by Joy Redmond
Mandy loved her job, and she took comfort in knowing that her parents were taking care of Kati and Tony during the week. She had to alternate working weekends and holidays but she had no social life, so it didn’t matter. She learned much by observing and listening to the seven doctors that she worked with. She believed that she had learned more with hands-on experience than she ever would’ve from a text book, though she would never have a diploma to prove it.
One night after work, Mandy drove out to Cross Pointe and picked up her sleeping children. She carried them to the car, drove home, took them inside and put them in their beds. She managed to fall asleep by 1 am after every shift. Then it was up by 6:30 and ready Kati for school. The school bus ran at 7 o’clock and Mandy was always pushing Kati with her book satchel out the door just in time. It reminded her of the days when Iris would call out, “Don’t dilly-dally!”
Mandy stood there on the stoop every morning and watched Kati board the bus, walk the aisle, take a seat, wave and smile at her mother. Mandy’s heart grew larger every day when she saw her sweet daughter’s wave.
Spring was in the air and Mandy was the happiest she had ever been since she was a little girl snuggling in the warm cozy bed between Mama and Daddy, which seemed like eons ago.
Kati and Tony had just left with Lester for the weekend visitation and Mandy had the weekend off. She picked up a book, settled down to read about Edgar Cayce, and the more she read, the more she had an understanding about the spirit world. She was intrigued and lost in her own world when the phone rang.
“Hello.”
“Mandy, could you meet your father and me up at The Village, the new sub-division? We’re at 923 Robin Lane,” Iris said.
“Sure. I’ll be there soon.” I don’t know anybody that lives in The Village. That’s the elite part of town. Who do they know who lives there and why do I need to come see them?
Mandy drove across town and just before she turned the steering wheel to drive up the concrete driveway, she clutched her chest and gasped. “The red brick house on the hilltop! Iris and Otis standing on the front porch!” Instinctively she glanced to her right. “Birds are landing in an elm. Holy shit!” Goosebumps broke out on her arms. “It’s exactly what you showed me,” she whispered. “But what are my parents doing here?”
Mandy stepped out of the car and looked around. She noticed there was no landscaping. That’s strange. She walked upon the porch. “Hi. Do we know the people who live here? It sure is pretty.”
Iris linked her arm through Mandy’s and they walked behind Otis as they headed for the front door. Mandy’s thoughts were jumbled as they got closer to the door where Otis pushed it open and said, “We might know who lives here. Come on in.”
Mandy stepped across the threshold. The house was empty. She turned in circles. “It’s got a new house smell. I’m not sure the wall paint is dry.” She was mystified and mesmerized at the home, it was so beautiful to her.
“Come on, let’s take a tour,” Otis said.
As they went through the whole house, Mandy’s mind was spinning. Wow! How nice it would be to have this house. Three large bedrooms with closets big enough to hold more than three outfits. Two bathrooms. No more fighting over who got a bath first and no more knocking and yelling, ‘Get out of the bathroom ,it’s my turn.’ And a full basement with a half bath and laundry room. A garage. No more letting the car set out in the elements, baking during the summer and being covered with ice and snow during the winter.
They walked back outside and Otis said, “Do you like it?”
“Well, of course. It’s beautiful, but why are you looking at it? Don’t tell me that you and Mother are thinking about leaving the farm and becoming city slickers.” She laughed.
“Well—?” Otis went out to his car, opened the trunk and took out three lawn chairs. He brought them back to the front porch and set them up. “Have a seat. Your mother and I have something to tell you. I never thought I’d see this day. I’m not sure I can handle it but it’s a done deal and I guess I’ll learn to live with it.” Otis stared into space, then said, “You tell her, Iris.”
Iris was squirming, and Mandy knew she was biting her tongue, wanting to jump in and dominate the conversation. Iris took Mandy’s hand. “Well, honey, one day three men came to our door and they said they wanted to have a talk with us and make us an—”
Otis sharply said, “Just get to the bottom line, Iris.” He dropped his eyes to the porch floor and sighed.
