A Note to Not Tell

Ring, ring, ring.

“Hello,” said an inviting voice.

“Happy birthday, mother!” Said a joyful voice.

“Thank you, Jasmini, it has been a peaceful morning.”

“I wish I could be there, mom,” said Jessamine disappointedly. “First COVID, now this.”

“I know, darling. I’m sure social distancing must be a challenge for so many people right now, but when you’ve reached my age, it comes rather naturally,” said Eve playfully.

“It’s not everyday you turn 102-years-old,” said Jessamine, quickly becoming emotional. “I love you mom.”

“I love you too, Jasmini, with all my heart.” Said Eve, who could already sense her daughter swiftly changing emotions. “You are my first child of twelve children. All my children have made my life wonderful.”

Jessamine began to quietly sob, though not quiet enough to go unnoticed by her mother.

“I want all of you to know that I am ready when it is my time. I am very grateful to have lived as long as I have,” said Eve consolingly.

Jessamine blew her nose with a tissue.

“How are things at your home?” Asked Eve, avoiding any awkwardness.

“Well, I’m dealing with complaints from parents that Barrett has been sending hurtful messages to girls in his class,” said Jessamine, whose sudden hot anger evaporated any remaining tears on her face.

“Really… What do they say?”

“I haven’t read any yet, but his principal said that several girls want him expelled from eighth grade.”

“Tell him I love him and I expect him to be a gentleman. And how’s Verena—she’s also in middle school?”

“Yes, she’s acing all of her seventh grade classes,” said Jessamine surprisingly. “She does all of her chores too.”

“For her to be parentless so young… The poor girl shows true mettle; and, for you, to have adopted her at 66 when she was just 2-years-old… You’re bolder than I am, Jasmini.”

“Thanks mom,” said Jessamine weepingly. “I’m embarrassed to admit that I’m struggling right now. We don’t have food and I might have to let go of my gardeners.”

“Jasmini, you know you can always ask me for money,” said Eve assuredly. “Unlike mine, your husband was chivalrous,” continued Eve. “Now they’re both gone, and since he left you, I know it has been a grapple with finances. Just a moment, let me get my little black book.”

Jessamine intensely inhaled and then exhaled with relief.

“I’m back,” said Eve, who was now skimming through her handwritten notes on the long-lasting pages of a lovely little black book. “When will you get your next paycheck sweetheart?”

“In 20 days,” stated Jessamine shamefully.

“And how much do you owe the gardeners?”

“I owe the gardeners $200 each.”

“To think, they were my gardeners 20 years ago and now they’re yours, such memorable women.”

Scribble, scribble, scribble.

Eve was patiently writing down the amounts and some additional notes before finally asking, “will $2,000 take care of everything?”

“Oh mother, that’s more than enough. Thank you,” said Jessamine appreciatively.

“Jasmini, I’m more than happy to help. I’ll write you a check. Did you want to come over now?”

“Yes, we’re on our way.”

“I’ll put the check on my tiny purple table on the front porch when I see you. Please wait for me to get back inside before getting out of your car,” instructed Eve.

“Of course, mom, I love you.” Said Jessamine genuinely.

Jessamine hung up the phone.

“Barrett! Verena!” Called out Jessamine from her bedroom. “We’re leaving now!”

“Where gra’ma?” Asked Barrett loudly from the other end of the house in his bedroom.

“My mom’s,” said Jessamine, now walking into the kitchen, the center of her home.

“I’ll stay here!” Shouted Barrett.

“No you won’t!” Screamed Jessamine, marching to her grandson’s bedroom.

Knock, knock, knock.

“Open your door, Barrett!”

“No,” said Barrett sternly.

“Open this door or I’ll bust it open!”

“No!” Yelled Barrett. “Get outta here!”

Thump, thump, thump.

“I’m sick of your attitude! You think you can pick on girls in your class—you’re not going to intimidate me!”

Barrett stayed silent.

“If you’re going to stay here, then these dishes better be clean when I get back!”

“Alright I’ll do the dishes!”

Jessamine rolled her eyes, shook her head, and ground her teeth. She inhaled and exhaled deeply, walked to the living room, and sighted Verena, who was gracefully standing by the front door.

“Come, Verena. Let’s not keep my mother waiting.”

Ignite, ignite, ignite.

“I wish Barrett didn’t take after his father,” vented Jessamine, backing out of the driveway. “My son beat his wife and where’d that get him? Prison! No wonder his wife fled.”

Verena silently listened to Jessamine’s waspish voice, noticing her stinging dark eyes, which were only intensified by her russet complexion.

Jessamine eyed Verena—her blossoming white rose skin, leafy green eyes, and healthy dark branch-colored hair.

“Your father was a bully, Verena… That’s probably why they murdered him,” gasped Jessamine. “I hope you find out who did it one day,” continued Jessamine, “but at least you’re more aware than my grandson about the pain bullying causes… To the victim and the perpetrator… I think that’s why you’re so kind.”

Verena felt uneasy hearing about her father, but appreciated the compliment.

“And your mother died in that plane crash,” rambled Jessamine, “so tragic that they never found her body and even more tragic that she was never given a chance to set a foot in college or fill out a job application… That’s why you study in school and always work hard when you do your chores.”

Jessamine was now on the freeway while Verena was peering outside the car window becoming desperate to change subjects.

Observe, observe, observe.

“Look, it’s our gardeners!” Yelped Verena.

“What?” Asked Jessamine bewilderedly.

“Look at the sign,” said Verena, pointing quickly at the interstate sign to her right.

Jessamine gaped at a sign displaying sketches of two women and her heart instantly sunk. She read the sign as fast as she could before passing by: “DEADLY NIGHTSHADE MURDERS, $20,000 REWARD FOR TIPS LEADING TO THE CAPTURE OF 2 WOMEN, CONTACT THE FBI.”

