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A GUMBO CONVERSATION
09-02-2020
7:02 pm
Wednesday

A GUMBO CONVERSATION

Chapter 1

It’s Friday August 7th, 2020. I’m very upset because this is the second time that I had to
abruptly leave my cart filled with groceries items and exit the supermarket in a hurry.
This particular time, it seemed as if things were going to get out of control, so I called my
brother Ray. “Hey Marie, how are ya’ll?” Again I’m talking to him about the folks that
have been following me. “I don’t know who they are or what they want?” When I got to
the car and we began driving away, Ray asked me to hang up and video call him back so
that he could see for himself what exactly it is that was going on. So I did.
I was explaining the situation to him. He could see the frantic look on my face, and hear
the anger and frustration in my voice. “Where’s your husband?” Ray then asked. “He’s
right here!” I said, and then I turned the camera in his direction. “He’s always with me” I
continued. “This has got to stop!” I was yelling. “What am I supposed to do, I have to
buy food for my family!” drive James, drive. I said to the husband. “Where we going?”
he answered. “I don’t know. I have to think”. My brother could not believe what was
happening. “This is like something out of a movie!” “Marie y’all be careful” “I wish I
was there to help you” Ray responded with much concern. “Pray” I said to him “Just
pray”. And the call ended. We arrived at another location (same franchise) and I was able
to do the shopping there. Though I was still being watched, stalked, followed, harassed,
and threatened.
When we got home, my emotions were in an uproar. I was feeling angry, mad,
frightened, scared and alone. So much so, that I began to express it very verbally. I
walked from room to room inside the apartment swearing like a sailor. “I have had
enough!” is what I said along with some very colorful language. “What am I supposed to
do?” “I hate it here!” “Who are these people?” I paced the floors back and forth in
anguish, because I just could not calm down. I was steaming mad into the night. My
brother Ray called me again “Marie, how y’all doing?”” “Yeah, this is some weird stuff”
“I’m sitting here looking at your husband in the video” “He’s driving, I could see him
driving the car” I interrupted him by saying “He’s always with me, and act like he don’t
even know me or what’s going on when we’re out there”.
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“Does he know these folks?” “If he’s not with you Marie, than he’s against you” said
Ray.

Chapter 2

And then my sister Lennis called. It was a few days later. “Hi Marie, how are you?” “I
don’t know why you have to go through this, but I do know that God is going to bring
you out” She said. “You know sometimes God tests your faith” her words were
encouraging. I was lying in the bed at the moment. Then I went into the kitchen to get
dinner started. While in there our conversation took the most interesting turn. We started
to reminisce about the time when I was doing security work (said she and her husband
did the same) and also when she was working at the restaurant, and bought home those
delicious pecan pies.
I asked how her husband’s doing. And what did I say that for! “Girl, he is something
else” “Marie we lived in Texas, one time I had to go looking for him. “I knew that he was
inside the apartment complex, I just didn’t where?” “So I walked through the place
calling out his name, Honey! Oh honey!” I said. Then I saw him coming out of an
apartment fastening his clothes. “Marie I ran up to him and knocked those papers out of
his hand” “I was very mad at him” she continued. “Girl he was so-o-o scared, he ran so-
o-o fast, in his uniform running down the darn street with his weapon by his side. You
could see papers flying everywhere” I’m listening to her and I’m on the other end of the
phone laughing really hard; I mean I am cracking up! Ha-ha-ha!
Then she told me of the time when they were employees at the large chain supermarket,
another crazy outrageous situation. And again, I’m on the other end of the phone
chuckling, laughing, and cracking up. Ha-ha-ha! This is so-o-o funny! And there’s more.
Now she’s telling of the time when her husband gave to her his mother’s duster
(translation: a house coat that we southern women wear indoors…it’s comfortable).
“Here Lennis, this was my mom’s, I want you to have it” He said. At that point her voice
got really high “Marie girl I told him, no-o-o boy no!” “I don’t want your momma’s
duster, what’s wrong with you!” “That was it! Girl I had to tell him off”. We talked a
little while longer after that, and then said good bye. But I couldn’t stop laughing. This
story is extremely hilarious, and I’m still enjoying it.
Thanks, God. I needed that.
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Chapter 3

