Momma always got annoyed when I put shoes on the table. She said “It’s bad luck!” Every day I’d come in from school and put my shoes on the table- just to annoy her. She also came up with the idea that 3:00am is the worst time to be up, she said “The witches will be out to find you.” I laugh at her stupidity sometimes. Her superstition drives her crazy. She said “Oh Daisy, you’re going to be the death of me!” As a joke- I was the only one laughing. The ‘good’ thing is I had trouble sleeping, so I would stay up till 3:00am just to wake up my mother and tell her “momma! It’s 3:00 am” or “momma the witches got me!” I remember she screamed one time. Held me close, cried. I felt bad that time but she needed to get through her superstition. Get over it.

The doctors said it was the stress of being a single mother. Others said she drove herself crazy. Either way blue and red flashed through her bedroom window. I remember she screamed that time. Held me close, cried. Then it stopped. I couldn’t hear a witches cackle or a bird tweet, I was so close to her chest but I couldn’t hear a beat.

I felt bad that night at 3:00am. I wanted her to get over her superstition but I didn’t want it to be over…