by Kia Corthron
How’m I sposed to know? I think. Cep I know she weren’t askin no question, what it was was Please go look for Marky.
How the hell he climb up the tree that high? I sure hope this boy go for sports cuz otherwise all that energy he headed for firs-class lawbreaker. Come on down here, Marky. I ain’t mad atcha no more. Come on down to this branch, I’ll ketcha from there.
But that boy come flyin down from way up where he be, oh my Lord! I step back fass, I got him! I got him!
You okay, Randall? You okay? Erma in my face. All them kids, why I’m lookin up at em? At the sky?
Now in the car, how I get here? Erma drivin, Erma don’t know how to drive! He awake, Aunt Erma, one a them monsters say. Erma turn to me: Randall? I see that Lou Mary lookin concerned, I hope she do go to college she do become a teacher. I hope she stick it out in school
Cousin Erma, he fallin to sleep again!
You’ve had yourself a concussion, Randall. I’m gonna stitch you up. And then, Erma, you keep the coffee brewin. Don’t let this rascal go to sleep tonight.
Randall. This is Dr. Mattingly.
Mattingly, Mattingly. Somethin in his eyes. Hospital so clean white gimme a headache.
Can you hear me, Randall? It’s me, Erma.
Where the kids?
Calvin come an got em. Once the doctor say okay for Marky to go.
What about Deb Ellen?
Said they won six–four. Three a the innins she pitched three up, three down. An there’s only seven innins in sofball.
I’m gonna stitch you up now. Keep talkin, Erma. This’ll sting a little, Randall.
Somethin familiar. Dimple.
Marky fell an you caught him an you saved his life, but you fell back an banged your head on the groun. He seemed fine an the doctor said he’s fine. You saved his little life.
Ouch!
That’s one stitch, Randall. There’s gonna be six.
We know each other?
Dr. Mattingly look at me. You don’t remember? Eighth grade?
I stare.
Earl Mattingly? Practically I whisper it.
He turn to Erma, See there? Can’t be brain damage he remember that.
Lookin at me again, then he throw back his head, hollerin the laughter. Close your mouth, Randall! I know what you’re thinkin. What turned that bumblehead into a doctor? When I entered the ninth, dumb football player, they all figured at best I’d be on the business track.
Ssssss.
Sorry, Randall, I know that stings. Hey, Betty, why on’t you bring some more cotton in here? Earl Mattingly squintin while he work.
Well here’s what happened. That freshman year I found myself sittin in your place. Quarterback, away game in Montgomery, somebody sacked me and I saw stars. My concussion was worse than yours, I was told how lucky, the right doctor in emergency, how close I come to permanent mental ramifications. Anyway, I quit the team which I tell you made a lotta people sore, studied night and day and by God by graduation I was the class valedictorian! So now we got that in common!
Aaaaaaah.
Sorry, one last stitch. College, worked my way through the summers, graduated at twenty, then med school, residency. And now here I am back home, M.D. Earl Mattingly cut the thread. Done.
3:30 a.m. me an Erma in the livin room drinkin drinkin. For variety, sometime I say milk, sometime sugar, sometime sugar an milk, sometime cream. Mean I pee a lot, an she even folla me to the bathroom, make me talk the whole time, make sure I ain’t dozin. Finally wore out my taste for dairy, this hour jus take it black.
What was it Dr. Mattingly said yaw had in common? Soun like. Victory?
For a second I’m back in eighth grade in our caps an gowns, principal call my name an I take the valedictory podium but jus fore I start, Earl Mattingly stand, announce to the whole world I cheated, copied offa his standards test, he tell that lie then he take the podium, make the speech. I go back to my seat an watch him. It’s better, I think. His speech is better n mine.
Randall! Snappin her fingers at me. Wake up!
I focus on her. The clock tick tick tick.
Valedictorian, I say.
What’s that mean?
As it turns out, nothin.
You know what? I’m gonna give you some grouns a coffee an you gonna chew em up, raw. That oughta keep ya a while.
