"Gisselle wasn't happy unless I was in some
sort of trouble," I continued.
Uncle Jean grimaced.
"Daphne always took her side and Daddy . . .
Daddy's overwhelmed with problems."
Uncle Jean's grimace deepened. Suddenly, he
began to turn angry. He lifted his upper lip and
clenched his teeth.
"Uh-oh," Lyle said. "Maybe you'd better stop.
It's upsetting him."
"No. He should hear all of it." I turned back to
him. "I went to a voodoo queen and asked her to help
me. She fixed Gisselle and shortly afterward, Gisselle
and another one of her boyfriends got into a dreadful
car accident, Uncle Jean. The boy was killed and
Gisselle is crippled for life. I feel just terrible about it,
and Daddy Daddy's a shadow of himself."
Jean's anger seemed to subside.
"I wish you would say something to me, Uncle
Jean. I wish you would tell me something I could tell
Daddy when I do get out of here."
I waited, but he just stared at me.
"Don't feel bad. I told you, he doesn't talk to
anyone. He--"
"I know, but I want my father to realize I've
seen Uncle Jean," I insisted. "I want him to--" "Ji-ji-ji--"
"What's he trying to say?"
"!don't know," Lyle said.
"Ji-b-b-jib-jib--"
"Jib? What's that mean? Jib?"