Bloodline Dripping in Sancti-Fly Riches
Matilda, Mabel, Ernestine and Irene are roommates at MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Matilda, Mabel and Ernestine are all first cousins. In their world everybody wants to be like God or at least they should want to. Matilda always shares how everyone wants power and praise but to them, there is no god like their God; there’s no one like him. Matilda, Mabel and Ernestine believe God paid the price and gave his life for them. There’s only one god and that is their God; there’s no one like him to them. Their moms are sisters. They are originally from the South side of Chicago. Irene is a valued friend from Boston Massachusetts. They are all studying to be Biomedical Engineers. They get alone great and share everything together as college students. The three cousins often share stories of their rich heritage with Irene. Their great grandmother Ziontilda laid the foundation of love, family, prayer and education. Irene witnesses how the three cousins display their love, family and prayer lives daily. She is impressed with their lifestyles and hopes to experience it in her own family. Irene feels broken and alone. She lost her dad a few years ago and her mom quickly remarried a richer man. Irene does not like her step-father. She feels like her mom only has time for the other two kids she had with her step-dad. Irene decides to spend her Christmas break with Matilda, Mabel and Ernestine.
Matilda, Mabel and Ernestine:
Lord, give us a praying spirit; a praying spirit of traveling mercies. Lord, give us a praying spirit. Lord, help us to say yes to your will. Lord, help Irene to say yes; yes lord yes. Lord as we pray give us what to say. A praying spirit throughout the day is what we need lord; a praying spirit in every way lord. Oh, we need a praying spirit so we won’t faint Lord. Thank you for watching over us and all of our families. Thank you for all the love waiting for us back home. Lord, we send up special blessings for our sister Irene. Thank You!
Irene:
Hello…why is it so dark in here? Matilda! Mabel! Ernestine!
Matilda, Mabel and Ernestine:
We were praying!
Matilda:
Sorry you can turn the lights back on. Girl we were praying for God to watch over us on our trip tomorrow. We were praying for you too. I wish you could come with us.
Ernestine:
Yeah, I wish you could come. Did you have any special prayer request? Do you want to pray?
Irene:
Naw...I don’t know how to pray like the three of you. You guys are some praying young mamas. I like that. Well, your prayers worked because I have some good news. I’ve decided to come to Chicago and have my Christmas holiday with you guys. I wish my dad was still alive. I miss him way too much! It would be nice to spend my Christmas break with my new rich dad and my spoiled mom. They don’t have time for me. Tonight I told her I was thinking about spending the holidays with you guys and she didn’t even blink. She didn’t ask or beg me to reconsider or anything. It’s like she didn’t even care. Oh and get this. My step-dad will be out of town on business and my mom is traveling with him. Zoey and Joey will be spending Christmas with my step-father’s family. They dislike being over there. I have never been asked to go out of town with them or over my step-father family’s house. I’m torn between two emotions; excited to be with you guys but at the same time sad about not seeing my two little brothers for Christmas.
Mabel:
I am overjoyed you will be joining us but what about your father side of the family?
Irene:
I would go visit my father side but there is just too much unhealthy energy over there. When my father and grandmother passed away I knew I wasn’t going to be allowed to visit. Besides, they never really accepted my mom or me; only my grandmother did. She called me her black Italian warrior. There is so much that I’ve been through. I have my days when it ain’t easy. Sometimes it’s work just to be alive. But when I think of the goodness that’s come to me; it’s easier to let go of all my grief. My granny use to always tell me sometimes you gotta tell yourself that “I’m not having it.” You have to take a good look in the mirror and say to yourself “I’ve come too far to quit.” My grandmother said I was good enough to love myself and good enough to have success in whatever I do in life. I will never forget my grandmother. I try to keep in touch with my cousins on my father side. That requires two people in order to remain connected.
Matilda:
Sometimes we feel pain but there are things that we can change, just pray. Pray about everything Irene. Talk to God about your family. Never stop praying for them.
