Never Again Once More by Mary B. Morrison Page A

they merely wanted first consideration.
    “Why do you sound so sad, Mommy? I love you.” Darius’s eyes drooped, and his mouth curved downward as teardrops soaked into the Raiders jacket Robert bought for Darius’s birthday.
    Since Darius was in the backseat where his mama had insisted he would ride until the auto dealers made air bags safe enough for children to ride in the front—and couldn’t see her face, Jada changed the inflection in her voice. “Mommy’s not sad,” she lied. “Would you like to see a giant Christmas tree tonight?” Jada beamed with excitement.
    “Yes!” Darius’s eyes lit up as he clapped.
    Why could a child’s sadness be eradicated in a matter of seconds but not an adult’s? Over development of the billions of brain cells perhaps?
    They soon reached Grandma’s house. When Jada opened the door, Darius hopped out and ran up the stairs.
    “How’s our big boy?” Mama asked.
    “Whatcha feedin’ this rugrat? Miracle growth?” Robert jokingly gave Darius a one-two punch to the ribs and tilted his chin. “Boy, looks like you been crying. Crying is for girls and sissies. Remember that.” Robert straightened his back and asked Darius, “Are you a girl?”
    “No! I’m not a girl.” Darius stood like Robert.
    “Are you a sissy?” Robert saluted Darius.
    “No way!” Darius saluted back.
    Mama said, “Robert, don’t go filling Darius’s head with nonsense. Boys have feelings, too.”
    “Hi, My Dear! I miss you. I love you.” Darius hugged his grandma’s neck and kissed her cheek. “I brought some cookies for Santa.” He unzipped his suitcase and pulled out a huge bag of gingerbread cookies. “You got milk, My Dear?”
    Robert snatched the brown bag. “I got milk, and now I have cookies.”
    Darius kept jumping and grabbing, but each time Robert held the bag higher.
    “Mama sure is glad y’all came, baby.” Mama embraced Jada and said, “Jazzmyne, Candice, and Terrell are in town. They’re stopping by tomorrow for a little holiday cheer. Can you believe the wonderful weather we’re having this Christmas Eve? Sixty-five degrees. Y’all come in. Robert, give the boy his cookies before they get all crumbled.”
    As fast as they had come outside, Mama and Robert must have been sitting at the window, waiting.
    Jada thought about her friends, whom she would see tomorrow. Respectfully, Candice had stop divulging their secrets; but four years had gone by, and Terrell still hadn’t married Candice. Every year she set a date, and every time Terrell had an excuse to change it before she mailed the invitations.
    “Mama, I’m going to the mall. I’ll be back.”
    “Okay, baby. We’ll wait ’til you get back before we eat dinner.”
    Darius ran inside with his cookies. Mama and Robert followed.

    Everything Jada wanted to purchase at the San Francisco FAO Schwartz—one of the world’s largest toy stores, standing four stories high—was either sold out or the lines were too long. Deviating from her list, Jada shopped at Embarcadero Centers One, Two, and Three for presents. Jada found the perfect gift for Wellington, a crystal heart with a two-by-two glass mirror so whenever he looked at her heart, he could also see his heart. Straight, gay, and lesbian lovers cheerfully strolled along Market, Powell, and Embarcadero Streets, clinging to one another as Jada wrestled with the oversized packages. Children dressed in black and white with red ribbons and bow ties merrily sang carols while spectators gathered and listened, another group for Jada to maneuver around.
    After tossing the neatly wrapped boxes on the backseat, Jada hurried to her mom’s house to pick up Darius before sunset.
    “What’d you do? Buy up the store?” Robert asked, taking several gifts.
    “Of course not. Where’s Darius?” Before Robert answered, Jada yelled, “Darius, honey, let’s go!”
    Darius came running with his black-and-silver jacket in hand.
    “Mama, we’ll be back in an hour. I