Prince Hall Apartments

The sign said, "PRINCE HALL APARTMENTS. More than a community; we are family.' The sign was white with black writing. Linda didn't recognize the "c" word. But she knew the rest of them. After all she was going to the first grade and she could read. Her kindergarten teacher praised her all the time about it. Her family was moving into Prince Hall Apartments.

Linda remembered when her Mommy said it was time to get out on their own. Her mother told her that since she was going to have a baby, they didn't need Momma Dot's attic no more. That was good for Linda but bad for her too. Linda liked Momma Dot but she didn't like living in the attic with her Mommy, Daddy and her little sister Lena. The attic was too small for all of them. Linda and Lena had to share a bed. The attic also got really, really got cold in the winter time. They had to wear socks to bed and use two blankets.

Mommy said Prince Hall would be different. She said there would be enough room for everybody. She also said Linda would have her own room with Lena.

As their car moved around the circle into the apartments, Linda saw a huge playground with a see-saw, swings and a merry-go-round. Everything was painted happy colors, like red, yellow, blue and green. Linda smiled so hard she could have replaced the sunrise with the sparkle from her teeth. She tapped Lena on the shoulder. Lena was looking out the other side of their Daddy's black '67 Cougar and pointing at the other children playing outside.

Prince Hall was a row of two story apartments. The apartments were red brick and each section had eight apartments. The buildings faced each other and there was a parking lot in between each section. There were children playing in the parking lots and trees and bushes and grass. Linda was amazed at the white sidewalks and benches. Linda was grinning from ear to ear because she knew she was where she belonged.

It took Linda's Mommy all of three days to unpack and get everything in the apartment in order. Linda and Lena had bunk beds in their room with yellow bedspreads and a painting of two little black girls sitting in flowers on the wall. Linda liked the painting because she thought of the little girl in the picture as herself. The new apartments where her place to sit.

"Mommy when do I start school?" Linda thought she'd asked since no one had said anything to her about school since they moved in.

"You'll start school on Monday. So we go to church on Sunday. You'll go to sleep that night and then when you wake up you'll start school." Her Mom said while placing a breakfast of cereal and toast on the table.

Linda twisted her month and touched her head. She thought she had more time before she started school. Wow she was going to meet all the new people the day after church. Again Linda put a huge grin on her face. This was a good week. She thought to herself.

Linda's Daddy came to the table. He was walking really fast Linda thought.

"Morning everybody. Baby, I'll just take a couple of pieces of toast and a glass of orange juice. I've got to get out of here. Don't want to be late." He said. He was talking and walking really fast Linda thought.

Linda and Lena said in unison, "Mornin' Daddy."

"Are you working today Daddy?" Linda asked.

"Yep." Her Daddy said while chewing on a piece of toast.

"What's today?" Lena asked looking at Linda.

"Mommy is today Saturday? I think it is Saturday." Linda asked her Mommy while twisting her mouth and touching her head. She always touched her head when she was thinking. She thought a lot.

Lena yelled at Linda, "It's not Saturday 'cause Daddy is going to work."

Daddy looked at Lena and gave her the stare. Linda hated that stare. She knew that meant something was wrong. What was wrong now was that Lena was yelling at the table. That was a no no.

"Don't yell baby." Her Mommy said softly. "Today is Saturday. Daddy is going to work some Saturdays now and then."

Lena dropped her head. "I'm sorry Daddy. I don't want you to go."

"You can't always get what 'cha want little girl. Now finish your breakfast. Gotta go y'all." Their father said while getting up, drinking the last of his orange juice and grabbing his lunch.

It was in a brown bag. Mommy had given him the leftover hamburgers she made last night. Linda's father rubbed his wife swollen belly, kissed each of his daughters on the cheek and went out the back door.

The room was silent for a moment. Linda hated that her Daddy had to work on a Saturday. They usually played a game or something on Saturday when they lived in the attic at Momma Dot's house.

"Mommy can we watch cartoons." Linda thought to ask. She remembered it was Saturday and she wanted to see Scooby Doo.

"After you eat baby. Now eat all of your cereal."

It was quiet for Sunday morning Deborah thought. She laid in her bed and just listened. She heard nothing. She looked over at her sister Veronica's bed. She was still sleeping. She was sleeping so hard her stocking cap had come off and her hair was all over her head. Her mother was going to have a fit. That was the whole reason for combing their hair at night.

Boom! Boom! Deborah sat straight up. What was that she wondered. Then she heard her mother.

"Get your behinds out of that bed right now! We have to be at the churh in less than an hour. Your father can't have his family being late to church. We live right next door children. GET UP!" Her mother was yelling while she shoved the bedroom doors open.

Deborah hopped out of bed and ran in the bathroom first. If one of her brothers or her sister got in there first she would never get a chance to use the bathroom. As soon as she closed the door, her brothers started banging on the door.

"Come on Debbie, you are not as big as we are. We have to use it. Come on girl!" Her brothers sounded angry but Deborah didn't care. She laughed as she ran her bath water. They could pee on themselves for all she cared. They never let her get in first.

There was another boom. But it was from a voice. It was her father. Rev. Benjamin Morningstar. Her father's voice always commanded attention.

"Boys that will be all. If you have to go so badly, use the bathroom in my bedroom." Rev. Morningstar said rather calmly.

"Sarah would you let the boys use the bathroom in our room honey. I would like everyone at the table in five. I need to get over to the church so we can check on some things ok." Again he was speaking in a calm and cool voice.

Deborah just laughed. Today was going to be a good and tomorrow was school.