Free Let It Go by Brooklyn James

her life, and worry about her own happiness, she wouldn’t be so inclined to monitor ours. Nothing’s ever good enough for that woman.” Jac rips another pile of weeds from the rosebushes, chucking them at the ground. “Clean this, sweep that, ‘keep up with the Joneses,’ prim and proper, spit and polish, worry and fuss over stuff that doesn’t even matter. No wonder Daddy died of a heart attack.”
    “That’s enough, Jac,” Vangie warns, slinging a wad of dirt and weeds at her, the soil clinging to Jac’s white t-shirt.
    Jac grabs up her pile of rosebush invaders, retaliating, she lobs the brown and green mess at Vangie. It splatters across her bright yellow sundress.
    “I thought y’all would have outgrown this years ago.” Savannah falls into an age-old familiar position, between the two, her arms outspread holding them off, their hands swatting across her body at each other. “You two stop it!”
    The rise in her voice causes Luka and Zoey to repel down the ladder from their tree house, wondering what all the excitement is. Still in their church clothes, the two wear adorable matching winter white dresses.
    “What’s going on?” Luka asks, the first to descend, eyeing Vangie and Jac, her innocent face concerned at the mud on their shirts.
    “Nothing baby,” Vangie says, wiping the soil from her sundress. “Mama and Aunt Jac just got into a little mud fight, that’s all.”
    “That’s it,” Zoey chimes, “both of you in time out.” Her tiny finger points to the chairs on the back porch, having suffered such punishment herself after several mud battles with Luka.
    Zoey’s furrowed, disproving brow coupled with her sentiments fully delivers in breaking the tension, sending Jac, Vangie and Savannah into belly laughs. Happy to have entertained them, Zoey giggles and snorts, running to Savannah’s open arms, hers seeming to be the best choice as she is unsoiled.
    Luka, the elder of the two siblings, is not so easily convinced. Her arm leaning on her mother’s shoulder, she further investigates, “Is everything okay, Mama?”
    “Yes baby,” Vangie consoles her. “You know how you and Zoey have your moments? Where you get a little upset with each other?” Luka nods, her face still drawn and concerned. “Well, sometimes Aunt Jac and I have those moments, too.”
    “But you’re sisters. You still love each other, don’t you?” Luka asks.
    Jac brushes the dirt from Vangie’s sundress, a show of good faith. “We’ll always be sisters, Luka. Just like you and Zoey. And I’m always going to love your mama. And you.” Jac taps her finger off Luka’s nose, causing her to smile.
    “And me. You love me too, right, Aunt Jac?” Zoey jumps from Savannah’s arms into Jac’s, mashing her dress up against the mud and grass still clinging to Jac’s t-shirt.
    “Zoey!” Vangie calls, her motherly mind catapulting to the dainty, white dress her daughter wears, the thought of mud stains daunting.
    “Yes. I love you to the moon.” Jac cuddles her up. “A little dirt never hurt anybody,” she attempts to ease Vangie’s worry.
    Zoey pulls away, proudly inspecting the mud glob on her white dress. Shrugging, she says, “I think it looks better that way.”
    “Who’s ready for some sweet tea?” Buffy returns from the house, setting a loaded tray on the picnic table under the shade tree. Luka and Zoey race to the table for their helping of the sugary beverage. “Ooh,” Buffy says, “what happened to your dress, Zoey?” She diligently dabs a linen napkin at the silky material.
    “Oh Nana,” Zoey says, “don’t you know a little dirt never hurt anybody.”
    “Sounds like you’ve been talking to your Aunt Jac.” Buffy chuckles. “I’ll get some water. Nana will have you fixed up in a jiff.” She finally looks over at her daughters, still perched on their knees in front of her rosebushes. Vangie’s and Jac’s mud-smudged clothing draws her attention. “I won’t even ask,” she