The Girl that Lived Next Door

Hi my name is Mable, I'm a nine-year-old girl who lives in the town of Bloody Springs, Mississippi. On Saturn Street I live in a wooden blue house . I live with my mother, father and grandmother. Kids at my school looked down at me. I've found out it's because I don't come from an upscale family like most of them. My nana said not to worry, because I unlike most I have  brains and skills and that's what the world is really looking for. Let me tell you about the days leading up to meeting Jessie.

It was June 1, 1978 a Sunday morning while having breakfast my dad said "So I hear the land lady talking about some folks form out of town moving in next door and they have a little, who seems to be the same age as Mable." My mother was shocked that anyone would want to move into that old dusty trailer. I looked over to her and said, "It's not that bad mama, all it needs is a good clean up and some love." "Now Mable you know better to talk with your mouth full, now swallow that food before you choke." She reply back sternly. My dad got up kissed my mother goodbye and told me to stay out of trouble and went out the door. It was sad that he had to work on a Sunday but like what mama said, "every dollar count, in these times". I got up and follow mama to the kitchen to clean up. We then walked towards the back of the yard to get a head start on this coming week laundry. As I handed my mother the pins, I couldn't help the joy flowing in my body of having a friend. "Mable come on now, you are moving slow my love. "Sorry mama." I said, "What's on that pretty little mine of yours sugar?" I told her that I could not help but think about having a new friend to play with, someone that was my age and what perfect timing. School was out and it was summer. I went on and on about what all games we would play and trips we would take to the pond. My mother said that she was happy to see me looking forward to an adventure this summer. She also made it clear for me to not get all worked up about this, for the family seemed to be a little reserved, and out of the norm. I promise her that I wouldn't, I sat back on the bucket and thought to myself. How did mama know they were out of the norm? What would make her say these things? Within a quick second I snapped out of it and fly over to nana room where I caught her sinning to the birds out her room window. I knew that if there was one adult, I could ask questions to, it would defiantly be her. She'd never hide things from me and would always be straightforward with me. I asked her "Nana my mama said that the folks next door seem to be reserved and out of the norm. What does mama mean by that?" She sprang up and said, "Well hello to you too baby." I chuckled, apologized and gave her a hug bigger than life. She then told me that some things were not meant for little kids to know. I found it out of the norm that she wouldn't have told me. Later on, that night while in bed, I try not to think of it too much.

June 2, Monday of 1987, I could hear voices coming outside my window. I sprang out of bed and peeped through the window. I could see a big old read truck parked in the driveway and there were no signs of people outside, but I could spot the boxes and I could hear yelling from inside the trailer. I got dress and went outside to our living room, and I asked mama if it was okay for me to go outside. "Sure, thing sugar, wait for me am going to go greet them too." Both of us then walked out the door together. As we got close to the walkway, I spotted a little ginger girl. Her hair was as red as blood and her skin looked like a caramel chocolate bar. "Jessie, can you get my phone so I can daddy, please?" Asked her mother in the softest voice ever. "Hello there, I'm Samantha and this is my daughter Mable, we live next door to you and we saw that you are moving in. Just thought it would be a great idea to come and say hello and extend the warm welcoming to the town." Said my mother "Oh hi am Jennifer and this is my daughter Jessie. Thank you for coming over, I'd shake your hands but as you can see, they are a bit dirty." She invited us over for dinner. My mother said sure. They kept on chit chatting and I took that opportunity to walk over to Jessie and say hi. She seemed shy at first later she said that she wasn't the kind to make friends. She said that people were not meant to be trusted. She lifted her hand, and I was able to caught a glimpse of her wrist which had healing cut wounds. I did not ask her at the time for we had just met. I promise myself that I would ask her later. I told her that we could play together, she said sure that would be nice. Our little conversation got interrupted by my mother saying it's time to go. Later that day Jessie was in the yard sitting down. I decided to go over since Uncle Tom had just arrived and mama had gone to the supermarket and nana was asleep. I never really like being alone with him. I ran through the back door, so I did not have to greet him and sat next to Jessie on the lawn. Hi again I said, and she looked at me as though I was crazy. I guess it's because I was trying so hard to slow down my breathing. She asked if I was okay, and I said yes. We started playing when Uncle Tom yelled my name. I pretended like it wasn't me when Jessie said, "I think that man is trying to get your attention." I told her no, she said yes and that I should listen and hear it for myself. I looked at her and asked if we could play closer to her steps. She must have seen the fear in my eyes, for she didn't even ask why and just said to follow her. I walked right behind her, and we sat closer to the steps. Jessie said that I should be open to her if we were going to be best friends. She asked me why I was afraid of the man calling my name. I told her who he was and that he had touch me in places that I thought should be private to me. I started to cry, and she said it would be okay. I heard my mother calling my name. I looked at Jessie and told her that I will see her tomorrow.

