Six Decades Later, Are You My Sister? | KARAMO

So Phyllis reached out for my help unlocking the truth with her 63-year-old DNA mystery. Phyllis is here with her alleged sister Rita, and they are both hoping that the DNA outcome proves they are sisters once and for all. But not everyone in Rita's family is as confident that Phyllis and Rita have the same dad. Everyone, please welcome Phyllis to the show.

Come on, outfit. Come on, outfit.

How you doing?

Come on, outfit! Don't play, do not come out here cute like this. Oh yeah, oh, okay. Oh, oh, and the glasses too? Okay, you fly, you fly.

Well, it's a pleasure to meet you.

You too.

Thank you for being here. So why did you want this DNA test?

Well, I've been playing with these girls going to school, Acting like they're, you know, like cousins really, but, and hanging out with 'em all my life. And I've been hearing rumors about they're my sisters and I really wanna know. That's why I'm here for you to help me find out.

Got it. So it's been all your life that you've been with them?

Mm-hmm. Wow.

Did you grow up with your father in your life?

No, I grew up with my mother. She was a single parent.

Yeah, yeah.

So we never had any father figure.

And who was listed on your birth certificate as your father?

James Evans.

You talking about good James Evans?

And people tease me. Yeah, that's what I'm thinking. They tease me about it.

They tease you saying it's James Evans?

Yeah, that he's really my father. They was like, you might need to do a DNA on him.

Uh-uh. Let me find out John Amos about to be on my show real quick. Hold on, so no, seriously, someone put James Evans?

It's on my birth certificate.

What did your mother say about that?

Nothing. When I asked her about it, she was like, "You don't need to know." I mean, back then people didn't tell.

Yeah.

So. It was like, "I'm the adult." And when I asked her, she was like.

I got it. So how do you know your alleged sister Rita?

From school.

Okay.

We all went to school together and she has another sibling that I hung with her more than the rest of them. We were like twins. We hung, we did everything together. I used to go over her house. Mother used to argue with me when we come over there. But I, I think she kind of knew if I was or if I wasn't, but you know, she treated me not too good.

So who told you that Rita might be your sister?

One of her aunts. Wow. We were over at her house one day and she told me to come in the kitchen 'cause one of my cousins was talking to us and he wanted to take me out. And she was like, "Come here, I wanna talk to you." So we went in the kitchen, me and my other sibling, And she was like, "You need to go home and ask your mother who your father is because that's your cousin and you better not go to the movies with him." And I was like, "Okay." So I ran home crying.

Yeah. And what'd your mother say when you got home?

I asked her and she was like, "He's dead and you don't need to know." She said, "He never did anything for you." So.

Wow. But that's interesting. So you're about to go on a date, you're young, and then all of a sudden, This aunt tells you like, "Don't date that guy 'cause it could be your cousin." I can't imagine what that did. What does Rita's other family members say about you?

Well, we got 3 of 'em that think that I might be, and a couple of the other ones, they kind of treat me like funny.

They treat you funny? Yeah. In what way?

They don't want to talk. And like one of 'em, I really look like her a lot, like her son. Looked at me and he was like, "Oh my, I thought you was my mom." And then when he called his mom one day and told her I was over there at Rita's house and she hung the phone up.

Really?

She didn't even wanna have a conversation with you?

Nope.

How often do you and Rita see each other? You said you're over her house a lot.

Yeah, well, at least 3, 4 times outta the month. All my family is in Jersey, so I go to the flea market every Saturday down there and I hang with one of my nephews. And then when I leave his house, then sometimes I stop by her house. On my wedding day.

That's y'all too?

Yep.

I love it.

That's at my retirement.

Come on, outfit for the retirement.

I see you. I see how you do. I see how you do. Okay, I see how you do.

So for all these years, you had this relationship with Rita. You've been together since y'all were little girls. Why the DNA test now?

'Cause all my mother's family is dead.

Your mother's family?

I have no aunts, no uncles, and I think if he's my father, then there's none on that side either. I'm the oldest out of our siblings.

Yeah.

So I would like to know before I pass.

Yeah, if these are your siblings for sure. Yeah. Got it. Well, I wanna meet your alleged sister Rita. So everyone please welcome Rita to the show. So all of y'all just decided to come step on the stage fly.

Oh, gimme a hug. You ain't sitting down.

Look at that guy.

Oh, okay, okay. I see how y'all do.

Listen, all right, well, nice to meet you.

Nice to meet you too.

You look beautiful.

Thank you.

You're welcome. So why did you agree to take this DNA test?

So that she can get closer, closure to knowing if her father's her father. And she needs to know this. She wanna know this.

When did you first hear that Phyllis might be your sister?

Maybe about 20 years ago. We just continued playing 'cause family was family.

Yeah.

And you know, we had a big family and she was always there, but I never knew anything differently.

Yeah.

You know, we didn't sit around grownups when grownups talk.

Yeah, you stayed with—

Back then you were outside, you weren't inside.

Right. Yeah.

Did your mom talk to you ever about Phyllis?

No, she never talked to me about Phyllis.

She never did. So who was the one that, for you, the same person, the aunt that said something?

Yes.

