The Brooch

How Could You?

While an over zealous Mrs. Crowder celebrated the return of the brooch, Uncle Jeffy carried down his kicking and screaming niece, down the long and winding driveway to his truck all the while Mama Woods angrily ranted...

"Let go of my child, Jeffy!" Mama Woods roared.

"Can't do that." Uncle Jeffy calmly replied.

"I said let her go!"

"No." Uncle Jeffy boldly uttered as they finally reached the truck. "Naw git in this here truck, Scar."

"I ain't gettin in anywhere with you! And neither is my daughter! Naw let her go!" She bitterly screamed.

Jeffy saw that his sister wasn't about to budge. He could see the flames of fury in her eyes. And from her point of view he couldn't blame her. But he also wasn't about to back down. So he did what he knew he had to do. He yanked his sister's handbag from her hands, but not before he forcibly plopped a very raging mad Maple in the front seat.

"Give me back my purse! And give me back my child!" Mama Woods growled.

"No." Jeffy refused.

"Maple! Get out the truck!" Mama Woods shouted! This time she didn't care for all who heard.

Maple started to open the door. But Jeffy quickly slammed the door shut. Maple tried again. But it was to no avail...

"Let me out!" An angry Maple demanded as she tried to push the door open once again.

"Stay put Maple!" Jeffy Demanded.

Maple refused...

But Uncle Jeffy wasn't budging. Maple quickly tried to slide to the drivers side to get out. But the door wouldn't budge. Uncle Jeffy had somehow cleverly managed beforehand, to rig the door shut to where only he could get in or out. It was like he knew ahead of time what was about to take place. A very frustrated Maple was now held against her will as her uncle and Mama had it out!

"If you don't let my child out that truck..."

"You'll whut?" Jeffy said not backing down.

Mama Woods swung at Jeffy. But to Jeffy's fortune, she missed. But that didn't stop her from trying again.

"Naw stop it Scar!" Jeffy fussed.

But Mama Woods was seeing red! She swung and swung again. This time she managed to catch her brother off guard and belted him in the mouth. Uncle Jeffy stared at his bitter sister.

"Okay. You got one in. Naw git in the truck." He said rubbing his sore jaw and fixing his spectacles.

Mama Woods wasn't backing down. She started to swing again.

"Dang it alive Scar! If you don't get yo butt in this truck rat now! I will put it in myself!"

"I like to see you try!" Mama Woods hissed as she dared her bother to come near. "I'm goin right back up to that house and I'm gonna take back whut rightfully belongs to our family!"

"Oh no you ain't!" Jeffy bickered. "You gonna get in this here truck Scar! Whether you like it or not!"

Knowing he had to keep hold shut the passengers door so Maple couldn't escape, and somehow get his defying sister in the truck, Jeffy did what he only knew to do in his current circumstance. He let his sister swing away again. In that moment, not only did he manage to keep Maple in the truck, but he at same time, was able to grab his sister in her failed attempted swing! He swiftly picked her up, opened the truck door, and shoved his out of control sister in the seat. The once little brother that Mama Woods could always topple and overpower, had now managed to handle and overpower her and Maple. And without barely even trying.

"Don't open the door Scar__" Jeffy said looking deep into his sister's eyes of fury. "Don't..." He uttered with a pleading expression as he leaned against the door.

For just a moment, a breathless Mama Woods temporarily backed down... Skeptically walking to the driver's side, Jeffy watched to see if Maple and Mama Woods would budge. Even if it was just an inch. He was prepared to battle them again if need be. To his luck, neither moved.

Jeffy shimmied his door open. Slowly he slid in his truck seat. He looked at his niece and sister. Neither would show him, their eyes. Jeffy started the engine. Maple's eyes stayed on the house where Mrs. Crowder now held her precious brooch hostage. Mama Woods held her daughter's disappointed hands.

"I'll fix this." She whispered to her heartbroken daughter. "I promise."

Jeffy pulled out of the driveway as the gate to the estate opened to let them out. And as the gate bolted shut behind... Maple cried.

"I hate you, Uncle Jeffy! I hate you!" She said leaning on her mama to cry.

The Long Road Home

As that saying goes, You could cut the tension with a knife.... Jeffy knew he had to answer for what he did. He knew there was no turning back. Yet He wondered how he was going to face his family and justify his actions and not lose them at the same time... He wondered, could it be possible?

"If you know whut's good for you, you'll take me to my car." Mama Woods lowly mumbled to her brother.

Jeffy started off down the road. But before he could even get near to where Mama Woods Cadillac sat, both Mama Woods and Maple could no longer ride in silence. In an uproar they started holler at Jeffy in the truck. And neither one was about to let up! They gave him an earful as their voices roared in fury...

"How could you?" Mama Woods yelled. "How could you do that not just to me, our family! To my daughter?"

"I trusted you, Uncle Jeffy! I trusted you more than I have ever trusted anyone in my life. I came to you for help! And you betrayed me!"

"I will never forgive you for taking my daughter's treasure! And for the lie you let live on me, mommy and daddy!"

"You ruined our lives!" Maple cried.

"Just wait till we get back to the house!" Mama Woods growled. "I'm gonna finish what I started last night with the skillet!"

"And I gonna help her butter it with the crisco!" Maple scowled.

Jeffy had enough... On the lone back road, and finally out of sight of Mrs. Crowder's estate, but  nowhere near Mama Woods Cadillac, Jeffy suddenly pulled over on the side of the vacant road.

"Are you done?" He said looking at his niece and sister.

"Not even!" Maple growled.

Jeffy sighed. Mama Woods started to open the door. Jeffy quickly leaned over and slammed it shut.

"For once, would you just stay put?" Jeffy fussed leaning back to his seat in sheer frustration. "Dagburnit!" He annoyingly shouted.

With a deep and heavy sigh, Jeffy composed himself.  He gazed at his boiling sister and niece. They looked like they were about to once again brake their silence and let Jeffy have it. But before either could open their mouths... Jeffy leaned over and hit the glove department as suddenly popped open. Mama Woods and Maple startlingly jumped. Just then without warning, He dropped something in Maple's lap. Just as Mama Woods and Maple were about to fuss... they both looked down in shock. To their surprise, it was the brooch. None other than Maple's brooch... But how was that possible?

"Uncle Jeffy? What did you do?"