EPISODE 2
"JUST
WORDS"

Can you imagine what Christmas is gonna be like? We always had a good one, I don’t know what it’s gonna be like. I don’t know whether his father gonna help. I cried upstairs and couldn’t stop trying to figure out what was gonna happen.  I don’t know, I really don’t know.  And its frightening, these kids gonna want something.  

Nobody figures that nobody can live off $700 a month with maybe 5, 6 children in the house…they will never know!  No we don’t eat pork chops, but we eat!  My grandchildren never go to bed hungry!  $700 a month! You hear me? And I was almost ashamed to say it one time, and I said to myself, why are you ashamed? It’s honest.  I didn’t steal it.  I have a little social security, I can pay rent, my lights on, house is warm, and no one is hungry.  I got a bowl of soup and I am trying to figure how I can give it to someone can keep them warm.

MUSIC

Keithy’s always writing his little list, you oughta see his little list…I said Keith don’t write no list cause nanny cannot afford any list, but he went on anyway.  He wants some name brand tennis shoes and little games, but I’m afraid Nana can’t help.  Right now my money is gone.  Rent has to be out by the third every Sunday…so that’s it.  One thing—when I had the car, I ran everywhere I could, to get help with electricity, help with the rent…I haven’t got it, so that’s why all the money I make goes to rent.  When they hear this, when anyone listens to this and says, I don’t believe this, tell them come by here.  This came from goodwill set; this came from a goodwill set, same as everything came from a Goodwill set.  It’s good enough for these kids.  Then one day, you never know, like you say…One day, the kids grow up, liable to say “Nanny come stay with me,” Their home is liable be much better than Nana’s.  That’s all I want—to see my grandkids grow up and have something for themselves.

JUST WORDS is a production of the Center for Emerging Media, produced by Jessica Phillips, through a grant by the Open Society Institute, investing in solutions to Baltimore’s toughest problems.  On the web at OSI-Baltimore.org.  For the rest of Lucille Robinsons story, go to CenterforEmergingMedia.org, and I’m Marc Steiner, thanks for listening to JUST WORDS.

Music:  Nina Simone, When I was in my Prime
Nina Simone, Plain Gold Ring