"I'm so glad that you've decided to give our relationship a second chance," my mother gushes as I sit before her in the dimly lit living room. I've decided to make good on my promise with Kwamé, despite the high level of discomfort that I feel when in a room alone with this woman. 687Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUDQEpqu2WX
"I don't want to hate you anymore, and I'm trying to be a good example to Kwamé." When her eyebrows come together in confusion, I further explain the situation.687Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5jhE7osu88
"I want him to forgive himself."687Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhHS4vLYxXt
"I wouldn't put much faith into that," she replies warily, as if it is not possible. This concerns me, seeing that she knows him much better than I do. So why would he promise... 687Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUOcLVriJrn
"Why?" I ask her, eager to understand. 687Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp184zH8Jzm
"Because I've been trying to get him to do that for years," she informs me in a grave voice. "He's as stubborn as an ass. Nothing will get him to let that go."687Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTaJBF0R2dx
"Well, we made a pact." She looks at me as if the notion of a pact to change his mind is utterly idiotic. "Anyway," I say, changing the subject before I get upset with him, "I'm here now. So how about you elaborate on that tale you were telling me?"687Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOS2Pg9LE9K
Her face shuts down as she desperately tries to hide her emotions. Always hiding something from me. 687Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBaTUSJwhks
"I told you a lot. Honestly, what else could you want to know? And aren't you curious about unlocking your powers?"687Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPIf1vlVzNt
No, I'm actually much more concerned with the truth. 687Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy9jxSQKkqB
"Stop trying to change the subject," I demand. "I want to know more about this person who wanted me when I was a baby." I almost laugh out loud, remembering the ridiculous, pathetic excuse of an origin story that she fed me the last time we spoke. 687Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLYNupF6r6q
"She's evil and she's in the past." 687Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgbwWkro1x8
Past my ass. 687Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAWSeoqjq6p
I stomp my foot on the ground and then throw myself further back into the couch, like a small child. Something caused by me not getting what I want, because I'm so used to getting what I want. 687Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV3m4DcRFIz
"Why are you still afraid of her?" I demand. "What is she gonna do? Come and kill you?"687Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL63kfJaFOB
"She might," my mother responds under her breath. I don't think that I was meant to hear that.687Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN7VJDVPIKm
"So she's not in the past, then?" I challenge. I refuse to let this go. I have every right to know the truth. And the way she's contradicting herself means that she's obviously lying about something. 687Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNVHbnaJ1oy
"Yes, she is. I just don't think—"687Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ24EOD2IZjJ
"That I'm ready for it?" I ask. I swear, this us getting very old, very quickly. "Because I assure you, I am. I don't think that there's anything that you could tell me—"687Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz0M5R4iDLN
"She was a River Mumma," my mother rushed out, only to look as if she regrets it right after. Regrets telling me the truth. On the inside, I'm shaking my head. I am surprised (I thought that she would be human), but I'm not freaking out like last time. I'm not surprised that River Mummas exist. 687Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlEi7TEhZBY
River Mummas are mythical — well, apparently not so mythical after all — creatures that live in Jamaica's rivers. If I were to compare them to another creature, I'd go with the siren. They often sit on rocks and comb their hair with a golden comb. They say that if you see one, you'll fall into a magical trance and that she'll drag you into the river. Some say that she'll force you to live with her for eternity.687Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfTY34iCirJ
There is also the legend of a golden table that they can use to lure the greedy.687Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAAXg1dsCru
"The golden table—"687Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBR4OFPZJie
"Isn't a myth. It's real. Is that really the first thought that comes to your mind? I tell you that you were almost abducted by a River Mumma and you ask about a Golden Table?" She's not trying to goad me into asking questions — I know that she doesn't want to talk about this — but I think she's just incapable of keeping her surprise to herself. I'd be surprised, too. 687Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ97tlOaTjVk
I sit and think of a better question to ask her, but one that she won't refuse to answer. If she does that again I might jump her. 687Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9X7Gwjh2Qx
"Um... if I'm human, how would she have gotten me?" What did she plan on doing? 687Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYCVqBdp4Cb
