“Four...”
“Mind you nah knock me over,”
says Granny as Olivia and Sophia scurry past her.
“Sorry, Granny,” they say as they scramble up the stairs.
“Five...
six...
seven...”
“Come now, Malachi, let me see you.”
Granny enters the kitchen, laughing.
I uncover my eyes and cease counting.
Granny’s smile turns to a frown.
“You get so dark on holiday,” she says.
T laughs because we go through this every year
when I return from Cyprus.
T mouths the words behind Granny’s back,
imitating her gestures and mannerisms.
“You nah wear sunblock, child?” Granny asks.
“You know you half white, you can still burn.
And you aff to be careful about skin cancer.
Anyone can get it. You see?” Granny points
to a scar on her nose and behind her T copies.
“The doctor removed my mole at the hospital.”
I fail to suppress my laughter,
but I’m not laughing at Granny:
I’m laughing at T’s impression of her.
“Kai!” “Kai!”
I hear The Twins call from upstairs.
“Come find us!”
“Come find us!”
Blessed salvation
