Charlotte Figg Takes Over Paradise

by Joyce Magnin

  "Are you certain, Charlotte?"

  "I am, Mom. Saw the bruises myself, and then just a few days ago Suzy finally admitted it to me."

  It wasn't until I had pulled onto the main road to Shoops that my mother spoke again. "What is it with you and these kind of men? It's wherever you go."

  "I take out ads in newspapers, Mother. Wanted: Men who hit their wives."

  "Charlotte, that's terrible. But you have to admit it's weird."

  I looked at her for a long second and nearly rammed into the car ahead of me. I slammed on the brakes.

  "Charlotte," Mother hollered. "Take me home. You are not a fit driver."

  "Too late, the shopping center is just down the road."

  "Slow down. Charlotte, slow down."

  The Piggly Wiggly was crowded for a Wednesday morning, but Lillian and I managed to get through it quickly. I purchased everything I needed to make pies. "I make them for Suzy," I told Mother. "Then she tells Fergus she made them."

  "Why on earth would you do that?"

  "Just trying to help."

  My mother bought shampoo and soap because apparently the brand I used made her skin itch and her scalp tingle.

  We loaded the car and headed out of the parking lot. "What's this town called?" Lillian asked.

  "Shoops. It's where just about every man in Paradise works."

  "Really?"

  "Down at the Elastic Factory. Hazel Crenshaw owns the factory."

  "She does, does she? Then why is she living in a trailer park?"

  "She likes it, but she also owns a huge estate around here somewhere. Place called Willow Way. But here's what's really funny. Cash Vangarten works for her also. He's her general manager."

  "No, really?"

  "And she won't sponsor his team. So he's a little miffed that she is sponsoring the Angels."

  "Peyton Place," Mother said shaking her head. "Paradise is its own little soap opera."

  "I guess it is. We have it all. Secrets, deception, softball."

  "Softball," Mother said. "How come a woman who can bake like you plays softball?"

  "I like it."

  Just for kicks I drove Mother past the factory. "Elastic, huh. Now there's something you don't think about until you need it. Something mighty important though."

  "Hazel says they sell it all over the world. It's used in lots and lots of products."

  "That's right," Mother said. "When I was buying for Wanamaker's, I remember many conversations about the elastic quality of bras, underwear, feety pajamas."

  "Hazel says Elsmere makes the best," I said.

  "Come to think of it, I might remember hearing the name Elsmere Elastic before."

  It was well past lunchtime when we got home. Mother helped me unpack bags and put the groceries away, although she tried to rearrange my kitchen.

  "Please, Mother. I like things where I put them."

  "I'm being like Herman," she said all of a sudden as though she had been struck by lightning.

  I nodded. "You kind of are."

  She flopped onto the sofa. "I'm the reason you married that man."

  I dropped a jar of pickles on the counter and went to her."No, you aren't. You're nothing like Herman."

  Lucky pawed at the door. "Go on, boy. Go out. Fergus isn't out there."

  He looked at me warily.

  "Go on, use your little door."

  Lucky did as I told him, but very slowly, so slowly he got stuck about halfway and had to wiggle his body outside.

  "That must be how they do it," Mother said. "Momentum pushes them through."

  I looked at her. "True. Momentum helps us get through most things in life."

  "So how come he's afraid? I heard you mention Fergus."

  I took a huge breath and told her how Fergus had threatened me and Lucky. When I finished I was both exhausted and relieved that my mother knew.

  My mother stood and put her fists on her hips. "I am going to march right over there and give that man a piece of my mind. How dare he kidnap my daughter's dog, my granddog. How dare he threaten—"

  "Mother, you can't. Suzy. Remember? Her life is in danger now as it is. If you go over there all angry and Lillian-like, there's no telling what he'll do."

  32

  I had been awake for almost an hour when the rain started. Lucky wasn't on the floor in his usual spot. He could hear my eyelids open and always came running, ready to go out for breakfast. My heart sped the way it did since the incident with Fergus whenever I couldn't see him.

  I clapped my hands and called, "Lucky. Here, boy."

