Page 123 - The Jazzsipper Novel

122

THE JAZZ SIPPER

type of bond and friendship, he had it with Babu. And he was still fulfilling that
friendship’s promise; he made sure he kept in touch with Shelia and Lil Babu.
He would speak with them at least a couple times a month and he sent money
all the time to help out with his godchild. Shelia had gotten herself together
and married a decent guy and they had two other kids besides Lil Babu. The
guy was from the uptown area of New Orleans and worked as a
longshoreman.

Vance began to reminiscence. He was thinking about the time he was
heading to boot camp and thought about how different Shelia and Cheryl
were, he wondered which one of them would change the other. Would it be
Cheryl changing Shelia to become more upscale or would it be Shelia
changing Cheryl in becoming more down scale? Vance started smiling and
thinking if he had to bet, he would have to put his money on Cheryl. He was
right Cheryl influences won out over Shelia. They were more than close
friends now, they were sister in-laws. Cheryl had married Shelia’s younger
brother Kevin and they had a daughter. Kevin was a year and half younger
than Cheryl. Vance remembered how nervous Kevin was before he told
Vance that he was dating Cheryl. It was kind of funny. Vance had stopped by
Shelia’s house a few years back to attend Lil Babu’s Birthday party; he was
turning four years old. When Vance got there he spoke to everyone and gave
Lil Babu his present. He saw Cheryl and said what’s up stranger, she smiled
but kept it really cordial, but distant. So, Vance played along. Vance thought
maybe she was dating one of the guys there that he did not know. Vance also
noticed how quiet Kevin had been. When Vance got a moment alone with
Shelia he asked her, what was up with her friend? Shelia smiled and said
she‘s cool. Yeah! Vance said, so which one of the guys in there is her guy?