Ruby (Landry 1)

"Gisselle wasn't happy unless I was in some

sort of trouble," I continued.

Uncle Jean grimaced.

"Daphne always took her side and Daddy . . .

Daddy's overwhelmed with problems."

Uncle Jean's grimace deepened. Suddenly, he

began to turn angry. He lifted his upper lip and

clenched his teeth.

"Uh-oh," Lyle said. "Maybe you'd better stop.

It's upsetting him."

"No. He should hear all of it." I turned back to

him. "I went to a voodoo queen and asked her to help

me. She fixed Gisselle and shortly afterward, Gisselle

and another one of her boyfriends got into a dreadful

car accident, Uncle Jean. The boy was killed and

Gisselle is crippled for life. I feel just terrible about it,

and Daddy Daddy's a shadow of himself."

Jean's anger seemed to subside.

"I wish you would say something to me, Uncle

Jean. I wish you would tell me something I could tell

Daddy when I do get out of here."

I waited, but he just stared at me.

"Don't feel bad. I told you, he doesn't talk to

anyone. He--"

"I know, but I want my father to realize I've

seen Uncle Jean," I insisted. "I want him to--" "Ji-ji-ji--"

"What's he trying to say?"

"!don't know," Lyle said.

"Ji-b-b-jib-jib--"

"Jib? What's that mean? Jib?"