September Jones pt. 1

September Jones

My name is September Jones. Mama said I have such a plain last name she had to name me something different and interesting, something nobody else she knows of was named. So when I was born one hot September first morning twelve years ago, she knew right off what my name would be. "I looked at you in my arms and whispered, 'Welcome to the world, September Viola Jones.' ", she said. I'm glad I wasn't born in August. Viola is a bad middle name anyway you look at it, but can you imagine being called August Viola? But it's a family name-- my Mama is Annette Viola, and her Mama was Meredith Viola. So, like it or not, one of her daughters was bound to be named Viola, and since I was her first born girl, the name belongs to me. I once asked Mama how far back the Violas go and if there ever was anyone with the first name Viola and she said she didn't know.


I'm just glad I wasn't born in August.


I have a dad, but I never knew him 'cause he skipped out on Mama when she told him she was pregnant with me. She don't talk about him much, says there's not much to tell. "Not much to tell 'cause there's not much to him", she says when I ask. Three things I know: He had the bluest eyes; He whistled a lot, and his name was Jeffrey Scott Callahan.


Callahan. I often let that name roll off my tongue and imagine what it would be like to have the last name Callahan instead of Jones. Then I say my full name slowly like I'm tasting a piece of candy. "September Viola Callahannnnnn", I say, stretching out the "n". I say it a few times then wonder if my name would still be September being Callahan is an interestin' name so Mama might have named me something plain like Joan or Karen. Then I try and decide if having an interesting first name might be better than a fancy last name, after all.


Another thing about me, I like yellow. "Yellah" , I tend to call it, but Miss Ariana always corrects me when I say it around her. She's my fifth grade teacher at Inglewood Elementary School. This is her first year as a teacher. Mama said she looks my age, but I don't think so. She's filled out in all the right places, not like me with knees too big for my legs and eyes too big for my face. Mama says the rest of my body will catch up, but I don't think I"ll ever fill out as nice as Miss Ariana. She has nice, curvy figure with a nice, curvy name to match.


Miss Ariana's hair always looks like golden silk, and she smiles a lot. I've always wanted to touch her hair. I'm not ever afraid to ask her a question 'cause she says there is no such thing as a dumb question. I guess there is such thing though, 'cause when Tommy Rowe asked her if he could draw on Jessie Mays with a red permanent marker, she glared at him and told him to quit asking dumb questions. I think I know the difference between what is a dumb question and what is not. I don't guess Tommy Rowe knows, though.

I told Mama if Miss Ariana marries, I hope she don't marry somebody with a plain last name. I'd never forgive her for that.


I like Miss Ariana a lot, so I try and please her. I practiced saying "yellow" over and over till I almost don't say "yellah" anymore. I even correct Mama when she says it wrong, but I don't think she's practicing saying it the right way like I did. I don't guess she cares to please me like I want to please Miss Ariana. Besides, Mama don't like yellow. She says I should pick another favorite color, 'cause yellow makes my fair skin look too pale. I don't care how it makes my skin look. I like yellow 'cause it's the color of sunshine. I told Miss Ariana that once, and she said I'd make a good poet.


I do okay in school except math. I hate math. The numbers get all jumbled in my head, and I can't get 'em to make sense. "Just take your time and concentrate", Mama tells me, but no matter what I don't get it. Miss Ariana knows I try, so she don't get upset and always helps me. I'm a good speller, and she says so. She's good like that, helping you with what you're not good at and telling you she's proud of what your are good at.