The Brooch

She Knows

Pulling up home, Maple could see her mama waiting impatiently on the rickety old swing porch. She could feel the fire in her Mama's eyes singeing through all the way to the back of her skull before Uncle Jeffy pulled all the way into their cracked driveway.

"Uncle Jeffy.." Maple fearfully gulped.

"Just let me handle this baby girl." Uncle Jeffy said feeling slight empathy for His baby niece. For he too could see the ire on Mama Woods beyond flamed face!

But before Maple could even slide down all the way from her seat...

"Maple Joelle!" Mama Woods scowled speaking through her teeth still trying to maintain her outward composure.

"Naw Scar___"

"Don't you Scar me! You...you..." Mama Woods angrily hissed starting to raise her voice at her younger brother. "Don't you say another word! Eitha of you! Git in this house right now young lady... before I lose whateva temperament I have left and do what no lady should do... In public anyways for all the neighbors to see..."

"But Mumma..."

"I said git!!! Naw, young lady!" Mama Woods growled! "We will talk about this.... inside!"

"No Mumma!" Maple started to holler...

"Chilllld... if you don___"

"Listen to yo Mumma, Maple..."

"But uncle Jeffy! You..."

"Baby girl! Hush up and git! For I renege on my promise. And tan your hide myself!" Uncle Jeffy scolded!

"Fine!" Maple pouted and shocked by her uncle! And seeing as he was her elder, and knowing he was the only thing temporarily between her mama's hand and her hide, she reluctantly obeyed. She stomped into the house past her mother slamming the screen door shut as loud as she could! She stomped all the way to her room!

Uncle Jeffy started to follow suit...

"Oh no! Not you!" Mama Woods growled at her little brother.

"Naw Scar__"

"No!" Mama Woods said raising her voice. "Don't you sweet talk, Scar me!!" She fussed! "You've caused enough for one day!"

"Whut did I do?" Uncle Jeffy fussed!

"Whut didn't you do?" Mama Woods fussed back!

"I brought her home that's what I did! And and and..."

"And nuthin!!" Mama Woods said taking a deep breath in... "I'll deal with you lata!"

"I'm a grown man, Scar!"

"But you ain't actin like it!" She hissed! "Gone all the hours of the day! Skippin the Loard's word! Hidin from yo future! And you know who very well I'm talkin bout! And ya smell... like a brewery!"

"Look, I know your upset... but..."

"You have no idea baby brother... how upset I am! But rat naw, I can only deal with one child!"

"Scar... I'm tryin to..."

"Tryin to Whut?!? Influence my child to be even more of a heathen! Like you?"

"Okay look Scar..." Uncle Jeffy said deeply taking a breath in ... "Naw, Naw...let's just sit to the kitchen calm ourselves and not hoop holla out here for your sake and Maple's! And anymore of my sanity for that matter! We'll go inside and have a civilized conversaaa___"

"Oh just go home Jeffy!" Mama Woods said shooing her brother away... "Gone! Git!"

Dang it alive Scar! Get off your high horse and shut up for a second!"

Mama Woods gasped! "How.... Dare you___You.... you___"

"She knows Scar!" Uncle Jeffy yelled! He yelled so loud the neighborhood cats once again screeched and hissed at the bellowing voice of a now very frustrated Uncle Jeffy..

"She knows Whut?" A very startled and embarrassed Mama woods whispered.

"Probably everythang..." Uncle Jeffy groaned... "More than you care for her to even know big sis. Naw for the love of God... can I come in.?" He said to his very flustered sister...