Chapter 26
Twenty-Six
So far, the meal had been quiet and awkward, which was a lot more than I was expecting, but I wasn’t holding my breath that it would last. I was still in shock that it was happening, both that I had allowed myself to be talked into it, and that everyone had actually shown up.
When Jed asked Rose a couple of days before if she would like to come over to Sue’s house and have dinner with the Durkes, Pastor Thomas, Pastor Bron, and their families, she looked at him with friendly eyes and managed to leave all sarcasm out of her voice.
“Of course I would. That sounds wonderful. Why didn’t Brooklyn ask me? ”
I should have asked her. Maybe that would have helped her to not only say “No,” but “Fuck, no, what the hell are you thinking, you dumb shit?”
I wish.
In the past couple of weeks since Christmas, Mom had been on her best behavior, every day a smile on her face.
Every day free from insult and mockery. Thankfully, we hadn’t seen her new boyfriend again, but I continued to find evidence of his presence.
Evidently, they were content to make it known he was still a factor without directly rubbing it in my face.
I also couldn’t believe that both Pastor Thomas and his wife agreed to come.
True to his word, Pastor Bron had talked to Pastor Thomas after the first of the year and informed him of his intention of bringing me on staff with the youth group.
According to Tyler, and I’m not sure if he was sugarcoating it or not, Pastor Thomas didn’t say anything.
Not one thing. He said that old pastor just stared him in the eye, as if it were some type of staring contest. When neither looked away, he asked if Mandy had gotten engaged over the Christmas holiday.
When Tyler said that she hadn’t, Pastor Thomas suggested she would be by Valentine’s Day.
I didn’t know what motivated the Thomases and my mother in agreeing to come to dinner, but I knew it was most definitely not based out of a desire to have a cozy, friendly meal. I was also willing to bet it wasn’t in answer to Sue’s prayers. It seemed more of a request that Satan would grant.
I had also thought Maudra might pass on the meal. She laughed at me when I suggested she might not want to attend. “You crazy, boy? I ain’t had a good laugh since Sherry passed on. And this dinner a yers is bound ta be good fer some entertainment!”
Both Della and Zephyra had tried to talk Sue out of hosting the doomed meal, but Donnie thought it would be a perfect opportunity to cement the fact I would be helping him with the youth.
Sue had been ecstatic for days as she prepared for the meal.
However, with everyone gathered around her table, she looked as if she was regretting her determination to get everyone together.
With seventeen people to host, Sue had to use her folding table on one end and Della and Nolan’s on the other.
With a red paper tablecloth spread over it, the table now extended from the kitchen nearly all the way across the living room.
The six women sat in the dining room chairs, while everyone else, including the children, sat in an assortment of folding chairs.
The three girls sat on one end of the table in between Della and Nolan.
Little Duncan, who had reached the awkward teenage puppy stage, sat underneath Savannah’s highchair, excitedly gobbling down both the accidental and the intentionally thrown scraps that fell from her squealing throne.
Sue and Chuck sat on the other end of the table, and everyone else filled in the middle. Jed sat between Rose and me. Maudra had planted herself on my other side and was constantly beginning to snigger for no reason.
The only person in the room who didn’t seem to feel any tension was Rose.
She twittered about everything from how good the food was to how charmingly Sue had redecorated since the last time she had been over.
She was unencumbered by the fact that most couldn’t understand much of what she said due to the combination of her slur and speaking with her mouth full.
Her good mood, genuine or forced, was not lost on anyone, except the Brons, who had yet to get to know Rose.
Even Sue, who always wanted to see the best in my mother, looked as if Rose’s pleasant attitude made her more nervous than if she had been cursing at the top of her lungs.
Rose had even been pleasant to Maudra, immediately going to her and giving her a hug, saying she was sorry for the loss of her friend Sherry, who had been a good woman.
There was no question of her sincerity. Whoever else Rose could find fault with and blame for all her troubles in this world, she never had a bad word for Sister Heinz.
After my last conversation with Sherry at the hospital, I now wondered if that was the source of my mother’s goodwill toward her, or if there was more to the story somewhere.
