Riley woke up, sniffing the air. There was an aroma that flooded the room. "Is that what I think it is?"
Huey stretched. "Breakfast!" He said.
Riley looked at his brother, he smiled deviously. He added to the suspense with a mysterious cackle.
"What's so funny?" Huey asked.
"Oh, nothing man." Riley replied. Riley jumped off of his bed, and walked downstairs, still laughing.
Huey's eyes widened in fear. "No, it can't be." He said. Huey felt anxious, and he walked downstairs, hoping his brother was just being his cackling self.
"Thanks, Mr. Freeman." Jazmine said.
"No problem, baby doll." Grandad said, sitting at the table. The platters of food crowded the table. The food was succulent, kings couldn't ask for more.
Riley knew that Grandad only cooked like this when he was either on drugs, or when someone stayed over. He shrugged, Jazmine's stay has some ups to it, he thought. Shoving a forkful of food in his mouth.
"Good morning Huey!" Jazmine said cheerily. Huey looked at her. For a second he forgot how he felt, the feeling rushed back to him. "Morning." He said. He sat down at the only free chair, which was next to Jazmine.
Riley grinned knowingly, he cackled again. Huey scowled at him. Shut up Riley. He thought. Huey was never one to talk in his sleep, but he changed yesterday. What if he said something about Jazmine? Oh Lord. He hoped this wasn't the case.
"How was your sleep?" Grandad asked Jazmine.
"it was pretty good. The couch is really comfortable." the 10 year old said, politely.
Riley started. "Are you sure you wouldn't have prefered..."
Huey scowled, and kicked his shin under the table.
"OW! Hey man, what was that for?"
Huey didn't respond.
"You go kicking niggas unprovoked? That's messed up, Huey."
"Messed up? You thought 'nigga' was your name until you were three!" Huey replied.
"In my defense...you's a bitch." Riley said.
"Boy watch your mouth!" Grandad said.
"Are you guys going to repeat what happened yesterday?" Jazmine asked. The Freemans turned to her.
She now had the floor, the waiting silence was uncomfortable for her. "Uhh, because I remember you said that yesterday, Mr. Freeman, that's all." She started to chew again. "Good food." She said, pointing at Robert with her fork.
The eight year old looked at Grandad, then at Huey. He narrowed his eyes. "You still a bitch."
"Jazmine, will your parents be home at this time?"
"Yeah, they'll be leaving for work pretty soon. I just wanted to tell them goodbye. You still want to come over, Huey?"
Huey looked over at her. "Hmmm?" He asked.
"Yesterday I asked you if you wanted to come over, and you said 'okay.' You still want to?"
Riley snickered. Huey looked at her, ignoring his younger brother. "I'll think about it."
"Okay." Jazmine said happily. "What's so funny, Riley?" She asked.
"Oh, it's nothing. I was just thinking 'bout something I heard last night."
"What was it?" She asked.
"Riley heard something that shouldn't be discussed over breakfast." Huey bud in.
"Thank you, Huey, for stopping your brother talk about disgusting bullcrap." Grandad said.
"'Crap?' Grandad what happened to you? Did you become Bill Cosby when I went to take a dump?"
"I say crap." Grandad said.
"Rarely." Riley replied.
"I say it! Huey you've heard me say 'crap' before, right?"
Huey spoke honestly. "I don't remember you saying that as a substitute."
"I've said it! When we were at the supermarket, and I dropped my keys..."
Grandad's voice became more in the background of Huey's mind. Jazmine looked over to him.
"You want to go?" She asked.
"M-hm." Huey nodded.
Huey was up in his room, looking for something to read. Jazmine was in the bathroom. They were going to leave once she got out.
He looked back at his desk, and the picture was no where to be found. Huey felt satisfied. He went to his closest, typed the combination for his box and opened it.
There in the box, was the picture. He scanned it lovingly.
"Nigga where you at?" Riley said, coming into the room. Huey quickly hid the picture.
"What is it, Riley?" He asked, slightly irritated.
"What makes Jazmine think she can stay over? What's that girl's problem?"
"Why does it bother you so much?" The 10 year old asked his eight year old brother.
"Because a nigga needs his space!" He reasoned,
"She slept on the couch, and barely talked to you." Huey said.
"She can do that in her own home. I'm just saying."
"Well you can quit 'saying' she's going home."
"Yeah, and you're going with her." Riley said. He cackled again.
Huey rolled his eyes, and started leaving the room.
"Hey Huey! Don't fall asleep over there now!" Riley called as Huey walked down the stairs.
"You're a weird ass nigga Huey! Dreaming about dolphins and shit!"
Huey stopped in his tracks. Dolphins?
"What's up with you and dolphins? Man, if one of those things came crawling up to me, I'd be like- I'd be like, "You niggas is trouble!" Damn smiling fish."
Huey walked downstairs, relieved. Jazmine's dream must have influence Huey. Too bad he couldn't remember what he was dreaming about. He didn't even correct Riley, it all seemed like a waste. The picture was in between the pages of a book, completely intact.
