The Future Homemakers of America (40 page)

Everybody had come out front for the arrival of the casket.

Lois whispered, ‘Dewey, who's the arm candy?’

There were carnations from the gang, and roses from Carla and Ed and Slick. Then, one side of the casket, there was a solid slab chrysanthemums with ‘
MOM
‘ picked out in white, and other side there was one said ‘
GRAMMA’.

There were a few there from the old days. Arlene Pickett, née Wilday, used to be in Sewing Club with Betty. The Siro twins. Mrs Siro always checked the death notices. She loved a funeral. I guess it ran in the family.

The preacher called Betty ‘Elizabeth’. He said her life was a fine example of the worthiness of modest achievements and devotion to family. He asked us to remember Edward in his bereavement.

Somebody near to me said, ‘And Slicks Don't forget, Slick.’

It was Kath. She had said it loud enough that folks turned and looked at her.

The preacher said, ‘Let us also remember at this time Deana, Sherry, Carla, Dawn, Danni and Dixie.’

It seemed like Delta and Destiny Rae had been air-brushed out of the picture.

They played ‘The Lord Is My Shepherd’ and ‘Lead, Kindly Light’. Then we followed the bier round to Live Oak. I found myself standing beside Sherry when we got to the graveside.

I said, ‘It was a lovely service, honey.’

‘Intense,’ she said.

After they lowered the casket, Ed and the girls went up to say a final farewell. Ed saluted with his busted hand, chewing away at the inside of his cheek. After family, we went up, with Slick. Me one side of him, Kath the other. He was holding himself so hard against breaking down he felt like he was armour-plated.

Lois was the last to leave the graveside.

I said, ‘If you're gonna catch that plane …’

I took the Loop to the airport, but there was still traffic. We were running things close.

I said, ‘I'm glad you came, Lo. I hope you're glad too.’

She was crying. She said, ‘I wish to God it was me they just lowered into that hole.’

I could hardly believe my ears. I said, ‘Lo? What kinda talk is that?’

She just shook her head.

I said, ‘Are you sick?’ I knew she wasn't sick.

I said, ‘Flying home to Herb and Sandie's little baby and all. You realise, out of all of us, you're the only one left still got your airman? You're the only one left has grandbabies and a real family.’

Still the tears kept coming.

I said, ‘Do you have depression? You might have. Could be your diet, or something. Running around, cutting these deals. You probably don't eat right.’

‘My life's shit,’ was all she would say.

I said, ‘You
are
depressed. You should see a doctor. Tell him you just had a bereavement. He'll give you something.’

I pulled round to the drop-off point. She looked in the vanity mirror. ‘Now I even look shit,’ she said.

She pulled her valise out of the trunk and we hugged.

I said, ‘Will you see a doctor?’

‘It ain't a doctor thing,’ she said.

She started to go, but she came back for another hug. ‘Hey!’ she said: ‘I'm okay. Forget my stupid crying. Forget I ever spoke.’

She walked backward into the terminal building, shouting all the way. ‘And tell that infant you're dating
he is cute.
Tell him, any time he wants to come to New York …’

I yelled, ‘He is
not
my date. He is a one hundred per cent homosexual gay faggot.’

There was a couple walking by, lost control of their luggage cart. ‘Can't hear you,’ she yelled back, ‘you'll have to speak up.’

Passy Tabernacle Bible Cake

Blend two tablespoons Amos, 4.5 with two cups Jeremiah, 6:20. Cream with one cup Judges, 5:25. Gradually beat in four cups First Kings, 2 and six medium Jeremiah. ij:n. Add two tablespoons First Samuel, 14:13, three cups Numbers, ij:i8, three cups First Samuel, 30:12, half cup of Judges, 4:19, good teaspoon of Second Chronicles, 9:9 and a pinch of Leviticus, 2:13

Bake at 300 degrees until a skewer comes out clean.

100

The evening after we buried Betty, Ed started his long drive back to Indiana and Grice was heading home too. The rest of us gathered at Slick's place so we could hear Pastor Gayle's recorded eulogy.

‘My dear friends,’ she said. ‘How it grieves me I can't be with you today. You who were so often there for me …’

Dawn said, ‘You see the size of that diamond?’

‘… Betty has been taken from us so young! I know you'll be asking, Why? I know you'll be asking if God hasn't made some big mistake taking a good soul like Betty from her loved ones, while sinners live to see another day. I don't have an answer. But I do have a wonderful message of hope. The word of God and its message of good news. The witness of Scripture is that even at this dark hour, nothing can separate us from the love of God …’

Dixie said, ‘Can I get a soda?’