“Fine! They made us an offer and we mulled it over for three months, then said yes. We sold the house, the three-hundred acres of farm land, the farm equipment, and all the livestock—for a half million dollars! We’re pushing sixty-eight, and well, we just couldn’t pass up that kind of money.”
Mandy’s jaw dropped. “A half—half—I can’t roll that figure off my tongue.” Mandy wiped her brow. “So, you bought this house. That’s wonderful. Though I never thought you two would ever leave that farm—”
Otis jumped up. “I don’t want to leave the farm, and I don’t think I’ll ever adjust to living in town, but—” Otis’s voice shut off.
Mandy looked at him and her heart ached, but she was happy he didn’t have to work so hard anymore. She knew how much he loved the farm and that he was going to miss it.
“Now, Otis. We took a long time before we made the decision. Why don’t you take a walk? I’ll finish telling the story.” Iris’s eyes teared as she said, “We bought this house for you. You’re living among hoodlums and your house is no bigger than a cracker box. We want our grandchildren to be raised in a nice neighborhood, in a nice home, and to associate with the right kind of friends.”
Mandy tried to speak but words froze in her throat. This house is for me? No, it’s for my kids. But that’s fine. Sweet Jesus! “I’m speechless, Mother,” Mandy managed to say. Never in her lifetime did she ever think that she and her children would live anywhere but the slums and in a shack. This was her mansion on a hilltop. It was a small hill, but still. She gazed at the elm and she was astounded by the vision that was now a reality.
“We’ve got seven months before we have to vacate and plenty of time to find us a place, but I didn’t want to waste another day before we found you a home. We’ll start moving you as soon as possible. We just left the lawyers office and collected our money, so we made an offer on this house. The lady who’s selling it works for the lawyer. Your father and I took a look at it, we liked it, so we made an offer and she accepted.”
Again, I have no say so in what house I’ll be living in. Everything is always decided for me. I’m grateful, but just once, I’d like to be consulted about the things that affect my life and my children.
“Here’s the deal, Mandy. Before we finalize the deal, you’ll have to promise a few things. You’ll go to church every Sunday, no excuses. You’ll have no dates. There will never be a man in this house for any reason. Kati will not wear shorts or pants. She’ll wear dresses only, and you’ll teach her to be a lady, just as I did you. If you don’t agree—”
Mandy held up her hand and stopped Iris in mid-sentence. “I know, Mother. Anything you and Dad give me always comes with strings. So this house is just more strings to attach to me, your puppet. If it was just me—” Mandy stopped herself. “I’ll go by your rules.”
Iris huffed up. “Well, that’s a fine way of saying thanks. Your smart mouth has always run away with you.” Iris paused, then said, “The one who pulls the purse strings, makes the rules! Don’t forget that!”
Nikko came to the surface. “Yes, ma’am! Do you want me to bow down and kiss your feet? Should I start referring to you and Dad as Your Majesty and Your Highness?”
“Otis! Otis!” Iris cried as she walked across the porch and out to the yard.
Great, Nikko. You just shit in our mascara.
Mandy felt a hard tap to the back of her head. I know. I know. Knock it off. We just royally screwed up!
She felt a gentle squeeze on her shoulder,
as if somebody was comforting her. She reached up, hoping she could hold the hand, but she felt nothing. Mandy waited for the storm that was about to be unleashed when Iris told Otis what had happened.
Otis walked back up the hill and said, “Are you ready to go, Iris?”
“Yes, we’re ready. Mandy loves the house and she’s agreed to the rules. We can start making plans to close the deal, then we’ll get her moved in.” Iris turned, looked at her and nodded.
Mandy understood, the house was for the grandchildren to have a safe and decent place to live and a nice place for them to visit. She smiled and nodded back at Iris and she was grateful for the wonderful gift, but she hated to have her life regulated. She was a grown woman with two children who was making her own way in life, and yet, they still treated her as if she was a child.