Wow. You said other members of your family have doubt about her. Yeah. Can you explain?

Well, I guess they figure, you know, sometimes they don't want other siblings, you know, to have, like your father to have other siblings. And I guess they just can't deal with it or just doesn't wanna deal with it.

Got it. About it. How does that make you feel when they say that? 'Cause you two are close.

Yeah, we're really close. Well, it makes me feel kind of sad for her because, you know, she's been coming around us for so long, you know? So why they would even think that way?

Yeah. So if you find out that she is your sister, are you gonna be the one to call them and say, "Hey, what you think?" I'm gonna say, I'm gonna— You gonna stand up right there?

I'm gonna text them. Matter of fact, I'm not even gonna text them, I'm gonna call 'em. 'Cause I wanna hear their reaction, not through text on the phone.

Do you think you and Phyllis look alike?

No, not really. Mm-hmm.

No?

No.

Yeah, but what—

We don't sound alike.

Don't sound alike. But I heard that there's a sibling that you have that she does look identical to?

That thinks she is his mother at pictures. But then I have a sister that seen a picture and thought it was me. It was one of her sisters and it was Phyllis.

Okay, so there is some family resemblance in the family.

Yes, I believe so.

Outside of you, there's people that say, oh.

Yeah, yeah, oh yeah.

Okay, well, are y'all ready for these DNA results?

Yes.

Yes, we're ready. Well, I wanna say before, can I say something?

Well, before we start, I'm hearing that we have a ping. Let's listen to the message that we have received. Phyllis, it's from your daughter, Nikita.

Hey, Mom, I know you have some doubt about the man you consider your father, but just understand the family you have and the support you have behind you will always be there. I wish you the best and I love you.

That's beautiful.

That got you emotional. What's going on?

It's gonna be all right. Just take a couple breaths.

What happened? Here you go, love. Take a deep breath. You all right?

It's just not gonna be the same if he comes back or not.

I don't know.

Yeah. Would this hurt your relationship if it doesn't come back?

No, no. I'll still visit 'em and everything like I've been doing, but.

[APPLAUSE] What do you mean by this will change things? What do you mean?

My feelings is that I always thought they were my sisters. So, and to find out that they ain't, I don't know.

To hear that this is your sister.

Yeah, she'll still be my sister. I love her the same. We'll still have the same kind of relationship that we've been having.

Well, I have the DNA outcome right here, and this will answer the questions you've been having for the past 63 years. Are you ready? It's yours to open whenever you want.

You open. Rita is not just a I'm sorry. I got you, kid. When are you gonna just continue living like a rock? Remember?

I'm so sorry.

I don't know who my father is.

I'm so sorry. Now, it's okay.

Wait.

You know, I know this is a hard moment for you because you've had 63 years of feeling as if like this is your family, but I'm really happy that your daughter was able to have that message because you created a beautiful family of your own. And I know that doesn't help with the closure you need from knowing who your father is, you know, because you have that desire to know that. But at least you do know that you have created a family and that this may not be your biological sister, but she's already shown that she's your sister for life. What's going on in your mind right now?

I just wanna go somewhere and crawl under a rock. It's all these years.

I'm sorry your mother didn't give you the answers you deserved. And you know, our parents always have their own reasons for making the choices they make. And sometimes they forget The choices have direct consequences on us. And after they leave, we are dealt, left to deal with their choices.

Now I understand why some of my siblings said to leave it alone.

So your other siblings from your mom's side said leave it alone? Got it. Because you think they knew something as well? Yeah. I know you feel down right now and it makes sense to all of us, but if I can leave you with anything of just knowing that you're surrounded by love, this woman loves you.

Yes, I do.

Yeah, I love her too.

This is family. We just heard your little girl and I know again, I'm not gonna try to pacify it or make this any less of a moment, but I know you want that closure, but you have, people who love you. And sometimes, you know, even though you didn't get the answers, maybe there's something that's protecting you and maybe there's been a protection around you all this time you didn't even realize. Because maybe if you had some answers, it might not have turned out the way it is right now.

Right.

You know? So I'm just trying to give you a glimmer of hope and some things to use as tools to be able to say, you know what, at least I'm here. At least I'm here surrounded by love. Your daughter love you, she love you, I love you.

Okay, we all love you.

Thank you.

We do. Anything you wanna say?

No, I just wanna say I'm gonna still love her as always. We're gonna still do the same thing. We're gonna still visit. I'm gonna have to go her way. I'm not much of a traveler, but you know, She found our closure and I'm happy about that, even though she's not happy about it. But she always be my sister. You know, both of us, we only what?

We're what?

We're 4 months apart.

4 months apart. I know this is a difficult situation 'cause your mother has passed, but if there's any other way that we can support you, just know we're here. I'm here for you.

Guess we better find James Evans.

Okay.

I'll get on the phone with that one for you. I'll get on the phone with that one.

But in all sincerity, if it was anything you can do, you can trust that I'll help you, okay?

Okay.

I got you. I'm so sorry to get the answers you wanted. All right? Good luck though. Good luck.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Hold up, hold up. Where are you going?

I know you wanna watch more Karamo, so click here to subscribe and click here to watch more so we can keep talking and growing, friends. I love you.