Harlem Massacre
It was a day like any other, little Melanie was playing outside with her mommy. Spinning in circles and dancing to the sound of nature. Never once thinking about the danger that was waiting in the bust at the edge of the yard. Her mother lay on her back in the grass, Melanie had always adored that sundress that her mother had chosen for the day. It was amongst her favorites. Her mother was blowing bubbles as she lay there and Melanie was playing in her imaginary kitchen.
Melanie was all of 5 years old, long brown hair that when straightened and left down touched her lower back, she was the spitting image of her mother. That is why her father had fought so hard to keep her when push came to shove. But he just wasn't mentally stable enough for family life. As long as she could remember there was nothing but fights between her mother and her father, and that is why her mom left with her, in the middle of the night. Now they had their own two bedroom house right outside of town and her dad still lived with his aunt and nurses.
Her mother was still laying on the grass blowing bubbles, when she turned around.
"You have until after I get this bubble blown to give me a cupcake kiss." Her mother said smiling.
That is when Melanie saw the man. Dressed in all black. She stood there in shock. Trying to get to her mom before this man did but she was to late. He had her mother up and before Melanie could blink he had slit her with a knife.
And so began the Harlem Massacre.
~*~
It all seems like a dream now, When Melanie looks back. That was well over ten years ago. Sense then, she has transitioned to living with her father and her grandmother the best that she knew how. He father was mentally ill, So her grandmother did most the cleaning and cooking. What her grandmother couldn't do, Melanie was right behind to pick it up and finish. She was never above helping anyone. That is until her dad started on his kicks about wanting to be a fire fighter.
He had tried so hard so many times, and failed horribly. But he never let it get him down. All The boys at the prescient knew his name and made him feel like he was one of them, but Melanie knew what they were doing and it made her sick. How could they be so cruel to let her dad sit there and believe that he could be something like that? The man was ill. Maybe it made them feel less guilty. Who knows?
~*~
Melanie remembers the day. It was summer and she was laughing as she passed through town.
"These are the stupidest looking things I've ever seen." She recalled saying to her friend Jennifer.
"They are to ward off the Harlem killer." Jennifer said teasing.
Jennifer knew nothing of the killer and how he had murdered Melanie's mother in front of her face. How she can still see him in her dreams how he still mocks her every night.
"Yeah." Was all Melanie could muster.
They were halfway to Jennifer's house when they hear the screams. Everything got dark and there was some everywhere. Arson.
"I've got to go." Melanie told Jennifer. "My dad and grandma need me."
And with that Melanie was off like a rocket. Running through town. Everything was on fire. It was the middle of the day and yet it was dark like night time. She couldn't believe her eyes. She could hear the sirens and she kept running. She had no clue where she was or if she was even close to home.
She collapsed right there on the ground. She didn't lay there long. Somebody had picked up up and was carrying her piggy back.
"Dad, What are you doing?" Are you mad?" She asked.
"I'm a firefighter, this is my job." he replied.
"Dad your not a firefighter, the guys just feel bad for you. That is why the keep telling you that you are. You are to sick to be one." Melanie told him. "What is on fire anyway?"
Her dad laughed. "Mel, You can't be to sure and those structures in the center of town went up and set everything ablaze."
"Where are we going then?" Melanie asked.
"To get everybody to the shelter." Her dad said.
With that she was on her feet and together they were getting the children and the elderly. Before long they had everybody in the town safely inside the shelter. The firefighters were the last to show. They were going on with Melanie's dad about what a good job he did and how it was time that they quit teasing and gave him a red suit.
You've got to be kidding, Melanie thought in surprise.
~*~
Weeks later, the town was rebuilt and everything was as good as new. The fire chief had yet to let Melanie's dad know how proud they were. They had dug out some old fire suits and gave them to her dad.
"That is just what he needs. A reason to risk his life again." Melanie said as the firefighters gave them to him at a banquet.
They were saving the best for last and Melanie knew all about it. The chief had hired somebody to write "Thank You, Greg. From everyone in Harlem" In the sky with and a jet. But they only got the Thank you, Greg finished before they had to come back because they had only a limited amount of gas. After the banquet as they left Melanie asked her dad what he thought about how everyone had thanked him.