Whew. I thought for sure we were a dead goose, Nikko. But it’s for the children. Not us. Don’t ever forget it.
Our day will come, Mandy.
Mandy felt a gentle tap to the back of her head, and a squeeze to her shoulder. That’s what you were trying to tell me. Everything is going to be okay, even if Nikko did scoop the first shovel of dirt for our grave. Thank you. Whoever you are.
Mandy watched her parents drive away and she fought back tears. Why do they do this to me?
As she drove back across town, she started laughing. “No kids at home. No man coming by. I think I’ll go home, eat a gallon of ice cream, then run through the house nekkid!” she cried as if the spirits would laugh with her, or answer her.
Go crazy, Mandy. Just go crazy! There’s nobody around to stop you. Run nekkid through the front yard. Run nekkid down the street! Have some fun!
“I’m very tempted, Nikko. But I really don’t want to go to jail. I’ll just read a new book about Life after Life.”
Nikko kept nudging Mandy. Maybe Dr. Morgan will get nekkid and chase you down the hall, after all the patients have been seen. I’ve seen that look of lust in his eyes. And I know you like it!”
“As tempting as that thought is, I’m not going to open up that can of worms, Nikko.”
Mandy felt a gentle squeezing to both shoulders. She laid the book on her stomach and fell into a deep sleep.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Two weeks later, Mandy and the children settled into their new home, and Mandy had to pinch herself to see if she were dreaming. “We’ve got nothing but junk to put in our new home, but Mommy will get something better, one piece at a time,” she said to Kati and Tony.
“We don’t care. We just love this big house,” they said. They ran from room to room, down to the basement and back up, time after time. Then they headed outside and ran up and down the hill, as if they were running a marathon.
Mandy’s heart filled with happiness as she watched the children and listened to their delightful chatter. As long as my babies are happy, I’ll do whatever it takes. Everything comes with a price, and if I have to put up with controlling parents to ensure their happiness, then it’s worth it, she thought. She would pay whatever price Iris and Otis wanted but how long was she going to pay it? As she listened to the laughter of her children, she decided, no matter how long it took, every hug and sound of laughter, made it all worth it.
Five months later, Iris and Otis bought themselves a beautiful house in Bon Harbor, and Mandy was thankful that it was on the opposite end of town. It was the first week of August, and Otis and Iris paid Mandy a visit. The look in their eyes was serious when she answered the door, and they asked if they could have a talk.
Mandy told the children to play outside and she’d call them when it was time for them to come inside and visit with Grandmother and Granddaddy. The look in their eyes means this is going to be an uncomfortable conversation. I don’t want to hear it, but here comes a sermon. What have I done or not done? She wondered as they sat down on the couch.
Iris began, “Mandy, you’ve been working at the clinic for over a year and you seem so happy with your work. So, Otis and I have talked it over and if you want to enroll in the local college and get your nursing degree, we’ll pay your tuition, buy your books, and keep Tony during the day while Kati’s in school. We put back money to send you to college, but you decided to get married. Now that it’s over, we’d like to see you further your education.”
Mandy felt all the blood drain from her face. A degree in nursing! My dream! Her mind delved into the possibility of what they had offered, then a thought came to her, “If you give up your job and the schooling doesn’t work out for whatever reason, then you’ll be giving up your security blanket.” Mandy had no idea where or who had planted that in her mind.
She cleared her throat that was constricting with joy and fear. “I’d love to get my nursing degree, but I don’t want to quit my job. And how will I pay my bills?”
Otis said, “We’ll pay your household expenses with the money we saved for your college, years ago.” Otis practically beamed at her.
“That’s very generous, Dad, and I really appreciate it.” She paused, trying to choose her words carefully. If she said the wrong thing, Otis would go into a rage and Iris would start crying like a baby.