  And into the room he bounded and onto the bed.

  "There you are, Lucky. You're all wet. Eww. Get off the bed."I gave him a push. "You've been out in the rain. I'll need to dry you off."

  I hung my feet over the bed and rested a moment before getting up. The rain sounded hard. Mother appeared at the doorway in her turquoise terry robe and matching fuzzy slippers. "I couldn't sleep with all that racket the storm was making, so I got up. I let Lucky out. I made coffee." She yawned and stretched. "We have to talk."

  I pulled on my robe and made my way to the bathroom first and then the kitchen.

  "Thank you," I said. "This is nice, having coffee already made. It's that African coffee, isn't it?"

  "Yes, Charlotte, but that's not what I want to talk about."

  A huge crack of lightning split the sky as thunder rolled over Paradise. "Looks like a nasty storm," I said. "I hope Asa covered up the infield."

  "The What?"

  "Infield, Mother. On Angel Field. He has this huge tarp he uses to protect the dirt in the rain. Otherwise it could wash away the infield."

  Mother sat at the table and warmed her hands on the coffee cup.

  "Did you happen to catch the news this morning, hear the weather?" I asked. My head started to clear of its usual morning fog.

  "I did," she said. "They're calling for high winds and buckets of rain. Severe storms, they said." Then she smirked.

  "What's that for?"

  "You Yankees," she said. "This is just a summer shower down in Tampa. We have hurricanes down there, dear. Believe me, this is nothing."

  I sipped my coffee and looked out at the dark skies and lightning. "I better check on Hazel."

  Another loud boom of thunder broke just over my trailer. It sent Lucky running into the bedroom to cower under the bed."Chicken," I called.

  The lights flickered a second but stayed on. "Maybe I should get the flashlights out," I said. "And I have candles pretty much everywhere. I used them when I first moved in to help with the smell."

  A crack of lightning lit up the sky. "Did you see that? It's both beautiful and frightening at the same time. Maybe I should run over to Hazel's before the lights go out."

  "That's a good idea. She'd be better off here with us, but I did want to speak to you about something."

  "Can it wait?"

  Mother fiddled with her wedding ring. She still wore it. She couldn't bear to be without it and had no intention of ever marrying again. I rolled my band around my finger.

  That was when a huge crack of lightning and thunder split all outdoors and we heard a tremendous crash that reminded me of the day Herman dropped dead. I ran to the kitchen bay window just as the lights went off. "Mother, it's Hazel's trailer. That huge oak split and half of it is on her trailer. I need to go get her."

  She grabbed on to me. "You will do nothing of the kind. Let the men find her and take care of her. You can't go running outside in this storm. Besides, it looks like that tree took some wires with it. Could be dangerous."

  "But I can't just sit here."

  "Then go get dressed. Just in case we have to evacuate or something."

  "Evacuate?"

  "Could happen. Ever get floods up here?"

  "I don't know, but the water is running down the street like a river."

  I ran into my bedroom and pulled on jeans and a sweatshirt, socks, and Keds. I brushed my teeth, just in case we did hav
e to leave. When I got back to the kitchen, I heard what sounded like a chainsaw starting up.

  "It's Asa," I said, looking out the window. "He's over at Hazel's. I can't see real well. It's like looking through a waterfall out this window, but it looks like that tree is blocking her door."

  "I hope she's all right," Mother said. She hugged Lucky around the neck.

  "Of course she is. If I know Hazel Crenshaw, she's standing in the living room all dressed in her shawl and hat du jour with Smiley in her arms, waiting for the men to bust through."

  "You're probably right, Charlotte. But who or what is Smiley?"

  "Her cat. I hope Rose and Ginger are okay. I'm worried, Mother."

  "Better turn on your emergency generator," my mother said.

  I laughed. "Generator? I don't have a generator."

  "Well, don't worry, Charlotte. I'm sure Rose and Ginger are just fine." She took her coffee into the living area. "This will give us time to talk."

  "Talk? Now? I can't, Mother. Not until I know they're safe. Everyone's safe."