The following week my youngest sister Louise called. “Hey girl, what are you doing?”
“Oh nothing much” I answered. “Just called to check on you and the kids” She said.
“We’re ok” I then replied. “Where’s your cute little grandson” I asked her. She told me
that he was visiting with his other grandmother. Since it was about 8 o’clock in the
evening, we talked about what we had for dinner that day and what’s on television. Then
she shared some precious moments about the dearest things that darling two year old
does. How he goes through the house playing with everyone cellular phones. “Girl he
operates them like a pro” She said. “And he just love watching the cartoon shows on
them and he actually learns from them’ “Just recently I asked him, are you ready to go to
school? And he looked up at me and said “No thanks”. “I laughed plenty” said Louise.
She also said “Ann laughed so hard that she almost fell out of her chair”.
How’s your honey? I asked her. “He’s ok” “Marie you should see him” She answered.
“He got his new dental implants child, and he’s just smiling” “Remember those chiclets?”
“The big white squared chewing gum” “Yeah” I said to her. “Well, his teeth are so big,
they look just like that!” She was tickled and proud of him at the same time. I could hear
it in her voice. They have been a couple for many years. And as were talking he walked
through the door. “Say hi to him for me” I asked her. She gave the phone to him. “Hey
Marie, how are you?” “It’s been a along time, you sound the same!” “How are the kids?”
“They are good” I replied. It was really nice to hear his voice also. He’s a pleasant
personality. We didn’t talk long and he put Louise on the phone again.
She started saying the funniest things about the toddler. “Girl, he’s scary!” “Every time
he hears someone walking through the house at night, he jump up and say, what that is!”
“You should see the look on his face Marie, it’s the cutest thing”. She elaborated a little
more about the many ways he entertains his maw-maw, and I thought that each story was
fascinating. Wished I could’ve been there. THEN MICHELLE CALLED. “Hi girl how
are you doing?” “I’m ok” I answered. “Are you at home?” I asked her. “No, not yet” she
said. She works very long hours, and sometimes she’s still on the job. We call and send
text messages to each other regularly, to build one another up in holy faith. Very seldom
my good friend would get humorous during our conversation, so I am constantly aiming
to get a laugh out of her. And when she does, I know everything with her is going to be
ok. Again, we never talk extensively, however determined to touch bases. “Well, I better
get back to work” Michelle says, ok talk later” and the call ended.

Chapter 4

It was after dinner, and we’re all relaxing and watching television one evening and the
phone rang. My brother Ray was calling again. “Hi” I answered with excitement, because
I’m always happy to hear from him. He has endured a lot recently, and I have been
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praying for his victory. Before I could say anything else, he began telling me of his
frustrations. “I call to tell you blah, blah, blah and blah. “I mean I am darn tired of this!”
“Oh yeah, and blah some more” “I still don’t know where that is” He said. While he was
letting go of all that anger, I continued be a sympathetic ear, but oh boy! I was cracking
up on the other end of the phone. He sounds like an angry comic. I kid you not. This stuff
was hilarious! I tried to compose myself and pay particular attention to the heart felt
words that were being spoken. And I did for a moment, but they were flowing from his
lips so-o-o fast, it was the funniest thing. This conversation wasn’t for standing. I fell
onto the bed and rolled around in laughter. “Yep, I hear you” I said. “Just let it go, let it
all out, you’ll feel better” Although he was extremely serious about things, and I mean he
was having a melt down moment, I listened and continued to laugh out loud, because it
was just so-o-o funny! Ray is a pretty nice guy, and you know when someone who has a
reputation for being this way…all the time, and then blows up… it hilarious, very
comedic.

