Chapter 28 #2
He shrugs. It’s what people want to read these days. It’s about beauty and romance, not sad folks waiting in soup lines. Not to toot my own horn, but from what I’ve read in the trades … I think it’s worth a four-figure advance.
Lucille breathes through her nose. I can tell she is trying to keep the lid on.
I think that’s wonderful, Tom. I really do.
And I think if you told your mama you’ve written a book, that’s proof, right there, that you’ve gotten your head straight and they’d know it’s time to get us back on the deposits.
Tom sighs and gets up, saying he’ll think about it, and he goes back in his office to work.
A few mornings later, at the reasonable hour, Mrs. Heidelberg’s black car rolls up. It has been a while and my guess is she would visit every day if she could stand Lucille farther than she could throw her.
Lucille opens the door and puts on a big smiling show. Why, Isabelle, what a surprise! It’s so good of you to come calling. If she had some twirlers and firecrackers, it’d be like the Fourth of July. Lucille knows where that stipend comes from.
Lord, not that I am much better. I am all, Allow me, and Can I take your hat?
Mrs. Heidelberg gives Tom his good hug, pat-pats my head, and says, Lucille.
Today her short, wide self is dressed in head-to-toe lavender.
She has a brown bag with her and some mail.
I hope she brought those pecan pralines again, they were so good they near made me faint.
She glances around like usual for signs that we have not been respectable.
Tom and I are both very careful to clean up after Lucille’s liquor alcohol.
I set the table for the four of us with little plates and napkins and forks.
I enjoy the look on Lucille’s face when Tom’s mama sits in Lucille’s place beside him.
Lucille has to come around and sit next to me.
Today it is some sticky chocolaty cake squares Mrs. Heidelberg has brought. Lord, these look good too.
When everybody gets settled, Mrs. Heidelberg asks, How’s your sick friend in Memphis doing, Lucille? I watch Lucille to see if she fools with a button or a ear.
Oh she’s doing as well as can be expected. Lucille sighs and shakes her head. Makes you realize how lucky we are to be in such good health. Mrs. Heidelberg nods but looks a little disappointed Lucille did such a good job at that.
There is some more small talk I hardly listen to. I am very involved with this chocolate thing. Until Mrs. Heidelberg says, Lucille, why hasn’t Meg been playing more with the cousins? Willy May said she hardly even leaves the house.
I flat-out like this old lady more every day.
Tom looks at Lucille. Lucille says, Well I.
Meg needs to be around children her age. It’ll help her adjust to her new surroundings, especially before school starts. She dabs some chocolate off her lips with the napkin. Frankly, I think some of the cousins could learn a thing or two from Meg. She doesn’t take things for granted.
I give Lucille a look. She could stand to learn that her own self.
Meg likes to stay home with us, Lucille says. She’s shy, and this woman who has hardly said boo to me all week puts her arm around me and pulls me in close. It does feel kind of nice.
Oh, poppycock. She’s not shy—are you, Meg?
Well. It comes and goes, I say.
Your sister-in-law Rowena’s planning a get-together with the girl cousins next week, Mrs. Heidelberg says.
I hope Meg will go and join them—which reminds me, I brought you your mail, Tom.
Y’all had a few letters in your box. One’s an invitation to Rowena’s sister’s wedding, and looks like this one’s postmarked Oxford.
She slides the envelopes across to Lucille, and the table goes quiet a second.
I look down at the letter addressed to Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Heidelberg III, PO Box 12.
In the upper left corner, it says Birdie Calhoun, Oxford.
I go very still. As much as I would be excited to read a letter from Birdie, this could blow our whole cover. I do not even chew.
Mrs. Heidelberg peers over her nose at the envelope on the table. Who’s Birdie Calhoun? Don’t believe I know anybody with that name in Mississippi. Only the John C. Calhouns in Carolina.
It’s a cousin of mine, Lucille says and scoops up the envelopes and sets them in her lap.
Mrs. Heidelberg settles back in her chair and says quiet, I thought all your people were sharecroppers in Yazoo County.
When Mrs. Heidelberg is gone home a little later, Tom says, God, that was close. He looks like he might be sick.
Lucille opens the envelope and skims the letter. She already has a cigarette going, and her hand is shaking a little. I could about use one myself. It’s just a … a welfare inquiry to see how Meg is doing. Jesus Christ, this woman almost blew everything to say nothing.
You alright, Meg? Tom asks. I can see in his eyes how much he hates lying to his mama.
I am alright, Tom.
When he goes to his office, I ask Lucille could I read Birdie’s letter. I am curious to know what all she wrote in there. It would also be nice to read a letter from somebody who knew me before here.
She says, NO. All you need to remember is Memphis. I want you to forget about that place, you hear me?
I nod, I expected as much. Though that is a lot easier said than damn done.