Bonus Content
Mama Ruby
Even before she had sex, she knew it had to be good. Married people risked losing everything because of sex. Girls risked getting pregnant, catching some nasty disease, and God knew what else, but that didn’t stop them from having sex. Something that powerful had to feel good.
Ruby couldn’t wait to find out for herself what all the fuss was about. She knew enough about boys and men to know that none of them would say no, to her especially. Even though she was no raving beauty, she had the kind of body that black southern men worshipped. She was thick from top to bottom—especially her top and her bottom. Her butt was so plump and high and tight that you could bounce a quarter off of it. One of the Donaldson boys had proved that during a break from Sunday school studies one Easter morning. But the most impressive part of Ruby’s body was her bosom, so firm and perky that she didn’t even need the support of a brassiere. She balked when her mother made her wear them anyway.
“Why do I have to wear a brassiere if I don’t need one?” she asked her mother that day her mother steamrolled into her bedroom with a bag full of those things.
“Well, if you don’t wear a brassiere because you don’t need one, you will sure enough need one eventually. The bigger they are, the farther they fall; sooner or later.” Ruby’s mother glanced at her own bosom. “Don’t be stupid like I was.” Ruby’s mother sniffed. “Had I known what I know now when I was your age, I would have worn two strong brassieres at the same time.”
Ruby’s face burned. The condition of her mother’s bosom was one thing that she did not care to hear about. “Yessum.”
“You’re a woman now, Ruby Jean,” her mother said, obviously embarrassed and even a little uneasy.
When her mother sat her down for that “birds and bees” talk last week, she didn’t tell Ruby anything that she didn’t already know. She had learned everything she needed to know, and some things that she didn’t need to know, from her sisters and from other worldly kids.
“Dang, Mama. Why you buy up this many brassieres? I only got two bosoms!” Ruby complained with amusement. She fished one of the plain new white bras out of the bag. She couldn’t understand why her mother had purchased so many this time. The bag contained at least ten bras. “I guess this means I can court with boys now?” Ruby asked hopefully.
“Naw it don’t! You still a child. You’ll have plenty of time for courtin’ boys in a few years.”
A few years?
She was not about to wait a few more years to have some real fun. All she had to do was find the right boy.
From MAMA RUBY. Copyright © 2011 by Mary Monroe. All rights reserved. Published by arrangement with Dafina Books/Kensington Publishing Corp.
Mama Ruby
How did Ruby and Othella Mae come to be who they are today? Find out in the exciting prequel to The Upper Room.
By fourteen, Ruby has developed a taste for fast men and cheap liquor, and not even her preacher daddy can set her straight. Only Othella, daughter of the town tramp, gets what makes Ruby tick. When Ruby secretly gives birth to a baby girl at Othella’s house, Othella talks Ruby into giving the child away and running off with her to New Orleans. Nothing can erase Ruby’s memories of the child she lost or quell her simmering rage at Othella for persuading her to let her precious baby go. If there’s a fine line between best friend and worst nightmare, Ruby is surely treading it. But some day, there will be a reckoning....
Hardcover : 336 pages
Publisher: Kensington Publishing Corp ( June 01, 2011 )
Item #: 13-344031
ISBN: 9780758238610
Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 8.25 x 1.04inches
Product Weight: 17.0 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
May 14, 2012
After reading the UPPER Room I could not get through this sequel. However, the UPPER Room was an excellent and hilarious read
Reviewer: Lana
DISAPPOINTED
February 03, 2012
This was not what I was especting (most chapters where dragged out and others rushed through).Especially since I read the upper room so many times over the years "AND COULD NOT WAIT" for Mama Ruby's story on how she became the person she was, only to be "LET DOWN" and "WISHING I would have gotten it from the library".
Reviewer: sugarbee
Great read as usual......but
January 18, 2012
As usual, Mary Monroe did her thang, HOWEVER.....I'm not thrilled about the fact that this was the "sequel" to the Upper Room, which I read very many years ago :( So seeing as how Black Expression doesn't offer it anymore :( I guess I'll have to grab it from somewhere or somebody. I won't complain though, I'm positive I'll enjoy refreshing my mind on the VERY many excting and hilarious events of Ruby & Othella!!
Reviewer: Tonia
Great Read
November 21, 2011
This was a great book. I only wish I would have read this book before The Upper Room, which I loved also. For those who have not read either book yet. Please read Mama Ruby first. It makes since rather than go backwards!
Reviewer: Jan
GREAT READ!!
November 14, 2011
This novel was very creative and gave detailed information has to how Mama Ruby became the woman she is in the upper room.As I read the ending I couldn't but wish they opened the letter. GREAT BOOK!!!
Reviewer: Charmaine
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