Christian “Gills”
Being back in the state of Tennessee wasn’t a plan of mine, but I owed my granny the respect of seeing it in person.
I was a soul who needed saving, let her tell it, so that was what I went out there and did.
I got my act together and graduated from high school, then college, at the top of my class.
That bachelor’s degree in pastoral studies was what was gon’ throw her though.
I literally went from not attending school and street hustling to giving school my extra time. All it took was for me to witness the hurt I was bringing my granny. She was my world, and I vowed to never let her hurt because of me again.
What was funny about it was I knew how the conversation would flow.
I wasn’t the typical pastor. The Bible said the body was a temple, so glorify God in your body.
I didn’t catch that Corinthians verse until I was already tatted like a biker boy, pierced up like a rock star, and held a few virgins under my belt.
But like granny said, I was a soul that needed saving.
Earlier, I’d made a quick pitstop at the Cool Therapy mall to get my favorite lady a gift. I wasn’t expecting to run into a woman so beautiful. She was unaware of my presence until we ran into each other. Well, she ran into me because I spotted her as soon as she walked out those double doors.
For a minute, I was tryna make out her makeup design, but once she was in front of me, I saw the real.
She was beautiful indeed, but her vitiligo enhanced all of that.
I knew a few women from college who hid that same skin condition with makeup.
She, on the other hand, was letting hers show and with confidence.
Her voice was exactly what I expected it to be… soft.
I was a fool for walking away without gettin’ her number. No worries though. I’d see her again. Chattanooga was a small city. Everybody knew everybody, or everybody was related. And to make matters worse, nobody ever left. Once they crossed city lines, that was it.
Pulling up to my granny’s house, I saw cars I’d never seen before in her driveway.
Old me would’ve pulled the gun from under the seat and walked up in there wreaking havoc.
Saved me, however, was gon’ go in there respectfully.
I grabbed her gift and my folder of certificates, then got out the car, taking long strides to her door.
Having a key to her crib came in handy for situations like that.
I quietly entered the house. No lights were on, and no movement could be heard.
I knew her house like the back of my hand, so I bust that left entering the family room.
I popped the light on to be greeted with family and friends.
She was too old to be planning parties and stuff. Sit down, Granny.
“Surprise!”
I gave smiles, hugs, and daps to those who approached me. I felt the love they were showing. It was goin’ on five years since I’d been home and around my people. Granny was the last to approach me. I hugged on her little self, accepting the love that was radiating off her.
“Ma, which one of yo’ nosy friends told you I was home?” I had only been home for two days. My condo was in Nashville, so how? The most I did to be seen was go to the mall.
“You know Ginna Mae was gon’ call me. She said she was picking her great grand up from the airport, and you were walking out. How you doin’ though, baby? Everything good?”
“Yes, ma’am. I have something for you.” I held up the gift bag from Kay Jewelers. Her bright-blue eyes lit up.
“You know not to get me nothing. But I’m glad you did.” She wasted no time pulling the box out. That frail hand covered her mouth once she seen what was stored in that velvet box. “Baby, are these real pearls?”
“Ma, I won’t ever give you anything fake. This for you as well.” I handed over the folder and let her skim through the documents. When she got to the one of me being ordained, she cried. “This soul got saved like you said.”
“Y’all, my baby has been ordained. Meet Pastor Gills!” she screamed.
Congratulations came all night left and right. I felt like I was finally making my granny proud. My parents weren’t able to see it due to the plane crash, so it meant everything that she approved of the decisions I was making as a person she raised.
The doorbell rang, which everybody acted like they didn’t hear. I shook my head and went to answer whoever was buzzing for attention. I glanced through the peephole to be granted another smile. I opened the door and stood face-to-face with my best friend.
“I guess goin’ away gave you the impression you looked like somebody. Nigga, you still ugly,” Hunz joked. He could never speak like a regular person. Joking was his way of speaking. We dapped up and did a bro hug.
