Looking In The Mirror
by
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Bernice, the mother had a knack for telling stories to the four children. One day she began to tell baby stories. Jennifer was the oldest so she began with baby Jennifer. When Jennifer was a baby she was such a beautiful child, when I rolled her around in her baby carriage, people from everywhere would stop and look at my beautiful baby."
"She also won a baby contest as the most beautiful baby in the city.
June was becoming anxious to hear her baby story.
"How did I look as a baby muda?" and June had a wide grin.
"Oh, you were so sickly and little that people did not have much to say, they just looked and said, she is so small”, and at that instance Bernice made an ugly face. June was so crushed that she put her head down on the table and started sobbing.
She finally got up from the table and ran to her room, and fell on her bed crying. She finally dried her eyes and looked at herself in the mirror.
"Mirror, mirror who is the prettiest of them all?"
June began talking out aloud; she knew part of this story since her teacher read the story to them recently. She began talking to herself while looking in the mirror."
"I will ask my daddy how I looked as a baby, and I know he will tell me the truth," June stayed in he room until she heard her father enter the hallway.
"Daddy, daddy, how did I look as a baby?" She was so happy that he was now at home. Lately, June could be found sitting on the front steps waiting for her godmother or waiting for her father to come home.
"How did I look as a baby?"
"June, you were a beautiful baby, small, petite just like me.” This comment made June feel so happy.
"Why are you asking me such a question sweetheart?" June turned her head away from her father; she knew that she could never tell her father what her mother told her earlier in the day, about how she looked as a baby.
"June, you are small like your father, I am not ugly and you are not either, so get that feeling out of your little mind", her father reassured her. Then he gave his daughter a big kiss. June made a vow that she would always try to make herself beautiful.
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One day June received a call from a friend of Ralph’s and she invited them to a party," Oh, that is so nice Kathy, we are all just fine, now I have two girls, and it would be nice to have a night out, without the children."
"Remember if you do not receive a call from me we will be there."
"Do you want us to bring anything?"
She said no, but June knew that she and Ralph would bring something.
June and Ralph took the children to his mother''s home and decided that they would pick the children up after the party.
As June started to get dressed, her husband told her not to take too much time dressing.
"I want to look good for your friends."
"Wait, remember you do not have to make a grand entrance, you are my wife, and I do not want anyone looking at you!" shouted Ralph.
"Ralph you are crazy! I will probably have to keep my eyes on you maybe you are the one with the wandering eye."
The party was an enjoyable affair, June was so happy talking with adults; since she found herself communicating with babies and dealing with children on the second grade level.
"Make me a drink!" demanded Ralph.
"No, make it yourself, I am engaged in a conversation.” responded June. Many of the guests turned around and looked at Ralph.
"Man, she really told you that she is not going to wait on you hand and foot!" voiced Herman.
At this point the party was at stand still, and Ralph began to drink more heavily, and he started pacing the floor and using the bath room; frequently, and not conversing with his friends, as June glanced at him she saw a person that was not her husband, his entire persona was changed with a horrible scowl on his face.
"June, get your things, we are going home!" shouted Ralph.
June continues her conversation with the girls, and then she excused herself, and politely told the hostess that they had to pick up the children early; because her mother-in-law was not feeling too well, and she did not want to impose on her too long by baby sitting her grandchildren.
"I
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Book Details
About the Book
June
Green was born in
Her
childhood was a good one, living in a middle class Negro family. She attended a private school and received an
excellent high school education.
Later
in life June concluded that her family was dysfunctional, alcohol was the
substance abuse of choice. Family
secrets were very profound, and as a small child she realized that she was
different from her siblings. Often she
felt that the family members were walking on egg shells around her. She later learned that she was the product of
a very deep family secret. She searched
for decades, trying to find the truth about her birth parents.
June
was abused, by her so called uncles, her mother told her to keep the secret.
After
graduating from college she married her college sweetheart, and then became the
victim of spousal abuse.
After
suffering for years, she divorced her husband, and finally had peace and
contentment.
Her
life finally changed when she met the tall, dark and handsome, Harrison Davis.
About the Author
Joan
K. Brown retired from the Common wealth of Pennsylvania Public Schools, with
over thirty-five years of service, as an elementary teacher. She not only taught multi level grades
throughout her career, but she contributed dedicated service to the following
states:
This
retiree is still as active as she was years ago. She is an avid reader, collector of dolls,
continues to dance, exercises, uses the computer, and plays the keyboard. She enjoys the quality time that she spends
with her grandchildren.
Joan
resides in Deptford, New Jersey with her husband, Ben.