…AND FIVE WEEKS LATER…

Chapter 5

It’s Sunday September 13th, 2020. Like usual we got up, prayed, and I went upstairs to
bathe. Once I’m done, I head right back downstairs to the kitchen to put breakfast and
dinner on the stove. I grab my body moisturizer from the supply closet and I’m going
upstairs again. It’s always convenient for me to stand inside of the bedroom closet and
put the lotion on, because I use it as a dressing area (like most women do, I imagine).
Beginning at the feet and working my way upward, when I got to my neck and shoulders,
I noticed that the attic door was opened, pretty wide at the left hand corner. I could see
the sunlight from outside shining in.
My first and immediate reaction was, oh my God! What the? A chill of fright went
though my spirit. For a second I couldn’t say anything, I was totally speechless, because I
could not believe mine eyes. The husband was still in the bed sleeping just a few feet
away. I quickly ran downstairs to get my camera and told my husband at the same time.
“Why is the attic door open?” I asked him. He got up, walked over to the closet, looked
up and it was closed again. (I was already standing inside the closet). “Hmmm” He said.
“Why is the attic door opened, how is it that the attic door was opened?” I asked him
again.
The ceiling inside that particular closet is rather high. One would need a chair or a
ladder to reach it, even if you’re tall in stature. And another thought was, who’s inside of
the attic in my apartment, and have access to this place? I went into that same closet
before going into the bathroom to freshen up, and that door was not open. I REPEAT
THAT ATTIC DOOR WAS NOT OPEN!!!! NOT A CRACK, NOT AT ALL!!!! I
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KNOW THIS, AND AM ONE HUNDRED PERCENT SURE AND POSITIVE ABOUT
IT, BECAUSE I ALWAYS, ALWAYS LOOK AROUND IN THERE FROM TOP TO
BOTTOM WHEN ENTERING IT. I WOULD HAVE SEEN IT!!! So this tells me that
someone opened it around the time I was bathing. I was frantic! Who would do such a
thing? Why?
I became angry quickly.
I ran downstairs and called my sister Louise “Girl, the attic door upstairs inside the
closet was opened! Somebody opened the attic door, and then closed it!” “I was in there!”
“What happened?” Louise said. “Someone was inside of the attic!” I repeated. “In your
house?” she asked. “Yep, and I was in there putting on body moisturizer. I just finished
bathing, oh my God!” “Wait; don’t you live in an apartment?” Louise asked. “Yep” I
replied. “Why is there an attic inside of your apartment?” “I don’t know? Guess that’s
how they build things” I said to her. “I was in there looking right at it, and then someone
closed it!” it was very frightening…eerie!”
“Where are the kids?” she asked. (Referring to my adult son and daughter) who still
live at home. Although they are well of age, we mothers always say kids…duh! “They’re
here” I said. Then she asked “Where’s your husband?” “Here also” answered. He was
standing at the front door with his phone in hand, saying that he was going outside to
look around, up at the roof I presume. My son Lee is hearing all the commotion from the
bathroom door and with a loud voice yells “WHAT!” Now at this point, I’m pretty much
hysterical and am telling him what happened. “Somebody opened the attic door inside the
bedroom closet upstairs!” Just like me he too was upset about it.
He said to my husband not to go out the door, what if someone is in here? So Lee called
the cops. He’s explaining the nature of the call to the dispatcher. “Hello? Hi, my mom
just told me that the attic door to the bedroom closet upstairs was opened, can you send
someone?” The person on the other end asked to speak with me. “Ma’am what
happened?” I then told her the exact same thing I said to everyone in the house.
“Somebody opened the attic door inside of the bedroom closet upstairs. I was in there at
the moment!” She proceeded to ask more questions and said “Is anyone inside of the
apartment, do you see anyone?” “No” I replied. “I’m sending someone over right away”
she said. “Thanks” I said.
I continued to talk with my sister over the phone until they arrived. My husband
leaned over the balcony from upstairs and said “The officers are outside, do you want me
to go out there to meet them?” “Show them where we live?” “I looked at him and
answered “No” let them come to the door; everybody knows where we live…duh!”
(Remember the beginning of this story in chapter one).
They knocked. I answered. They came in. It was three of them “What’s the problem
ma’am? They asked. One of them noticed that I was on the phone, and asked me who am
I talking with?” “My sister” I said to him. I explained to the officers that the attic door in
the bedroom closet upstairs was opened while I was in there. Wide opened I continued.
“Someone opened that door” someone has access to my apartment!” “I saw it with my
very own eyes!” “Show us ma’am” They said, and we all walked upstairs towards that
bedroom.
While up there they briefly questioned me and my husband. “Is this the door?” “Yep, I
was in there at the time” I replied. They looked inside of the closet and began talking
with the husband. I wanted to explain more (giving great detail), but they didn’t say
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much. The talk between them and the husband was on going, and I felt like I wasn’t
needed, was not being heard so I came downstairs. I was still holding my phone in my
hand, Louise was still there. She, my son and I were waiting for the officers to take a
written report. They were upstairs for several minutes, and when they did come
downstairs, one of them said “Ma’am we checked the attic door, and its shut tight” “No
one could’ve opened that door” “I also pushed against it with my baton (PR24) and it
seems to be closed tightly”
“What!” I surprisingly answered.
I and my kids began telling the officers of the events we actually could hear someone
walking on the roof of the place. It happened quite a few times…specifically at 2:30,
4:11, and 6:30. And other unexplainable things like when the front gate to this apartment
is opened, all occurred in the am hours. “Well maybe ma’am, sometime it could be a
squirrel walking along the roof, a small animal or something like that?”” “That tends to
happen, you know,” One replied. They told us that they looked around upstairs and found
no evidence of an opened attic door, and that if I (we) should need them for anything
else, to give them a call.
They turned to leave, and I said “Wait!” don’t you want to give me a written report?”
and they said “You may pick up a copy from the station”. “Have a nice day ma’am”.
I’m thinking, a copy of what? I don’t have a report number…duh!

