Anita Louise Crane "Neets" - Author

                         

       

        

Ruby Jane’s Blue Heaven

By Anita “Neets” Crane

1998

Chapter One

My head always aches where my Pop’s voice echoes, “Ruby Jane, you’re just no-good-for-nothing.”

The problem is I try to keep my mouth shut but most of the time I don’t. I sass back when Pop’s drunk and hollering at me and it makes him get real mad.

 His words chip away at my hide a little bit at a time and I can feel myself getting smaller, and smaller, and someday, I expect I won’t be any bigger than a fly.

I have this constant churning in my belly because I’m afraid he is right. No matter how hard I try, I’m just a no-good girl. 

Momma named me Ruby because she said I lit up her smile just like her ruby red lipstick. But I expect it’s because my hair is frizzy and red and sticks out from my head all rusty like the Brillo pads she uses to scrub our pots and pans.

   Momma’s always sweeping or cleaning, and wears fancy red high-heels, with the toe out.  She's got those shoes on no matter what she’s doing, or, where she’s going.