  "Then come away from the window, speaking of safe. You shouldn't stand near a window in a raging storm like this."

  I went about lighting candles. "Fine, now tell me what's on your mind."

  Mother looked away from me for a second and then caught me square in the eye. "I've decided you are going to move to Florida. This is not a good place for you, Charlotte. It's not safe."

  I silently prayed that Rose or someone would come by. But no, I sat there and listened to my mother spout a hundred and ten reasons why I needed to move to Florida. And then she spouted another hundred and ten reasons why I should have left Herman long before he collapsed in the kitchen.

  The whole lecture lasted about fifteen minutes before I finally stood up, looked my mother in the eyes, and said, "You are not the boss of me anymore. I have my own life and I like it just fine, right here in Paradise."

  She argued. And then she stopped. I could see the storm raging inside her as the storm raged outside. It had not let up at all. Buckets of rain poured—lightning, thunder. The winds whipped through the trees and whistled like a train between the trailers. I saw small branches and garbage strewn around the yard and in the street. Old Man Hawkins's trash cans rolled around.

  I went to the kitchen window and saw that Asa had finally made it through to Hazel's front door. I grabbed my raincoat and went tearing across the street, dodging branches and trash cans as I went.

  "Get back in your trailer," Asa called.

  "I will. I just want to make sure she's okay."

  "Don't go near it. The tree brought down some power lines."He had to holler over the sound of the wind.

  "We have to get her out."

  "Where's all the men?" I called.

  "Elsmere," Asa said. "They all went to work before the storm hit. They might be on the way home, but I don't know."

  "What about Fergus?"

  "I called, but the phone lines are out and that creep don't give a—"

  "Let's get Hazel out."

  Asa cleared a path. He threw his body against the front door, and on the third try it popped open. Hazel stood there in her raincoat, plastic rain scarf with daisies all over it, and yellow galoshes. She held Smiley tight to her chest. "What took you so long?" she said. "I been standing here so long I think I might have taken root."

  "That's my girl," Asa said. He gently led her outside.

  "I'll take her to my house."

  "Good. I need to check on everyone else," Asa said. "Trees down all over."

  Mother stood at the door. "Come on, hurry." She waved her hands like a cheerleader.

  "We're coming. We're coming," Hazel said. "But my, my, your mother is a pip."

  We made it inside unscathed. I helped Hazel get out of her rain gear. Mother helped her to the rocker. "No, no," Hazel said."I want to sit on the sofa. Why do you young people always think the elderly want to sit in rockers? Makes no sense."

  "Excuse me," Mother said. "I didn't mean to insult you."

  "Dark in here," Hazel said. "Got any lanterns? Turn them on." She put Smiley next to her and patted his tummy. "You just stay here, darling."

  I looked at the cat. He didn't move. I reached out to touch him, and Hazel slapped my hand away. "Leave him be, leave him be. He's sleeping. How a cat can sleep through this storm, I don't know."

  Mother raised her eyebrows at me. "Maybe a cup of tea, Hazel?" she said.

  Hazel nodded and then jumped slightly as another bolt of lightning crackled overhead. "Now you're talking. A nice cup of tea will suit me fine. And pie, of course, Charlotte."

  "Wait a second," Mother said. "How can we boil water with no power?"

  "Propane, Mother. I can light the stove manually."

  I followed Lillian into the kitchen. "You know the cat is dead," she whispered.

  "I know."

  "We can't let her sit there with a dead cat, Charlotte."

  "I know. Wonder how long he's been . . . asleep."

  We went back to Hazel, who was still rubbing Smiley's tummy. "That's a good kitty. You just sleep. Best thing for him during one of these storms."

  Lucky came out of the bedroom.

  "Well, you finally found some courage," Mother said.

  He headed straight for the cat. Mother grabbed his collar."Stay here, boy. The cat is . . . sleeping."

  But she couldn't hold him, and Lucky started to sniff at the cat. Hazel tried to push him away. "Leave him alone, Lucky."

  "Go on, Lucky," I said. "Go lie down."

  He looked at me and let go a growl as if to say, "The cat is dead, Charlotte." And sauntered away into the kitchen.