That same evening over dinner mama brought up that we went to say hi to the people next door. My grandmother was upset that she could not have gone over with us to greet them. My father on the other hand thought of it strange that the man of the house was not around help on pack. Mother said that he was out finding a job so that they could get by. She said that were from New Jersey and they needed to get away from that fast life. My dad laughs and says the stories from her don't add up. Mother said that she seemed nice. My father said that we should go over and see. My dad asked if Uncle Tom was around today I said yes and left the table. I took a bathe and went to sleep and all I could have think of is Uncle Tom. I cried myself to sleep that night. The next morning, I clean my room and I decided to just stay there and play. I heard the car pulled out the driveway so I assume that it was my mother because it as past ten. Within a blink of an eye uncle Tom was here but this time my granny was awake. I ran in her room for I knew he would not have done anything with her around. He said that he came to drop off my father tools and that he was off. Seem liked the day went by fast and the next thing we knew; we were sitting around the table of our new neighbors. The placed smelled great but the walls were melded. My mother brought over her most famous apple pie and said that it was for dessert. Jennifer said that she shouldn't have. Jessie's father Bill came home late and did not look too happy to see us over. He and my dad did a strong handshake and offer him a beer. My dad looked over at my mother and she smile and nodded her head saying yes. Bill laughed and said oh you had to get permission. My dad told him that a happy wife would lead to a happy life. Bill turned his head, looked over to Jennifer and asked if she was happy, she looked embarrass by the question and said of course she was. We all could have felt the tension in the house. My mother thanks Jennifer for having us and said that we should be going now. The next day mother had taken nana to the hospital, and I said that I would have stated home for hospitals were never my favorite place. Mother said to stay out of trouble. I told her that I would. Jessie came over to place and I showed her around the house. She said that her house used to looked like this back in New Jersey. I asked her why she moved. She said that her father use to be a preacher he stared drinking and then money became an issue. The lifestyle out there was more than they could afford. She went on saying that he had hit on her mother. Jessie stopped talking when the front door opened. Uncle Tom walked in held my hand tightly and said when he calls me, I must come to him. Jessie went off in the kitchen direction, I assume it was to hide. Uncle Tom then said I should kiss him; I did not want too but he bended my hand and said if I did not, he would cut it off. Jessie ran out the kitchen with knife and stabbed him in his back, he started to cry and grew angrier. He pushed me into the wall and slammed Jessie on the floor. He came on top of me, and Jessie stabbed him again. He felled on the floor and blooded rush out his body. Me and Jessie stayed there looking at either other, I was crying, she said I should stop be a wimp and toughen up a bit. I whipped my eyes. Jessie said that we should burn the house with the body or else we would go to jail. I told her I can't do that. I told her that we should wait for my mother. She said no and became very upset. I could hear my mother in the driveway.

"Mable where are you?" She said from outside, I froze, and I looked at Jessie who was crying. "I'm in the dining room mama." I replay. My mother scream and asked what happened. I started to cry, and Jessie started to cry even more. I told my mother everything. While we waited on the town sheriff to come. Jessie went home and my mother said that I should stay away from her. The police took the body away and? I had to go down to the station and made a confection. Jessie was sent to a girl's home, and I was once again friendless and summer was nowhere close to finishing.