Charlotte Figg Takes Over Paradise

by Joyce Magnin

  I raised my hands to heaven like Rose did whenever frustration set in. "Lord, help us now."

  Asa was out on the pitcher's circle with Frankie, probably giving her some pointers. I wished I had done some spying of my own or at least tried to get a scouting report on the Thunder. But no, I believed Cash Vangarten when he said his team stank to the high heavens. Herman always said I was gullible, like a sponge.

  Greta, Edwina, and Thomasina tossed a ball back and forth in the outfield and looked pretty good, but I knew it wouldn't take much for one of the Thunder women to sail a ball over their heads and probably into the Frost sister's cornfield.

  There was precious little I could do for my team now but watch and encourage them to keep going and concede the game at first blood.

  The umpire, a middle-aged man with a paunch, called the team captains together.

  Frankie came off the field and stood next to me. Cash Vangarten strutted toward us, accompanied by the largest, most square-shouldered, shortest-haired woman I had ever seen. Now, I am not saying she was a bulldog or anything, I mean she had the prettiest little face, but I got to say she could have been Paul Bunyan's kid sister.

  "Okay," the ump said. "You all know the rules. No stealing. No taking leads off bases, no cussing, and if one team scores ten or more runs before the fifth inning, it is at the losing team's discretion to concede the game."

  Frankie curled her lip. "Never happen."

  I touched her arm, wanting her to settle and not get overconfident.

  Missy—that was their team captain's name—reached out her hand and Frankie reached up and took it. "We're gonna kill you," Missy said with clenched teeth. Missy growled. She actually growled like a grizzly.

  Pride filled my heart. Frankie never backed down. I shook Cash's hand and our eyes met again and I think my toes might have curled in my Keds when I noticed just how blue his eyes were—like crystal lakes.

  "Play ball!" hollered the ump.

  I went back to the sidelines, and on my way I saw my mother and Hazel hobbling out of the woods. "Oh, my goodness gracious," I said to no one. "They came."

  I waved until Mother found me and waved back. They marched right up to our purple bench and sat down like they belonged there. Hazel wore a dark brown shawl and a widebrimmed straw hat with a banana, two plums, and a bunch of grapes nestled on the side. Mother had changed into a stylish pantsuit.

  "Mother," I said. "You came."

  "Course she did," Hazel said. "I told her we couldn't miss the first game. Now, get over there and coach this team to victory."

  My mother nodded. "Go on, dear. Mother wants to see her baby girl coach the team."

  I turned away and stood along the third baseline as their lead-off batter took the plate. She was mean looking, maybe not as mean as Missy, but I swear she had red eyes, red, glowing eyes that bore right through me when she looked my way. She banged dirt out of her cleats and then tapped home plate three times and took her stance. Steam puffed from her nostrils.

  Frankie looked over at me as if to say, "You've got to be kidding."

  Gwendolyn, on third base, had already started to cry.

  I grinned and waved. "It's okay, Gwen. You can do this."

  Frankie wound up. I held my breath. Frankie pitched. The ball took a nice, high arc and SMACK! I could tell by the sound it made that it was a goner. The ball sailed over Edwina's head. The batter took off like she had been shot from a cannon, blew past Marlabeth at first, became a blur as she headed for Ginger at shortstop, who leaped and dove out of the way, and by the time she rounded third and headed for home, Rose was cowering behind me.

  Their player scored the first run before Edwina even snagged the ball. I let the air out of my lungs and sent my own prayer heavenward that the Angels would score at least one run today.

  By the time the first half of the inning was over, the Thunder had scored five runs, Ginger had fallen over twice, Edwina had cried, and Marlabeth had threatened to quit. But now it was our turn. Clara was up first.

  "Just try to hit the ball. That's all," I said. "Just make contact, don't kill it."

  She struck out. The Thunder smirked and giggled when Ginger took the plate. But she stood tall, as tall as possible, and drew a walk. Unfortunately she was left stranded on first base and the inning was over. I watched my dejected team take the field, and I knew they wanted to be anywhere but there.

