Diondray's Discovery

Chapter 1I drove on Ama’s Way, headed to my family’s home. It had been three years since I’d been on this road and this side of Charlesville. I opened the windows of my automobile and let the breeze from the Bay of Charlesville refresh me. I looked out at the sea and realized how much it reminded me of those days from my childhood when I would spend hours throwing small rocks into the water and playing along the beach with my friends. The Bay of Charlesville had become my companion during family arguments and issues. Since it was day four in the month of Beru, the second month of the year, I felt the breeze from the bay. This was the coldest area of the city. Charlesville was hot and muggy most of the time, and many people valued living on the east side in order to get that breeze. I arrived at my family’s home. I was pleased that the main gate still opened for me automatically. I had thought my rebellious action would cause me to be treated like a guest upon my arrival instead of as an Azur. I didn’t want to return here. My mother had pleaded with me for several months to come. She’d promised to keep everyone in line and to do everything in her power to have a nice evening with her only child. I had agreed to come, but I sensed that all the issues that caused me to leave would rear their ugly heads again. I took a couple of deep breaths after I parked. I hoped I would have a nice birthday dinner with my family and leave as soon as possible. “The wayward son has returned home,” Uncle Xavier said as I sat down at the dining table. I saw the look of satisfaction his face. I’d known that look since childhood. It said, I’m the ruler of Charlesville, and don’t you forget your place. His blow-out hairstyle looked like a perfectly cut treetop and accentuated his night-colored skin. Uncle Xavier’s long, thin fingers, covered with gold rings on each hand, hit the table after his comment. He did that at every family dinner. “So how do you like living amongst the ants?” he asked. “They are not ants, Uncle Xavier,” I replied. “Don’t forget you represent all the citizens of Charlesville, not just those who live next to the sea.” “Diondray! Don’t speak to your Uncle Xavier like that. He is the ruler of our city and should be shown a little more respect,” my mother interjected. I faced my mother, already feeling the anger I had dreaded in coming back home. Olivia Azur was my uncle’s biggest defender and supporter. I supposed being his older sister, she always believed her role was to protect her little brother. Even though my mother could never be ruler, she was the one who kept everything concerning the city together. Her sharp mind and steadiness also kept Uncle Xavier in line. He knew he could not continue his rule without my mother at his side and accepted her role as his protector. “Why doesn’t he respect those people who live on the west side like he does the people who live out here? Aren’t they citizens too?” “My son, Xavier was just having a little small talk with you. Remember, it’s your birthday. Let’s enjoy the evening.” I had to calm down. If I didn’t, I would end up walking away from the dinner table. I had dreaded being here, and I realized our family dinners had not changed since I left home three years ago. “Watch your tongue!” Uncle Xavier said in a condescending tone. Aunt Maxina cut in. “Xavier and Olivia, you two can’t help yourselves, can you? You invited my nephew back here to celebrate his birthday, and now both of you are chastising him about living on the west side. Shameful.” Aunt Maxina’s comments surprised me. She was usually the quiet one and let my mother and Uncle Xavier dominate the discussion. I’d always thought she zoned us out and entered into her own little world. She always had a look of peacefulness on her face. Her big brown eyes, which covered most of her face, would fixate on either my mother or Uncle Xavier like she wanted to hypnotize them. Aunt Maxina would let them talk, and every time I looked at her, I felt she had not heard a word they had said. Until now. “Thanks, Aunt Maxina,” I replied and smiled at her. She smiled in return, and I felt comforted. Even though she had always seemed distant, I believed that she’d never had a problem with me leaving home. “Yes, sister, you are right. Xavier and I should have not created any tension with Diondray. He is still an Azur even if we don’t agree with how he has decided to live his life.” “Willar, please bring our dinner,” Uncle Xavier commanded and glared at me. Willar, the family servant, brought dinner to the table. He looked the same as when I left. About an inch or so taller than me, skinny as a pencil, with a similar complexion to myself. People here on the east side sometimes suggested he was my dad. Mother scoffed at that perception. She would never stoop so low as to be romantically involved with the help. Willar was dressed like we had an official city function. A sun-yellow shirt with pressed black pants and a thick yellow stripe on the outside of each pant leg made him resemble one of the CRG guards. “Welcome back, Diondray,” he said in his baritone voice while setting the plates at the table. “I made your favorite dinner.” “Thanks, Willar.” He pulled the cover off my plate, and I caught the irresistible smell of bluefish. The bluefish took up most of the plate, but Willar had placed cut slices of mango bread around it in a circle. “How is life on the west side?” he asked while pulling covers off the rest of the family plates. “Very well, Willar. They care about their neighborhoods and welcomed me as one of their own.” “Really? I guess ants do stick together.” I shot a look at my uncle as he and my mother laughed. “Well, I’m glad you enjoy living there. I will return shortly with dessert,” Willar said and left. “Xavier, will you stop!” Aunt Maxina said. “Stop what, my sister? I’m the ruler of Charlesville and have the right to speak my mind. My nephew thinks he is noble, living amongst the ants and trying to act like he is one of the common folk. Why doesn’t he tell them the reason he can live there without having to work is because of the family he belongs to?” “Xavier, please!” my mother pleaded. “No, sister! This boy needs to learn whom he belongs to and start appreciating his position in life. And reading some fancy words to those ants doesn’t make him a more caring person.” “I knew this was a bad idea. I didn’t come here to get lectured by him.” I rose from the table. “Sit down, boy. You are still an Azur.” “Uncle Xavier, I’m not a boy. Do you forget I’m twenty-three years old and a man who can make his own decisions?” “You’re twenty-three, really! You need to grow up before I can call you a man.” “I don’t live here and never will while you are the ruler of this city,” I said and began walking away from the dinner table. “Diondray, I’m sorry,” Aunt Maxina called after me. “Don’t leave, my son.” “Good-bye, family,” I said and left.