It was a sunny, but chilly, autumn afternoon in Woodcrest. It had just entered November and the whole city was getting ready for the holidays. Neighbors were starting to put out their Thanksgiving and Christmas decorations, Main Street was putting up the Christmas tree at Town Square, and the malls were getting busier and busier by the week.

It was the worst time of the year for 24 year old Huey Freeman, who was sitting on his front porch smoking a Black and Mild. He had picked up the dirty habit not too long before graduating college. He wasn't proud of smoking, but whatever. He was going to quit….one day.

All these unnecessary cheer and joyful façades were irritating to him. A fake holiday about giving thanks and being grateful for what you have, just to be followed by another fake holiday where people fight tooth and nail to buy the best spoils for their 'loved ones'….madness. He didn't like to partake in any of it, but for the sake of how festive his family was, he endured nonetheless.

He scrolled through his phone, not paying attention to anything in particular, until he came across a photo of his ex, Rasheeda. She was a skinny, brown-skinned, woman with box braids and dark brown eyes.

Huey grimaced at the unoriginal pose she took for the picture: her butt facing the camera first (not really much to show back there), as she looked over her shoulder, tugging on her long black braids. The caption read: 'You coulda had a BAD BITCH!' Wow…no doubt who she was talking about. They had broken up over a year ago. She talked about blocking him and cutting off all communication between them, but she just liked to show off for him out of spite.

They met in college, where they both majored in African/African-American History. They had been dating just shy of a year before Huey called it off right after they graduated. Rasheeda had been entertaining other men through social media and Huey was sick of it. It was like she lived for social media and not her own self. She had no authenticity, no originality, basically nothing interesting about her. Huey was starting to get bored after the fifth month, but decided to stay despite that. He thought he could make it work, but he wasn't going to entertain a female who was entertaining other guys. So he cut that shit off REAL quick!

Even afterwards, they had a few hook-ups just for casual sex, but that was it. She tried to convince him of going back out with her again, but Huey knew better. She had a habit of trying to get what she wants through sex, a pattern Huey had picked up on and he wasn't going to fall for it anymore. The sex was…alright…but not enough to hex him into staying.

He took another puff of his black and mild before ashing it against the concrete on the ground and put it next to one of the pillars for later. A call came through on his phone. The caller ID read: Riley. He swiped the green phone icon and put the phone to his ear.

"Hello?" Huey muttered.

"Aye, you at the crib?" Riley shouted. There was loud rap music in the background.

"Yeah, why?" Huey got up off the porch and headed inside.

"Bet! Leave da door unlocked before you go to bed. I think I left my house key in da kitchen." Riley strained to be heard over the loud music.

Huey went into the kitchen and began to look around and there it was, on top of the microwave.

"I'm not leaving shit unlocked Riley. You must not have learned from when Ed and Rummy jacked Granddad's car AND your bike when you were 8! Let alone you STILL wouldn't turn they asses in!"

"Nigga would you shut the fuck up 'bout dat shit!? Damn! You know damn well I ain't no snitch, nigga!" Riley hollered even louder. Huey rolled his eyes as he pulled the phone away from his ear.

"I rest my case.." Huey muttered.

"So you just gon' lock me out in da cold nigga?!" Riley's voice rose like Granddad's. They were definitely their grandfather's grandchildren.

"Riley, chill the fuck out. I found your key, I'll leave it under the doormat." Huey said grabbing the key from the microwave and walking back towards the front door.

"Oh yeahhhh righttt. Cause that's not the FIRST PLACE burglars gon' look before breaking in dumbass nigga!" Riley shouted sarcastically.

Huey hit the red 'End' button and put his phone back in his pocket. He opened the front door and stepped outside to put the key where he said he was going to put it. After that he stopped and looked across the street, where a silver 2018 Mercedes Benze E-class Coup pulled into the old Dubois family home driveway, followed by two large U-HAUL semi-trucks that parked on the curb.

It's been almost 12 years since anyone stepped foot in the old Dubois home. That 'For Sale' sign has been up ever since they moved out. However, Huey did notice how there have been repair and maintenance men doing work on the house for the past year. The house used to be a tannish-grey, but it was painted a denim blue, with white trim around the window panels and pillars and a bright orange door. And now there were finally new people moving in…or…person?