Jazmine was standing in the foyer She had a bag filled with her paint supplies. "Ready to go?" She asked.
"Yeah."
"Hey, Jazmine. How come you don't invite me over?" Riley asked.
"Because I didn't think you wanted to come over." Jazmine replied, logically.
"Well you didn't ask." Riley sneered.
"Do you want to come over, Riley?" She asked.
"Hell no." Riley said calmly, he walked upstairs.
Jazmine looked at Riley, "Bye!" She shouted.
"Bye, little baby!" Grandad called from the basement.
"I'll be back soon, Grandad!"
"See you soon!" Grandad called.
Huey looked at Jazmine. He smiled, Jazmine laughed, as she opened the door. The two headed for her house.
"I was just thinking about why Riley was laughing so much at breakfast." Jazmine said, as they were crossing the street. "I think it's because he thought he looked like a couple!" She declared.
"Why would you say that?" Huey asked.
"I don't know. I just have a feeling." The 10 year old replied. They were standing on the porch of the house.
"He was laughing because I was dreaming about dolphins. I was talking in my sleep."
"Dolphins! That's like my dream! Did you interpret anything?" She asked.
"No. I don't even remember what happened." Huey replied.
"Okay." Jazmine said, "Huey, did something happen to you yesterday? You seemed different."
"I just did some thinking." Huey said. He opened his book. "Here." Huey said. He handed her the drawing back.
Jazmine held it, she forgot she lost the drawing. "You dropped it yesterday, I wanted to give it to you at the right time." Huey said.
"Oh, thanks. This one is one of my favorites!" she said.
"Mine too." He replied.
"Let's go to the backyard." Jazmine said, she lead the way. He almost expected her to grab his hand, but she simply unlocked the backyard door, and they walked in. The both sat on a bench.
"Where are your parents?"
"At work." Jazmine said. "You know how you said you did some thinking?"
Oh, not this again. Huey realized that he was going to have to admit his feelings sometime.
"What were you thinking about?"
"The drawing, and the letter." He replied.
"My drawing and letter? Oh, they both fell out of my pocket." Jazmine was so immersed in the moment, that she didn't even consider if Huey was going to confess to her about how he felt. She had dreamt about this before.
She was circling the Earth from space, and there were stars all around her. She would jump on a star, and visit what existed there. But wherever she went, she took the form of whatever was there. There was a star surrounded with opalescent maidens, combing their hair, by tranquil shimmering waters.
She would dive down to that star, and she would be wrapped in a silk robe.
As she travelled on the star, she would end up at a valley with a golden sky. Someone was standing there. It was Huey, he had travelled on the same path. The two of them were together in the field, with only the whisper of the mountain lilies as company.
Huey and jazmine would look at each other, and tell each other how they felt, and then they would fly away together, travelling from star to star.
Jazmine became swept away in her reverie. She was once in the moment, but she had disappeared into her own world.
"Jazmine." Huey said calmly.
"Huh?" Jazmine said, coming back into the moment. She wasn't thinking of the past, future, or daydreams.
"As I was saying about the letter, when I read, every word seemed so genuine. And when I saw that drawing, I was mesmerized. In the moment I saw it, I could see the my life with a brighter perspective, it was odd, and exhilarating. How do you see your life?"
Jazmine looked around her first. It was an interesting question. Her life was a place of love, of laughter, and light. She felt appreciation for those in her world, Ultimately, Jazmine thought her life was happy, and good.
"Well I see that life is like someone paddling a boat down a river: you can see, and experience new things, and also interact with what you experience. Life can be peaceful, and enjoyable, like the boat ride. Sure, there are times where you might hit a bump or two, or you get caught in a storm, but that's just another thing you'll have to face. So I think I have a happy life so far, with just a few minor bumps." She replied.
Huey looked at her. That's my girl. He thought, regretting what he thought instantly.
"Good answer." He said. No. Huey thought, regretting his regret. She is my girl, it sounds strange just thinking about those three words. He continued. Doesn't feel like something I would even say, I don't think I've ever said that.
"So you see the world is brighter now?"
"Slightly brighter." Huey said.
"I've seen you laugh, Huey." Jazmine said.
"You have."
"So will it still be like the tooth fairy?"
"I don't think so. I'm not giving anybody 25 cent cheques." He said. They both laughed.
"Wait, Jazmine, if you've seen me laugh, why would you comapre it to the tooth fairy? My laugh exists." Huey said,
"She exists in my imagination." Jazmine said, tapping the side of her forehead. "So does your mustache."
"What are you talking abo..." before Huey could finsh, Jazmine snatched his book off of his lap, jumped of the bench, and ran.
He should have seen that coming.
Huey jumped up, and ran after her. Where did she go? Jazmine climbed up the tree.
"Table of contents. Chapter 1." Huey scrambled up the tree, and threw a branch in the air. It distracted Jazmine, and he snatched the book from her.