"Turn you into one." I'm beginning to realise that the answers to a lot of my questions are far simpler than I originally thought. I still have to ask, though. 687Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOJBcOeXjqr
"And our rivers aren't exactly wide or long," I continue. "They aren't all interconnected either. How come there aren't any news reports of sightings?"687Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtreK04eA1X
"We have underground rivers. Remember that Black River especially is deep. And they know how to not be seen." That's a good point. "Additionally, they're water spirits. They are connected to the rivers of Jamaica. They can teleport." Still, in such a tiny country, I would have expected someone to have seen one in recent history. I've heard lots of stories about Rolling Calves, but no one has ever told me that they, or someone they know has seen a River Mumma.687Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2hv21EhTTl
I sit and think of anything else that I would like to know about in this situation.687Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6d8qJR0nGE
"What deal did you have with her?" This is important. This, I have to know., but I also know that there's a possibility of her clamping up. Therefore, it's no surprise that as soon as the words leave my mouth, her face screws up.687Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGNnILHIs3x
"Uh..."687Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGQ5VsmxtTR
"You have to tell me that. It's important." My voice sounds demanding, and I can see that she registers it on her face. She looks at me uncomfortably with the expression of someone who badly wants to shit. I would laugh if I weren't so on edge. 687Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR60itcvagu
"It's complicated," she responds lamely. I have to fight myself to not roll my eyes at her. They do move, though, just a tad. 687Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlVQzwbcOjy
"That's the worst excuse in the history of life. You're starting to sound like Kwamé." When her face stays the same, I decide to let it go. "It's complicated" should probably be the new slogan for my life. Surprisingly, I don't feel like jumping her. 687Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡncOz57OuaB
"So about my abilities," I begin, "what exactly can I do?" I guess it's only fair that we switch to something that she's more comfortable with. 687Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7KuBfAyKjg
"A lot," she answers, becoming animated, glad to be speaking of something other than her dealings with some water creature. "You must have already figured out that you can manipulate situations."687Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Ywu3dMIl2
"Yes." Except for my getting sick the last time we met. "I've noticed that since I was a small child. It's worked to my advantage since."687Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfxCN3R6vhL
"Well, you can manipulate more than that. You can make prophecies, and change them. The future is never set in stone."687Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAyQtGAZ3VF
Shit. That's a lot of power... the kind of power that I don't know that I want. I don't know if that's good for me — for anyone. That only makes me more interested.687Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡieOROyheW9
"Kwamé said... that you can move things with your mind."687Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9lfirp0GPJ
"Did he now?"687Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYFRCrLEdPJ
"It was implied." He didn't actually tell me that, after all. 687Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaF0laPvJvL
She looks off to the side pensively as if trying to decide how to phrase her thoughts.687Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs5SBWSCxzS
"I'm completely at one with the universe," she begins, sounding more like a monk than anything else. "When that happens, you can feel everything around you — living and non-living. Then, with time, you can learn to... influence things. Without spells."687Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSTWu4Jum06
"So in order for me to do that—"687Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ44ASy1XyRO
"You must first be at one with the universe," she answers. What the hell is this now? Avatar the Last Airbender? It sounds like something she just made up, pulled out of her ass, and knowing her, she probably did. On top of that, that sounds like a lot of work and effort. In other words, it sounds like something that I probably won't do.687Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCoc2O7lGe7
"I understand if you're reluctant," she tells me, guessing my thoughts correctly, "but it's best if you at least get to understand some of your basic powers better, don't you think?"687Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWjPTJtHz0j
I don't know. I honestly don't know how to feel about this. I mean, I'm now interested in learning, but I'm still unsure. It feels partly real, and partly like a scam. Let's say I do this: what if I can't handle the power? Too much power is never a good thing. Or what if I get sucked into some crazy war that's going on among the supernatural? Somehow, I get the feeling that this river mumma isn't done with us yet.687Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvBlK5EP8A9
Isn't done with me yet.687Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdSxOxKu56a
