Perhaps the stuff of which nightmares are made is the blight that can endure in the human soul and its consequences in relationships. This theme runs through the best of horrormeister Stephen King's works. And it's brilliantly illustrated in Catherine Adel West's debut novel, Saving Ruby King.
It's the story of two best friends who grew up in drastically differing households.
Ruby was raised in a world of precarity and domestic violence. Father Lebanon would flare up at the slightest provocation. Mother Alice was a shadow of her former self, adept at covering injuries with makeup and wearing long sleeves in the hottest of weather. Only now she's been brutally murdered. Ruby is alone with the one he sees as "that girl"--an item nobody but him can possess.
"Lebanon never knocks on doors. He pounds on them, splinters the wood, bends the hinges into abstract forms no longer able to hold things in frame. He treats doors like he treats people. All things can be broken."
Layla and her father have been raised in middle class comfort. Her father, Jackson, is the charismatic minister of their church. But when she tries to tell him she must save Ruby he orders her not to meddle in an urgent whisper.
"He doesn't shout. Shouting draws attention and listening ears. We're a perfect family and we can't have someone in the congregation witnessing a fight, people talk, rumors swirl. It's best to leave our dysfunction in the home and out of the church"
It's also the convoluted deep rooted story of Lebanon and Jackson, a narrative which Jackson has gone to great lengths to keep from his family and congregation.
It's also the half a century old story of three teenage best friends, girls who like Ruby and Layla have sworn each other loyalty "forever and to the end." One of them has become pregnant by incest. Her friends' plan to get her away from her abuser has drastic unintended consequences.
"Violet closes her eyes, trying to remove what she's seen, praying perhaps when she opens them, it'll be a bad dream. But when Violet opens her eyes again, King Saul is still dead, Naomi remains on the floor clutching a bloody piece of glass, and Sara stands before her in a blue dress slightly torn at the shoulder."
If any novel successfully explores the theme of the sins of the fathers being visited on the next generation it's Saving Ruby King. I am certainly looking forward to the next offering from a gifted and talented writer.
On a purrrsonal note, my birthday blood drive was the most wonderful one I've ever participated in. I came in early to set up canteen. Along with the drinks and snacks I set out small stuffed animals, mostly teeny beanies. Enough for each donor to take one home. People were so excited to see the animals and pick a favorite. Lisa brought in a gorgeous It's My Birthday sash for me. And then in the afternoon she showed up with five pies (pumpkin, apple crumble, blueberry, lemon meringue, and key lime meringue) for me to share with the donors and cute napkins. So it was basically a blood drive/birthday party. When I got home I was glad it was too late to go out to eat. Making sure nothing goes wrong in canteen and everyone has a positive experience really keeps me on my toes. About all I was up for was kicking back and reading... (Jules)
...with their best little cat in the world. (Tobago)
We had really great numbers. Between the two days the Red Cross collected 163 pints. So a great big shout out goes out to the nurses, the donors, and the other volunteers.
Tobago and Jules Hathaway
Sent from my U.S.Cellular© Smartphone
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