  Cash Vangarten sat on his bench looking mighty smug with his arms folded against his chest and his long legs outstretched. I caught him looking at me every now and again. I loathed him when he made fancy hand signals. I was just happy if my team remembered to swing, let alone do some fancy hitting. By the third inning, the score was eleven to zip, and I was ready to concede according to league rules, even though the Angels wanted to finish the whole game. I just didn't want to see any more bloodshed. But Frankie spoke for the team and said, "Please, Charlotte. Let us finish the game."

  Hazel called me to her side. "Don't give up, Charlotte. Just see it to the end. My Birdy always said quitters never prosper."

  "Birdy?" Mother said.

  "My dead husband. Wisest man to ever walk God's green earth."

  I walked away before Mother had the chance to defend my father as the wisest man on God's green earth.

  We had just taken the field in the top of the fourth when Fleur de Lee and Jaster made their way toward the field. Jaster had his arm around his young wife's shoulder and seemed to be pushing her toward us.

  "What are they doing?" Asa asked. "They're heading toward first base by way of the infield."

  "She looks sick. She's trying to get to Marlabeth."

  Cash ran over to me. "What's that woman doing? She can't walk across the field like that."

  Asa dashed out to Marlabeth and pointed in Fleur de Lee's direction. Marlabeth dropped her glove. I went to the home plate umpire. "Stop the game. Stop the game."

  "What?" he said.

  I pointed. "That woman is pregnant and she looks pretty . . . "

  He raised his arms and the game stopped.

  Cash Vangarten came running up to me. "What's going on? Are you ready to concede?"

  "I am not conceding, Mr. Vangarten. Look."

  We turned and saw Marlabeth and Jaster gently lay Fleur de Lee on the ground with her head resting on second base.

  "I believe that woman is about to have a baby," I said.

  "Right now? Here? On second base?" Cash said. "She can't."

  By then his Amazons had gathered around, shouting all manner of expletives and complaints. They were so loud and rambunctious that the umpire threatened to eject them from the game.

  "Ever try to stop a woman from giving birth?" I said. "Just go back to your bench and sit."

  "I never called a game on account of childbirth," said the umpire. "There is nothing in the rules about this. Rain, yes, darkness, yes. But childbirth?"

  "Let's just treat it like a rain delay," I said.

  The ump removed his black cap and scratched his bald head. "If this don't beat all."

  Then all of a sudden Missy leaped from the bench and hollered, "I know that girl. She's a retard. She lives in that home. Why they let her have a baby for?"

  Rose, who had been standing near home plate praying, rushed near and waggled her finger in the woman's face. "Don't you ever call my friend a retard again." Rose ripped her facemask off and threw it on the ground. The other woman put up her fists like she wanted a fight. "I don't have time to flatten your nose," Rose said. "I need to go help my friend."

  "Chicken." Missy clucked.

  "Just so you know. I once killed a man." And she marched off toward the now gathering crowd at second base.

  "I don't have time for this either," I said. And I headed toward Fleur de Lee. I could hear her crying and moaning."She's in pain. What do I do now?"

  That was when I felt my mother behind me. "Of course she is, dear. She's in labor."

  "Do something, Mother."

  "Charlotte,
" she put her hand on my shoulder. "Nature is a good teacher. She'll do fine, and she looks to be in good hands. Lots of them. I suppose these farm women have had a lot of experience with birth."

  "Cows, Mother. Pigs. Maybe a horse, but this is a human being."

  Hazel appeared next to Mother. "Calm down, child. Watch if you want. Go home and make pie if you want, but you are the team leader, the coach. You can't let them see you panic."

  30

  Marlabeth hollered orders like a drill sergeant.

  "Asa! Run to my trailer and get my medical bag. It's just inside the front door."

  "Marlabeth has a medical bag?" I said to Ginger.

  "Of course she does. We're not hillbillies."

  "Edwina," Marlabeth said. "You go get me some clean towels. Lots of clean towels."

  Gwendolyn stood over them with her fist in her mouth, shaking like a frightened bunny rabbit. Rube put his hands on her shoulders and walked her away from the scene. "It's okay, Gwen. Fleur de Lee is going to be just fine. Just fine."

  Fleur de Lee held Jaster's hand like she was hanging on for dear life. He had a look on his face that spelled fear and excitement all at the same time. "She's having the baby," he kept saying. "She's having the baby."