Huey grabbed his black and mild from where he left it and sat back down on the porch, reaching into his pocket and lighting it up. As he drew in a puff, the Mercedes door opened followed by a long slender leg in black, fitted leather, knee-high boots extended out. A light-skinned woman got out and did a once over over the house, like she was taking it in, almost like it was familiar to her.

Huey did a once over at the woman. She was wearing dark sunglasses, a black, faux fur, Russian style hat, a red, wool, trench coat with black buttons and black jeans and she had a mini, white, Tory Burch shoulder purse with a gold chain …very fashionable, Huey noted.

Crew men were piling out of the trucks and began to unload boxes and furniture. She went up to the front door and unlocked it, opening it for them to start taking things in. She walked up to one of the men who looked to be the supervisor and wrote something down on a piece of paper from what looked to be a large golden locket in her necklace. She tore off the paper, closed the locket, and handed it to the man. He took the paper, read it, nodded and proceed to unload.

The woman then walked to the corner of the driveway and pulled the"For Sale" sign out of the ground, which had a SOLD sticker plastered across it, and put it in her car trunk. Huey stood up ready to go back inside, until the woman removed her hat and threw it in her back seat, shaking her curls free. Her hair was in thick, honey, curly tresses falling down past her shoulders and around her face. She walked around the front of the house and began to stare at it again.

Huey was now very curious. Those curls… those natural ringlets of auburn coils, the way they turn blonde near the ends. They looked so familiar, but he couldn't remember from where.

She reached into her purse and pulled out a pack of menthol Marlboro cigarettes and lit one up using a zippo lighter. She flipped the lighter closed and drew in a big puff as she watched the men unload her things. She then turned around, like she knew she was being watched, but didn't look at Huey directly.

Huey slightly felt uncomfortable from how this mysterious woman was looking at him. He saw that she was taking notice of the house, like she knew who's house it was. He put out his black and mild and stood up, unsure of whether to talk to her or head inside. Then, she slowly removed her sunglasses, as smoke poured out of her lips, and Huey nearly choked.

Those eyes…no other person alive had those eyes…except…

"Jazmine?" Huey whispered. As if she heard him, she began to slowly step backwards. He could see her lips quivering from here. "Is that you?" Huey walked off his porch steps and across the pebble-stone walkway. She started walking back more quickly. "Wait…Wait!" She put her sunglasses back on and immediately turned around to go back inside. "ELIZABETH!.." Huey shouted walking across the street.

The woman stopped.

He knew it. It was her! He was the only one who knew her middle name outside of her parents and maybe Riley and Granddad, but none of them referred to her as that name like he did. He only called her that when he was annoyed with her and tried to get her stop doing what she was doing or trying to console her when she was sad…and now, he had his confirmation.


The Dubois family were their close friends and neighbors when they were younger. They used to come over for game nights, Sunday and holiday dinners, or any other event. The most they saw of the husband, Tom, was when he would have to stay with them after he and his wife, Sarah, would argue…which was FREQUENTLY. Whether they knew it or not, it had a huge impact on their daughter, Jazmine, who was Huey's best friend at the time.

Her parents argued so much, that whenever Tom wasn't staying with them, Jazmine would actually come over and spend the night some nights. She would climb that same old, oak tree on the side of their house, crawl across the flat part of the roof and knock on Huey's window. Huey would make a palette on the floor and sleep there, while he let Jazmine sleep in his bed. He didn't mind at all. Honestly, he loved it when she spent the night. He felt good knowing he was that one she would always run to.

Until their 7th grade year, when Tom and Sarah were divorcing and selling the house. It was a big blow to both of them, as much as Huey tried to hide it. They had started getting close recently, and now she was leaving.

He remembered seeing those emerald eyes for the last time, filled with tears, all the way from across the street as she hopped in her mother's car and they drove away. She didn't say an official goodbye, didn't cry and beg him to convince her parents to let her stay, didn't meet him at their original hang-out spot 'The Hill' to tell him how she felt. Nothing! She was just gone.