"I don't know, I guess I was just hoping for a thank you from somebody far greater," He said and looked up to the sky. There in big white clouds it said "THANK YOU, GREG."
"Looks like God was watching after all." said grandma. With that her dad smiled.
Melanie was all of 5 years old, long brown hair that when straightened and left down touched her lower back, she was the spitting image of her mother. That is why her father had fought so hard to keep her when push came to shove. But he just wasn't mentally stable enough for family life. As long as she could remember there was nothing but fights between her mother and her father, and that is why her mom left with her, in the middle of the night. Now they had their own two bedroom house right outside of town and her dad still lived with his aunt and nurses.
Her mother was still laying on the grass blowing bubbles, when she turned around.
"You have until after I get this bubble blown to give me a cupcake kiss." Her mother said smiling.
That is when Melanie saw the man. Dressed in all black. She stood there in shock. Trying to get to her mom before this man did but she was to late. He had her mother up and before Melanie could blink he had slit her with a knife.
And so began the Harlem Massacre.
~*~
It all seems like a dream now, When Melanie looks back. That was well over ten years ago. Sense then, she has transitioned to living with her father and her grandmother the best that she knew how. He father was mentally ill, So her grandmother did most the cleaning and cooking. What her grandmother couldn't do, Melanie was right behind to pick it up and finish. She was never above helping anyone. That is until her dad started on his kicks about wanting to be a fire fighter.
He had tried so hard so many times, and failed horribly. But he never let it get him down. All The boys at the prescient knew his name and made him feel like he was one of them, but Melanie knew what they were doing and it made her sick. How could they be so cruel to let her dad sit there and believe that he could be something like that? The man was ill. Maybe it made them feel less guilty. Who knows?
~*~
Melanie remembers the day. It was summer and she was laughing as she passed through town.
"These are the stupidest looking things I've ever seen." She recalled saying to her friend Jennifer.
"They are to ward off the Harlem killer." Jennifer said teasing.
Jennifer knew nothing of the killer and how he had murdered Melanie's mother in front of her face. How she can still see him in her dreams how he still mocks her every night.
"Yeah." Was all Melanie could muster.
They were halfway to Jennifer's house when they hear the screams. Everything got dark and there was some everywhere. Arson.
"I've got to go." Melanie told Jennifer. "My dad and grandma need me."
And with that Melanie was off like a rocket. Running through town. Everything was on fire. It was the middle of the day and yet it was dark like night time. She couldn't believe her eyes. She could hear the sirens and she kept running. She had no clue where she was or if she was even close to home.
She collapsed right there on the ground. She didn't lay there long. Somebody had picked up up and was carrying her piggy back.
"Dad, What are you doing?" Are you mad?" She asked.
"I'm a firefighter, this is my job." he replied.
"Dad your not a firefighter, the guys just feel bad for you. That is why the keep telling you that you are. You are to sick to be one." Melanie told him. "What is on fire anyway?"
Her dad laughed. "Mel, You can't be to sure and those structures in the center of town went up and set everything ablaze."
"Where are we going then?" Melanie asked.
"To get everybody to the shelter." Her dad said.
With that she was on her feet and together they were getting the children and the elderly. Before long they had everybody in the town safely inside the shelter. The firefighters were the last to show. They were going on with Melanie's dad about what a good job he did and how it was time that they quit teasing and gave him a red suit.
You've got to be kidding, Melanie thought in surprise.
~*~
Weeks later, the town was rebuilt and everything was as good as new. The fire chief had yet to let Melanie's dad know how proud they were. They had dug out some old fire suits and gave them to her dad.
"That is just what he needs. A reason to risk his life again." Melanie said as the firefighters gave them to him at a banquet.
They were saving the best for last and Melanie knew all about it. The chief had hired somebody to write "Thank You, Greg. From everyone in Harlem" In the sky with and a jet. But they only got the Thank you, Greg finished before they had to come back because they had only a limited amount of gas. After the banquet as they left Melanie asked her dad what he thought about how everyone had thanked him.
"I don't know, I guess I was just hoping for a thank you from somebody far greater," He said and looked up to the sky. There in big white clouds it said "THANK YOU, GREG."
"Looks like God was watching after all." said grandma. With that her dad smiled.
