by Barefoot Cajun
Jimbeaux was raised in a turbulent family with abuse directed at him because he was different. Sometimes he hung out at the Lanterne Rouge, Red Lantern, a place of drag. Jimbeaux had found a home there. Lily Mae Ruth, an older drag queen had become a mom to Jimbeaux. It was love he sought; his family so disgusted with him treated him like he had leprosy. After graduation he moved in with Lily Mae Ruth; that was his salvation. They lived in an old apartment in the little Cajun village of Mouche à Cheval, Horse Fly. People there walked around welted from horse flies; not uncommon to see raised red bumps adorning the skin. The prairie is ‘resplendent’ with all kinds of pesky insects just doing their thing. Jimbeaux had grown up going to church with his family. He loved his Sunday school class, especially his teacher, Miss Sandreaux, she loved the little boy Jimbeaux in all of his glory. Certainly, he was an anomaly among the other Cajun boys. While auditioning for the Christmas play each year, Jimbeaux wanted to play Mary, the mother of Jesus. Jimbeaux said, “Je veux jouer Marie, la mère de Jésus.” I want to play Mary, the mother of Jesus.
He could visualize himself in Mary’s place, spiritually impregnated with the baby Jesus, whom he loved so much. Of course Miss Sandreaux’s heart broke when she told Jimbeaux that he couldn’t possibly play Jesus, it had to be a woman. Miss Sandreaux responded, “Cher Jimbeaux, tu ne peux pas jouer Marie, la mère de Jésus. Ce doit être une femme.” Dear Jimbeaux, you can’t play Mary, the mother of Jesus. It must be a woman. That was the awakening of gender troubles for Jimbeaux. His eyes shed big tears, but he rejoiced when she told him he could be a shepherd. He thought to himself, “Au moins je peux adorer la Vierge Marie.” At least I can adore the virgin Mary. Jimbeaux’s Dad learned to hate his son, “He told Jimbeaux, “Tu es une honte pour moi.” You are an embarrassment to me. Jimbeaux hung his head in shame. He answered his Dad, “Désolé papa, je t’aime. Je suis juste moi.” Sorry, Dad, I love you. I am just being me. And when Jimbeaux looked to the church, even his beloved Miss Sandreaux couldn’t affirm his need for a feminine side.
Jimbeaux, such a tenacious little boy would not let his spirit be broken. As he turned into a young adult looking to leave home since he knew home wasn’t a safe place anymore, he moved in with Miss Lily Mae Ruth, drag queen extraordinaire. Lily Mae Ruth asked, “Jimbeaux, tu veux monter sur scène ce soir ? Do you want to go on stage tonight? Jimbeaux reacting excitedly, “Ce soir, oui bien sûr!” This night, Yes, for sure. Lily Mae Ruth said, “D’accord, petit gars ; passons au vestiaire maintenant.” Okay, little guy: let’s get to the dressing room now. And off they went to practice makeup and find an outfit for Jimbeaux to make his debut at the Red Lantern. In tears as he gazed at his transformation in the mirror with Lily Mae Ruth in the background Jimbeaux said, “Je suis enfin belle!” I am finally beautiful! Lily and Jimbreaux embraced and he said, “J’ai trouvé une nouvelle maman en toi Lily Mae Ruth.” I’ve found a new mom in you, Lily Mae Ruth.
And from that day forward, Lily Mae Ruth became known as Mom. And Jimbeaux became known as Miss Jimbeaux Mae Ruth honoring Lily Mae Ruth as her Mom. That night at the Red Lantern the crowd swelled almost bursting the wooden walls of the drag house. Encores were called for as Jimbeaux Mae Ruth strutted her stuff and lip synced for her life. She became a sensation overnight and was booked for the next week with the weekend off. Jimbeaux had never worked so hard, been so happy and made so much money. Life was good, she had a new mom, a new family and a new career.
About five years into her new career, Lily Mae Ruth fell while sashaying on stage with her six inch stilettos. She broke her leg and was confined to the hospital and rehab for a couple of months. The doctors said that she wouldn’t be able to dance and strut her stuff at the Red Lantern for about six months and then possibly three months of therapy. Depending how she worked her therapy with adie hard commitment, she might be back on stage in a year. Mom, Lily Mae Ruth, stood by her daughter, Jimbeaux Mae Ruth. Jimbeaux worked as a consultant to new girls learning the art of drag racing while convalescing. It was a natural fit; Jimbeaux Mae Ruth had learned from the best, his mom, Lily Mae Ruth.
Barefoot Cajun lives and writes on the South Louisiana Cajun Prairie, mostly barefoot. He’s bilingual speaking the local Cajun French vernacular. Barefoot writes mostly about marginalized people. He loves to write stories about growing up gay on the prairie. He’s inspired by two great Southern Women writers, Eudora Welty and Flannery O’Connor. Barefoot loves to write flash fiction and short stories with Southern tones.