Irene:
Yes, ain’t no need of me worrying what the night is going to bring because it will be all over in the morning when we are all on that morning train going to the Chi (Chicago).
Mabel:
Yes, I am so thrilled you decided to join us Irene. We were praying hard for the transformation of your mind. You’re going to love our family. Get ready for the Sister-Neers (sisters with engineer careers). There is nothing impossible; nothing too hard for my God to work out. God brought the sunshine today. God you made my day; you came my way!
Ernestine:
You know we are not getting any sleep tonight, right ladies? Irene we are so honored and thankful to God that you changed your mind. Spending time in that big house of yours would not have been your best option. We surely didn’t want you being alone. Please allow me to encourage you to get ready for your breakthrough Irene. Everything that you are going through don’t you let it worry you. Although I’m only 21, I’ve seen God work. God formed the mountains and the wind and told the heavens where to begin. I’ve seen God work and he will fix it for you Irene. Don’t give up on your family. It will get better.
Irene:
I really hope so. I was on the verge of breaking down before I met you, Mabel and Matilda. Sometimes silence can seem so loud. There are miracles in my life I must achieve, but first I know it starts inside of me. All I know is if I can see it, then I can be it. When I am around the three of you I always believe I can fly. I believe I can touch the sky. I think about it every night and day because you all have allowed your phenomenal sparkles to make a way of escape for me. You three have provided me with so much love and positive energy. I really appreciate it.
Mabel:
Amen Irene! If you can see your family being together as whole and not as broken smithereens of estrangement, it will happen. If you continue to believe it shall come to pass. Allowing forgiveness brings healing. Let the redeemed of the lord say so! We have love and peace so we have been redeemed.
Matilda:
Our family certainly knows a lot about forgiveness and healing. Our great grandmother Ziontilda gave us a bloodline dripping in a rich heritage. Our family has a pure and secure love, thanks to grandma Ziontilda. In our family we don’t have a magnanimous amount of wealth like you do in your family. If you ask for anything that you are in need of they will make sure you receive it. Grandma Ziontilda taught us to promote and support each other on many different levels.
Irene:
Wow! That is the most beautiful thing I have ever heard of. So you were named after your great grandmother?
Matilda:
Well, yes and no. My mom’s mother was named after my great grandmother. Her name is Matilda. I was named after my mom’s mother; my grandmother. Girl, we all have these old-school or biblical names. My family believes profusely in the power of words.
Ernestine:
Yes, in our family even those individuals who chose to live in the world show reverence to God and their family because it is an indelible mark that was drilled in our bloodline. We respect each other’s beliefs. It was only his amazing grace that saved a wretch like me. God brought the sunshine and he is the lifeline, in my life!
Irene:
My family does not have relationships with God like yours does. All my uncles and aunts on my mom side proclaim that walking with God is a boring lifestyle; can’t do nothing is what they all say. It’s rather comical to them. My step-father side of the family thinks their money is their God. They consider God to be conducive only on the holidays. I searched all over and could find nobody. I looked how and low. I still couldn’t find nobody; nobody greater, nobody greater than our God. I disagree with them.
Matilda:
We don’t have a perfect family Irene. No one does. We all have family issues. It makes us human and dependent on a higher power. Although some of our family members are grown with their own families, they do not use profanity in front of any of their elders or parents. Again, we are not perfect but we do have an anointing of love and forgiveness. We have all kind of folks in our family. We have professionals, entrepreneurs; stay at home moms, high incomes, and medium incomes; gay and straight. My grandmother and her 7 sisters and 6 brothers were raised with an expensive inheritance. They made sure they talked to their children and shared secrets of maintaining an affluent ancestry. My great grandma Ziontilda coded the formula and poured it in her 13 children; the inception of a rich bloodline. Ziontilda was an anointed praying woman. Her voice was also amazing. She prayed and fasted regularly for God to watch over her husband and children. She lived through evil times when a lot of wicked folks killed and hanged people of color for being born with the skin color God created them in. The spiritual gifts God bestowed upon grandma Ziontilda helped her shepherd her kids and husband during those turbulent times with God’s wisdom. Grandma Ziontilda lived to be 121 years old. My great grandpa lived to be 117 years old. My grandma Matilda is still with us at 107 and grandpa is 105.
