Yo, What’s Up With The BBQ
The smell of barbecue and Louisiana Crawfish Boil filled the air on North 10th Street. It had so much smoke coming from Big Mike's grill it looked like the house was on fire as he flipped chicken, ribs, hotdogs and sausage links on the grill with a pot on the side boiling seasoning and corn for his famous tasting crawfish.
His wife Sheila was in the kitchen finishing up the potato salad, baked beans, red beans and rice with some of that southern fried catfish.
It was the 4th of July and the Jackson family was coming together like they did every year to celebrate Independence Day. And just like always, there would be enough food to feed a small army.
Out on the cracked concrete patio, folding tables were set up with red and blue plastic tablecloths. The kids' table had star-spangled paper plates and napkins along with juice boxes and a big bowl of mac and cheese. The adult tables had proper plates along with ice cold beer, lemonade and iced tea.
One by one, cars started pulling up along the curb as relatives and a few friends of the family arrived from other parts the city. Big hugs were exchanged and the laughter and chatter grew louder every new arrival.
Despite some of their differences throughout the year - disagreements over money, parenting, or lifestyle choices - July 4th was a day to put all drama aside. To break bread together and unite as a family. At least today.
Once everyone was there, they stood in a circle held hands and said a small prayer over the food and the cook then they lined up buffet style with plates in hands. The backyard filled up with conversation and joyous noise as they all dug in.
After seconds and thirds each, they still had a lot of food leftovers. Big Mike's nephew Charles went in the kitchen looking for Tupperware containers to have him some lunch for next week.
But one big aluminum tray was left. Sheila pulled Big Mike aside and told him to take the aluminum tray and some sodas down the street to old man Mr. Wells an old senior citizen in the neighborhood that has no family to feed him during the holidays.
"You can take it all to him," she said. "Lord knows he could use a good hot meal."
Big Mike smiled and did just that, treating Mr. Wells to an aluminum tray of food with all the fixings and most of all family love.
During the holiday seasons some people might be homeless or have lost love ones during this time or maybe moved to another state so it’s only right to make sure they are loved as well. Happy Fourth of July to everyone from Wellington’s 3 Publishing’s.