“Malaaka, are you still saying no to that boy?” Looking straight into her mom’s eyes, she replied, “Of course I am. I’m not trying to get caught up in all that. Mama you taught me better than that and my young sisters ministry tells us about it all the time. Come on Ma.”
     “I know but my parents told me too, but as soon as I got to college I forgot about all they said.”
     “Mama I don’t mean any harm but I’m not you and you aren’t them. Nana and Papi are religious, they’re not spiritual. They’re too judgmental and always look down on people. They feel you embarrassed them, when it ain’t even about them. I love them but they don’t know everything and truthfully they don’t know a thing about the word or Christian values. If they did they wouldn’t be so mean.” Pausing she caught her breath, she was afraid her mom would get on her case about what she said. Ava just stared at her.
     “You raised me to believe in God and you respect me as a person, not just your daughter and if I make a mistake, any kind, I know you would love me anyway, just as God does. But mama I don’t want to have sex before I get married. Well I probably do, but I won’t.”  Incredulity filled Ava’s eyes and she and her daughter fell out laughing again. That child was a riot. After cleaning the kitchen Malaaka went to her room to chat on the phone with Kim.