"Hey! Give that back!" She said, jumping down from the tree.
"You're the one who stole it!" Huey said. Feeling a laugh grow in his throat. It felt right to be with her, he was glad she took the novel from him. With anyone else, Huey wouldn't have let anyone get away so easily, but with Jazmine it was more amusing get then vengeful.
Jazmine jumped down from the tree, and chased him through the yard. He jumped over the fence, while she opened it. They met on the driveway.
Huey ran for his house, but Jazmine got on her bike, and rode towards him. Out of instinct, he dove under Grandad's car Dorothy. Clutching the book under his arm. This chase was exhilirating, and easy.
Until he saw two emerald eyes peering at him, a laugh erupted from her lips. "Table of contents Chapter 2..." She read.
How did she snatch it?
Jazmine rode on her bike, while reading the book. "Page 1 It was a dismal day for those who..."
Huey dove at her out of no where. He was tenacious. Jazmine jumped off of her bike, onto her house's front lawn. Her puff balls came loose, and the two halves united to become her sphere of an afro.
Huey stood over her now. "Is that all you got?" He asked her. She's tough. Huey thought. That's my girl.
Jazmine showed her empty hands, smiling at her ingenious plan. Huey knew better.
He reached in her afro to retrieve his book.
"No!" Jazmine said, half smiling. She jumped on his back, while he was trying to walk.
"Get off." He said, half jokingly.
"Make me." She argued, in a happy tone. The two didn't speak for two seconds, until they burst out laughing. Jazmine got off of Huey's back. And they stood there, feeling absolutely elated.
Jazmine and Huey were both showered in grass and dirt stains, Jazmine's orange afro, had a branch sticking out of it, that caused her to laugh even more.
Then after three minutes, of undisturbed happiness, they both heard a jarring sound.
Click click
It was the sound of a car in the driveway. Someone stepped out.
"What the hell is wrong with y'all?" The voice said. Killing the laughter bubble. They both looked up, and standing there in all her glory was Aunt Miyanne.
She looked burdened with coats, and scarves. Her beret slanted lazily to the left side of her head. She dropped her bags to the sides of her pudgy shape, the suitcases receded from her, as if they were cowering in fear. The blemish on her right cheek looked as if it was scowling, her gray hair poked out from behind her sweet potato shaped head, and she wore the angriest expression her face could mechanize.
Tom and Sarah DuBois got out of the car, they looked solemn. Jazmine soon remembered: she hadn't seen aunt Miyanne in a year! And her aunt made some harsh impressions.
"Who is this nappy haired forest child, Tom? Where's your girl?"
"Uh...that's my daughter. She's not a 'forest child' aunt Miyanne, she's just a little messy."
"Hi, aunt Miyanne." Jazmine said, solemnly. Right now, she wished she was a forest child, if she were, she didn't have to live in the same house as her aunt.
It wasn't just aunt Miyanne's words that bothered Jazmine, but it was the way that her parents tolerated the harshity. She never understood why, but she didn't want to empathize. They didn't used to be such enablers!
No matter what excuse her parents had, it didn't matter to Jazmine. Aunt Miyanne was a critical killjoy! Here, Jazmine and Huey were having fun, and all aunt Miyanne has to do is SHOW UP and ruin everything!
"I better go inside to clean up." Jazmine said, angrily. She walked inside the house.
"Hi, Mr. and Mrs. Dubois, uh Mrs. Miyanne. I better go home."
"Oh you don't have to Huey. Please, keep Jazmine company, won't you?" Sarah asked Huey.
"Okay." Huey said. Glad he didn't have to leave, but he also felt as if he was getting suffocated. He practically ran into the house.
Jazmine stood in the upstairs bathroom, she put her pigtails back in their place. Huey got up the stairs in a hurry. Jazmine was startled by his rush.
"Huey! You scared me!" She said.
"That's your aunt?" Huey asked. "She's so overbearing."
"I know, and she's staying for who knows how long. I just don't want that woman around!" Jazmine said.
"But I'm going to have to live with it. My daddy told me to just see it as a challenge to overcome." Jazmine said, scrubbing her face. "It's really frustrating."
Huey had a blank expression on his face. He sat down on the toilet lid.
"Sorry about my complaints." Jazmine said.
"Don't worry. Basically everyone's family has some problem."
"Huey, as long as that woman's here, I'm going to be spending ALOT more time at your house."
Huey smiled. "That won't be a problem."
Jazmine laughed. "Huey, you're wonderful."
Huey waited out the feeling, but he couldn't shake it. This love was stuck with him now.
"Don't let her get you down." Huey stood up, and looked in the mirror, Jazmine did the same.
"I'm here for you." He said.
Jazmine turned away from the mirror, and grabbed Huey in a hug. "That's what I need right now." She said in a loud whisper.
For the first time that Jazmine gave him a hug, Huey lifted his arms from their usual dead hang, and hugged her back.