I grew up close to my family, but Grandma made me feel like a baby no matter how old I got. She cooked for me, cleaned up after me, and never complained about my mess or my mouth because she said I got that from my mother, and I couldn’t help myself. She even knew about me getting pregnant that summer, and she told me,Tania, your baby is a blessing. Have her and love her just like I did your mama, and your mama did you.
Grandma, however, didn’t get to see my child born. She passed away two weeks before I had my baby, and that’s why I had no one around to convince me to keep her.
“And who is this pretty lady you have here with you?”
Proctor looked over at me.
“A friend, who is ready to eat some of this good ass food.”
“I hear that, baby. Well, go ahead up to the window and order with Gracie. I’ll get to the back and start on whatever you want. My treat.”
“I appreciate you, but you know I’m going to hit that tip jar anyway.”
“That is why I love you, handsome.”
She did a little dance and walked back through the side door she’d come out of.
We stepped up to the small window, and I looked up at the menu, overwhelmed by all the fried foods and sides they had. That was a list as long as my arm, and I’ve never seen a menu that had me stuck like this, but in a good way.
“What can I get for y'all today?”
“Well, you already know what I want. No question about that, unless you forgot about me?”
“Oh, you know I could never forget about you now, Mr. Proctor.”
Proctor had her smiling hard just from their interaction. I’m sure this man could get grandmas wet just by how he talked, dipping his shoulders and squinting those dark bedroom eyes at people. Here I was with him right now, knowing that he slept with my friend, but still anticipating a turn with him and I shouldn’t be.
“So, for you, I know we got the fried fish. French fries and a side of our famous greens with two slices of cornbread. Oh, and extra hot sauce.”
“You got it.” She smirked at him and then looked towards me.
“And for you?”
“Umm, I think I’ll have the fried fish combo too, with fries, and are those greens you ordered good too?”
“Is water wet?”
He asked, making the lady behind the counter laugh at his sarcasm.
“Well, if that's the case, then I'll have the greens and cornbread too, please.”
She scribbled my order onto one of those old school ordering notebooks.
I felt like I was about to get some good down home cooking just by the smell radiating up from the kitchen, and that made me excited. Since my grandma died, and I don’t see my mother or my aunt often, it’s rare that I get a good meal. Most of the time, I’m eating at Wingstop or McDonald's any time I get hungry.
“Let’s take a seat over here. The food may take a while since everything is made fresh here.”
“That’s no problem with me; I have nothing but time.”
We walked over to a small table tucked against the wall. I sat down first, then Proctor folded himself into a chair that was honestly way too small for him. Still, he leaned back, calm, cool, and collected.
“You must eat here a lot. They seem really familiar with you.”
“Yeah. I eat here all the time. It’s one of the few spots in Vegas that ain’t all commercial and shit. The food is actually seasoned and not made just to look pretty.”
“That’s how it is in D.C., too. Most of the good food comes from the down home places like this.”
“Oh yeah? I haven’t been there in forever. Probably since I got arrested back in the early 2000’s for slapping a police officer.”
