In The Beginning

The operating room was filled with the sound of the heart monitor beeping steadily at regular intervals as Joyce lie on the operating table. You could here the hissing of the breathing apparatus as she inhaled and exhaled. This was not a normal cesarean section birth. The baby was close to four weeks overdue and in danger of being still born. The doctor had decided after several false alarms to go in and extract the little tyke. It appeared that baby Cage didn’t want to meet the world. Why would he? Conceived before the nuptials, the tyke attended the wedding. His conception set the stage for Joyce’s misery.

She fell in love with a man in uniform. He literally swept her off her feet. Edward G. Cage was a militarily strapping young man weighing in close to 180 lbs of muscle, 6’ 1” and handsome. He had that “good” processed hair and wore the popular Negro male style of the 50’s. He could have been the cover model for a “Military Today” magazine. His civilian attire made your mouth water. The ladies felt faint in his presence and Joyce was no exception. The little country girl who was raised on a cow farm in Chatham, NY, couldn’t resist his charm.

Sonny, as he was called, wasn’t like the city boys of Albany. He had style and charm. He was a gentleman. Actually, he was more like a wolf in sheep’s clothing. Joyce was naïve to his ulterior motives. Sonny was determined to add Joyce to his collection, another badge on his uniform, the proverbial notch on his belt. He knew that Joyce could not handle alcohol and one night he proceeded to get her drunk, just enough to make her more receptive to his advances. It worked and in December of 1960 they were married. The romantic ending would be that Sonny married Joyce because he was so in love with her but the truth is: …whack, whaaa, the baby screams.

Dr.: Time.

Nurse: 3:55 pm doctor.

Dr.: Male, baby Cage born May 12, 1961, weight, 7lbs. 8 oz., length 21 inches. Place him in the incubator. Take Mrs. Cage to the recovery room.

Nurse: Yes, doctor.

Yes, I was at the wedding! Just look closely at Joyce and you can see. I was there. It took me almost forty years to figure it out. I was always a little slow in math. I can’t even balance a checkbook. I’ll discuss more of my shortcomings at a later time.

As you can see Sonny was a very handsome man. Look at the eyes, chiseled jaw line and cheekbones. Strength is written on his face. He has a look of seduction with the expression of, “it wasn’t my choice, but I’m here”. Was this a happy occasion? It should have been, Joyce is smiling. 

Born in Halifax, Virginia, he had a sister Lois, and by all accounts he was a mama’s boy spoiled to the core. He completed the eighth grade and decided school wasn’t for him. Yes, my daddy was a drop out who could barely read. He relied on his charm and good looks to get him by. He had a quick temper due to his lack of education. The military was the answer to Louise’s prayers. He served in Korea, but the military couldn’t control Sonny either. He was discharged dishonorably. The exact reason is unknown. At least that was the story.

Joyce Grimes was born in Chatham, NY. Her grandmother, “Big Nanny” raised her with her seventeen aunts and uncles. The bastard child of Hannah Grimes was born very sickly. The oven in Big Nanny’s house was used as her incubator. Joyce did not know Hannah as her mother until years later. She didn’t know who her birth father was until years after his death. Joyce somehow survived her ailments and frailties and had an active childhood.

The little country girl, after graduation, would go to the big city (Albany, NY) with her best friend. They would hang out at the Albany hot spot. Joyce met Sonny during one of her escapades to the city. The man in uniform caused Joyce’s heart to go pitter patter. The tall slender, handsome man caught her eye. She was in trouble and did even know it. The courtship ensued and Sonny knew he was going to get some of the sweet stuff. He just had to bide his time. His intentions were to hit it and run.

There’s a saying, “the eyes are the window to your soul” and Joyce, well, she was in love. She couldn’t see through his rose colored glasses which hid his true intentions. In the wedding picture you can see in Sonny’s eyes the expression, “I’m not here by choice.” Sonny manipulated the situation and got Joyce drunk. He knew she couldn’t hold her liquor and a few drinks is all it would take to make her vulnerable to seduction. The plan was made and the trap was set and Joyce was snared. Sonny’s one night of pleasure turned into a life time of aggravation. He didn’t intend to leave anything behind. He caught his prey, but the table was turned. He was snared by his own trap. A child was not in the plan, but here I am. Unto them a child was born, Edward Emil Cagé. Actually, Cage, I changed the name to Cagé later.

Because of me, Sonny was forced to do the honorable thing. I’m not saying it was a gunshot wedding. I’m just observing his facial expression in the picture. Does he look happy to you? It looks a little forced to me, but hey, we never talked about his marriage to my mother. In fact we never talked about much of anything. OK, just relax; this isn’t the rag on my daddy section. The truth shall speak for itself.