Introduction

And this is your great
grandma, Mima.
No that's not her, she's
the next one over. Can't
you tell, she has
the family chin.
She was born in Oklahoma
Territory, before it became
a state.
She was born in a dugout.
Yes, a dugout.
Her father tattooed
all the children, in case
of an Indian attack.
The skin of her forearm was inked
with her initials.
No, her name.
Her family name?
I don't know.
Anyway.
Mima had a twin
sister. She was lazy,
let Mima do all the work.
Her life was unhappy,
but Mima married
a boxer nicknamed Big Six.
Six what?
Don't ask me...
Big Six died
of a head injury,
they say.
Mima became a
widow, gave food
to the poor, said her
prayers, raised
her children.
She grew old
watching baseball on TV;
planting flowers;
and playing practical
jokes on her daughter.
Like that one time, she dressed
as a witch.
It was a character
from the Bible.
No, a witch.
A Bible witch?
She came down to tea
with her daughter's friends
the pointy hat,
the warty nose,
the scraggly hair. Who
am I, she cackled
until someone
finally
guessed correctly.