aiko yumi

Part I

Ruby sat with her back against the windowsill. It was hot as hell in Chicago this summer and it only seemed to get hotter with each passing day. Her sister Lettie had returned from a trip to their brother's home with their childhood friend Tic. Ruby knew she would be back. Lettie could never sit still in one place for too long. Plus she knew her brother wouldn't exactly welcome her with open arms since Lettie had missed their mother's funeral. Their brother was known to hold a mean grudge and he was mad as hell when Lettie wasn't there. Although Ruby couldn't completely fault her.

They each had a complicated relationship with their mother. She would often leave her children at home as she traveled and entertained. Her friends and parties took a substantial amount of her attention. Leaving little time to her children.

Ruby and Lettie's mother was a stunning woman with warm skin and expressive eyes. A Creole woman by way of Louisiana, it was rumored that they came from a long line of hoodoo workers and voodoo priestesses. Ruby really didn't know because they never had much contact with their mother's family. It was as if she wanted to erase her past.

Disappearing into Chicago from down South, she used her beauty to gain favor with the elite of Chicago. Their mother was never without a suitor. Wealthy businessmen from the north side of Chicago often would darken her doorstep under the cover of night. They gifted her with the finest perfumes, furs and gems. They would give her anything her heart desired. Well anything but to openly be seen with a Creole woman.

It was rumored that Lettie was actually the daughter of one of those wealthy businessmen. Their mother never confirmed or denied the truth of this statement. Her sister's light creamy skin and silkier hair set her apart from her sister. Ruby did not hate her sister but she often wondered what life would be like with the privilege of lighter skin.

Ring. Ring.

Ruby was jarred from her thoughts. She let out a breath as she pick up the phone with her hand. Placing it to her ear, she said, "Hello."

"Is this Ruby?," drawled the speaker.

"Yes it is."

"This is Stack. I was wondering if I could see you tonight."

"Listen Stack. You may be a nice man but..."

"But...what?"

"I don't wanna waste your time..."

"You don't want to waste my time? Listen baby you'll never waste my time. Matter of fact I have all of eternity."

Ruby let out a low breath. Stack was charming she had to admit to herself.

"So what do you say? I can get us a table at Club DeLisa. They play jazz and tonight is special. Preacherboy will be playing the blues."

Ruby thought for a moment. She loved the blues. It reminded her of the few happy memories she had with her family. Her mama would put on a blues record and she would dance in circles in the living room of the two bedroom apartment with her sister as their giggles filled the air. Their mother would gyrate her hips as her pearly white teeth shined and her eyes sparkled. Their brother would strum his guitar to the music. Yeah those were happy memories.

"So...what do you say?"

"Uhm...yes. I would love to go to listen to the blues with you."

His breath caught in his throat. Or as much breath as the undead could have. There she stood before him...Annie...but that was impossible because Annie was gone. Long gone like his...He couldn't bring himself to say it.

With a hand on her hip and a snap of her finger he was entranced. The royal blue of her dress flowed against her rich skin. Her red lips and bright smile made his feet feel like cement. He wanted to bask in her presence. She reminded himself of what he was missing...home...The Delta.

He hadn't returned in years since that night. He had followed his little cousin Sammie to Chicago. He had made his brother a promise. A promise he would keep until the end. Watch after Sammie. Let him live his life.

He was always there. In the shadows watching over him. That's what led him here to her. Sammie was set to play later tonight and he wanted to see him perform.

She belted. "Come on over baaaabay. Cooooome on over..." Stack's attention was brought back to the present. To her. She swayed back and forth on stage with a woman singing. Together they looked like swirls of caramel and chocolate. A flurry of red and blue with shining eyes and beautiful smiles.

He had to speak to her. He made his way to the stage as she exited along the stairs with the woman from earlier. There appeared to a tense exchange between the two. Stack could sense the familiarity between the two but also the disconnect. The other woman walked past himself without so much as a glance. He moved into the path of Annie...

"Shit," he thought. He knew her name wasn't Annie but fuck if she didn't remind him of her. She looked at him with big doe eyes and an arched brow.

"Can I help you?" She firmly stated and tensed her body as if preparing to defend herself. She was obviously was still tense from her previous conversation.

His mind went completely blank. He stuttered. Stack never stammered. He always had a slick word. But he was speechless.

"Uh...hmm...I mean my name is Stack."

"Okay...Stack can I help you or...?" Her impatience with him taking up her time emphasized as the or rolled off her tongue. She had an important thing to prepare for. She was finally going to the department store to apply.

"I just wanted to introduce myself." He ran a hand down his face and shuffled from side to side. He collected his thoughts and gave a bright smile. The twinkle of his gold tooth bounced against the city lights.

"You sang mighty fine up there."

"Mighty fine? You must not be from here." Ruby quickly picked up on the southern drawl of his voice. It was slow and sweet like molasses. "Hmmm," she thought, "these country men keep coming up to Chicago hoping and praying for a better life. Chicago the same as Mississippi. Just with tall buildings."

"Well thank you," she said. "I must get going. I have something important to do." Stack moved his feet as Ruby attempted to move around him. Slightly disconcerted, Ruby lifted her eyes to meet him.

"I was just wondering if I could call on you some time?"

"Call on me? Yeah you are definitely not from here. Listen I don't have much time and I have places to be. Now could you kindly move."

Stack felt the slight sting of rejection but refused to allow that to deter him.

He said, "Yes call on you. You look like a proper lady. I would never want to disrespect you or your time. I just want a few moments with ya."

Ruby knew he wouldn't let up until she agreed so she huffed, "Fine."

Stack turns Smoke and a century later he sees someone familiar.

2013 Interview

no nonsense big sister ruby vs nonsense little brother stack

Back to a time he shared with his brother. When they sat on the porch of her wooden shack with slices of watermelon covered in salt and cold water in mason jaws that dripped condensation. Annie's laugh filled the air with Smoke's lips tilted in the smallest smirk.

Seeing Ruby made Stack miss his family. His twin. The other half of his soul. Ruby couldn't understand why this man starred at her or why he blocked her at every attempt to walk past. She didn't quite understand why he seemed to stumble over his words when he seemed so smooth with others.

She didn't understand she reminded him of home. Clarksdale. Mississippi. The Delta.

But once he shared how she reminded him of family that he had long lost contact with, Ruby understood. She herself understood what it felt like to be separated from family especially siblings. It started with her mama. Days and sometimes even weeks spent without her in her childhood. To stretches of time without her brother and sister. Her brother moved away years ago and her sister avoidant of attaching herself to any location too long for fear it would slip through her fingers.