Devonne Brown

“Hugh Henry you have the ability to choke the living shit out of every situation like an intergalactic missile,” His mother told him straight up. She was tired of listening to his tirade about why the symphony shouldn’t play next Sunday. He thought it was too frivolous, way too frivolous, to assemble the whole orchestra for a special performance on the levee in honor of the riverboats.

His mother watched and rolled her eyes with satisfaction as the joy in his rant evaporated, like the air let out of a balloon. With mordant pride, a crooked smile crossed her face. She won. Like she won all her battles with him. That little boy always too big for his britches, needed to be brought down a peg or two. He was just like his father, all boom and bluster. If it were up to him, he’d suck all the fun out of everything just for spite. 

Charleston would suffer at his hands if it weren’t for her. There would be no galas, no concerts, no festivals. She only let him on her board because she needed his voice, she didn’t need his stupidity. She had to replace him as soon as possible with someone with some fun about them. All Hugh Henry wanted to do was stay at home. The purpose of the board was to bring the city to life, he was a stick in the mud. 

The search for an ally was on. He would step down when she told him to. He knew he had no power, she’d never given him any. The power he thought he had, was a sham and he knew it. Hugh Henry hated his position of figurehead and Mama’s boy. Truth be told, he didn’t like his mother very much at the moment.

“Why did you put me on this board anyway?”

“I like the way you read a script, your voice. Stick to the script. I’ll find your replacement, Hugh Henry, don’t worry. Just read the script.”