Edwin’s The Name

A short story by Kertranka

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EDWIN’s THE NAME

05-06-2020
2:45 pm

Edwin’s The Name

Chapter 1

I don’t remember exactly when we met for the very first time. I was a young girl about
the age of twelve, maybe? One afternoon I was walking out of my bedroom towards the
kitchen, and my brother Tetherorance was coming in through the back door. His new
high school friends were with him. He introduced them “Hi everybody, this is Rickey and
Edwin” They stood near the table smiling before sitting. I got whatever it was that I went
to the kitchen for, and headed back to my room. And that was that. Later I met Ervin and
Malcolm.
Edwin, Rickey, Malcolm, and Ervin were at the house all the time. They were my
brother’s friends and came by to goof around regularly. Doing what high school boys do.
They were well mannered and my parents liked them. Their charming personality’s
coached them in good with my family. Soon they were now on first name bases “Hi
Mom, Hi Dad”, “Bye Mom, and Bye Dad” they said as they came and went and were a
bit more comfortable. Teton, Edwin, Rickey, Malcolm, and Ervin did everything
together, developing a friendship that would last a lifetime. As time goes on they all
became like family to us, closeness, like brothers.
Before graduating from high school, I remember the excitement in Teton’s voice one
night when he strolled in and whispered some good news to me “hey Sis, I’m in a singing
group” “we just finished rehearsing, don’t tell anyone, ok” “ok” my twelve year old self
replied. He has big dreams. These young men performed in the singing group Chocolate
Milk that went on to record three albums, each a number one hit in the nineteen seventies.
Their music captured the audience and climbed the charts quickly.
After graduation Edwin and Rickey joined the military. Edwin enlisted in the army.
Served fourteen years and retired as a sergeant. Rickey enlisted in the air force. Served
twelve years and retired as an officer of the law. Teton worked as a salesman in one of
the Haberdasheries downtown for a little while, later became an engineer and opened his
own electronics store. Ervin answered the call of God, and became a minister, and pastors
his own church. I don’t know what Malcolm did. Just knew that they all were striving for
great success. They all found nice girls to marry and the journey begin.
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Chapter 2

Fast forward: many years later, I’m twenty seven years old and at the DMV in my
hometown in New Orleans applying for my very first driver’s license, and to my surprise
Edwin was standing in the line behind me (not directly), he was a few spaces down. He
was talking with a young lady. He must have looked in my direction and saw that it was
me, because I could hear his hello” Oh Lord, look who’s here getting their license!” and
something else to that effect. I turned around and smiled at him. He walked over, and
gave me a big hug. He told me that he was now a truck driver and was there to renew his
CDL license. It was nice to see him again.
When I finished up there, and was about to leave, Edwin was still standing outside
laughing and playing around with that young lady. And interestingly, some kind of a way
we were talking again. He inquired about my family, wanting to know how they are. “My
little sister” he refers to me. “Look at you all grown up” “Where’s the baby girl?” he
then asked. He was speaking of my youngest sibling. He like that she is extremely
outspoken and is very comedic about it. Said he kept in touch with Teton over the years
and knew where he was residing. I told him that I was in that same part of town. He
asked for the address, said he’ll stop by to see me sometimes and he did.
Soon after that, one lovely afternoon, it must have been the summertime. I could hear
the children playing outside and talking about the big truck coming down the street. It
was unusual to see a big rig gallivanting through the neighborhood (a commercial vehicle
on a quiet residential street). And guess what? Yep, it was Bobo. He came to see me and
made an entrance like only he could, right up to my door. I went out to greet him in the
front yard. I was happy to see him. We stood in the driveway for a while grasping a view
of the area.
I welcomed him inside. “Have a seat, can I get you anything?” I asked him. “No, no
I’m fine” Edwin said. “Well, maybe a glass of water”. I went to the kitchen, got him a
cold drink of water. We sat, laughed and talked the entire evening. This is the first time
he met my kids. “Who are you, what’s your name?” my son asked. My daughter was in
her bedroom watching television. She didn’t say anything, she just stared at him. “I’m
Bobo, your uncle Bobo” a close friend of the family” “I’m your mother’s brother’s
friend” he continued. “Yep, I’m family” That afternoon went well, we enjoyed his
company. Before leaving he gave me and my kids a tour of the truck. It was pretty nice.
A Pete Built.
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Chapter 3

There’s this other time when Bobo came to visit with me and my kids. I was thirty-
three years old and living at the same address. I resided there for eight and a half years. It
was tranquil at sunset, the night sky was clear, the stars were shining and it was the
perfect moment to be on the road. And just like family, he pleasantly appears. He drove
up in his white truck, parked it across the street near the corner. Said he had to make a
short run to Mobile, Alabama to pick up a load and asked “if we would like to come
along?” “Why yes, of course” immediately I replied. “We’re not doing anything” “we
just finished eating dinner” So I got my keys, locked the house and off we went.
We boarded that big rig and gauge on down the highway. We had so much fun that
night. It was relaxing and comfortable. I remember leaning back in my seat listening to
the music on the radio, looking up at the stars and feeling very peaceful. Getting away
from it all for the moment and spending time with God. You see, I absolutely love, love,
love the wide open road. Spent most of my life on it, and have quite a few truck driving
friends. I didn’t see him for a few years after that. The next time he stopped by, I was a
married woman.
Fast forward: I’m forty five years old and we relocated to Texas because of hurricane
Katrina. We were staying at the Sheraton hotel here in Richardson (a suburb in Dallas)
and it was chaotic. Through all of the confusion Bobo managed to get in touch with us.
He must have spoken with my brother; because I got a phone call from Teton “Hey sis,
how ya’ll doin? Where ya’ll at?” (It’s Cajun Lagniappe). I proceeded to tell him and his
response was, “Edwin and I are together and we’re on our way”. Teton was already a
resident here in Texas, so he knew exactly how to get the hotel.
When they arrived, we were so happy to see one another. It was an emotional moment.
They stayed for several hours. We laughed, talked, and cried. We exchanged phone
numbers and vowed to never loose touch with each other again. We also took plenty of
photos that night. I didn’t see Bobo anymore after that visit, but Teton came back a few
days later and invited us over to his home for dinner. We also attended his church the
following Sunday.
And a few more years has passed. Edwin called and left a message on my phone “This
is your big brother Bobo” “Now, you know better” “You’re suppose to keep in touch
with your family” “This is my number, now give me a call, call me ok” “Again, this is
your brother” I laughed at that voicemail, because I told ya, “He always seems to find
me” And I did. We talk regularly.
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He’s 64 years old now, and no longer drives cross country (retired from his second
career) and is an instructor. I could say a whole lot more, but I’m not. There’s not enough
paper to write on about all the interesting encounters and conversations Edwin and I have
had.

I dedicate this little book to Edwin Charles Burroughs… Bobo.

To all my readers
God bless and prosper,
Kertranka

Note: It’s two thousand and twenty, and I am now fifty nine years old.