The Beauty in Art

Humanity is an art form often hidden from plain sight.

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Jordon just became a teenager. His Granny, who he thought was really an angel not a human, promised him a German chocolate cake with coconut frosting. He sensed that she was proud of him and it thrilled him to feel the hugs she gave him.

Granny worried about Jordon. She was from another era. When she took the bus to the mall she always sat in the back where she was more comfortable. At the mall she carefully checked to make certain there was no sign reading, “WHITES ONLY” before bending over the dinking fountain.

She marveled at Jordon’s ability “to fit” into a white world. Even after moving from elementary school to middle school he retained his white friends. She was told it was common practice for white youngsters in middle school to move from “the kid’s table” to the “adult table” where the conversation reeked of hatred and prejudice.

Jordon, though a naive youngster was aware of Granny’s concerns. He realized she sensed an ominous cloud over him and he knew it was because he was black. He too was uncomfortable when he went to the Oakton Housing Project. It was not fear that conjured his discomfort; it was the ever present noise, disorder, and confusion.

Oakton may have been a source of anxiety, but its one striking feature Jordon found appealing was Granny. The Project’s reputation could not be ignored; however the Government’s Assistance Program provided the necessary housing for an elderly lady with no source of adequate income.

It was the second Friday in the month. a special day. This was the day Granny always prepared fried catfish, hushpuppies and greens for dinner. She did this for as long as he could remember at least as long as he visited her at the Oakton. When he exited the bus he went directly to the elevators that would take him to the third floor. His only delay was long enough to view the latest graffiti with its black outlined letters, filled with red, green and white. He recognized the black symbols he knew to be gang logos, but he didn’t know which groups they identified.

A uniformed officer met him at Granny’s door. There was no odor of hot oil or boiling greens. “That’s ok, he is my grandson,” he heard Granny tell one if the officers.

“What happened?” Jordon feared his grandmother had been injured.

“We are responding to a complaint that someone removed all of the Social Security checks from the mailboxes,” the taller officer told Jordon.

“How? I thought the boxes had combination locks.”

“They did, but someone pried them open,” the second officer explained

“I’m sorry, we won’t be having dinner tonight,” Granny informed Jordon.

It was at that point Jordon realized why they always had dinner on the second Friday. That was the day Granny got her check and was able to buy the food.

When Jordon turned and left the apartment Granny broke out in tears and a woeful wail.

“Ma’am I am certain he will be back, he’s just upset,” the officer said trying to console the forlorn grandmother,

I hope she doesn’t think I left because there was no dinner, he thought as he paid for the two filet of fish sandwiches and French fries with the money he earned mowing the neighbor’s grass.

Both police officers were moved by the thoughtfulness of an adolescent. Looking at each other, then at the woman, one of the officers said, “Ma’am, don’t worry about the rent. We will cover that” He grasped the microphone at his shoulder and quietly said into it, “We have an emergency here, tell all officers in house we need a donation to assist an elderly lady who was victimized and needs rent money.”

Jordon cut the two sandwiches in half and arranged them around the pile of French fries in the center of the plate. Both police officers politely refused the offering, but accepted the cups of hot tea Granny prepared. While Jordon and Granny ate, both officer’s cell phones began to ring. “Ma’am, I am sorry to disturb your dinner, but we must leave.” As the two officers rose from their chairs the tall one turned to Granny and announced, “I was just informed that an officer will come by tomorrow with $847.00. We hope that helps offset your loss.”

“You said you wanted to cover my rent,” the surprised lady began. “The amount you have donated is more than my rent.”

“That’s good, use the extra to prepare dinner for this fine young man,” the other policeman said with tears forming in his eyes.

The two officers walking with shoulders back and heads held high passed the graffiti covered walls. “That was an enlightening stop,” one of them said.

“I guess that explains the saying, every cloud has a silver lining,” the other officer responded while jerking his head toward the graffiti covered wall.

Meanwhile Jordon initiated one of those cherished moments as he put his arms around the elderly lady and squeezed her with a hug.

Someone once defined art as “beauty for all to see.” For most people there is no beauty at Oakton, but this day people from outside the Project brought the art into an otherwise artless world.

By Robert L. Scarry

From: United States

Twitter: usnavy1990bob

Facebook URL: https://www.facebook.com/robert.scarry.3