Irene:
Aww man, your grandma was a cougar. I can’t wait to sit down and talk to them. I can’t take any more of these stories; too eager. I can’t go to sleep! Ernestine, you are so right, no sleep. When we had bible study last week I remember us talking about how people lived to be 500 and 900 years of age in the book of Genesis. Living to be 121 years old is quite rare for today. I saw pictures of them and they look simply marvelous; great genes!
The next morning they are traveling to Chicago by train and they meet an elderly couple who are alma maters of MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology). They introduce themselves as the “Sister-Neers” of MIT. The older couple encourages them to go far in their fields of engineering; not to stop and to share all their knowledge within their communities. They also share with the girls that life comes down to two things and that is rejection and acceptance. They told them to reject not having peace and accept being free; free enough to love themselves and have success. They agreed and thanked them for their prudence. They arrive in Chicago in the evening. Matilda, Ernestine and Mabel all live on the same block. Their homes are side by side with ample space in between. As they pull up to their block they notice a dozen cars parked in the front and a few cars parked in the back. They decide to have Irene rotate as a guess staying in each of their homes. She starts first at Matilda’s house. Ernestine and Mabel go to their homes to see their families. Matilda notices all the loud music and noise in her house as she enters; she begins to grin. All of her aunts, uncles, cousins and grandparents are having some type of celebration. Irene was pumped up in her anticipation. She could not believe how unified Matilda’s family was. Matilda’s house hosted the fun and games. Ernestine’s house hosted the food in the basement and in the kitchen (upper and lower level of their house). Mabel's parents hosted resting and sleeping in their house, if it was needed. So they went from house to house. This was a family tradition for all of the college kids coming home for Christmas. Irene is drenched in warm hugs, cheek kisses and a hearth of welcome.
Mr. Allen:
Hey Matilda! Welcome home honey! Well, you must be Irene. I am so pleased to finally meet you. I am glad to have you. Can you sing because it’s about to be on in here!
Matilda:
Hey daddy! What’s going on? You know I am ready to party hard and celebrate. Where’s mom?
Irene:
Nice to meet you Mr. Allen, I feel so welcome here, thanks. I can sing a little bit.
Mr. Allen:
We’re family now so please call me Mike or Michael. You can call me Uncle Mike if you prefer.
Irene:
Yes, I don’t mind calling you Uncle Mike. Mr. Allen might slip out from time to time because that is just how I was raised but Thank you!
Mr. Allen:
Your mom is in the basement with the rest of your crazy sisters and brothers + your cousins, aunts and grandparents. I believe most of the men are next door over at Earl and Elizabeth’s house where all of the food and drinks are. You know how we operate.
Matilda:
Okay dad, we are going to get settled in then we will be joining you guys a few minutes. Irene, let me show you our room. I have to call Ernestine and Mable over here so we can pick a song to outdo my aunts and mom. Girl, every year they try and crown themselves as the queens of karaoke. Please feel welcome to have anything you want while you are here.
Irene:
Can we please go over to where the food is after this? I am famished. This is like a dream come true. There is so much love and joy in this house!
Matilda:
Yes of course. I will call Ernestine and tell her we are coming over there first. You can meet her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Rushen. There is probably going to be no one at Mabel’s house where people are supposed to be sleeping but I will take you over there as well so you can meet my other aunt and uncle; Clarence and Beverly Jones.
Irene:
Okay. So you have 3 uncles and 2 aunts, correct?
