JoAnn and Ms. Blackburn

JoAnn kept a secret, which was pretty hard for her to hide because she had a stay at home mom and three older siblings. Kal and Kel teased JoAnn at every opportunity with Jenine joining in when she was not hanging out or on her cellphone chatting it up with her friends. JoAnn's mom, Mrs. Wright received compensation each month from her late husband's pension. She gave JoAnn an allowance because she was unable to work being that she was still in school. Kal and Kel completed high school the previous year and were working as interns at Shapple on North 7th st., they said that college were in their long term plans but the Shapple gig was to good to pass up, they were really good at marketing Shapple's products. Jenine also held a part time job at the local bakery, she also was undecided in her career goals.

JoAnn seemed to be the only person in the family who had a sense of time and how important it was to manage it wisely. Mrs. Wright rarely left her home leaving household responsibilities up to JoAnn. Mrs. Wright owned the home that was between Bedford and Driggs Avenue in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. The convenience of the supermarkets in the neighborhood made it easier on Mrs. Wright to instruct JoAnn on what to buy when she did not feel up to food shopping. Mrs. Wright began to put her trust in JoAnn more and gave JoAnn an allowance of fifty dollars each month. JoAnn's siblings did not recognize their mother's need for comfort, kind words or the need to leave the house. It was always JoAnn, at her mom's whim. When Kal, Kel and Jenine would come home and sit at the kitchen table, it would be JoAnn they would tease. The boys would start and then Jenine would chime in, "Where have you been, JoAnn in the bedroom talking to Ms. Blackburn". "That doll is your only friend". But, truth be told they were right. JoAnn was doing quite well in school and her classmates were just classmates because JoAnn found their interests were not as hers. JoAnn, sullen would walk away, heading towards her bedroom she shared with her sister and Ms. Blackburn. She always found comfort in that cropped haired doll with her wide expressive eyes. Oh! Ms. Blackburn, "What am I going to do? My mom seems to be so unhappy. I am unfamiliar with family members and mom always told us to not tell our business to the neighbors".

Well! dear, Ms. Blackburn replied. "You have stashed away a pretty there is a lot of good things you can buy with all that money of yours. You could buy clothes, continue to save for college or contribute to pay for your mother's"...trailing off her words Ms. Blackburn looked at JoAnn rather serious and said "You are not a little girl anymore, remember what I am telling you. I don't know Ms. Blackburn all that stuff does not mean much to me, I mean material things. Anyways, I have more important things on my mind, I am going to the kitchen to clean up before mama starts to fussing and getting her pressure up. Kal, Kel and Jenine were still at the table when JoAnn entered the kitchen, she had hoped they had went back outside because once again the teasing began. Yet, JoAnn paid them no mind and went about cleaning the kitchen. After, the noise of bantering back and forth ceased at the table, JoAnn turned to her brothers and sister and made it very clear that she did not appreciate their behavior. The three of them looked at JoAnn, as if to say when did she get a backbone and proceeded to discuss a new topic. JoAnn bailed out and went to check on her mama who was in her bedroom lying down. She was stretched out in her bed, she looked relaxed, peaceful, lying there with her cropped hair and almond shaped eyes, she almost looked like Ms. Blackburn. Oops! JoAnn bumped into a lamp that was on the night table. Um! that sure was a loud noise, JoAnn thought to herself, "mama is usually a light sleeper. I wonder why she did not move...mama, still there was no response. JoAnn ran over to her mother and took her pulse, there was none. JoAnn's heart beat began to race faster with every passing minute. She suddenly let out a piercing scream, "MAMA don't leave me.

Kal was the first one to reach his sister, embracing her, apologizing to her. They were now altogether but alone at that moment watching their mother. The evening passed quickly with everyone doing their part in making Mrs. Wright homegoing what she would have wanted but it was not enough to lay Mrs. Wright out right. The Combyhere Insurance policy covered the cremation but that was it. Jenine contacted family we did not know and they were helpful and distant. The neighbors provided funds and food but it was not enough, and JoAnn knew it. She was in her bedroom talking to Ms. Blackburn. Well! Ms. Blackburn, I've been thinking about all the things I could buy with my money and knowing the way that I am; not having much use for material things. I would be rather sad if I spent all that money on myself. So, Ms. Blackburn I've decided to lay my mam out right. Yes! that is what I am going to do, lay our mama out right. Ms. Blackburn just smiled at JoAnn and said to herself, "Girl, you remind me of myself when I was your age, and just as JoAnn turned to leave her bedroom JoAnn paused and looked back at Ms. Blackburn and thought to herself; you know Ms. Blackburn you sure do look like my mama.