“What if I go to school part time and work part time, if I can work it out with Dr. Eastman? I know it’ll take me twice as long, but—”
Iris patted Mandy’s hand. “I understand that. I always say make plan B just in case plan A doesn’t work. It’s possible that you won’t get through the program. So, we’ll leave that up to you. Right, Otis?”
“If that’s what she wants to do. I just thought she’d want to get her degree as soon as possible,” he said as if Mandy wasn’t sitting there, his smile fading.
“Then that’s how we’ll do it,” Iris said with a smile. “Fall classes start in three weeks, so you need to get yourself registered. And there’s a chance the nursing classes are full. You might be on a waiting list.”
“I can get on the list for nursing classes and take my electives first. That will probably take a year. By then I should be able to take nursing classes only. I hear they’re hard. And that’ll take another two years, but I think that’s the best way.”
“We’ve got that settled, Otis. Now I’d like to get back home and set up my studio.” Iris turned toward Mandy. “I’m going to start painting again. Soon, I’ll have your walls covered with my oils. I’m very good, if I say so myself.”
Mandy hugged Iris. “I’d be proud to cover every wall in the house with your oils. I had one that you painted before you adopted me, hanging in my room. I think you’re fabulous!”
Kati and Tony came through the front door like two ponies on the run from a tornado. “It’s hot out there. We need some water,” Kati said.
“Yeah, and I want a Twinkie,” Tony said.
They bid Otis and Iris goodbye, then Mandy took her children into the kitchen. While they were eating Twinkies, she told them about her plans. They just nodded and kept eating.
Well, aren’t you two impressed, she thought. Then she reminded herself they were only four and seven. Her heart was pounding with happiness. Now to get this part-time schedule worked out. What if part-time isn’t acceptable? But I can’t give up my security blanket. Even if it means not going to college.
Dr. Eastman was happy for Mandy when she told him of her plans. He worked it out with Nancy to come back to work four days a week, and Mandy would work three.
September 3rd, 1968, Mandy started college classes. She really had a chance for the future to support herself and her children.
For the next year, Mandy felt as if she were running on empty as she went to school, studied, worked, cared for two children, and kept up with house work and yard work. She rarely got more than four hours sleep. Every time she felt as if she couldn’t hold on, she felt the familiarity of strong, warm arms embracing her, letting her know that they would keep her going.
One afternoon, Mandy was mowing the front yard when she noticed a pickup truck pull into the driveway across the street. She
tried not to stare, but every time she looked at the activity taking place, she noticed that only a man was taking things into the house, and he would always look her way when he was in the yard. I guess I’ve got a bachelor for a neighbor, she thought as she made the last round, then shut off the lawnmower.
Just as she was putting the mower into the garage, she heard a male voice, “Hey, you look hot. Would you like to have a cold beer?” Mandy jumped and turned toward the voice. The new neighbor was holding a beer bottle in the air. “I’ve got plenty.”
“Thank you. I’ve got to get supper started.” She had to admit that the man was cute, but she didn’t have time to take a break long enough to have a beer with a neighbor. She chuckled as she thought, And if I ever did have a drink, Iris and Otis would disown me. Just as they have threatened to do every time I’ve done anything they didn’t approve of since the day they adopted me. She felt her guts tie in knots.
The man extended his hand and said, “I’m Billy. And you are?” He was slow and easy.
She shook his hand and said, “I’m Mandy. Welcome to the neighborhood. If you’ll excuse me, I need to get inside, start supper, then get ready for work. Nice meeting you.”
“Nice meeting you,” he said, and his smile seemed to spread from ear to ear.
One afternoon Mandy was driving home with Kati and Tony in the back seat after grocery shopping. She was hoping she could get everything put up, cook and feed the children, then take a shower and make it to work before she collapsed. Just as she turned the corner, she saw her neighbor, Billy, mowing her yard. “Well, what the heck?” she mumbled.
Tony said, “That’s Billy. He’s been coming over and pitching ball with me while you’re cooking before you go to work. He’s a nice guy. I really like him.”