  I noticed the Thunder still stood frozen on their side like a clump of trees.

  "Maybe you should send them packing," said Clara Kaninsky. "Can't play softball with a woman giving birth on second base."

  That was when the umpire strolled over. He turned his back as he spoke, like it was too much. "Should we call the game?"

  I looked at him like he had just asked the stupidest question ever.

  "No, Mr. Umpire. The women can just jump over the pregnant woman on their way to third base. Why don't we just give Fleur de Lee a glove so she can catch grounders?"

  He slinked away.

  Marlabeth spoke to Fleur de Lee in a calm, assured tone."Just keep breathing, honey pie. You're doing fine. The baby just decided to be born a few days early."

  "I told you so," Fleur de Lee said between huffs. "I told you this baby was ready."

  I felt frantic. "Is that okay?" I said. "Will the baby be all right?"

  Marlabeth looked up at me. "Yes. The baby will be okay. Where's Asa with my bag?"

  Fleur de Lee cried. She squeezed Jasters's hand tighter. His face was as red as a pomegranate. Tears streamed down his face. "I love you, Fleur de Lee. I love you."

  She looked up at him. "The baby is coming out now, Jaster."

  Marlabeth snapped her fingers in Fleur de Lee's face. "When did your water break?"

  "My water?" She huffed and puffed and squirmed.

  "The contractions are coming closer," Marlabeth said. She lifted Fleur de Lee's dress up and pulled off her underwear."Where's those towels?"

  "That's Elsmere underwear," Hazel said.

  Cash appeared and ripped off his jersey. "Here, use this. Cover her up."

  "Now, Fleur de Lee," Marlabeth said. "You remember I told you about your water breaking. Did you leak all over? Or just in dribbles?"

  "We thought she just peed her pants last night," Jaster said."We thought since the baby wasn't set to be born yet that she just peed."

  "I told you it was a lot of pee," Fleur de Lee said.

  "I'm sorry," Jaster said. "I just thought it was—"

  "Men ain't supposed to think during childbirth," Greta said."You did your part nine months ago. Fleur de Lee will do fine, Jaster."

  "Hold on, now," Marlabeth said. She reached under the softball jersey draped across Fleur de Lee's knees. "You must have been in labor all night. You're already at ten centimeters. This baby's coming."

  I stepped back a few feet and joined Rose. "You stay here," she said. "I'm going back to the trailer. I think I need to get into God's palm to pray."

  I nodded and she took off with Ginger.

  Asa returned with Marlabeth's medical bag, and Edwina arrived with enough clean towels to open a linen store.

  Fleur de Lee cried and moaned. "It hurts. It hurts so much."

  Jaster reached down and kissed her sweaty forehead. "I'm here, Fleur de Lee. I love you."

  Marlabeth, who still had her hands under the jersey, instructed Greta to put the towels over her. "And keep two for the baby. We'll need to swaddle him."

  She opened her bag and set it nearby where she could reach it.

  Fleur de Lee screamed and then moaned. "I want to push him out," she said. "Just like you said, Miss Marla, I need to push him out."

  Marlabeth stuck her hands under and then she looked. "The baby's crowning now. Fleur de Lee, you start pushing. Jaster, you sit behind her on the ground and hold her up. Matter of fact, get me Rube back."

  "Rube?" Greta said. "Why him? He don't know nothing about birthing babies."

  "I need him to help support her with Jaster back there."

  Greta hollered for Rube like she was calling a hog. He came running from the sidelines. "What's wrong, Greta?"

  "Get behind Jaster," Greta said. "And hold her. Give her support like you're a big old couch or something."

  Rube slid behind Jaster and held on to both of them with his big, strong arms.

  "Shouldn't someone call an ambulance?" I asked.

  "What for?" Marlabeth said. "She is not sick and she was planning to have the baby at home anyway."

  "I just thought."

  "It's okay," Marlabeth said. "We'll get her to the hospital after it's all over."

  My mother took my hand. "Now's not the time to think, Charlotte."

  "Charlotte," Marlabeth said. "You come over here and grab hold of her right knee and push back. You, Charlotte's mother, you get the other. She needs something to push against."

  "Me?" Mother said.

  "Just do it, Mother."

