Mama
...a good wife. You’ll just look like a slut.” “But…” “Go iron your father’s pants.” I danced in my room to benna all the time. Well, when I wasn’t helping mama. Mama didn’t know. I didn’t like keeping secrets from mama, but I loved dancing. I even danced down the dusty road to my job at the corner market each day. I sold the dasheen we grew and fish I caught. There’s not much money in that. “Girl, Come here! Over here,” a man hollered to me one day on my way to the market. “You’re a mighty fine dancer.” I felt the blood rush to my face, eyes light up, and all I could do was stand there in all my awkward amazement. I had been caught and discovered. “My mama doesn’t like my dancing much,” I finally blurted out. “How old are you, girl.” “Seventeen.” I was only fifteen. Mr. Jones, that’s what he told me to call him, accompanied me to the market telling me how beautiful and talented I was. I loved it. Mama never told me that. I trusted him with his professional pinstripe suit and trimmed mustache. Mr. Jones said I could make money dancing for people, and he told me lots of girls did it, and that it would be a shame for me to keep my gift to myself. He had a good point when he said it like that. Mama didn’t like my dancing, but she did always tell me to make ends meet. The market job certainly didn’t make ends meet. I gave my first dance performance to a handsome, young man with deep eyes and a perfect smile. The crisp bills were placed in my hand. This is a dream come true, I thought, how simple. The attractive man admired me from top to bottom flashing his immaculate teeth and holding more money. “You are the most radiant, alluring thing I have ever seen, and I’d like to see more of you.” I froze. I turned. I wondered what he meant and was afraid I actually knew. I had never felt that kind of money in my hand, and how could I say no. I couldn’t let this gorgeous man, this man who thought I was radiant, think I didn’t care about what he wanted. I wanted to make him happy. Mama never called me radiant. It wouldn’t be very ladylike, but I loved dancing. I was exposed, and the air was cool. It swirled ab...