The only truly blatant and obvious strain had been with Twyla, who let it show upon greeting both Maudra and Rose. She had genuinely lost her skill of faking pleasantness.
It was Chuck (who always went out of his way to avoid confrontation and to stay as quiet as possible) who unintentionally pulled his finger out of the dyke and let the pressing water rush into the room.
“So, honey”—he turned to Zephyra—“are you going to come back next weekend?”
“I’m not sure, Daddy.” She turned to the Thomases.
“This semester starts Wednesday, so I have to go back tomorrow.” She turned back to Chuck.
“They are thinking there’s going to be another big snowstorm on Thursday, so it depends on how bad the roads are.
” She then turned to me. “I really want to, though. I want to hear about how your first week with the kids goes.”
Trying to change the subject as fast as possible, I motioned toward Jed. “Jed starts teaching at Cottey College on Wednesday too.” I knew she already knew this; she and Jed talked daily over Christmas break. “You two must have the same schedule.”
She cocked her head and looked at me quizzically.
“We do. Same spring break too. That’s not a big deal, though.
I’m used to school starting, and Jed’s an old hat at teaching.
” She winked at him. “Although teaching a bunch of smitten, giggling girls is going to be a switch. It’s you who has the big week.
I mean, it’s been….” She stopped and her face faltered momentarily when she realized what she was doing, but she quickly recovered.
“I am a little nervous, though. I haven’t seen Dylan all break.
I mean, sure, we talk every day, but what if when I see him, his acne is worse and it bothers me?
I really must get him something to help his skin. ”
I saw Twyla make a grimacing face, as if she could see that pimply face embossed on the surface of her plate.
“Oh, Zephyra,” Chuck reprimanded. “Don’t be so shallow.
You say he’s a sweet boy. That’s enough.
You just need to get him down here so your mom and I can approve as well.
” He swiveled in his chair to better see me.
“Brooke, I’m sorry, I hadn’t even thought.
This is your big week. Donnie’s making the announcement Wednesday night at the youth group service that you’re gonna be helping out, isn’t he? ”
How had he not thought? I loved Chuck to death, but his frequent obliviousness was irritating. Why had he thought we’d been trying to convince Sue not to have this dinner?
Donnie, seeing it as his opportunity to show his support of my involvement, spoke up. “The kids are going to love him. Especially when I tell them he used to work at a jail for kids.”
I managed to find my voice. Better to address it and move on quickly than try to hide from it and draw it out. “It wasn’t a jail.”
“Close enough.” Donnie grinned. “They’ll think you’re the toughest, coolest youth pastor ever!”
“I doubt that most of the stories I have from that place would be appropriate to tell in a youth group setting.”
“As if that would be the inappropriate part of you being in a youth group setting.” Twyla had said it under her breath.
She took another bite of her food before looking up.
From the startled look that crossed Twyla’s face when she saw everyone’s eyes on her, I truly don’t think she meant anyone to hear.
Everyone froze, some with forks half raised to their mouths. I saw Mandy raise her graceful fingers to her lips. I felt Maudra’s hand tighten on my thigh under the table as if to relay some of her strength to me.
My mind raced as I tried to think of something to say that would switch to a different topic, tell some story that would make everyone laugh.
Anything. All I could think of was throwing myself from the table and running as fast as possible.
I turned slightly to implore Jed with my eyes.
He always knew how to defuse a hostile situation.
He opened his mouth and started to say something, but Donnie spoke over him. “Twyla, I think it might be a good idea for you to spend some time with Brooke. Really get to know him.”
Twyla met my eyes over the table, and we both turned to Donnie to look at him as if he had just suggested mass suicide.
He shrugged. “I’m serious. I know there will be many people with concerns. I will suggest that every one of those people get to know Brooke before they condemn his involvement in the youth group. Get to know him, ask him questions, see his sincerity, his genuineness, his love for God.”
If I had to spend time with every person who had concerns so they would get to know me to the point they were comfortable, I wouldn’t have time to do anything else until the kids in the youth group were close to retirement.
Again Twyla’s face twisted slightly as she primly shook her head. “I don’t think that will be necessary.”