three parts, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, was absolutely ridiculous.
    Although something inside her told her that she’d live to regret it, Ellen could not help asking why, if he felt that way, he joined a dating site for Christians. His answer was just the catalyst she needed to get up from the table and walk out on him. Grinning from ear to ear, he calmly stated that regardless of their religious fantasies, Christian girls were always the freakiest in bed. Ellen was surprised that she didn’t leave skid marks on the floor as she rushed over to her sister’s table and begged them to take her home.
    Still laughing as she pulled into the parking lot of Cedric’s catering, Ellen could not help but thank God that she had dodged that bullet and subsequently found Semaj, who was the love of her life.
    â€œHe’s put on weight,” Jenise said. “Now the name Butterbean fits him perfectly.” Glad to see her sister finally smiling she reached for the car door.
    They got out of the car and went inside. As soon as the clerk asked where Semaj was, Jenise noticed the cloud wash over her sister’s face again.
    â€œUm, he couldn’t make it, but I brought my sister along to help me choose the menu.”
    Noticing the look on her face the clerk did his best to reassure her. “That’s fine. We’ve done tastings with all of the bridesmaids and both mothers. Wedding planning is usually a female thing. Don’t let it bother you, honey.”
    Ellen appreciated his encouragement, but it wasn’t the fact that Semaj was missing the tasting that bothered her most. It was the fact that within a few shorts weeks she’d begun to wonder if the man she was about to marry was who she’d always thought he was.
    It began with his mood changing drastically after his four-day disappearance.