When you got word to Deb Ellen, her game over?
Still had a innin an a half to go. Calvin tole me the number for the field phone booth, everybody use it for calls.
An what you tell her. I’m hurt? Her son maybe hurt?
Sure. We didn’t know about Marky then, yeah I alert her as to the situation, takin both yaw to the emergency. Calvin on his way.
An she play the game out? Jus posepone the matter a her kid in the hospital till the game through?
Erma hesitate.
She was tore up, tryin to decide. The game was tied then, she’s the star player, she’da left they’d surely lost. I got her top a the sixt, you know there’s only seven innins in sofball. An she call back checkin before bottom a the sixt, before top a the seventh, before bottom a the seventh.
So she never left. Played the game out to the end.
Erma purse her lips.
Knew it! An I laugh so hard one a the stitches near pop out.
7
My breathin breathin heart thump thump. In come Mr. Holliman.
Oh hello there, Randall. Well I ain’t gonna beat aroun the bush with ya. Demand’s down. Tryin not to have the whole mill shut. We gotta let some men go.
I try to speak. Nothin.
It ain’t personal. Your work’s fine, we had to go random. Well some lazy bums got their asses fired, they went firs. An the new guys. But wa’n’t enough of em. We had to go to the capable workers, we had to go random. Sorry to ruin your weekend.
He look at me like he want me say somethin. I wanna but.
Things were boomin a while. But guess no business stay profitable forever. Thankin the Lord we was good long as we was, sure supported a lotta Lefferd County for a long spell.
Mr. Holliman. Mr. Holliman, I’m sorry about lass week. I’m sorry about missin Thursday, the doctor, he said with the concussion nex day, he advised—
Randall, you ain’t called in sick a day in fifteen years, you think I’m s’heartless to fire someone cuz they missed one Thursday in fifteen years? This ain’t a firin no way. A layoff, nothin to do with work quality. Your work’s fine, I give ya a good recommendation. Jus economics, supply n demand. Nothin nobody can control.
My father.
I know your father, I know you got legacy. Know who else’s father worked here? Everbody’s!
My father died.
Oh. Oh yeah, accident. Mr. Holliman look down. He sure was a good man.
He keep lookin down. I wonder is he cryin, or prayin, or jus bein respectful. I don’t know what Mr. Holliman talkin about, my father was a good man, Mr. Holliman was in fourth grade when my father died. Maybe his father told him bout mine? Mr. Holliman lookin down at his feet, an right where his feet is is a patch a mud somebody tracked in. After Mr. Holliman spend a respectable amount a time respectin my father, he take a tissue from his desk an wipe up the dirt.
Why the buyout people buy out if demand’s down?
The buyout people bought out sayin they know how to run things more efficiently.
We lookin at each other, don’t know who gonna speak nex.
B.J.?
B.J.’s stayin. You don’t got to worry boutcher mother.
Phone.
Hello? Oh hi Charlie!
Mr. Holliman smilin, sittin on the edge a his desk, turnt away. The phone call go on, him turnt away whole time, so finally I turn to go.
Sarah gotcher lass check, Randall. Now he lookin at me, his han over the receiv
er. You can leave anytime you want, we already covered your pay for the day.
Buppie unloadin logs from the truck. They pay B.J. peanuts, he says, that’s how come they kep B.J.
The head saw screamin, B.J. shootin planks through. His face showin the moisture but never do I see him wipe his brow.
What about you?
I’m the random luck a the draw. An maybe they worry, half my family works here, maybe they thinkin fire one of us we all quit. But listen, Randall. You wanna job, I can get you a job.
B.J. look up at me, signs, They pay me peanuts. That’s why they keep me.
I look over at Mr. Holliman’s office. Kirby Wright who I went to school with an whose pa lost two fingers from a mill saw come walkin out slow, somebody shut the door behind him. Kirby starin in space like he in shock, starin at the pink paper in his hand.
I take no charity, I work my whole day an end of it I see Mr. Holliman comin outa his office. He give a start, sprised to see me there waitin for him.
