Ruby Reads

🎶I wanna love you…and treat you right🎶

Sorry, but I just can’t stop singing. I am beyond excited because my only son just did something amazing. He published his first book. I truly can’t express enough how proud I am of him. When my son, Joe was a little boy I used to make him and my oldest daughter, Rudy bring home books from both the city and school library and have them read them to the whole family every night before bed.

Though Rudy was more of a social butterfly, she always enjoyed reading, but that’s my oldest baby for you. Joe on the other hand was a different story. My baby always hated having to read and he enjoyed slacking off in school which always got him a quick ticket to summer school. Back then I tried to convince him to stay back a grade, hoping that he would get more practice with school, but he adamantly rejected my suggestion.

You know, a good whoopin’ never did him any bad, but I knew I had to let him grow into his own. So after continuous summer school throughout his 3 years of junior high, Joe finally decided to get his scholastics together in high school. I actually started seeing my son study everyday and he made the conscious effort to stay after school without me having to push him into it. By 2011 he graduated high school and eventually attended college.

After he obtained his associates degree in arts from Guilford Technical Community College and it was then I thought I had seen my proudest moment of my son. That was until last year he started working on his first book. My son told me that he was writing a book of poetry about mental health in the Black community and that really filled my heart with joy. Just a few days ago his book was released and it’s titled “Melanin Memoirs: A Poetic Story Of Mental Health Struggles In The Black Community”. He’s paying me a visit in just a few minutes so he can sign my copy that came in the mail today.

There was a knock at the door and when I heard it open from my bedroom a big smile spread across my face. “Mama, you in here?” I heard my son call from downstairs. “Yeah, monkeyfeet I'm comin’ down now.” I ran down the stairs and gave my son the biggest hug as I laughed and cried tears of joy. “Come on, mama don’t make this more dramatic than it has to be.” Joe joked. “Sorry son, I have to be as dramatic as possible. It’s not everyday that my only son publishes a book.”

“I saw where Rudy posted on her social media about my book letting every one of her million followers to all go get a copy.” Joe informed me. “I heard about that. You know I ain’t on that internet like that, but everybody has told me about it. She’s just as proud of you as I am.” Joe looked away modestly as I put my hand on his cheek and began to reminisce. “I remember when you used to sit in front reading out loud alto the whole family as I read my book.”

“Yeah.” Joe began. “I swear I hated. So much so, that I used to bring home goosebumps on average because they were so quick to read.” “Yep.” I laughed. “I always thought it was funny that you kept bringing them books home, but atleast you are reading. I didn’t know back then when I was reading my books that my son would become the greatest author ever.” “Ma I wouldn’t say I was the greatest author ever, but I’d hope to be one day.” “You’re the greatest author to me.” I said softly, but with enthusiasm.

“You know the stack of books I always have lined up against my bedroom wall?” “Yes.” Joe replied. “Well one day I’ll have to build a new wall so all your books can sit in front of it as I read them everyday.” Joe then gave me a smile of encouragement. I then picked up my book off the kitchen table and handed it to Joe. “Now without further ado, I’d like my baby to sign my copy of his book.” “Sure thing, mama.” Joe concluded as he opened my copy of his book and signed “To my mother, Ruby Lee Spencer. The amazing woman who inspired me to be a writer.”

This Mother’s Day short story is dedicated to my mother Ruby Lee Spencer who passed away when I was 17 years old. In November of last year I published my first book ever and this story is my own personal imagining of what it would’ve been like if she had lived to see the release of my book which is dedicated to her.