Lesson 1

Screams. Loud Screams. Darkness, then the screams came. "... and let it nourish our spirits, Most loving Father. In Jesus' name, Amen."
"Amen!" his wife yelled. I woke up. He always prayed long like that. I never knew why. Everyone is hungry, and here he goes taking ten minutes to bless the food.
I looked down at my food. My rhinestone chain hung from my neck as if it was trying to get a better look too. Mashed potatoes, fried chicken, corn, and greens were on my plate, but all I saw were skins, bones, cobs, and dirt.
"Stop looking at your food and eat it," said Mr. Riley, stuffing his face full of well seasoned greens. My eyes shifted over to his Bible, then back at my food. He coughed as his overly loud chewing was mixed with cackles and hacks. I let out a short laugh.
His wife quickly grabbed a glass from the center of the table and poured him some juice saying, "Don't get your blood all worked up over that boy." She handed him the drink.
His beady eyes were staring at me and grew while he quickly and loudly slurped his juice. Only two weeks here, and I already know how this husband and wife operate. I know that his wife wants acknowledgement from him but never gets it, and I know that when he gets those overly large eyes pointed at me, he's about to monolouge on how grateful I should be for them choosing me to be their foster child. Then, he's going to blindly open up a Bible, and barely read the first thing he sees to me, clearly misinterpreting it. (I never read the Bible before, but I know that this guy doesn't know what he's talking about.) This time, juice was sliding down his face before opening the Bible and reading.
"That boy's making me upset, Darlene! He don't listen nor respects adults like he should! It says here in Chronicus 6:57 to refuse the suburbs. That means don't refuse the suburban life, boy!" (see what I'm saying?) "All ya'll kids think about is Pimpin' rides, tippin' on gin, and all other sin." He stopped to breath and laugh. "See, I know the Bible, boy! I know that any verse can fit any situation today! Better recognize." His oversized stomach growled, and he continued eating.
I looked back down at my food. It still looks like stuff that's not very edible. I was hungry (I always am...), so I decided to try to eat it. I didn't taste the meat of the chicken, nor the flavor of the potato... My eyes, teeth, and tongue couldn't see, taste, or feel the kernels of the corn. To me, they were invisible... but I ate them. I left the dirt on my plate...
When Mr. Riley saw that I was done, he said in a grumbling voice, "Did they teach you in that foster home how to say thank you? Tell Darlene thank you."
I looked at his wife and said, "Thank you for the meal Mrs. Riley." She smiled and nodded and I got up from the table.
"Oh they didn't seem to teach you how to excuse yourself from a table at that home we got you from, boy?" asked Mr. Riley with a scratchy voice. He got up and went to the kitchen to get his inhalor.
I sat back down on the cold, wooden dining chair and asked his wife if I could be excused. After she said yes, I sat there a while, because my temper was lightly flared by that time. I rose from my seat and began to walk to the room I stayed in.
"Do they expect me to teach you how to clean your plate off the table and push up your seat?!" loudly asked Mr. Riley walking out of the kitchen. His voice echoed over and over in my ears. It's the most annoying sound that could ever be heard. I walked back to the table, grabbed my plate, pushed in my chair, and sighed...oops.
Mr. Riley sat back down at the table and said, "They don't teach ya'll nothin' at that home, do they, boy? I got you expectin' you to know some kinda basics. The Bible says to honor your father and your mo-"
That was the last straw. Before he could finish his sentence, my temper took control of my mouth and yelled, "I don't have a father, and my mother is dead!! So don't tell me who to honor!!" Memories formed into tears, and the tears ran down my face.
He looked at me with those large, angry eyes. His breathing grew louder. He turned to Darlene and said, ""I told you that we can't help none of these broke Negroes. Get in the car, boy..."
I held onto my rhinestone chain as I walked out the door and towards the car. On the way, I threw up the bones, the skins, the cobs, and the dirt. I don't remember eating the greens, but the eyes don't lie do they?