Love and War in the Concrete Jungle

The spitting image of her father, Jasmine, a chubby little girl with kinky, thick locks of hair and big brown eyes, always felt out of place in the presence of her family, especially in fashion conscience New York City. To Jasmine, life simply was not fair. Her older sister Pat, the beautiful daughter, could eat what she wants and not gain an ounce, whereas Jasmine had to watch everything she chucks, or endure her mother Bernice’s condescending comments about her weight. Regardless of Jasmine’s accomplishments , her mother knew exactly what to say to bring her down. Thank GOD she could rely on her father, her faith, and her friends for comfort and support, but most of all to assure her that like her sister Pat, she also was relevant.By most standards, Jasmine’s best friend Cynthia would be considered an average looking female, but she knew how to work a crowd. She had a way of making the opposite sex, and at times the same sex, feel excited at the thought of being in her presence. Having spent most of her adult life avoiding commitment, Cynthia did and said whatever she wanted, with no inhibition and no regrets. And should the opportunity present itself, she took lovers like most men did, with unbridled passion and no commitment. In spite of her gay brother’s insistence of their bonding in commiseration, Cynthia, refuses to engage. She wants nothing more than to forget the ills of their childhood. She’d much rather focus on the pre-foster care era of their lives, because as bad as it was living with an addictive mother, it was even worse being thrown into the debacle that was Child Protective Services. With inner strength, spirituality and love, the women prevail while living in the concrete jungle, with no inhibitions and no regrets. 3