"i wish i was young again....
Charlie Mae was raised in a pentecostal church.
There was speaking in tongues, tarrying for hours, revivals. She would go to choir rehearsals, bible study, morning service, afternoon service, evening service. She was obiedient, she sat by her grandmother in the same pew for 16 years, her expression never changed, people never knew if she was happy or sad. Her Amens had perfect timing, her alto could be heard strongly, she wasn't considered fast, just Missionary Browns grandaughter. the day she was baptized, she discovered her fire inside. She walked slowly towards Pastor Rice, the water rising on each side of her, the bottom of her white rob becoming invisible, his tall stature, he smelled of olive oil, she looked up at him, he was smiling, arms open wide, the sun his background lighting, she felt the pebbles under her feet. He took Charlie in his bear like arms, and breathed "praise the lord little sister" to the top of her head, she looked at her grandmother who stood on the beach smiling. Mother Rice stood behind her and held her at the small at her back, fire burning...her eyes were on Corey Johnson, Deacon Johnsons oldest son, out of seven, 17 years old, hazel eyed, wavy haired boy,dark brown skin, standing on the beach, his eyes met hers, and she stared through him, saw the flames , as they dunked her under. Gasping for air, coming up, Mother rice, Deaconess Smith, patted her dry with huge white towels,whispering in tongues, Charlie Mae breathed lightly, they caught the water running from her hair,calling her a good girl, her eyes stayed fixed on Corey, her skin smoking from the cold air.......corey stared at the way her hair clung to the back of her neck....the way the water caused her thin white robe to slide off of her shoulder just enough to show a small portion of skin, corey was lost in her gaze, those cat eyes , he began to sweat......that night, charlie mae lay in bed tossing and turning, until, she climbed out of bed, pulled on her now dry white rob, walked barefoot to koreys house, stood outside in his yard....pacing.... corey sat in the dark, heard her footsteps and opened the front door...from the sky that night, if you looked down....fire was consumated by two in white....the beginning of the gift and curse that has followed her for years....
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