A Solar Eclipse
A short story
“It’s not every day you get to see a solar eclipse.” Kyle said, looking upwards with his protective glasses.
“I know.” I agreed. “And for it to be a total eclipse too. That only happens once a century or so.”
“Do you think it’ll finally happen? Do you think this one might actually spark human evolution?”
I chuckled to myself, but I didn’t answer. I couldn’t. The idea that this solar eclipse would somehow trigger something in latent human DNA was a theory that had grown popular on Twitter, similar to the idea that on December 21st, black people would get superpowers. Still, saying I believed in a theory like that wouldn’t hurt my reputation in the way my real belief would. To me, the solar eclipse was an unmatched time for magic, or obeah as my family would call it. Even they didn’t really believe in it like I did. I knew it was real.
“Elijah?” Kyle raised a brow. “Did you suddenly go deaf?”
“No, I just don’t think that scientists should be talking about theories like that. They’re stupid.”
“Well, stupid or not, I think it’s cool. We don’t know everything. We never will.”
Out of all my coworkers, Kyle was my favorite. We were similar in age, and both of us were single. Working for NASA made it hard to date, especially since we both spent so many hours at the observatory. I didn’t mind much anymore. I had already decided that in the day I would dedicate my life to astronomy, and in the night I would dedicate myself to indigenous spirituality. Whether someone looked through the lens of “modern” science or occult studies, both sides agreed that the celestial bodies above had immense power. I would not wait on human evolution. I would harness that power myself.
I took off my protective glasses. “I don’t even know why we have these on. The eclipse isn’t for another hour. I’m going home.”
“You’re going home? You can’t be serious. I thought we were in this together.”
I laughed. “Oh, you wanted company?”
“Yes. We are two single bachelors with no one to change that, and we have the perfect technology to watch the eclipse. We can watch it up close and personal with no shades. Come on, man.”
“Nah, I can’t. I actually have stuff to do tonight. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
I left him outside in his lawn chair and went to the small locker room we had to grab my things. The inside was dimly lit, and the long, cylindrical light bulbs hummed with energy. I never walked with much to work, just a small bag to hold my lunch, my phone charger, and a notebook. I paused in the mirror before leaving. I need to undo these twists. I thought, pulling at my hair. Despite my skin already being dark, I had even darker bags under my eyes.
Good obeah cyah wo’k wit’out propah care. I told myself, reciting what my elder had told me. I wondered how true it was given the fact that my ancestors did so much with so little. African slaves never got the luxury of rest. They worked the dirt and the bones with what little sleep they had so that they could be free. Both were likely true, but I sided with the latter today. I had work to do. I couldn’t waste time warring with myself.
My apartment was not far from the McDonald Observatory. In fact, it was right outside of the University of Texas’ campus. My room was a simple studio decorated with African masks and various books. A flag for Grenada and Guyana hung on one of the walls, and an altar for my ancestors sat by the window on a desk. The building was filled with many graduate students of various ages, something that made me feel better about always being surrounded by youth. If only there was an obeah spell for that. Obeah could make you beautiful, rich, powerful, and healthy, but it could not cheat the natural laws of life. Everything that lives must grow old and eventually die.
I checked my watch. There was only ten minutes left before the eclipse started, and the sun would be completely covered for even less time. I had to move quickly. I changed my clothes, switching to white robes and tying my head in a white scarf. I prayed silently as I washed my face and sprinkled holy water over myself. Then I lit my candles and incense on my altar saying a final prayer before sitting on a pillow.
The sky was dark now, nearly black except for where the sun still shone outside of the eclipse’s shadow. The flames on my candles were immense, flickering a foot high like cobras. I laughed. The veil was thin and my ancestors were near. It felt good. It felt wonderful. It felt right.
“Ancestors, we don’t have much time.”
I could feel them around me, dancing and rejoicing and cheering although they remained unseen. Their voices were comforting whispers, and their touch was a warm presence. At long last they spoke.
“Wha’ yuh want from us?”
I closed my eyes. “I want revolution. I want victory. I want to see my people free from this new slavery. I want a spiritual awakening to begin. I want a return to the Old Ways.”
The candles continued to burn intensely, and the incense smoke was unnaturally thick. “Yuh already becomin’ di change yuh wish to see. Dat is good. Call on others as we call on others. Know dat we will handle di rest.”
My body shook uncontrollably, but even as I seized I laughed. The candles and their flames became more calm as the eclipse began to end, and by the time it was done I was soaked in sweat. I blew out the candles except for one and untied my head, letting my twists fall against my face. Someone knocked at my door. I changed into a tank top before opening it.
“Kyle?”
He looked unusually nervous in my doorway. He had changed too. Unlike before, he now wore a collared pink shirt, khaki’s, and black shoes. His hair had been freshly washed and combed in a swoop that I could never emulate with my coils.
Kyle handed me a box of Chinese food. “I figured you might be hungry. I know you said you were busy. Did you see the eclipse?”
“Yeah. It was beautiful.”
“Yeah.” Kyle shifted from side to side. “Look, I don’t know how to say this, but do you want to come back to my place?”
I raised a brow. “You want some company?”
“Yeah, but only yours.”
For a moment I was speechless, but the smile I tried to fight against beat me and burst onto my face. “Give me a minute. I’ll be right out.”
I closed the door and looked at my altar. Does this have to do with what I asked for? No answer. Oh well. Who said a revolutionary can’t have a little fun?
