The Good Lorde

I remember Sister Audre, she used to come to Central Baptist some Sundays, always sat in back

on the left, next to Sister Gloria, with her hair wrapped like she was African or something.

Always Amen-ing, Praise the Lord-ing and singing a little loud. Once I heard Deacon Jones

say she was a whole lotta yellow wasted but I never understood that cuz she was kinda pretty.

He ain’t like her much cuz once in church he stood up and said that black folks was

somehow better than everybody else. She got up, looked at him real funny and said

Remember, our sun is not the mostnoteworthy star, only the nearest.

After service I asked her what that meant, she told me Never pretend to convenient beliefs,

even when they are righteous. You cannever defend your city while shouting.

One time nosy old Mrs. Hilliard asked her if she had any kids, Sister Audre put

her hand on my head, walked her fingers through my hair and said My children are

wherever I find them. I remember that all the stones in her necklaces was black,

one day I asked her Why? and what kind of stones they was anyway. Coal she said,

when I asked her How come? she said I am black because I come from the earth’s inside,

now take my word for jewel in the open light. The thing I liked most about her though

was her voice. She sure could sing but never did join the choir. Daddy say she was all

mixed up by that feminology stuff. One day Sister Gloria came to church and said pray

for Sister Audre cuz she was ill. After awhile she came back to church but folks started

avoiding her cuz she always wanted to talk about being sick, describing it and stuff.

Ma said she had had one of her breasts removed but there she was back in church, yes Lord-ing

and dancing like she still had two. Then she got real sick, all skinny and bald but right up

to the end she kept on singing, her voice never cracked. I miss Sister Audre who really

I barely knew except from church. Sometimes on Sundays in the small spaces

between the Reverend’s sentences I can hear her soprano still.