MS. MONTEGUT

MS MONTEGUT

Trudy suddenly woke up to police sirens going off all over her neighborhood and there was a

knock at her front door. She quickly got out of bed and opened her bedroom door, peering around the

corner as her father answered the door. It was a police officer. Trudy's heart dropped.

"Hello, sir. We are just going around the neighborhood asking if you know any information about

Tiffany Smith going missing. She disappeared overnight on Friday and has been gone for the past two

days."

"Tiffany Smith? I don't think I know her. Do you all have a photo?"

"Yes we do." The officer handed him a missing flyer. "Please let us know if you know anything or

have seen anything"

"Of course". He took the flyer from the officer and scanned over it with his eyes. "Oh my God!

She's the same age as my daughter. That's awful"

"It truly is. Keep your babies safe". The officer walked away and onto the neighbors house.

"Trudy!"

"I heard everything, dad. That makes me feel so sick".

"Hopefully they will find her. She probably just got into some trouble and ran away." He kissed his

daughters forehead and told her he needed to speak to her about something. They walked into the

kitchen and sat at the table. Trudy smelled liquor and beer on his breath and her suspicions were

confirmed once she saw an empty bottle of scotch and 7 empty beer cans on the table. He swiped

everything into the trash can. "As you know, your mother hasnt been home for a couple days. I got home

from work this morning and realized all of her things were gone. I just, I'm just so sorry chubby bunny. I

think she's gone for good. She left a note saying she can't do this anymore and won't be back, so it's just

you and me".

Trudy got tunnel vision and everything her dad was saying just sounded like morphed words and

a blur.

Trudy moved on with her life and adjusted to a life without her mother. She wanted her mothers

gentle touch and yearned to speak to her about her troubles. She often thought of that night with Tiffany

and needed to confide in the only person she trusted, her mom. But now, her mother had betrayed her

trust by leaving. She didn't get to spend her first teenage birthday with her, and her 16th birthday was

approaching. She was hopeful that her she would return, but logic told her she wouldn't.

"Hey chubby bunny, how was school? You got yourself a boyfriend yet?" laughed her dad. He

was drunk like always, but his drinking had gotten more and more excessive over the years. She rolled

her eyes and went to the kitchen. She set her bag down on the table and opened the fridge. She sighed

as she realized nothing was in there except beer. Closing the fridge, she sighed again and sat at the

table with her head in her hands. She glanced down at the floor and saw a letter and picked it up.

Reading over it, a look of concern spread across her face.

"BOO!!!"

Trudy jumped. "Oh my god" she laughed "Stephanie, you have to stop scaring me like that"

Stephanie laughed "I'm sorry haha!...wait" she saw how concerned Trudy looked. "What's wrong?

Who are we killing?" They both looked at each other and cringed, then stephanie let out a little chuckle

"Sorry, bad joke"

"Yea, AWFUL joke." Trudy folded up the letter. "My dad is sick. This letter is saying he cant get

any more medication for his liver disease. I didn't even know he had liver disease. It has to be all the

drinking...I...I just can't lose my dad, too. Like, I know my mom isn't dead or anything, but she's gone, and

if my dad dies, I don't know what I'm gonna do".

Stephanie hugged Trudy. "WELL, there's this witch doctor lady. She has herbal remedies and

medicines for stuff like this. People in the city think shes weird, but I think shes incredibly smart. I can

take you there and show you around her little store".

"Oh my god! Yes! I've seen her place. I can't think of the name of it, but I walk past it when I go to

work. I've always wanted to go in"

"Yea, it's called GRIS-GRIS."

"GRIS-GRIS? What does that mean?"

"I have no idea. That's another reason we should go, because then we can ask what it means

and not be two ignorant white girls"

"hahahahaha, yea, don't wanna be that". Trudy got up from the table and was about to leave out

the back door until she saw that her dad was walking towards the kitchen. "Dad, why didnt you tell me?!".

She held up the letter and her dad hung his head in shame.

"I'm sorry Trudy, I couldn't find the words. You already pay for so much in this house, I couldn't

bring myself to ask for your help. I'll figure it out though. I am working overtime this week".

Trudy's face softened and she was about to empathize with her father until he grabbed a beer out

of the fridge, popped it open and chugged it. "This is why you're sick now!!! It's all your fault and you're

gonna be the reason I'm going to be alone. I'll just take care of it." She snapped as she stormed out the

house. Stephanie awkwardly said excuse me as she walked by Trudy's father and scurried out of the

door.

"Well, that was fuckin awkward".

"He is so selfish. How could he just open a beer and drink it in front of me, knowing that I know

whats going on?? I hate that I have to be the parent sometimes". Trudy was so frustrated, but still

concerned. "Lets go to GRIS-GRIS".

The girls walked to GRIS-GRIS, hopeful that they could find a cure or remedy for Trudy's father.

"Here we go" said Trudy as they approached the apothecary. They walked in and were immediately hit by

a pleasant smell of vanilla and cherry. "MM! WHAT IS THAT SMELL".

"That is one of our incence. Its vanilla, sandalwood and cherry"

Trudy jumped "Ah! Where did you come from? haha I didn't even hear or see you"

"I'm sorry. My name is Naphle. I work here, it's my aunt's store"

"Hi, I'm Trudy. Is your aunt here? I have so many questions and really need her help."