Matilda:
Correct. Remember my grandmother had 6 children. Matilda Lewis is my grandmother’s maiden name. She married my grandfather John and became Mrs. Hughes. Here are all the names of my aunts and uncles: My uncle James Mark Hughes is married to Jasmine. They have 5 kids together. My uncle Corinth Hughes is married to Carissa. They both have 5 children together. My last uncle Daniel Hughes is married to Dominique. They also have 5 kids. All of my uncles live in different states with their families. My aunt Beverly married Clarence Jones; Mabel’s parents. They each have 5 kids together. My other aunt Elizabeth married Earl Rushen; Ernestine’s parents. They have 5 kids. My mom Mona married my dad Michael Allen and had 5 kids. Ironically all of Matilda kids had five kids each. My mom is the oldest girl. All of my cousins are in the medical field, education or engineering. Our parents are all professionals as well; doctors, lawyers, engineers, designers and educators. Grandma Ziontilda said if you believe you can receive it. You have to have faith that God can fix anything. You have to believe. Years ago she believed in the bloodline we have today!
Irene:
This is such richness! I love it! Amazing! Matilda, you should write a book about your family.
Matilda:
I am not interested in writing at all; now biomedical engineering, yes. I may write something up on that in the future. Ernestine is waiting on us and Mabel is going to meet us over there.
Irene:
Okay let me grab my camera so we can take plenty of selfies. I know I am going to treasure these memories.
Mrs. Rushen:
Well it’s about time Matilda and Irene! Give me my sugar and then you can fix your plates. Remember we have food in the basement and in the kitchen. You know Ernestine is already in the corner somewhere getting her grub on.
Irene:
Oh my goodness thanks so much for your warmth and kindness. I really needed this. I have never in my life received so much hugs and kisses; so sincere and so full of love. Thank you Aunt Elizabeth.
Mrs. Rushen:
Irene you catch on fast beautiful. That’s right we are family! You should always feel loved when you are around family. My grandma Ziontilda passed that on to us. Irene you are royalty. Do you hear me? You are royalty. You have a message from above, you are not a thug, and you’re royalty. Your sisters are queens and your brothers are kings. You are children of the dream. If you’ve never been told, time for you to know that you are royalty Irene. Grandma Ziontilda said in you is the strength; it holds lives and remains. You’re mighty and majestic; descendants of kings and queens. Royal blood flows through your veins. You are a child of the dream. Always believe in yourself and love what God made. Be sure to go down in the basement. All of my greedy brothers are down there; at least two of them are. I believe Daniel is at Matilda’s house trying to sing.
After mingling with all the folks at Ernestine’s house they take Irene over to Mabel’s house to meet her parents. Irene is continually attacked in the bliss of family love, hugs and kisses. She doesn’t want to leave. She prefers to talk to Mr. and Mrs. Jones all night but Matilda, Mabel and Ernestine have a reputation to keep when it comes to the family karaoke. They leave the house of rest and enter into the entertainment zone. Irene has the time of her life! The Sister-Neers share wigs and different props with all the aunts and cousins as they role play different characters of various artists singing secular and gospel songs.
Irene:
There’s a God that walks over the earth, he’s searching for a heart that is desperate; longing for a child that will give him their all, give it all, and he wants it all. God said to love him and now I fully understand what it means to love God with my whole heart; he wants it all today. I now know what it means to serve God with my life today. I understand what it means to let go of my idols because God wants it all today. God wants to heal me from my unforgiveness which keeps my heart broken. Grandma Ziontilda passport of grace allowed her entire family to live a full life of love and faith; equals me too! I believe it! I know I can receive it because I have faith that God can fix it; anything if you just believe. I believe!
