The Place Where the Sun Shines

Today I learned how to be a man. My Pops made me proud today when he told that white man with the creepy voice and face that we weren't gonna sell our new home. He told that man that the Younger family is a strong family that comes from "five generations of sharecroppers" and that we deserve our new home. Grandmama says that "there will be lots of sunshine" where we're going; I wanna feel that sunshine. I wanna feel that warmth. Ever since we all found out when that $10,000 check was coming the atmosphere changed around here. The warmth had disappeared, and with it, every single positive emotion that could ever exist in this world. My home suddenly felt gray and crowded; mama was always sick, daddy always came home drunk and angry, and aunt Bennie is too wrapped up in herself to care about anybody else. The only person I feel who understands me is Grandmama. Grandmama is the wisest person I've met. She is the glue that keeps this family together, without her I don't think my dad every could've showed me what it means to be "head of the family." I wanna be strong like daddy, but I also wanna be the glue like Grandma. Maybe someday I'll find a way to combine the two and become a great family leader. I guess I'll have to go where the Sun shines.