The Back-Ground Singer. Marie Lyles
He might be traced through a year book of Wilberforce but that is not our concern."
Naomi asked Sonata to look into the music library found in one of the boxes just before Sonata called her mother. Curtis was drinking a cup of coffee and browsing through the Calvary Missionary Baptist Church Directory. He stopped turning pages as he saw the familiar face of Mr. Clarence Brown.
Mr. Brown was a friend of his Aunt Salona. He had seen him at the funeral service as he was leaving the church. Curtis thought that Mr. Brown must be at least in his nineties. The directory indicated his address and telephone number. Curtis called the number to find out if Mr. Brown was home. He was able to make an appointment to see Mr. Brown that afternoon.
Curtis was gone for an hour and a half. When he returned, Sonata was playing one of Aunt Salona's arrangements found in the box of music sheets.
"Well ladies, Mr. Brown has a great memory. He was a good friend of Major and Sally Jenkins. He remembers Grandma Myrtle bringing them the new born baby. Miss Sally had lost three premature babies that Grandma Myrtle delivered. Grandma Myrtle remembered the pain of their loss as their mid-wife. So there is the confirmation that Jeremiah Jenkins was not born to his parents. Mr. Brown gave me a photo of Jeremiah with Major and Sally. As you can see, he does not look like either parent. Mr. Brown remembered when Jeremiah asked the questions about not looking like his parents and they told him the truth. Jeremiah always accepted that he was related by love and not by blood. He never questioned who his birth parents were."
"You have just confirmed that Jeremiah did not have a need to know about his birth parents. You have confirmed that Miss Myrtle was her own placement agency sixty-five years ago. So no, short of a DNA test, we have confirmation that Jeremiah Jenkins is my half brother," said Naomi.
Naomi sat at the kitchen table. Sonata joined her and held her hands. "Mama, we don't have to go any further than this. Life doesn't have to be complicated. When a man is sixty-four years old, his truth is already established."
"But my truth has been revealed. I want to at least see my brother."
"O.K. Mama, let's get ready to go to Memphis. Maybe we should ask Uncle Elliot to go with us."
Elliott Howard arrived on Friday night before the drive to Memphis on Saturday. Naomi had called Jeremiah and Daisy Jenkins to say the she, her husband, her brother, and her daughter were coming to Memphis. They wanted to meet them for lunch and bring greetings from Pastor Jordan and Deacon Clarence Brown.
By the time the travelers from Nashville had found the recommended restaurant, Jeremiah and Daisy were drinking their second cup of coffee. Naomi and Sonata entered the popular barbecue place while Foster and Elliot were finding a parking space.
"Sorry to be late," said Naomi. "The men are finding parking."
"Welcome to Memphis, Mrs. Franklin," said Jeremiah. "Miss Sonata Franklin, we didn't realize we would be meeting one of the finest musicians Nashville has produced."
"Thank you for the complement, Mr. Jenkins. Mrs. Jenkins, I've seen you with the Nashville Gospel Ensemble. It's a pleasure to meet you."
Jeremiah Jenkins was pleased that his wife was recognized. He was displaying his warm smile until Elliot Howard walked into the restaurant. His facial expression turned to shock. "Dear God, it's like looking in a mirror!"
"This is an amazing resemblance," said Foster.
Once all were seated at the table, Naomi started the story of the search for truth. The Jenkins listened without interruption.
"So this is an answer to my questions for which my parents had no answer," whispered Jeremiah Jenkins.
"We thank you for coming," said Daisy. "Jeremiah has wanted our sons to know their family history for his side of the family. I can identify my great grandparents and my brother and sister."
"Well, Jeremiah, you have nine younger brothers and sisters. I am the oldest and Elliot is next. You have five brothers and four sisters. Also, you have twenty-one nieces and nephews."
More information was shared during lunch. The Nashville four were invited to the Jenkins home after lunch and the Jenkins sons and their families joined them. Major,II and wife Marjory, Major,III and Sally II; Steven and his wife Tamara, Jeffery, Susan, and Kent were all surprised but very happy to meet the new family. Major,II was a physician and his wife a social worker. Steven was a law enforcement officer and his wife a nurse. It was late Saturday evening when the four returned to Nashville.
Before she went to bed, Naomi e-mailed her other brothers and sisters about the reunion with their oldest brother and gave them the contact information for the Jenkins family.
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