Lyrical Storytelling is fictional storytelling using musical lyrics to help tell a story. Some of the lyrics used in this storytelling are Kirk Franklin, Karen Sheard, Tim Bowman, The Winans and Anita Baker, The Clark Sisters, Anita Wilson, R-Kelly, HezekiahWalker, Vashawn Mitchell, Chanel, Sounds of Blackness and Forever Jones. Can you find the lyrics in the text? What would your Lyrical Storytelling be if you told one? What artist music would you use? Try it! :0)
Matilda, Mabel, Ernestine and Irene are roommates at MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Matilda, Mabel and Ernestine are all first cousins. In their world everybody wants to be like God or at least they should want to. Matilda always shares how everyone wants power and praise but to them, there is no god like their God; there’s no one like him. Matilda, Mabel and Ernestine believe God paid the price and gave his life for them. There’s only one god and that is their God; there’s no one like him to them. Their moms are sisters. They are originally from the South side of Chicago. Irene is a valued friend from Boston Massachusetts. They are all studying to be Biomedical Engineers. They get alone great and share everything together as college students. The three cousins often share stories of their rich heritage with Irene. Their great grandmother Ziontilda laid the foundation of love, family, prayer and education. Irene witnesses how the three cousins display their love, family and prayer lives daily. She is impressed with their lifestyles and hopes to experience it in her own family. Irene feels broken and alone. She lost her dad a few years ago and her mom quickly remarried a richer man. Irene does not like her step-father. She feels like her mom only has time for the other two kids she had with her step-dad. Irene decides to spend her Christmas break with Matilda, Mabel and Ernestine.
Matilda, Mabel and Ernestine:
Lord, give us a praying spirit; a praying spirit of traveling mercies. Lord, give us a praying spirit. Lord, help us to say yes to your will. Lord, help Irene to say yes; yes lord yes. Lord as we pray give us what to say. A praying spirit throughout the day is what we need lord; a praying spirit in every way lord. Oh, we need a praying spirit so we won’t faint Lord. Thank you for watching over us and all of our families. Thank you for all the love waiting for us back home. Lord, we send up special blessings for our sister Irene. Thank You!
Irene:
Hello…why is it so dark in here? Matilda! Mabel! Ernestine!
Matilda, Mabel and Ernestine:
We were praying!
Matilda:
Sorry you can turn the lights back on. Girl we were praying for God to watch over us on our trip tomorrow. We were praying for you too. I wish you could come with us.
Ernestine:
Yeah, I wish you could come. Did you have any special prayer request? Do you want to pray?
Irene:
Naw...I don’t know how to pray like the three of you. You guys are some praying young mamas. I like that. Well, your prayers worked because I have some good news. I’ve decided to come to Chicago and have my Christmas holiday with you guys. I wish my dad was still alive. I miss him way too much! It would be nice to spend my Christmas break with my new rich dad and my spoiled mom. They don’t have time for me. Tonight I told her I was thinking about spending the holidays with you guys and she didn’t even blink. She didn’t ask or beg me to reconsider or anything. It’s like she didn’t even care. Oh and get this. My step-dad will be out of town on business and my mom is traveling with him. Zoey and Joey will be spending Christmas with my step-father’s family. They dislike being over there. I have never been asked to go out of town with them or over my step-father family’s house. I’m torn between two emotions; excited to be with you guys but at the same time sad about not seeing my two little brothers for Christmas.
Mabel:
I am overjoyed you will be joining us but what about your father side of the family?
Irene:
I would go visit my father side but there is just too much unhealthy energy over there. When my father and grandmother passed away I knew I wasn’t going to be allowed to visit. Besides, they never really accepted my mom or me; only my grandmother did. She called me her black Italian warrior. There is so much that I’ve been through. I have my days when it ain’t easy. Sometimes it’s work just to be alive. But when I think of the goodness that’s come to me; it’s easier to let go of all my grief. My granny use to always tell me sometimes you gotta tell yourself that “I’m not having it.” You have to take a good look in the mirror and say to yourself “I’ve come too far to quit.” My grandmother said I was good enough to love myself and good enough to have success in whatever I do in life. I will never forget my grandmother. I try to keep in touch with my cousins on my father side. That requires two people in order to remain connected.
Matilda:
Sometimes we feel pain but there are things that we can change, just pray. Pray about everything Irene. Talk to God about your family. Never stop praying for them.