“Who is this you got with you?” I inquired.
“You really didn’t get the invite then, huh? This is Belle Air, my wife of four years,” he said, wrapping his arm around her waist, pulling her in close to him.
“Yeah, that invitation got lost on somebody else’s doorstep, fam. Nice to meet you, Belle Air. I’m Christian. Everybody calls me Gills though. Come in and help yourself to some food.”
I stepped back and let them pass, hitting Hunz in the back of neck, yelling, “I like your cut, G!” Of course that initiated a playful tussle. I missed my friend. He was one of the closest people in my life that I could call a sibling. Coming home didn’t seem so bad.
&
Sundays were a busy day for me. My day started at six a.m. and didn’t end until six that night.
That day I was a guest speaker at a church in Nashville called Gethsemane Baptist Church.
In the beginning, I would read word for word.
My sermons sounded rehearsed instead of authentic.
Now, whenever I hit the parking lot, confidence swarmed me.
When people shouted “go ’head, Pastor” or “you betta preach, Preacher”, I knew they were listening.
I invited Hunz, his wife Belle Air, and my granny to tag along with me. Hunz couldn’t believe I took pastoral studies all the way through. Him showing up was to see if I was really a pastor out there.
“Real talk, Gills, you nice with it. And I see the passion in your eyes for it as you deliver. I’m proud of you, man.” He held up a glass of tea, putting a toast in play.
It felt good having people who witnessed me goin’ down the wrong path see my growth in life. Glasses were raised, following Hunz’s gesture.
After service, we came to Ruth’s Chris Steak House to enjoy an early dinner. That was the time I had for them. Chattanooga was two hours away from Nashville. I had a condo there until I made a decision on whether I was staying or goin’ back to Ohio.
“I appreciate that, fam. Ma was the motivation behind it all. Anything she wants from me, she gets.”
“I’m proud of you, baby. I know Christina and Kyle would’ve been as well. Now, don’t you think it’s time you found yourself a first lady?” she questioned, then stuck a piece of steak in her mouth, making sure to give me the side-eye while chewing.
“Whenever God places the right woman in my life, I will be sure to marry her, Ma. Until then, can I just enjoy being home? And don’t start to invite them women from your church over to dinner either.” I had to nip that in the bud before she even got started.
“Hunz slowed down and married that beautiful child he keeps tucked under him. They started out as a blind date set up by me. Gills, give me a shot at matchmaker just once. I swear she won’t be a, what you young kids call ’em? There it is. A hoe.”
Belle Air couldn’t contain her laughter. She was cracking up at Granny. All I could do was shake my head. Granny knew doggone well she shouldn’t be talking like that. I looked at Hunz, and he was mirroring my actions. She needed all her urban channels blocked off her TV like yesterday.
“Give me some time to settle in, Ma. I promise I’ll give you a chance at it later.” She smiled, accepting my answer. That would ease her for now.
I saw my family off once dinner was over. The drive back to the condo lowkey irritated me. Granny put having a wife in my head, and from the moment she said it, my thoughts instantly went to the woman from the mall. We engaged for a split second, but I noticed so much.
Chattanooga was gon’ see more of me. I just needed to know her name, and I would be satisfied for the time being.
Never had I ever been so pressed to know anyone or hold a conversation with them.
The woman couldn’t have had any idea how beautiful she was from someone else’s point of view.
I had no problem showing her if she gave me the time.
My thoughts were on her so heavy I didn’t even realize I drove myself all the way home. I made my way into the building, speaking to the receptionist, before I pressed the button for the elevators. The building held top-notch condos that would put an ordinary house to shame.
The elevator took residents to their designated floor with a key. The front door was literally the elevator. I stepped on, inserting my key inside the keyhole for my place of residence. I planned on taking a shower and goin’ straight to bed. Too much energy was drained that day.
Rest, Lord. That’s all I need.