In other words, I need to learn how to defend myself.687Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2R3jlE0W2V
But if that is the case... then I'm going to need Akatua.687Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpeaYrRQB34
I feel so conflicted, a feeling that I am no stranger to, a feeling that I've been drowning in recently. It's probably because decisions and such usually come to me with an unnatural ease, but now I'm struggling to figure my life out.687Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGoVf1con9c
But shouldn't this, of all things, come naturally? 687Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJpOI9xNn4I
Damnit.687Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5XFXRvLsEE
"Listen. Don't hurt your head about this right now. Just come back when you are ready to learn."687Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc6aiwIOqpC
When she says this, I don't feel as conflicted anymore. I start to relax, and all thoughts of this river mumma fly out of my head. 687Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu7sSZ3bITI
"Yes. I will," I tell her, feeling myself relax already. See? I tell myself. No need to worry.687Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW5srZS3FUH
I lean back into the couch and let my mind wonder — not about magic, but about the possibility of finally having a mother — someone who cares for me. Strangely, the thought makes me smile to myself for the first time, resentment taking a back seat. I've always heard the other children at school talk about the wonders of having parents, and the idea never appealed to me. Now, though, it seems rather... intriguing. 687Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiCSQCXIrV5
"Nya," she calls, pulling me back to reality. 687Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡis7GCliE7i
"Yes?" I ask, looking her in the eye. I see my own brown eyes looking back at me, smiling. 687Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE58YsYKY7r
Her face smiles warmly at me. "Thank you for coming."687Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSSIeUUX7Xq
It is in this moment that I realise how much this means to her, how unfair, how selfish I was being for letting my feelings get in the way of making the only person on this earth who possibly loves me happy. It's not even as if it's something hard. She just wanted me to give her a chance, and it is in that moment that I feel a guilt like no other bind up in my chest, making me feel sick. Additionally, everything that she's done — that I've hated her for has been in the name of protecting me. Still, I turned her away. I feel tears sting my eyes as I fight to keep them at bay.687Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRzJ6g9a3C3
And Kwamé thinks that he is the selfish one.687Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡstLUrvpGyI
"You're welcome," I tell her, my voice filled with newfound friendliness, and wobbling slightly because of my guilt. Its not just my voice that has changed; my entire mindset is now different. I will not be selfish anymore. I will give this woman a chance, even if she tells lies of omission in a misguided attempt to protect me.687Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsTCtQHt1Jr
"Awe, Nya," she murmurs, "don't cry, hun." She wraps her arms around me and I return the gesture, tears still threatening.687Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbczOwzfv7I
"It's just, you know," I begin,"I'm sorry," I rasp.687Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT1CGYo9Epj
"Your feelings are completely understandable, dear," she reassures me, rubbing my back.687Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnAWdz1kscC
This is another thing that I'm not used to: affection. I've been hugged by people before, but it always felt so... unnatural. Akatua's warm embrace, however, is different. Hugging her feels natural. 687Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ49yQMUVh1k
At least something feels natural around her.687Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHrl6bmZFlY
When it's over, I pull back and look at her. I have one request, one thing I need to ask of her.687Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFTIpVXg5Oc
"Akatua?"687Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXVPITbs3Ki
"Hmm?"687Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh5C7SxoHqX
I chew my bottom lip for a second as my eyes dry, trying to find the best way to word my thoughts.687Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCC1DgJVzdX
"When it comes to telling me things," I begin,"if it's absolutely necessary, for example, if this woman — river mumma — is coming back... stuff like that," I clarify as she nods her head, but still, I have to say it out loud.687Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH5risUzprj
"Please tell me," I ask as she continues to nod her head solemnly. I'm not even asking her to tell me everything, just the important bits.687Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIyBd5yBdWh
"That's fair," she agrees. "I will try my best to be honest with you about things like that from hear on out."687Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWINVsXxhyK
"Thank you, Akatua," I say genuinely. 687Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVOzhqfU2gd
"You're welcome, Nya," she replies. It is while looking into this woman's face that I think to myself:687Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDJWEYZvS8A
Hey, I guess family can be fun after all.
ns3.17.166.43da2