Eighteen years. You said fifteen. Eighteen years, I been workin here since I’s fourteen years ole. Then I walk out, wipin all the perspiration an wonderin whether the swelterin dog days ever end.
8
Why you got that damn ham sanwich? Buppie keep his eyes on the road while he ask it, not even the speck of a glance my way even though ain’t another car for miles.
I ain’t had supper. An you said they ain’t servin supper, only cocktails.
I bet you didn’t even bring your toothbrush. Meetin potential employers smellin like ham an mustard.
I look in the rearview. Wipe the mustard, corner a my mouth. Dressin up my Sunday suit an they ain’t even feedin us.
We’ll stay a few minutes, politeness, do our business an leave. It’s a fundraiser an I don’t think you exactly there to write out no checks.
Cocktails. All I see’s them big weeds. Chuckle.
That’s cattails.
I know that.
Look air. Some gum in that glove compartment. An spit it out fore we walk through the door. An spit it out in this here ashtray, not on his front lawn!
Mansion. Bay windas, figures millin aroun inside, who they are you can’t even tell behine the curtains. Ding dong.
Buppie! Come in. And Randall! I’d forgotten he was bringin you.
Hi. I don’t say his name in the moment cuz I’m a little unsure. Dr. Mattingly or Earl?
May I get you gentlemen a drink?
Whatever you’re havin, says Buppie.
Whatever you’re havin Earl, I say. I ain’t got to call nobody who ain’t at present examinin me doctor.
What Earl’s havin an thus me an Buppie is scotch. I have a swallow then take in my surroundins. Bout twenty men in the room, they have their drinkin huddles. I was a mite confused when Buppie tried to explain this affair to me, but now I see it. Meetin a the minds: the high court a the Klan an high society. How Buppie got me into this gatherin a professionals I don’t know but I don’t question. He ushers me over so we’re standin nex to Ike Martin a Martin’s Shoes. Ralph Goody the lawyer says he’ll give money to the Klan but he feels more comfortable claimin membership to the White Citizens Council. Earl Mattingly says he’ll contribute but won’t take out official membership in neither. Ike Martin says I give no money to no group I’d be ashamed to proclaim active membership in, an ya might note I’ve given to the Klan an to the Council.
Mr. Martin this here’s my cousin Randall. I mentioned him to ya.
Ike Martin gimme the long look. Whatchu know about shoes, Randall?
My mouth open but nothin come out.
He’s in the Klan. An his daddy, Ben Evans. Was.
Oh yes, I remember Ben. Tragic. Tragic.
From this angle I catch a glimpse a the kitchen, spyin a colored maid lookin over the snacks. Hors d’oeuvres. No one else see her, an she never make her appearance out here in the party.
Sellin shoes is a knack, either ya got it or ya don’t. Think ya got it?
I glance at Buppie, his eyes hard on me, tellin me I better answer right, true or lie.
I think I got it.
Comin downstairs there’s Dr. Mitchum, full robe regalia, everything but the hood. Not sure why he’s dressed to the T’s an no one else but no one else seem bothered. Big grin, he always bright up a room, maybe that’s what makes him a good pediatrician. Still recollect his teasin when I was six, makin my visit for a diptheria vaccination almost pleasant: Here it comes, Randall, it gonna tickle! And then a big cherry sucker! Or grape?
I have an employee leavin to start her family in a couple weeks. Tell ya what, you come in Monday, you can overlap with her for your trainin. Course you’re paid for the trainin. That be fine?
That be very fine. Thank you, sir!
Trial basis. Like I said, sellin shoes is a knack. You be on probation a month.
I understand.
Monday 10 a.m. An by that I mean 9:45. Monday’s the firs. August already, don’t the time fly?
The maid in the kitchen done set down, chewin on a olive on a toothpick. By accident I meet her eye, an I expect now she’ll feel caught, jump up an hurry on back to work. But she jus turn away an go right on chewin, like not carin if the grass ever grow.