Irene:
Yes, ain’t no need of me worrying what the night is going to bring because it will be all over in the morning when we are all on that morning train going to the Chi (Chicago).
Mabel:
Yes, I am so thrilled you decided to join us Irene. We were praying hard for the transformation of your mind. You’re going to love our family. Get ready for the Sister-Neers (sisters with engineer careers). There is nothing impossible; nothing too hard for my God to work out. God brought the sunshine today. God you made my day; you came my way!
Ernestine:
You know we are not getting any sleep tonight, right ladies? Irene we are so honored and thankful to God that you changed your mind. Spending time in that big house of yours would not have been your best option. We surely didn’t want you being alone. Please allow me to encourage you to get ready for your breakthrough Irene. Everything that you are going through don’t you let it worry you. Although I’m only 21, I’ve seen God work. God formed the mountains and the wind and told the heavens where to begin. I’ve seen God work and he will fix it for you Irene. Don’t give up on your family. It will get better.
Irene:
I really hope so. I was on the verge of breaking down before I met you, Mabel and Matilda. Sometimes silence can seem so loud. There are miracles in my life I must achieve, but first I know it starts inside of me. All I know is if I can see it, then I can be it. When I am around the three of you I always believe I can fly. I believe I can touch the sky. I think about it every night and day because you all have allowed your phenomenal sparkles to make a way of escape for me. You three have provided me with so much love and positive energy. I really appreciate it.
Mabel:
Amen Irene! If you can see your family being together as whole and not as broken smithereens of estrangement, it will happen. If you continue to believe it shall come to pass. Allowing forgiveness brings healing. Let the redeemed of the lord say so! We have love and peace so we have been redeemed.
Matilda:
Our family certainly knows a lot about forgiveness and healing. Our great grandmother Ziontilda gave us a bloodline dripping in a rich heritage. Our family has a pure and secure love, thanks to grandma Ziontilda. In our family we don’t have a magnanimous amount of wealth like you do in your family. If you ask for anything that you are in need of they will make sure you receive it. Grandma Ziontilda taught us to promote and support each other on many different levels.
Irene:
Wow! That is the most beautiful thing I have ever heard of. So you were named after your great grandmother?
Matilda:
Well, yes and no. My mom’s mother was named after my great grandmother. Her name is Matilda. I was named after my mom’s mother; my grandmother. Girl, we all have these old-school or biblical names. My family believes profusely in the power of words.
Ernestine:
Yes, in our family even those individuals who chose to live in the world show reverence to God and their family because it is an indelible mark that was drilled in our bloodline. We respect each other’s beliefs. It was only his amazing grace that saved a wretch like me. God brought the sunshine and he is the lifeline, in my life!
Irene:
My family does not have relationships with God like yours does. All my uncles and aunts on my mom side proclaim that walking with God is a boring lifestyle; can’t do nothing is what they all say. It’s rather comical to them. My step-father side of the family thinks their money is their God. They consider God to be conducive only on the holidays. I searched all over and could find nobody. I looked how and low. I still couldn’t find nobody; nobody greater, nobody greater than our God. I disagree with them.
Matilda:
We don’t have a perfect family Irene. No one does. We all have family issues. It makes us human and dependent on a higher power. Although some of our family members are grown with their own families, they do not use profanity in front of any of their elders or parents. Again, we are not perfect but we do have an anointing of love and forgiveness. We have all kind of folks in our family. We have professionals, entrepreneurs; stay at home moms, high incomes, and medium incomes; gay and straight. My grandmother and her 7 sisters and 6 brothers were raised with an expensive inheritance. They made sure they talked to their children and shared secrets of maintaining an affluent ancestry. My great grandma Ziontilda coded the formula and poured it in her 13 children; the inception of a rich bloodline. Ziontilda was an anointed praying woman. Her voice was also amazing. She prayed and fasted regularly for God to watch over her husband and children. She lived through evil times when a lot of wicked folks killed and hanged people of color for being born with the skin color God created them in. The spiritual gifts God bestowed upon grandma Ziontilda helped her shepherd her kids and husband during those turbulent times with God’s wisdom. Grandma Ziontilda lived to be 121 years old. My great grandpa lived to be 117 years old. My grandma Matilda is still with us at 107 and grandpa is 105.
