What does 'Restless' mean?
Find out what Restless means. Restless is explained by Ron Alexander - author of Don't Tell Me What To Do: A Spiritual Memoir
Restless
Months passed, summer rolled into fall, the roar of winter wind and snow came and I grew more restless and rebellious in school, more resentful of living in the backwoods, and more hateful of Ada Mama. She threatened me with a freshly cut switch every night, which was the only way I would go out into freezing weather to church. She had the stamina and strength to wrestle me to the floor, fight through my entangled arms, hold me back while she targeted bare flesh with a switch.Two months into Spring, on May 5, 1959, things changed. I was sitting up in my bed when Ada Mama gave me my orders for the night.
“Do what I tell you, boy! Get that homework done. It’s almost time for you to go to bed.” I had already tried to do my homework on this night, one of the few times I actually made an effort. I couldn't figure out how to do my homework and neither could she. I slowly reached for my writing book and pencil, turned a few pages and began drawing stick men, pretending to be working on my homework.
She moved about the room, fussing at me under her breath, talking to herself, calling out the Lord's name, singing and clapping her hands together all the while standing in the middle of the floor, twisting her head upward and screaming at the top of her voice.
“Lawdy, Lawdy, I’s don't know what's wrong with me tonight but I's hoping to live to see another day if that's what yo' wont,” she said. “My body and my head aches, my bones aches, I's feeling soo' light headed. I's wont to finish raising this her' boy. Lawdy, yo' know that I loves this little boy and I's wont the best fo’ him.”
She poured out something dark and thick into a glass, mixed in water, drank it down real fast, while coughing and smacking her lips together. She climbed into her bed. The room smelled like the onion juice she once tried to make me drink when I had a cold.
“Ronnie,” she said to me from her bed, “if there's a thing wrong with me in the morning, I wont you to go 'cross the tracks and tell somebody. You hear me, boy? I’s talking to you!” she shouted, the gold tooth flashing at me. “Don’t make me take a switch to you tonight!”
I looked into her chicken eyes and acted like I didn't hear her. I pulled the cover over my head and went to sleep.
Search result for 'Restless' in Don't Tell Me What To Do: A Spiritual Memoir
Chapter 2:
The Night She Died - 1957-1958
"...Restlessths passed, summer rolled into fall, the roar of winter wind and snow came and I grew more Restless and rebellious in school, more resentful of living in the backwoods, and more hateful of Ada Mama. She threatened me with ..."
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Chapter 4:
Black Panther - 1966-1969
76.
"... Barbara told me to go back to Philly.
* * *
When the big day finally rolled around, I woke up that morning feeling Restless, sensing that something terrible was about to happen. As I sat on the edge of the bed, I looked out the
window to where my car was parked. I had ..."
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Chapter 7:
Desecration - 1976-1980
2.
"... step out the car.”
I was in Connecticut, a few miles from the Massachusetts border when I was pulled over. The state trooper had pulled me over for speeding. I had gotten Restless and impatient to get back home to Kathy. I leaned too heavily on the accelerator.
“Place your hands up ..."
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Chapter 9:
Resurrection: Philadelphia - 1995-2002
88.
"...
*****
The day of the funeral I woke up tired and Restless. My mother had given me money to put a suit and a few white shirts
in the cleaners. As I was getting dressed, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I ..."
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Chapter 10:
Epilogue: Philadelphia 2005
"... Restless and somewhat bored after cleaning my apartment and showering, I decide to play some music to lift my spirit and liven up the atmosphere in my apartment. I look through my collection of CD’s—one of the few possessions ..."