  The three of us sat in my living room until the storm started to pass. The sky out the kitchen window began to clear, revealing patches of sparkling blue, almost the color of Cash Vangarten's eyes. The thunder sounded further and further away.

  "Oh, Hazel," I said, looking out the window. "Your trailer is destroyed. Thank God you're alive."

  Mother echoed my sentiments.

  "I heard the tree crack and I ran to the kitchen," she said."It's furthest from the front door. I climbed under the kitchen table until it crashed down."

  "You did good," Mother said. "Where was Smiley?"

  "Oh, that silly old cat. He slept through the entire thing. But he's been sleeping a lot lately."

  "How long?" Mother asked.

  "Since a day ago, or so."

  "That would explain the stiff tail," Mother whispered to me.

  I went to the kitchen to make more tea. Mother followed.

  "We need to tell her," I said.

  "I know. But let's wait until the storm passes."

  "You know she'll have to stay here. She can't go home."

  Mother sucked air. "Here? You don't have the room."

  I raised my eyebrows at her.

  "Oh, I see what you're saying. If I left, if I went back to Cocoa Reef, then you'd have room for the old biddy. Well, I see where your allegiance lies."

  And she stormed off toward her bedroom.

  "I'm not saying that," I called.

  Actually I was, but denial is often the first defense.

  I went to her room. "Mother, please don't leave. I'll give Hazel my bed, and I'm sure Asa has a cot or something for me. The man has everything anyone could need, and if not he knows where to get it."

  "Good, Charlotte, because I really don't want to go without you."

  I leaned against her dresser and nearly toppled Tweety to the ground. "He doesn't seem to mind the storm."

  "Nah, Tweety likes the rain, I think. Reminds him of life in the rain forest."

  Rain forest. "Mother, Tweety has never been in a rain forest."

  "I meant that in a more romantic sense, dear. You know— ancestral connections."

  "Anyway, I am not moving to Florida with you. I have responsibilities here now, and I kind of like it. I like coaching the women and sitting with Rose in the hand, and, Mother, I even went back to chur
ch."

  "You can lay down roots as easily in Cocoa Reef. We got churches, Charlotte."

  I heard Hazel cough.

  "I'm not old enough for Cocoa Reef," I said.

  "So I'll sneak you in."

  What could I do? I pulled Mother close for a hug. "I love you, Mother, you sneaky old woman. But I need to get back to Hazel and Smiley. We need to get him out of the house."

  "I saw some of those large trash bags under your sink."

  "Mother. I'll get Asa to dig a hole and we'll bury him."

  By one o'clock the rain had stopped. The sun shone high in the sky, and all that remained of the storm was downed trees and a few wispy clouds that skirted around like little girl pinafores in the sky. Steam rose off the asphalt as the humidity and temperature rose.

  "Hot for early summer," Hazel said. She had not moved off the sofa.

  "It is." And that of course made it all the more imperative that we remove the dead cat.

  At twelve-fifteen Rose and Ginger came by. Mother still sulked in her bedroom with Tweety. Probably telling him what a terrible daughter I am. Funny thing is that just a few months ago, before Herman died, I would have been inclined to agree.

  "Come on in," I said. "I'm glad you didn't try and get here while the storm was still going on."

  "I tried," Ginger said. "But Rose stopped me."

  "Good idea, Rose."

  "It was some storm." I saw her notice Hazel. Rose leaned into me and whispered, "Why's she here?"

  I took her by the arm and showed her Hazel's trailer through the window.

  "My stars! I didn't even notice it on my way over."

  Asa and Jake Pilkey were already there with chain saws, clearing what was left of the oak. "I heard that the men are coming home early from Elsmere."

  "Sure are," Hazel said. "I called Cash Vangarten just before that dang-fool tree fell on my house and told him to let those people go as soon as he could. They need to get home and help out."

  That was when Ginger leaped onto a kitchen chair. She stood on it to make herself as tall as possible. "Hazel called? What does Hazel have to do with Elsmere Elastic? I knew there was something fishy going on around here. So spill it."