Chapter 6

Louise asked “They’re gone?” and I answered “Yes”. She was asking me earlier to put
my son Lee on the phone while the officers were here. And I reach the phone towards
him, but he continued to talk to me. She wanted to speak with him, but with all the
excitement going on. That didn’t happen. I’m talking to her; she’s trying to calm me
down, and Lee was also talking with me simultaneously.
This was a long day.
The phone rang. It’s my brother Ray “Hey Marie, what’s going on there?” I started
telling him of the opened attic door. “All these crazy, scary things seem like something
out of a movie” “I see it and I still don’t believe it!” “Yep, I saw the video you sent to
me” “This is scary; I don’t know what to say except y’all be careful, ok?” Then he asked
to speak to his nephew. I gave the phone to my son. They had extensive and detail
conversation about it all. “Y’all be careful” uncle Ray said to him and that was that.
And Ray called again. This time he had the speaker on because everyone (the family)
was concerned, and wanted to know that we all are ok, safe, and doing alright.
Then Michelle called. “Hey Marie, how are y’all doing?” “Ok” I said to her. “I
remember you texting me at 4 o’clock am one time. I texted you back at six…had to get
up early for work” “You told me that the gate was opened” “This is some weird stuff”
‘Y’all ready to come home?” “Are your kids ready to come home?” I sighed deeply and
said “I told y’all I saw somebody standing at the top of then stairs inside of my house, at
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4:11 am one morning. I got up to turn off the air conditioner, and to check on my kids.
“Yep, we’re ready to come home”.

I dedicate this little book to all the true and interesting conversations I share with my
family and friends, but mostly to God’s blessings and protection.

To all my readers
God bless and prosper,
Kertranka