I Remember - I Don't Remember

I Remember – I Don’t Remember I remember somewhere around the age of three or four my dad came home from working 6:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the local brickyard. I remember the name of the brickyard – Birmingham Clay. I remember he got up before dawn and my mother prepared two sandwiches and placed them in a silver container which had two latches. I remember that he wore blue overalls. After work, I remember seeing him in our kitchen where we had, I think, an electric stove, a tall white steel cabinet, a refrigerator, and a table with four chairs. I remember that my dad smiled while he prepared, black-eyes peas, greens, and some sort of meat with cornbread prepared in a cast iron skillet. I remember he would always place a bottle of vinegar onto the table, as well as a punch bowl with grape kool-aid which always contained a slice of lemon. I remember seeing my older sister, Nora; and my baby brother, James and myself seated at the table. I remember sitting on both knees, my brother James sat upright in the chair as well as Nora. I remember appearing to be the most excited as my daddy told jokes. I remember my mother came home around 5:00 p.m. from working at Perfection Laundry. I remember we had already eaten supper when she arrived. I remember the times when my mother and father would catch a chicken and ring his neck, then chop of his head. I remember around 6:00 or 7:00 p.m. watching TV with my mother and father, sister and brother. I don’t remember the meat my dad prepared but it could have been chicken since we had a yard full of them running around. I don’t remember if my dad and mother actually ate supper. I don’t remember either of them instructing us to clean the kitchen. I don’t remember what time we actually had to go to bed. I don’t actually remember who took us to kindergarten but we went. I don’t remember walking back home from school. I don’t remember every sleeping. I don’t remember going to bed. I don’t remember if we said the Lord Prayer or any prayer before going to sleep. I don’t remember a kiss goodnight. I don’t remember my father and mother having a disagreement. I don’t remember having a bad day. I don’t remember anything bad.