Ruby: Second Draft

Kitten: “Ruby gon’ like dis fa sho.”

Kitten rolls out a quilt on the dew soaked grass at Bertha’s feet and motions toward the delicate flower patterns on it.

Bertha turns away from hangin the wash to talk to Kitten as she wipes her wet hands on her apron to dry them. Bertha Moves her feet slightly so she doesn’t step on the quilt.

Bertha: “You gon get grass stains on that if you ain’t careful.”

Kitten: I ain’t Bertha, I sprinkled some starch on it. Mama taught me all her tricks. Ruby gon’ like it I tell you. Look at dis Bertha. My quilt is gonna be da best at da fair.”

Kitten smiles broadly and pats herself on the back.

Bertha: “I always told you your quilts was good Kitten.”

Kitten: “Bertha, Ruby don know I’m gonna give it to her after. For a birthday present.”

Bertha turns her back to Kitten for a few seconds and resumes hanging the wash.

Kitten: “Hey Bertha you listen to me? You always daydreaming.”

Bertha: My name is Bertha Clementine Smith. Kitten calls me by both names when it suits her. Da old folk tease me cause I got two names as far as Kitten knows. I’m da oldest of three sisters. I came first den Ruby den Kitten. My ma name is Malie. She is named after her ma. We been on this farm as long as I can remember. Even when da civil war was goin on.

Bertha turns back to Kitten and smiles.

Bertha: “Kitten be in da mind of tellin me to go to da store on da way back from da fair.”

Kitten wraps her quilt up carefully as she talks to her sister.

Kitten: “Bertha what you cookin up na. Don’t you worry bout dat. You’ll know soon.”

Ruby sitting on a old stool milking the family cow. The stool suddenly breaks under her weight and the cow runs for the barn door.

Ruby: “Bertha! Bertha! Da cow don got loose.”

Bertha: Ruby was yellin my name from inside da barn. Dat one was stuck in da middle of da two of us most times. Ruby kept to herself most. She lost a bo in da war. He lied bout his age to get in so he could kill some white folk. He had a mean streak, dat one.

Bertha turns towards the barn and starts to run at a slow pace.

Bertha: “I’m comin Ruby.”

Bertha: Da cow answered to me and payed no tention to anybody else. Must be cause I raised it from a calf. It took me a good hour dis time to get dat cow back into da barn. I din have no time to be messin wit no milk cow. We goin to da fair and I had to get dressed. I put on my best for da quilt show. Kitten was real good at sowin. Ma taught her first das why she won all da contest at da fair. She was da first to learn how to read too. Das why she was so smart. den me, den Ruby. Ruby always was quiet. So we din know if she knew how to read before me.

Bertha: We never did get to da store. I was gonna get some fixins for a birthday pie. But a storm come up after Kitten won her blue ribbon. Ruby was cheerin the loudest at the fair. I know I said she was solum. But every now and den she wasn’t.

Ruby: Bertha I just knew my birthday was gonna be sunny and look here come a rain cloud. Look there.

Bertha: Don’t worry bout dat cloud ain’t no rain started yet. Just den the rain started. And it was a powerful rain too. We had to grab hands and slow down. Cause the wind picked up and started whis’lin a jig. Kitten started to fear we was not gonna get home in one piece. She didn’t like storms. So Kitten yelled at me pray! Bertha pray!

Bertha: Kitten scared easy and she knew I was always talkin to the Lawd bout somin. So I guess I should say somin to Him bout dis. But I was not a feared like Kitten so I told her in the loudest voice I could muster. “Kitten you pray dis time. You don’t have to yell.”

Bertha: Kitten started yellin at the top of her voice. What can I say, it musta helped her nerves.

Kitten: Lawd! Please help us get home fo dis storm carries us away to meet you. I had a real good day today on Ruby’s birthday but don’t let the devil ruin it all. Amen!

Bertha: Ruby said somin for the first time since cheerin at the top of her voice for Kitten.

Ruby: I wish dat you would pray peaceful like Kitten. Da Lawd can hear us even if we speak inside. You startin to make me scared. I was not feelin dat way a minute ago. Its my day and I’m not gonna let the devil ruin it.

Bertha: We all got each others hans real tight and we walkin real slow like. Da wind is starting to stop whis’lin. Ruby started to say somin else. I thought she was mumblin to herself bout Kitten. But she was prayin. Afterwards, she told me her prayer.

(flash back all the girls sitting a fire at home safe)

Ruby: Lawd I thank you for another birthday and I ask you for another. Calm my sisters restless soul so that she would learn to hear you when you talk to her. Lawd we trust you and we won’t  lean to our own way in these evil days, we promise not to do things that would cause hurt. We have found ourselves in harms way, Lawd and I don’t know why. But even if we did cause the storm like Jonah of old. we trust that you will be merciful to us and send us a big fish too.

Bertha: Dats when I stopped her. Why did you pray dat Ruby.

Ruby: Cause, I didt know why the storm came to us so sudden like. Thought we had don somin bad that we didn’t know bout.

Bertha: Ok. Ruby let me tell ya dis. The Lawd knew bout all our bad stuff way befo we did it.

Ruby: Yes, I guess so Bertha.

Bertha: You can’t guess bout dat Ruby you must be sure.

Ruby: Ok I’m sure.

Bertha: Well fine den. Da Lawd was beat and killed fo all the we did Ruby. Why would He send the storm? He won’t punish us since He punished Jesus for all our bad.

Bertha: Ok, Ruby take it back.

Ruby: Take what back?

Bertha: What you said in the storm. And pray again.

Ruby: Ok. Thank You Jesus for being punished for all my bad and my sisters bad too. Thank You for being merciful and saving us. Even if we don’t listen to You when You talk to us.  And finally Lawd thank You that You don’t answer every prayer.  Amen, I said first.  Amen, Kitten said.  And finally Ruby said Amen.

(c) copyright 2010 Shundra L. Moore, all rights reserved
Note: this story is not in the public domain

March 9, 2010 | Categories: flash fiction | Tags: Author Shundra L. Moore, Christian Fiction, Fiction, flash fiction, Ruby Second Draft | Leave a comment