A Memory

It’s deep into the summer. The sun lingers in the sky for however long it wants to. Throughout the day, several ice cream trucks chime “do your ears hang low” in the distance. And little kids constantly get devoured by mosquitos and getting saturated in that outside smell. But this one specific night, the night that you can’t forget, the night where the sun finally set and the sky became a mixture of pink and blue melting together like sherbert ice cream, though the light of the sun is gone — the night is lit by the tiki torches used to keep mosquitos away and the flashing light of the party speaker. You are surrounded by your family. All your aunts, uncles, cousins, and siblings drove down to grandma’s house for a family cookout. It wasn’t a special holiday, just a random night to spend and gather with family. That’s what the summer does to you. 

Your uncle has been on the grill for hours. His raspy voice is screeching and cackling during the loud debating. The men and boys of the family always debate and sit around at the grill waiting for the food to get done. Your uncle worries your grandmother because he’s always handling too many things at once. A cigar is hanging in his mouth, while a spatula and a corona beer occupy his hands. The smell of smoked meats and charcoal fills the air. Your older cousins take over the music for the cookout while the younger cousins, nephews, and nieces all run around and play. Hearty laughter and loud conversations mix and collide until it becomes one unison sound. That sound is your comfort and that sound is your home. 

Then everyone became nice and full. You had two fat plates of grilled food. The thick and heavy feeling that ways down your body after you eat overcomes everyone. Your grandma calls it the itis. The fusion of the noise no longer in unison. The music and the conversation become separate. The night almost seems calm. Then your dad takes control of the aux and switches the tunes of the night to a song by Bone Thugs-N-Harmony. The song is titled “Family Tree” and it made the night so perfect. All your aunts, cousins, and yourself, immediately burst into excitement because it’s the family’s favorite song. Your dad grabs the mic from the party speaker and stands on the picnic table and begins narrating over the song. You knew he was going to grab the mic sooner or later because he always do. You and your other siblings sing along with everyone. Yall belt the song as loud as you can with your eyes closed, just soaking the moment in, not worrying about looking silly. Everyone just laughs and enjoys the sight of their loved ones having fun. That feeling and that moment imprinted on your heart and echoed into the rest of that summer.