04
Belle’s Boy
April 2, 1968 “Mama?”
JULIA MALLORY
April 3, 1968 Ma Belle knew he was gone soon as she saw the detectives on her front stoop. Zeke left the collards in the garden to they own business when he saw them walk up. A dying bee threw its body into him yesterday and he knew it wasn’t a good sign. Now the sign flashed furiously in front of his door. Ma Belle couldn’t move. Her wide eyes tried to find a cloud to land on or a bird to move her mind
“Her wide eyes tried to find a cloud to land on or a bird to move her mind from the shock that locked her body in place.” SISTORIES
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from the shock that locked her body in place. “Hank Hall’s body was pulled from the Ohio River this morning near McKees Rocks,” they repeated. Zeke’s heart slid to his stomach. He felt Ma Belle move against his side. She needed to be off her feet. The detective on the left reached into his baggy olive-green suit pocket and handed Zeke a card. “If you can’t get a hold of me, someone at the precinct can assist you. The coroner will need his next of kin to go down and identify the body as soon as possible.” Zeke placed a hand on each side of Ma Belle’s arms as he guided her inside. “Zeke?” She asked like he might not answer. Like she needed a witness for what she could only say