Irene:
Aww man, your grandma was a cougar. I can’t wait to sit down and talk to them. I can’t take any more of these stories; too eager. I can’t go to sleep! Ernestine, you are so right, no sleep. When we had bible study last week I remember us talking about how people lived to be 500 and 900 years of age in the book of Genesis. Living to be 121 years old is quite rare for today. I saw pictures of them and they look simply marvelous; great genes!
The next morning they are traveling to Chicago by train and they meet an elderly couple who are alma maters of MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology). They introduce themselves as the “Sister-Neers” of MIT. The older couple encourages them to go far in their fields of engineering; not to stop and to share all their knowledge within their communities. They also share with the girls that life comes down to two things and that is rejection and acceptance. They told them to reject not having peace and accept being free; free enough to love themselves and have success. They agreed and thanked them for their prudence. They arrive in Chicago in the evening. Matilda, Ernestine and Mabel all live on the same block. Their homes are side by side with ample space in between. As they pull up to their block they notice a dozen cars parked in the front and a few cars parked in the back. They decide to have Irene rotate as a guess staying in each of their homes. She starts first at Matilda’s house. Ernestine and Mabel go to their homes to see their families. Matilda notices all the loud music and noise in her house as she enters; she begins to grin. All of her aunts, uncles, cousins and grandparents are having some type of celebration. Irene was pumped up in her anticipation. She could not believe how unified Matilda’s family was. Matilda’s house hosted the fun and games. Ernestine’s house hosted the food in the basement and in the kitchen (upper and lower level of their house). Mabel's parents hosted resting and sleeping in their house, if it was needed. So they went from house to house. This was a family tradition for all of the college kids coming home for Christmas. Irene is drenched in warm hugs, cheek kisses and a hearth of welcome.
Mr. Allen:
Hey Matilda! Welcome home honey! Well, you must be Irene. I am so pleased to finally meet you. I am glad to have you. Can you sing because it’s about to be on in here!
Matilda:
Hey daddy! What’s going on? You know I am ready to party hard and celebrate. Where’s mom?
Irene:
Nice to meet you Mr. Allen, I feel so welcome here, thanks. I can sing a little bit.
Mr. Allen:
We’re family now so please call me Mike or Michael. You can call me Uncle Mike if you prefer.
Irene:
Yes, I don’t mind calling you Uncle Mike. Mr. Allen might slip out from time to time because that is just how I was raised but Thank you!
Mr. Allen:
Your mom is in the basement with the rest of your crazy sisters and brothers + your cousins, aunts and grandparents. I believe most of the men are next door over at Earl and Elizabeth’s house where all of the food and drinks are. You know how we operate.
Matilda:
Okay dad, we are going to get settled in then we will be joining you guys a few minutes. Irene, let me show you our room. I have to call Ernestine and Mable over here so we can pick a song to outdo my aunts and mom. Girl, every year they try and crown themselves as the queens of karaoke. Please feel welcome to have anything you want while you are here.
Irene:
Can we please go over to where the food is after this? I am famished. This is like a dream come true. There is so much love and joy in this house!
Matilda:
Yes of course. I will call Ernestine and tell her we are coming over there first. You can meet her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Rushen. There is probably going to be no one at Mabel’s house where people are supposed to be sleeping but I will take you over there as well so you can meet my other aunt and uncle; Clarence and Beverly Jones.
Irene:
Okay. So you have 3 uncles and 2 aunts, correct?