Jessamine refused to let Verena detect her fear.

“Well, what do you know? We’re already arriving at my mom’s house,” said Jessamine, roughly changing subjects. “Please, get the check after my mom goes back inside.”

Eve gave a cordial wave before closing the door.

“We’re going to catch them!” Shouted Verena swooping for the check.

Eve, overhearing the comment, smiled perplexedly at Verena through her window.

Jessamine and Verena returned home. Dirty dishes remained in the kitchen sink.

“Barrett!” Bellowed Jessamine, who was now rolling her eyes, shaking her head, and grinding her teeth.

“Wha’?” Barked Barrett.

“Come over here!… Bring your computer!”

Jolt, jolt, jolt.

The door knob jerked to the side, the door swung open, and out came a lean, taller than average young teenager with sunny blonde hair.

“Yeah gra’ma.”

“Type this in the search bar and tell me what you think,” said Jessamine hushedly. “Deadly Nightshade Murders.”

“How do you spell nightshade?” Asked Barrett cluelessly.

“Shh, talk lightly,” ordered Jessamine. “N-i-g-h-t-s-h-a-d-e.”

Click, click, click.

“Gra’ma,” said Barrett after an obvious delay, “they look like our gardeners.” He continued to analyze the sketches on his computer screen.

“Let’s see what it says,” demanded Jessamine.

Read, read, read.

“The case of two women, who murdered their abusive husbands with poisonous sugarcoated berries on March 2, 2021, still remains unclosed. Numerous photographs—including these age progression sketches—have been made available to the public, yet the women have never been found. $20,000 reward leading up to their capture.”

Barrett looked dazedly at his grandmother.

“Gra’ma, we’re gonna get $20,000!” Howled Barrett.

“You’re not getting any!” Laughed Jessamine.

Barrett stared at his grandmother with animosity. “Ol’ Lady Selfish gonna keep it all?” Asked Barrett mockingly.

“No, I’m giving it to my mother,” said Jessamine unyieldingly. “I’ve owed her a tidy sum over the years and”—

“Gra’ma,” interrupted Barrett, “wha’ is she gonna do with $20,000? She’s 200-years-old! Exclaimed Barrett sarcastically.

“It’s about paying her back, Barrett,” said Jessamine visibly crestfallen that her grandson did not grasp the concept.

“Anyways,” Jessamine continued, “the gardeners are coming in a couple of hours. You will say absolutely nothing about this to anyone. I’m calling the FBI.”

Barrett bulged out his eyes and made a loud squawking sound, his unique way of expressing amusement about the situation.

Skulk, skulk, skulk.

At 2:00 p.m., the gardeners prowled through Jessamine’s garden in her front yard. Before approaching the front door, an entire SWAT team surrounded them.

Trigger, trigger, trigger.

“Put your hands up in the air!” Commanded a valorous voice. “You’re under arrest for the murders that took place 20 years ago!”

Two weeks later, Jessamine went to the bank and saw the reward dispersed into her checking account.

“Barrett! Verena!” Shrieked Jessamine, opening the front door. “Let’s go to my mother’s pronto!”

Ding-dong, ding-dong, ding-dong.

“Mother, may we come inside?” Asked Jessamine. “Barrett and Verena will keep their masks on. We have a late birthday present for you.”

“Certainly, come inside, take off your masks—I was vaccinated the day before yesterday. Please, sit down on the big pink couch in my living room. I’ll sit opposite all of you.”

As Jessamine, Barrett, and Verena entered, Jessamine glanced at the little black book on the big pink couch and snatched it.

“Mother, I know I owe you money.”

Jessamine opened the little black book expecting to add up the money she had received over the years only to quickly realize that her mother’s handwriting was illegible.

Frustrated, Jessamine snapped the little black book shut.

“Mother, over the years you’ve probably given me $20,000, so I have for you $20,000.” Jessamine pulled out the check from a small hay yellow hard pouch and placed it beside her mother, who had barely sat down.

Eve keeked at the check before tenderly gazing into her daughter’s eyes.

“Jasmini, you’re my daughter and I love you with all my heart. I’ve never expected you to pay me back and I certainly don’t expect you to now.”

“I love you too, mom, so please take it. You deserve more.”

“What would someone my age possibly do with $20,000?” Tittered Eve.

“But mom, seriously,” began Jessamine. “You’re always writing down and keeping track in your small black notebook the amount of money you give me.”

“When you get to my age, darling, it’s important to write things down to help visualize them. I take notes on the amount of money you ask for solely to make sure I’m giving you the proper amount, not to tell you what you owe,” said Eve matter-of-factly.

“Mother, accept the money. I don’t want to lose you knowing I was indebted to you,” whimpered Jessamine teary-eyed.

“Jasmini, you make me very proud. I’ve left money in my will for you and all my other children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.” Eve carefully scanned her great-grandson. “Now, if you will let me say… It would make me happy to see you give the $20,000 to Verena,” articulated Eve, who was now focusing on Verena lynx-eyed. “She studies diligently, works assiduously, and… It was on the news, Verena, you caught them!”

Verena smiled, ran to Eve, and hugged her.

“Thank you!” Said Verena warmly.

“You’re welcome, my dear,” said Eve lovingly. “You can call me grandma.”

“I love you grandma,” said Verena full-heartedly while admiring Eve’s bygone beady brown eyes.

“If that’s your wish, mother. We’ll go to the bank, create a savings account for Verena, and put in the money today,” said Jessamine loyally.

“Years ago, I may have noted…” Said Eve, now soft enough for only Verena to hear.

Eve began tapping her little black book.

“But I wouldn’t have dared to tell… You’re braver than I am, Verena,” chuckled Eve.