“Jazzy J… what is it?” Yolanda knew when something was off.
“What’s the matter, Jazzy J?” Yolanda quipped playfully with a sensitivity that she effortlessly breathes and it is just as easily felt by those around her.
“Oh, …. you know girl…. …” shrugging her shoulders and hanging her head but also lifting her tone as Yolanda looked into her eyes while tilting her head to the right in a compassionate moment.
Yolanda hands over a piece of milk chocolate with a caramel filling. This was the perfect gesture and it helped change the mood.
“Jazzy, tell your sister ‘yo, if you could be anywhere right now, with anyone….
…With who and where would you be?” …. Yolanda lifted Jasmine’s chin and opened her palm to signify her insistence that Jazz speak. Yolanda was standing directly in front of Jasmine, giving her soft eyes over to her friend, roommate and confidant.
“I gotchu girl, tell your sister what it is..” Yolanda implored.
“Ok girl, I would be with my mom…. And …. ….. My dad ….
We’d be in Cincinnati, at our first apartment…..”, Jasmine then trailed off, closed her eyes, inhaled and then continued.
“So…
-That’s when we lived together, all three of us. Ma would wipe around my mouth, you know…? She’d wipe the chocolate with a wet tissue…. ….. Dad…..
I don’t know….
-He would smile, kind of quiet… but cool, my dad was cool, you know, he was cool and that time was so calm, ya know??”
After sharing this Jasmine looked up to the right and reminisced.
“Jazzzz that’s amazing!! You spelled it out, I’m proud of you, Jazzy girl….
You feel a little lighter? You got to speak -it…. Get it out, girl… like Mr. Paul would say.” Yolanda felt proud, this was her time to show how well she could connect with Jazz and Jasmine did feel a bit lighter now. Jasmine liked having Yolanda near her.
“Thank you girl. You —
-you -do make me feel better….
Yoly, girl…….” Jasmine paused awhile, the space was pregnant with quiet anticipation. “You are my sister”.
“That’s right girl..” Yolanda’s smile exuded a confidence coupled with a sense of achievement. She felt good about herself knowing Jasmine was in a better mood and it was due to the words of Yolanda… at least that’s what Yolanda told herself.
Philip Dane 