Madré Love

Christal and Joe are in Christal’s jeep on their way to the Chinese restaurant Dragon Express to pick up a large order of wings. “Son you sure this place got good wings?” Christal asked. “Yeah mom-dukes I get em’ all the time” Joe responded. “That’s probably why yo butt gettin so big. That and all them fries you need to stop eatin’” Christal joked. “Well I told you I was goin on a diet” Joe replied. “When?” Christal asked sarcastically. “After we finish eatin’all this junk for the party today, oh yeah, and whatever leftovers we got for the rest of the week.”

“Oh whatever” Christal said in disbelief as she and Joe walked into the Dragon Express to grab their large bag of wings and left. When they made it back to the diner of the restaurant they worked at, Bojangles, a lot of their coworkers were already there waiting to celebrate the graduation of Arlene, one of their favorite coworkers who had just graduated high school. For the rest of the evening the Bo staff all laughed, talked and danced to music enjoying each other’s company. By 8:00 p.m. Christal and Joe hopped back in Christal’s jeep and they began their trek to Joe’s house.

“Whew I’m bout to pop from all them wings I inhaled” Joe started. “Yeah and yo pants gon’ R.I.P. by Monday morning” Christal joked. “Talkin about a diet, I knew you was lyin’ about that one.” “Oh I’m tellin’ the truth this time” Joe started. “Mama I notice everytime one of these youngins graduate you always throw them a graduation party. Doesn’t matter if we’re at work or home, you never failed to throw a party”.

“Yep” Christal began. “That’s because I’m really proud of y’all. I see how hard all of y’all work here and that’s not easy when you’re juggling school tryna reach your goals, so I always like to have a little celebration for our graduates.” “Aw that’s so sweet” Joe replied sarcastically. “Well if I get back in school next year like I’ve been hoping for are you gonna come to my graduation?” He asked. With one hand on the steering wheel Christal looked over at Joe and looked him in the eye and simply shook her head in assurance.

Though Joe had been in a joking mood before he understood the seriousness in Christal’s eyes and knew that if he does receive his college degree in the near future Christal would in fact be cheering him on at graduation. “Alright Madré, see you on Monday” Joe said while giving Christal a hug and a kiss on the forehead as he got of the jeep. “Bye son, behave yourself” Christal replied.

2 Years Later

Joe pulled into the parking lot of the Greensboro Coliseum with his cap and gown on ready for his graduation. He spent the past year working towards his associates degree at Guilford Technical Community College while juggling work and a crazy personal life. On this evening he was proud of himself as he got ready to receive his first degree, but he was more happy to be sharing this moment with his family and friends. As Joe began his walk with his fellow graduates he looked at the audience and saw his loved ones in the crowd.

First he spotted two of his best friends, Ashlyn and her husband Jacob and Elizabeth and her son Caleb. He then spotted his big sister Rudy along with her husband Travis and their children. Finally, to the right of where he was sitting he saw the mother who had adopted him from work, the one who he always referred to as Madré, it was Christal. She was smiling at him with a look of love that said “son I’m proud of you” and this warmed his heart.

Joe walked across that stage and was handed his degree. He looked over into the celebratory crowd of family and friends and saw Christal mouth the words “son I’m so proud of you and I love you”. “Love you too, Madré” he concluded.

~Based on a true story. This Mother’s Day short story is dedicated to my mother who adopted me at work, Christal Hylton Henry