Children with books.
Later, someone asked if city should erect statue of Odessa.
I said absolutely not.
“Why?”
“She’d hate pigeons.”
They laughed.
I meant.
No statue.
They funded reading benches instead.
Useful.
Each had small plate:
READ SOMETHING. — Dr. Odessa Freeman
Would she say exact phrase? Constantly. Fine.
No mention incident.
At eighty-eight, my health worsened sharply.
Hospital.
Home.
Hospice conversation.
I chose home.
My daughter asked whether I wanted Chanel bag nearby.
“No.”
She laughed.
“Why would I?”
“Full circle?”
“Life is not documentary.”
Good.
I wanted mother’s photograph.
Library one.
And family.
The famous video not.
Uniform jacket remained closet.
One afternoon, former officer Hollow called unexpectedly.
He was older too.
I had not spoken for decades.
He got number through Moreno’s grandson? With permission.
“Colonel?”
“Nyla.”
“Nyla.”
His voice weak.
“I heard you’re sick.”
“Everyone knows?”
“Old networks.”
“What do you want?”
He hesitated.
“I wanted thank you.”
“For?”
“You never said I was same as Keegan.”
I closed eyes.
“You were responsible for your part.”
“I know.”
“That was enough.”
He breathed.
“I spent years thinking if I could explain fear, people would excuse.”
“They shouldn’t.”
“No.”
“But fear was real.”
“Yes.”
He sounded relieved.
“I teach security now.”
“Still?”
“Part-time.”
“I tell younger guys about intervention.”
“Good.”
“I use your mom?”
“Careful.”
“Not video.”
“I tell them I stood there.”
Good.
“That’s yours to tell.”
He paused.
“I’m sorry.”
“Tell my mother.”
“I wrote.”
“She read.”
“I know.”
Silence.
Then:
“Take care.”
“You too.”
No reconciliation speech.
Just old people closing small loop.
Hollow died two years after me? I wouldn't know. Stop.
Near final weeks, my great-granddaughter asked again:
“What should I remember about Great-Great-Grandma Odessa?”
I said:
“She always carried peppermint.”
“What else?”
“She hated raisins.”
“What else?”
“She could make cornbread without measuring.”
“What else?”
“She taught children.”
“What else?”
I smiled.
“She said if someone tells you who you are before listening to you, make them listen twice.”
Did she? Maybe. Could be plausible but new. Better not invent. We can say "She believed..." But creative okay.
The child asked:
“Police story?”
“If you want.”
“Yes.”