Family Rituals

Every family has at least one family ritual. My family has a couple of rituals which are always practice. The one that is most important and emphasized is the fourth of July. My late grandfather was born on the fourth of July. Every year we meet on this day at my uncle’s house to remember him as well as celebrate the fourth. Every year, the same thing is done in the exact same way.
First of all, it is always scheduled for 2:30, but black people are always on “C P” (colored people) time. Everyone always arrive around 4, moping around like they are on time. As soon as most of the guys get there, we always get a 3-on-3 or a 4-on-4 basketball game going while the women either go inside, to the back, or watch us play. The game always ends at the sound of my uncle saying, “Come on boys, it’s time to pray and eat.”
After the prayer, my great-grandma, my grandfather’s wife, eats first followed by the million children. The kids always waste food and drink and get yelled at by the adults. There’s also always restless adults asking, ”Why da kids gotta go first?” The children get their food and go to the “children’s table.” I remember when I was a kid (a rather big one if I might add) and had to sit and the table with twenty other nagging children. The adults pile their plates up a mile high and go their respective tables also. The adults either sit at the dining room table, in the den, or outside to get away from the “Bebe Kids.”
When the children finish eating, they always raid the pool table while the adults yell at them. The men always eat fast as hell so they can get back to the basketball game. Halfway through the game, my uncle ALWAYS comes outside with some little shorts, tight Nike air max, and a Witt shirt saying, “I got down.” Then he exclaims, “Yall gon havta take it eazae on dis ole tima! Yall know my knees aint like dey use ta be.”
During the course of everything that is taking place, there is always one aunt or cousin that has too much to drink! There is nothing worse than a drunk person stuttering and stumbling over you. The long day closes with everybody coming outside to watch others pop fire crackers. By this time, I am always exhausted and ready to go but can’t because of my mother. But what can I say? After all, this is MY FAMILY!