A Jazzful Heart

Chapter 4 - Aunt Ruby's home

A/N - So, most jazz I know started in around 1920 which was HUGE in New Orleans and I've only visited New Orleans once in 1998 or so.  Feel free to comment on how I need to edit this to make it more accurate.  P.S. I got the recipe for Crawfish Etoffee here - http://www.neworleansonline.com/neworleans/cuisine/traditionalfoods/etouffee.html

As soon as the Mass was over, Aunt Ruby and Sadie managed to make it to Aunt Ruby's house which was behind the French Quarter.  Sadie had never been to a place this grand.  It had a spiral staircase with metal and marble floors.

"It ain't much," Aunt Ruby said, "but it's home." 

Sadie wasn't complaining, she was trying to find the right words in her situation.  "I never have seen such a place, my old room didn't have any windows, this place has so much sun light!"

"You know, you look like your momma when you smile child."  Aunt Ruby pulled out a chair in her meager kitchen. "You like Crawfish honey?"

"Sure, I haven't had that in a long time, but I do like it, you need some help?" Sadie really wanted to help out plus she was good in the kitchen, her brothers always needing something decent to eat when all their step daddy had was beer or some kind of whiskey.

"You don't mind washing up, I could sure use your help" Aunt Ruby said with one of her dazzling smiles, "so go ahead and start rinsing off them crawfish, I just got them fresh this morning before Church."

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After lunch was finished and Sadie insisted on cleaning up, Aunt Ruby showed her around her small apartment.

"It's just me and sometimes my nephew Miles comes to visit, but you don't pay him no mind." Aunt Ruby said, as she pulled out her extra couch for Sadie to sleep on.  "You got any extra clothes other than what you wearing child?"

Sadie looked down at her meager dress, the only nice dress she owned.

"No, I'm afraid not" Sadie looked sad and looked like she was ready to cry again.

"Hush child, it's okay, I think I might have a few places we can go check out later if you like, not that I have much money child, but I make do."

"What is it that you do anyway Aunt Ruby, if you don't mind me asking?"

"Well, if you must know, I do a little cleaning around the Church where you met me this mornin' and then I also clean houses for the wealthy.  It ain't much, but it gets me by.  I also sometimes will do some seamstressin' for the ladies, they don't like to fuss with needles much, but my momma taught me, and well, if it's for a little bit of cash, I don't mind a bit."

"Oh, can you teach me?  I'd love to learn how to sew."

"Sure, you got patience, I can teach you some."