  "Go on," Hazel said. "I'd do it but with my brittle bones I'm afraid she'd snap my arm."

  Mother did as she was told, and there we stood with Fleur de Lee's legs in our hands, helping her give birth. For a second I felt like I might faint. But my mother locked eyes with me, and I realized this was the closest we would ever come to sharing a child.

  "You can do it, Fleur de Lee," I said. "Just do what Marlabeth tells you."

  Jaster, who was now sobbing like a little girl, was no help. Rube did all the bull work, holding everyone up so gravity could have a chance to do its thing.

  "Okay, Fleur de Lee," Marlabeth said. "Just a couple more pushes and the baby will be out. Put your chin on your chest and push."

  My mother looked down. "Jumpin' blue lizards!" she hollered."The baby is coming out."

  "You really didn't need to look, did you, Mom?" I said.

  "Yes, but close up it's—"

  "One more push," called Marlabeth. "One more big one and the baby will be out."

  Fleur de Lee strained and pushed. Jaster continued to cry like a baby. Rube had a good hold on him and Fleur de Lee."It's okay, Jaster buddy. Your wife is doing fine. They all look like this when they're birthing babies. Why, you shoulda seen Greta. She screamed like—"

  Greta smacked the side of his head. "You shut up about that, Rube."

  He smiled at her. "I love you, Sweetie."

  "Push, Fleur de Lee. Push!" Marlabeth hollered. "The head is out!" And then, plop. The baby practically fell into Marlabeth's waiting hands. "Happy birthday, little girl," she said.

  She held the baby by her ankles and cleared her mouth with her index finger. The baby wailed. I cried. Greta cried. Rube swiped some tears. I looked to the sidelines, and the Thunder were all sobbing like little girls. Even Cash Vangarten was moved. He reached out and hugged me. "I'm sorry I lied to you. I'm sorry I said what I said."

  "This is not the time, Cash."

  He nodded and backed away.

  "Is that my baby?" Fleur de Lee said. "Is she mine?"

  Marlabeth laid the baby on Fleur de Lee's chest. The new mommy reached for and touched her newborn. "Hi, baby," she said. "Is it a boy or girl?"

  Jaster touched the
baby's forehead. "A girl. We have a little girl."

  "I'm so happy," I cried.

  "You can put her leg down now, Charlotte," Marlabeth said.

  Mother took me aside. "Is it, you know, normal?"

  "Mother, don't say such things now. I don't know if they can tell yet."

  "She looks perfect," Cash said. "Just perfect."

  I wrinkled my eyebrows at him. "And how would you know?"

  "I just do," he said.

  Marlabeth reached into her bag and pulled out two things that looked like funny, short-nosed scissors. She secured them to the umbilical cord and then cut the cord with a scissor.

  "She's all yours now, Fleur de Lee."

  "What should we do now?" Rube asked after Marlabeth finished.

  Marlabeth pulled off her rubber gloves and wrapped them in a towel. "Now I think it would be a good idea if we get her and the baby to the hospital."

  "Hospital?" Jaster said. "Why does she have to go to the hospital? Is she okay?"

  "Yes, yes," Marlabeth said. "But I think it's a good idea to let a doctor take a look at her and the baby. She'll be home tomorrow. And they'll teach her how to take care of— Do you have a name?"

  Fleur de Lee kissed her baby. "Yes, Miss Marla. I got the best name now."

  "You do?" Jaster said. "You do?"

  "Angel. I want to call her Angel on account of she was born on Angel Field."

  "Angel," Jaster said. "That's the prettiest name in the world."Then he kissed his wife. "How 'bout we call her Angel Fleur de Lee?"

  "That's beautiful," I cried.

  "Now I'm glad we didn't call the team The Tornados," Greta said.

  "The nurses will teach Fleur de Lee how to care for Angel, bathe her, feed her, change her diapers."

  Jaster snickered. "Diapers. I am not changing any poopy diapers."

  "Oh yes you are," Fleur de Lee said.

  Rube cradled Fleur de Lee and the baby in his arms and carried them to his waiting station wagon. "Greta and me will take them over." Rube wiped his eyes.

  "I'll be right behind you," Marlabeth said. But I didn't think Fleur de Lee heard her. She was too busy admiring her Angel Fleur de Lee.