She slowly turned around, her sunglasses were now pushed all the way up on her nose, while she looked at the ground. He slowly made his way onto her property but stopped right in the middle of the driveway.

"You don't remember me?" Huey asked. He could see her fidgeting with her lighter and her mouth was quivering violently. "Jazmine? That is you isn't it?" Huey walked closer with a curious, almost smile on his face. "It's me, Huey Freeman!"

She nodded and removed her sunglasses again, still looking at the ground. She took another quick puff from her cigarette before dropping it and squishing it with her boot. She softly blew out the smoke as she slowly looked up at him with that same, signature, meek look she used to give him.

Huey almost did a double take. She was….BEAUTIFUL! Her face had slimmed down, giving her high cheek bones and a sharp chin, her eyes were just as dazzling, if not more green than he remembered, her frame, from what he could tell, was slender and fit, but still voluptuous. She was a woman now! He was in utter awe, as much as he tried to hide it.

"Man..I can't believe this! It's been so long! H-How have you been?" Huey asked, unsure of how to greet his old friend. Jazmine gave an awkward, somewhat painful smile. Huey gave an awkward look as well. She just remained silent. "I mean, I know I'm not much to look at, but I understand if you don't recognize me either." Huey smirked.

Jazmine thought quite the opposite. He was EVERYTHING to look at! His hair was still in his big, if not bigger, thick Afro. He had nicely trimmed facial hair along his jaw, chin and a little mustache. His face was firm and determined. He was built like the Gods, which Jazmine could easily see from his pecs, bulging shoulders and arms, he was no weak man. She had to pull herself out of her thoughts. She shouldn't be looking at him like this right now.

She just opened her golden square-shaped locket, which had a 2 inch sketch pad and a small pencil inside. She wrote on the paper for a minute, tore it off and handed it to him. Huey gave her a questionable look but took the paper and read it.

'I'm so happy to see you! You look great! Looks like we're going to be neighbors again! Just like old times' and she added a smiley face.

"So you're moving back in?..like permanently?" Huey asked. Jazmine nodded and smiled more genuinely. She wrote another note into her little locket. At this point, Huey was really confused about why she was writing. She tore off the piece of paper and handed it to him.

'Mom & Dad lowered price for me, all paid for.

Signed the deed to me.

Officially mine!'

"Wow! That's great, really! You think you can get Granddad to do that for me?" Huey joked. Jazmine gave a silent chuckle and shook her head. "Well, welcome back, Jaz. It's SO good to see you! We really have to catch up!" Jazmine grinned and was about to write some more but Huey stopped her, putting his hand on hers. "Jazmine…why won't you talk to me? Is something wrong?"

And in one second Jazmine's smile was gone. Her mouth began to quiver again. Huey waited for her to say something, but her lips just continued to shake, like she was straining to form words. Then her eyes filled up with tears before she hid her face in her hands. This was almost painful for her. She couldn't find it in herself to let him know.

"Hey, hey, hey, what is it?" Huey returned to his usual scowl. "Come on now, you know I never liked to see you cry." Huey took one of her hands and pulled it down from her face, holding it snugly. "You can tell me Jazmine."

She shook her head 'no'. She looked at their hands intertwined as tears fell down her cheeks. She didn't expect to seem him so soon, and she wasn't prepared to tell him yet, let alone all her old friends. But they had to find out some time.

"Why not?" Huey was starting to get worried.

She looked into his wine-stained saucers, drew in a breath and sighed. With her other hand, she formed a fist and softly touched her knuckles to her lips 3 times. Huey's eyes widened in shock as he released her other hand.

She pointed to herself ( I ), she stroked her left index finger with her right index finger (can't), she made a 'four' hand shape and tapped her chin, just below her lips with her index finger (speak). She mouthed the words she signed, just moving her lips…no sound.

He didn't believe it…he couldn't believe it!

She was mute.


So bear with me on this one! This is a story I've thought about writing for a while. I believe adding a communication barrier automatically intensifies the plot and gives way for so many possibilities. Let me know what you think! PLEASE REVIEW and I will update!