"Yea, I'll go get her for you"

Trudy thanked him and continued to look around the store, intrigued by the trinkets, herbs and

medicines. Wondering what was in the little tinctures and daydreaming about curing her father. After

waiting what seemed like forever, Trudy heard a lady call out her name.

"Gertrude? Gertrude Tolliver?"

Trudy winced. She hates being called Gertrude, but she respects her elders and didn't correct

her. However, she couldn't help but wonder how she knew her name. "Yes, maam?"

"I heard you were looking for me Ms. Tolliver."

Trudy walked up to the counter and nodded "Yes, maam, I am. It's nice to meet you"

"You, also. Just know, while you were looking for me, I have been waiting for you. My name is

Brenda. Brenda Montegut."

"Pleased to meet you, Ms. Montegut. And...You have been waiting for me?"

"Yes, I see you walk past and look into my store every day. I also sense that you are troubled

about something, which brought you here."

"Yea, my friend, Stephanie, she recommended I come here". Trudy looked around and couldn't

see Stephanie anywhere. "Oh, maybe she went outside to smoke"

"Of course. How can I help you?"

"My dad, he has liver disease and the doctor refuses to refill his prescription because of

something to do with his insurance being canceled. I really need a remedy to help him".

"Follow me". Ms Montegut showed Trudy a plethora of different herbs that would cure the liver

overtime as long as he stopped drinking.

"So, this will only work if he completely stops drinking?"

"Well, yes. He cannot stop cold turkey, though. He has to wean himself off of alcohol slowly.

Stopping immediately could kill him."

"Oh, okay, so theres no guarantee that this will work if he continues to drink?"

"Unfortunately, not. I DO, however, have something else that is guaranteed to work."

This piqued Trudy's interest. "I don't have much money, and what you're saying sounds

expensive."

"It is. It's $2000, but its a guarantee. Allow me to show you"

Ms Montegut took Trudy into the back. There were candles and different trinkets everywhere. "Ms

Montegut, I have a question..what does GRIS-GRIS mean?"

"A GRIS-GRIS is an amulet given to descendants of slaves from west Africa to protect them from

other west Africans who practice hoodoo and voodoo. Only a GRIS-GRIS can stop a spell."

"Wow, that's neat. Do you have one?"

Ms Montegut nodded and showed her the pendant around her neck. "There are only a few of

these left in the world".

Trudy nodded and looked around, noticing and slowly coming to the realization that Ms Montegut

is definitely into voodoo. She walked over to what looked like a shrine with pictures of what appeared to

be her family, surrounded by candles and a circle of salt around the shrine. "What is this?"

"So, these wonderful, strong black men and women are my ancestors from Benin, west Africa."

"Oh, ok. At the risk of sounding ignorant, were they slaves?"

"Yes. You know how Africa has countries and coasts with nicknames?"

"Yea, like the Ivory Coast, the Gold Coast, etc. They were nicknamed after their abundance of

Ivory from elephants and Gold underground and in the water."

"Yes, exactly. Well, Benin was known as the slave coast".

Trudy went silent.

"It's okay to not know what to say." Ms Montegut walked closer to the shrine and picked up a doll.

"This here, is my retribution for how my family were treated and slaughtered and raped during slavery."

"I'm confused how a white doll is retribution for you..once again, not trying to be ignorant"

"Oh haha no, I know you arent my child. Here, follow me."

They walked outside and Ms Montegut stared across the street. "You see that store there, that

flower store? A lady by the name of Mary Lincoln owns that store. She also owns a huge mansion on an

old plantation passed down from generation to generation by her family. Her family owned slaves from

west Africa, including my ancestors. When I found this out, I let her know about it and urged her to sell

her mansion and the plantation. We were supposed to be friends. She laughed and said "that has

nothing to do with me". I was so offended, but instead of reacting the way she expected me to, I dealt

with her racism in a different way." Ms Montegut pulled out the doll. "Watch this and watch Mary". Trudy

looked at Mary as she was arranging some flowers outside of her shop. Ms Montegut took a pin and

stabbed it in the back of the doll. Mary immediately keeled over, holding her back and eventually fell to

the floor.

"OH WOW!" Said Trudy. "What in the world?! Is that a voodoo doll??".

Ms Montegut smiled and nodded her head. "I do this to her from time to time. It's my form of

torture. Giving her random ailments".

Trudy laughed "She definitely deserves it".

"Indeed". Ms Montegut motioned for Trudy to follow her back into the apothecary. "Now, I know

$2000 is a lot to ask for, but there are other things I will need in order to make this one time cure for your

fathers liver. I'll need some of his blood, about 3 tablespoons, some of his hair, some of your blood, about

2 tablespoons and some of your hair as well as a sacrifice from you. A finger, a toe, whatever you are

comfortable with".

"Whoa! I don't know, I dont even have 2 grand let alone do I feel comfortable with giving you a

finger, blood and hair"

Ms Montegut stared at Trudy. "This is how it works. But you can take the herbal remedy for free.

Let me know how it goes. Try to get him to stop drinking."

"Thank you. I'm sorry if I offended you"

"You didn't. You will be back."

Trudy went silent and looked puzzled. She took the herbal remedy and started to make her way

out of the apothecary. Naphle nodded towards her as she left. She hurried out of the shop and saw the

ambulance across the street and an EMT taking care of Mary. She looked back inside the store and Ms

Montegut was in the door way.

"I'll see you soon".