Matilda:
Correct. Remember my grandmother had 6 children. Matilda Lewis is my grandmother’s maiden name. She married my grandfather John and became Mrs. Hughes. Here are all the names of my aunts and uncles: My uncle James Mark Hughes is married to Jasmine. They have 5 kids together. My uncle Corinth Hughes is married to Carissa. They both have 5 children together. My last uncle Daniel Hughes is married to Dominique. They also have 5 kids. All of my uncles live in different states with their families. My aunt Beverly married Clarence Jones; Mabel’s parents. They each have 5 kids together. My other aunt Elizabeth married Earl Rushen; Ernestine’s parents. They have 5 kids. My mom Mona married my dad Michael Allen and had 5 kids. Ironically all of Matilda kids had five kids each. My mom is the oldest girl. All of my cousins are in the medical field, education or engineering. Our parents are all professionals as well; doctors, lawyers, engineers, designers and educators. Grandma Ziontilda said if you believe you can receive it. You have to have faith that God can fix anything. You have to believe. Years ago she believed in the bloodline we have today!
Irene:
This is such richness! I love it! Amazing! Matilda, you should write a book about your family.
Matilda:
I am not interested in writing at all; now biomedical engineering, yes. I may write something up on that in the future. Ernestine is waiting on us and Mabel is going to meet us over there.
Irene:
Okay let me grab my camera so we can take plenty of selfies. I know I am going to treasure these memories.
Mrs. Rushen:
Well it’s about time Matilda and Irene! Give me my sugar and then you can fix your plates. Remember we have food in the basement and in the kitchen. You know Ernestine is already in the corner somewhere getting her grub on.
Irene:
Oh my goodness thanks so much for your warmth and kindness. I really needed this. I have never in my life received so much hugs and kisses; so sincere and so full of love. Thank you Aunt Elizabeth.
Mrs. Rushen:
Irene you catch on fast beautiful. That’s right we are family! You should always feel loved when you are around family. My grandma Ziontilda passed that on to us. Irene you are royalty. Do you hear me? You are royalty. You have a message from above, you are not a thug, and you’re royalty. Your sisters are queens and your brothers are kings. You are children of the dream. If you’ve never been told, time for you to know that you are royalty Irene. Grandma Ziontilda said in you is the strength; it holds lives and remains. You’re mighty and majestic; descendants of kings and queens. Royal blood flows through your veins. You are a child of the dream. Always believe in yourself and love what God made. Be sure to go down in the basement. All of my greedy brothers are down there; at least two of them are. I believe Daniel is at Matilda’s house trying to sing.
After mingling with all the folks at Ernestine’s house they take Irene over to Mabel’s house to meet her parents. Irene is continually attacked in the bliss of family love, hugs and kisses. She doesn’t want to leave. She prefers to talk to Mr. and Mrs. Jones all night but Matilda, Mabel and Ernestine have a reputation to keep when it comes to the family karaoke. They leave the house of rest and enter into the entertainment zone. Irene has the time of her life! The Sister-Neers share wigs and different props with all the aunts and cousins as they role play different characters of various artists singing secular and gospel songs.
Irene:
There’s a God that walks over the earth, he’s searching for a heart that is desperate; longing for a child that will give him their all, give it all, and he wants it all. God said to love him and now I fully understand what it means to love God with my whole heart; he wants it all today. I now know what it means to serve God with my life today. I understand what it means to let go of my idols because God wants it all today. God wants to heal me from my unforgiveness which keeps my heart broken. Grandma Ziontilda passport of grace allowed her entire family to live a full life of love and faith; equals me too! I believe it! I know I can receive it because I have faith that God can fix it; anything if you just believe. I believe!
Lyrical Storytelling is fictional storytelling using musical lyrics to help tell a story. Some of the lyrics used in this storytelling are Kirk Franklin, Karen Sheard, Tim Bowman, The Winans and Anita Baker, The Clark Sisters, Anita Wilson, R-Kelly, HezekiahWalker, Vashawn Mitchell, Chanel, Sounds of Blackness and Forever Jones. Can you find the lyrics in the text? What would your Lyrical Storytelling be if you told one? What artist music would you use? Try it! :0)