‘… For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans, 8:38. Let me tell you the story of the disciples on the road to Emmaus …’

Deana said, ‘Crying out loud. Can't you fast-forward through this stuff?’

‘… Two disciples were on the road to Emmaus. They had seen Lord Jesus die on the cross. They were discouraged and afraid. They were running away from their pain. But as they walked along, the Risen Lord came and walked beside them. And they didn't even know it was Him. They poured out their sorrows to Him and still they didn't know Him, until He took bread with them and blessed it and broke it and gave it to them. Then they recognised Him. He vanished from their sight. But He left them with new hope. He showed them his victory over death and filled them with hope … May the Risen Lord walk with you, Deana and Sherry and Carla. Lean on Jesus! Whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. John, 3:15.’

Then an electric piano started up and she sang ‘The Old Rugged Cross’

Deana said, ‘I've had enough of this.’

Carla said, ‘Why don't you button your lip and show some respect?’

Deana said, ‘You speak to me like that. I'm the one owed respect. I'm the eldest.’

‘Then act like it,’ Carla said. ‘Hell, Deana, you can't even watch a five-minute tape without griping. And your brats are as bad. Can't even turn up to Mom's burying dressed respectful.’ Danni had worn a jeans skirt, didn't cover more than the bare necessities.

Sherry said, ‘This a really bad scene.’

‘Yeah?’ Deana said. ‘Who asked you? Why don't you hit the road? We've been managing just fine around here without you. No reason for you to stay. There ain't nothing for you.’

Carla said, ‘You're something, Deana. You forget those manners Mom taught you? We're guests here, in Slick's house.’

Deana was on her feet. ‘And there's nothing for you neither,’ she yelled at Slick. His eyes were burning.

Kath grabbed her by her jersey. She said, ‘I've a mind to wash your mouth out with soap. I don't care how old you are.’

Dawn said, ‘Come on, Mom. Let's go.’

Deana said, ‘When I'm ready. When I've put this English retard straight. Come over here, hogging Mom's last days, keeping us from her. And you!’ She started jabbing at me. ‘Turning Mom against us.’

I said, ‘Deana, even you couldn't manage that.’

‘Pair of old lesbos,’ she said, ‘hanging around my mom. And that other one. I know about her. She went with the Devil and got a baby!’

Kath swung at her, but she missed. Deana was out the door with all the other Ds. Carla had her head in her hands.

Kath said, ‘When she was a nipper, I used to think she got paddled too much. Now I'm not so sure. She could do with a good hiding today.’

‘Intense,’ Sherry said.

Slick was looking like a tank just rolled over him.

I looked outside. Deana and her girls were standing beside that heap of junk they drove, staring under the hood.

I went out. I said, ‘Problem?’

Dawn said, ‘Yeah. Battery's flat.’

I got jump-leads from Slick and Deana came sidling along, trying to make up.

She said, ‘I didn't mean that about you being a lesbo.’

I said, ‘I'm glad to hear it. I'm not sure I even know what one is.’

She sniggered.

I said, ‘Slick, you know, he loved your mom? He was always there for her. And now she's gone, he don't have person left in the world.’

‘Yeah,’ she said.

I said, ‘I know he's not kin, but your mom'd expect you to treat him decent. Show him a little kindness and consideration. That's what your mom was. Kind and considerate.’

‘Yeah,’ she said.

Dixie yelled from inside the car. ‘Mom! We're nearly outta gas too.’

I said, ‘Do you have money for gas?’

‘Well …’ she said.

I gave her a few bucks.

‘Tell you what,’ she said. ‘That Gayle must be a big earner. She's probably a millionaire or something by now.’

I guess I knew right then who was going to pay for Betty's mahogany casket.

101

Me and Kath drove back to Dallas in ninety degrees.

I said, ‘You'll be glad to get back to grey Norfolk skies.’

‘I'm not going,’ she said. ‘Not yet. I'm thinking of going to New York.’

I knew Lois never invited her. I said, ‘You can't go there in August. It'll be hotter than hell. If you want to see New York, you should come in the fall sometime.’

She was quiet for a while. Then she said, ‘What happened? After Vern got Kirk that job. What went wrong?’

I said, ‘There was a falling out.’

I pulled into the Georgetown rest area and we bought sodas. I said, ‘Okay, let's talk about New York.’

