Episode 2

The house

To the right, Queens Road winds its way to Mecklenburg Hospital, where I was born, Freedom Park, and downtown Charlotte. To the left, the road curves upward and disappears to the neighborhoods beyond. 1645 Queens Road West is a brick house built sometime in the 1800s on a corner lot. This story is about the trials and tribulations of my life. I remember the meandering slate path on the left leading to the wrought iron gate that guards the high walled brick patio mainly because I was walking on it with Dad near dusk. My toe caught the edge of a slate and I fell. A gash appeared on my left forearm that is still present to this day. The rectangular patio has the same slate but it is cemented into place.

A small anteroom with an earthen tile floor greets visitors upon entry of the old house. A glass paneled door in front of the anteroom, dividing the final threshold to the house. The glass is original, evidenced by the pooling of melted glass near the bottoms of the panes due to the stifling southern heat. Beyond the glass paneled door are the original hardwood floors. Slightly to the right is the long staircase in the open foyer with a bannister. The foyer is expansive with cream on cream moira wallpaper from floor to ceiling. The formal dining room is to the immediate left with the medium rise royal blue oriental rug accented with tan, black, mauve, and cream. The dining table is oval with a slight lip above the face.

The centerpoint of the dining room is a formal picture of Mother with B and myself as little kids. Mother is wearing a…