“Who is going to tell her ‘bout this”?
Joy looked out quickly, scanned the room, only to stumble upon a non responsive team of her colleagues. Within this moment found a dismal response but a telling opportunity that explained how difficult these moments were for everyone.
This was now a quiet room of heads shaking and eyes panning over the ground. Answers were neither in the floorboards, walls or ceiling panels but eyes searched.
Until…. Jeanne looked up, “girl, you gotta tell her, aight… it’ll be tough but you are the one she seeks out now.” Jeanne said this with an assertion that held enough authority to convince Joy she had been designated for this task.
“Damn…. Ok, I will call her -in – this afternoon.” Joy swallowed and started scribbling a note to herself.
‘Meet Jazz at 1:15 PM’, this was followed with the words, ‘bring chocolates’.
Time to Break the News
“Jazz, can I speak with you in the Courtyard?” Joy was not comfortable and Jasmine knew that something was unusual… something was off. It was wrong even, intuition insisted.
“Yes Joy, what’s going on?” Jasmine was inquiring as they walked. “What is it?” …
“Jazz, we uh…. … hmmm….
We have been looking for your mom, we knew she was looking for you as well…. Of course …Mama’s love their baby girls…. ..”
“Yeahhh??…. What’d you find? Where is she? …” -Jasmine was intrigued and concerned.
“Jazz, girl……. …”
—
… “ …. She has passed…. I am really sorry to be the bearer of such news…. I know she loved, loved her baby, I know she did.” Joy bowed her head, closed her eyes and the courtyard went silent.
Jasmine did the same, her shoulders slumped and her stomach sank….
Philip Dane 