by Larkin Williamson

Created on: October 14, 2008   Last Updated: February 02, 2009

Old Joseph

"Come here Nigga", he shouted! Then he looked down at me and yelled "Catch that dog fo me boy an I give you a Coke!" It was hot and I sure would like me a Coke. I ran at the little white dog and he ran right between my legs. The old black man on the porch just laughed and yelled "You caint catch that dog, but you still gots a Coke if you want it!" That dog then ran right up to the old man and sat beside him. I kind of hung my head and walked up slow and stood by the porch rail. The old black man said "What yo name boy?" I looked up and said "Tom."

He looked a hundred and fifty years old. He had on a Cinncinnati Reds baseball cap and wore a ragged green and red plaid shirt beneath bib overalls. His face, weathered and deep lined with a bronze haze. He had painfully kind eyes. He gave me a big smile and asked, "Why you wearin' that cross round yo neck fo?" I stiffened a little and told him how I was going to be a preacher and serve the Lord.

He laughed with a rasping cough and said" Boy, don't you think, the last thing Jesus wants to see is another one of them crosses". I immediately and defensively said, "This shows I love the Lord and I am a Christian!" He just grinned and said, "Ok, ok boy, just take that thing off when you meet the Lord you preachin' fo."

Then he squirmed back in his old green wicker chair and said, "My name is Joseph and I am ninety seven years old, so how old is you?" I proudly said "I'm almost twelve but folks say I look at least fourteen." He chuckled..."That you do boy, that you do." He then reached in his pocket and pulled out a cigar. I mumbled nervously, "People go to hell for such things." He just gave me an ornery grin and whispered loudly, "Least I won't be lookin' fo my matches there." He lit the cigar and said, "Get yo coke out the ice box and sit a spell, talk to old Joseph."

An old red tin cooler with a bent lid was by the door. I opened it and saw a few Cokes and a bottle of Mogan David wine that was half empty. I thought to myself that this old turkey was sure to be fried by the devil himself. Joseph picked up his wooden cane and smacked it on the step and said "Park yo but and talk with me 'bout God."

While opening the Coke on my belt buckle, I sat where he said to. I asked him why he called his dog Nigga? He laughed heartily and said "Cause he got puppies all over town an he always come home fo a free lunch." I just had the feeling that I was supposed to save this old man before it was too late. With my chest a little

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