The Perfect Slice of Summer Rememory

I love the smell of watermelon because it smells so fresh, and because it is a symbol of summer, but I do not eat it.

I stopped eating watermelon when I was a teen & I cannot remember why to save my life.  Interestingly enough, I love most types of watermelon flavored candies, especially Jolly Ranchers & Now & Laters & can fuck those up till the break of dawn!!!

When I was cutting this melon Saturday, the smell of it made me hungry for a piece & I gave in secretly.  The flesh was sweet, cool & thoughts of spitting out seeds took me back to my youth when I would eat watermelon at night on the porch with my brother “Topot”.

Memories of having seed spitting contests also ran across my mind along with memories of my mother telling us that if we swallowed the seeds, a watermelon would grow in our bellies and those Sunday stops after church with Big Mama to see the watermelon man.

After I enjoyed the sweetness of this one perfect slice & the accompanying memories, I said yuck, I cannot believe I am eating this!

My friends & family always tease me about not eating watermelon & ask what kind of Black man don’t eat him no watermelon. 

It’s a good question, but I don’t have a good answer.