9
You are on trial for four weeks an while you are on trial you will get minimum wage. Minimum wage is one dollar. If you make it past the trial you will get minimum plus a nickel plus commission. Commission starts after you have sold more shoes than minimum. In other words, if I work ya forty hours a week that’s forty dollars for your minimum, an if in that week you only sell shoes add up to a thirty-dollar commission, all you get is your basic forty dollars. However, you sell enough shoes add up to a sixty-dollar commission, well! You just traded your forty-dollar paycheck for a sixty. Understand? After your four weeks a trainin you should definitely be makin more than minimum. If not, you an I will have to have a talk.
He speakin to me in the back storeroom. I’m a sweater an I can feel it already! Erma sewed pads into my shirt armpits so they won’t be soppin.
Sellin shoes is a professional job. You come to work clean, wear a tie an a smile, you’re halfway to your commission right there.
Ting-a-ling.
Don’t worry, Brenda Jean an Diane’s out on the floor. Can’t be a customer yet anyway, keep the door closed till ten.
Hi Mr. Martin.
Hi Imogene. This is Randall, startin today.
Hi Randall.
You show him aroun?
Sure. She go someplace to put her pocketbook down. She clearly expectin.
You shopped at Martin’s Shoes before? he ask.
Yes, I lie. Martin’s far outa my price range, an growin up we never seen the adjoinin room neither, Martin’s Children’s, for the rich kids. Our loafers came from Discount Denny’s.
After your trial, as an employee you may buy Martin’s Shoes at a substantial reduction, cost plus ten percent. An I expect you will. What kinda business our salespeople not even wearin our shoes?
On a shelf behind him’s a gold trophy cup: WORLD'S BEST DAD.
Randall. We are brothers in a vital organization and that got you your trial. I just need to reiterate it did not get you a permanent position, that you’ll have to earn.
Home I flip through the dictionary: Di.
Whatchu doin? She bastin the roast.
There’s a word. I knew this word.
Meatloaf be done five minutes. An boiled potatas. You want applesauce?
At the table she pourin the ice tea.
Well. How was your firs day?
A dichotomy. Sellin shoes is a dichotomy. You know why?
Shake her head, cut her groun beef. I know damn well she don’t know dichotomy an illiterate can’t look it up like me, but she hopin if she pay attention she catch up.
&
nbsp; You go in shirt n tie, they tell ya professional. Then all day you kneelin before customers! Take off their shoes, touch their feet. Pretend it don’t smell, ack like you see no corns.
Don’t fill up eatin biscuits fore the resta your food.
Dress like a lawyer, kneel like a slave.
I felt somethin! Oh Randall, I jus felt somethin new. The baby. The baby moved. Feel it here. No here!
I don’t feel nothin.
Here, Randall! Here!
I don’t feel nothin.
I think it’s a girl. I know it’s a girl! I was thinkin Ruby, she was my favorite aunt. Ain’t Ruby a pretty name for a girl?
In bed starin at the ceilin. I did feel somethin. All them prior pregnancies, can’t remember anything ever movin in there. But think I tell her that? Always the joke on her. Now ya feel it, now ya don’t.
10
Walk out to the kitchen, Erma an B.J.
Would you say Henry Lee was crippled?
Huh? she ask.
What happened to Henry Lee. Would you call that crippled?
You gonna write that?
Is that what he was?
I don’t think that’s the word you oughta use. Maybe wounded.
I consider it. Then I say, I don’t think wounded works for what I’m sayin.
Well I don’t think you oughta say crippled.
Well I don’t think wounded quite captures he had half his face blowed off.
Randall, watch!
She scratch on a paper.
Look! My firs word! I mean I already wrote it once, this is the second time for practice.
Her paper say ERMA.
B.J. teachin me to read!
Back in the livin room, starin at the paper.
It seems kinda dry.
What?
Maybe I should write somethin about us. Me an him.
Like what? Then she turn to B.J. What’s that word?
B.J. pronounce it bess he can, motions like coverin up himself.
Cover? Oh, covered!
I think I gotta find somethin more personal.
