#151 Sic Transit Gloria- Jabari Asim
Gloria is paralyzed by fear, fear of people, fear of
outside, and more of all fear of the Devil. She is a shut-in, trying her best
to fend off the evil of this world and raise her son, Roderick. Roderick is a
special child with unnatural intelligence, he is aptly named by everyone in the
neighborhood, The Genius. Gloria rarely leaves the house, not even for her own
mother’s funeral, because cemeteries have too many places for the Devil to
hide. While looking out for Satan, she awaits signs from God.
“All these years of fearing—maybe even believing—that I’ve
been marked by the devil. All these years spending every living minute looking
over my shoulder for Satan, and here come God, right on time.”
Roderick’s story is an interesting one. He is a Christ-like figure
in these tales. Born of a mother with no father, he will bear suffering to uplift
the community, his talents likely will have to be sacrificed like his
Mentor/Father (figure) Orville. But for now this story is about his mother.
What will it take for her to overcome her own burdens, her own fear, and face
her own demons. It appears that she is now prepared to face the world to
protect her son, her very own savior.
“The sound doesn’t enter my ears like noise normally does.
It’s born in my bones, rises out of my pores, and takes shape in the air. It
makes me hot and cold at the same time. Chills up my spine, sparks in my limbs.
My son speaks, God touches me, and I get up and go.”
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