Perrine Coppage

The Keepers

“I told her not to do it!!” “Do what Cicely?” “I TOLD JAMIE NOT TO DO IT!!” Aunt Julie looked at mom and me wondering what was going on. “Calm down sweetheart, what did you tell Jamie not to do?” “I TOLD JAMIE NOT TO OPEN THE BOOK!!” Aunt Julie covered her mouth with tears in her eyes. Mom look at me and her face turned pale. That was the first time I ever saw a black woman's face turn pale. I never knew we could do that. “Where is she?” Mom said in a panic. “She locked herself in the shed outside!!” Mom, Aunt Julie, and I ran outside, but it was too late. Jamie came out of the shed with the little black book and a blank look on her face. “Jamie….JAMIE!” MOM said shaking her to see if Jamie would respond. With the blank look, Jamie turned to mom and just stared. “Where is the other book Julie?” Mom was afraid of what was happening to Jamie, and she knew the only way to reverse it was to read from the other book. “I…don’t…know…” Aunt Jamie said. With tears in her eyes , she looked away, far off into the distance as if she was staring at someone passing by. “I think Debra took it…” Mom’s face turned even paler. “Why would she do that to us…why would she even do such a thing. She knows that you cannot separate the two.” Aunt Julie took the book from Jamie and a piece of paper fell out from between the pages. We all stopped and watched it fall to the ground like a leaf would fall from the trees in autumn.