‘I want to see Lois's boy,’ she said. ‘I want to see him for myself.’

I said, ‘Did you broach this with Lois?’

‘You know I didn't,’ she said. ‘All she does is lark around. You can't pin her down. Specially not what I've got in mind.’

She looked at me. The traffic was swishing by on the Interstate. ‘You know what I mean?’ she said.

I said, ‘Why now, Kath?’

She said, ‘Because I've got a bad feeling. It come to me when you told me Kirk had the arthritis. And it come to me again when I saw the snaps of his little baby. Can you tell me any more, Peg? Do you know if John Pharaoh went with Lois?’

I said, ‘Yes. He did.’

She said, ‘And is Kirk his boy?’

I said, ‘I have no idea.’

A guy parked alongside of us, playing his radio so loud it made your ears hurt. We continued on our way.

‘I might have done a terrible thing,’ she said. ‘If Kirk's got John Pharaoh's bad blood, that's a thing that can't be undone. And I had my chance …’

I said, ‘You couldn't have stopped Lois. Nothing ever stopped her if she was looking for fun.’

‘Oh, I know that,’ she said. ‘But I might have stopped Kirk. Do you see what I'm saying? But I didn't speak up, and now it might be too late. Now there's another little baby come along might have it. And so it goes on.’

I said, ‘You have to talk to Lois. We can call her tonight.’

‘If you like,’ she said, ‘but I'm still going’ there, whatever she says, because I don't trust her, not as far as I can spit. And if I don't go now and see for myself, I might not get another chance.’

I talked with Grice, after we got home.

He said, ‘You can't let her go alone. She'll get robbed and murdered.’

I said, I don't want her to go at all. Herb's up there, quietly getting on with his life, and Kath walks in and drops a bomb. Say what you like about Lois, but she's stayed a married woman longer than almost anybody I know. Kath could blow the whole thing apart, and we don't even know if she's right.’

Grice said, ‘What do you think?’

I said, ‘I think I have to go to New York.’

102

We flew to La Guardia. Got a Midtown hotel, had all kinds of extras. Bad carpet. Neon sign for a car-rental office flashing just level with our window. Slowest elevator in the civilised world. Only things it didn't have were views and ventilation.

I called Lois. I said, ‘Kath didn't want to leave without visiting.’

She said, ‘Are you crazy? We only just said goodbye.’

I said, ‘Maybe so, but she has her heart set on seeing Sandie and everybody.’

‘I'm busy,’ she said. ‘We're leaving for the Jersey shore.’ And she slammed down the phone.

Kath was watching me. ‘Well, then,’ she said.

Neither of us slept. There was an air-conditioning unit just outside the window. Amount of noise it was making, I hope somebody was feeling the benefit of it. We lay in the dark. Listened to the police sirens and talked.

Kath said, ‘I know what Frank Sinatra meant now. The city that never sleeps.’

I said, ‘Do I phone Herb, in the morning?’

She said, ‘I'm sorry for the trouble I'm bringing you. I know you're fond of Lois. And I'm sorry for the trouble I'll be bringing her.’

‘I said, ‘I think her troubles already arrived. After the burying, when I drove her to get her plane, she told me she wished she was dead. She was crying, and Lois never cries.’

I heard Kath sit up in her bed. ‘What else?’ she said.

‘Nothing,’ I said. ‘She wouldn't explain herself. I thought it coulda been the red wine and the grieving. If you've got your health and your family, you don't wish yourself dead.’

‘I did,’ she said. ‘There were times I did, Peg, and I'm not a person to get down-hearted easy. But there were times with John Pharaoh. I'd got my little job at the laundry and I didn't want to lose that. I didn't want to end up on the social. But I couldn't get people to sit with him, and he couldn't be left…’

Every thirty seconds or so the Kwik Kars sign lit her up, orange.

‘I had a lot of people offered, but they'd do it once and they didn't want to be asked again. He was a handful. Sometimes he'd sleep. That was the best you could hope for. Sometimes he'd get in such a paddy, you could tell he'd have wrecked the place if he could have got across the room. He couldn't do it, but you could feel him seething. That was a frightening thing. And he'd say nasty things. I can't blame people for not coming back. I don't think he knew what he was saying, half the time, but nobody wants to hear ‘that kind of talk. Some days I'd be at the end of my rope. I'd tell him he'd have to go away, have a nurse to look after him. That was a terrible cruel thing for me to say because I was all he had in the world and we'd never been apart.