Nether Regions

by Nat Burns

  “Well, there you are, little miss. A shower makes you feel like a new person, doesn’t it?”

  Delora nodded. “Sure does. Thanks so much for the hospitality. I must have been pretty tuckered last night.”

  Clary poured Delora a cup of coffee and handed it to her. She accepted it gratefully. “You and Sophie did most of the cleanup and you with a broken finger. I’m not surprised.” She let her eyes drift back out across the bayou.

  “What are you looking at?” Delora asked as she doctored her coffee with sugar.

  “Nothing. Everything.” Clary shrugged. “Do you like English muffins? I thought I’d scramble the eggs. Is that okay?”

  Startled, Delora answered quickly. “Yes and yes, but you don’t have to do that, Clary. I can get something at the diner.”

  “Don’t get her riled, Lora, honey. She can be testy if she doesn’t get her way.”

  With relief, Delora saw Sophie enter through the screen door, hands full of fragrant greenery.

  “Make enough for me, will you, Clary?” She handed Clary the herbs and moved to pull out a chair for Delora.

  “Not a problem,” said Clary. “What have you got here?”

  “That’s that new volunteer mint that came up. We’ll use it for poultices first if you’ll powder it up.”

  Clary shrugged and placed it in the sink. “Scrambled eggs coming up. No bacon, though; I haven’t been to the store for a while.”

  “Okay by us,” Sophie said as she took a seat across from Delora. She winked at her.

  “Where’d your grandmother go?” Delora found she missed Beulah’s presence.

  Sophie frowned and cupped her chin in one hand. “I’m not sure. She may be reading the paper. She likes to sneak off and read in peace.”

  “The party yesterday was fun, wasn’t it?”

  Sophie nodded. “It was nice seeing everyone all together. I’m sorry about Stephen and Righteous, though. I wish they could work all this stuff out.”

  Delora tilted her head to one side. “Yeah, what’s going on with them? They were really tense late last night.”

  “Righteous cheats. Stephen seems to think it’s because he works at the Thirsty Rogue over in Goshen.”

  The coffee felt good in Delora’s cupped hands and the heavy chicory smell soothed her. “That’s a shame. How long has it been going on?”

  Sophie passed Delora a fork and a napkin. “From day one, I think. They’ve had a rocky road.”

  “What’d I miss?” Clary asked, sliding steaming plates before them.

  Delora’s mouth watered when she spied the rich butter seeping into the toasted English muffin.

  “Just Stephen and Righteous. They picked a fight before going home,” Sophie answered, shaking pepper on her eggs. “We were sitting along the water last night and saw them at each other.”

  Clary put her hands on her hips. “Shame I’m not a betting woman. Those two will never make it.”

  Sophie swiped at her mouth with a napkin. “No negativity allowed.”

  “Hmmph,” Clary snorted and moved to the sink.

  The fresh food was well prepared, and Delora embarrassed herself by how quickly she ate. Sophie ate more slowly, her kind eyes watching Delora with some amusement.

  “You ready for work now?” Sophie asked.

  Delora laughed. “I think so.” She patted her stomach, then rose and carried her dishes to the sink. “Thanks, Clary. That was delicious. Exactly what I needed.”

  Clary dried her hands and held out her arms. Surprised, Delora stepped into a warm, full-body hug. “You have a good day now, little gal,” she said next to Delora’s ear. “I’ll see you soon.”

  Sophie and Delora walked to her car in silence.

  “She likes you,” Sophie told Delora when they paused next to the car.

  “Yeah. I felt it. Felt nice.”

  “I like you too, you know.”

  Delora lifted her face to look into Sophie’s eyes. “I know.”

  Sophie moved her face very close. “Aren’t you going to tell me that you like me?”

  Delora captured Sophie’s lips with hers and held them a long, long time.

  “I know,” Sophie murmured with a tender smile when Delora moved away and slid into her car.

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  Sometimes, when conditions were just right, Delora could see the sunset from the side porch. It was a short phenomenon. Widows Ridge to the northwest usually veiled the later, more colorful parts.

  Finished with the dishes, Delora stood at the kitchen door, studying the sun as it bid farewell to another successful summer day. With a weary sigh, she opened the screen door and stepped out into the still evening warmth. She slipped her hands beneath her hair, palming sweat from the nape of her neck.

  The loud pop and exhalation of compressed air let her know that Louie had beaten her to the porch. She started to retreat back inside, but indignation rose up in her. She had as much right to be there as he did, maybe more so.

  He sat in one of the nylon banded chairs, slumped back like a great rearing toad. As she watched, he lifted the beer clumsily to his lips and slurped it noisily. Foam spattered the back of his scarred hand.

  He swallowed with a mutter of satisfaction. “You know it’s just by the sheer goodness of my nature that I let you live, don’t you?”

  Delora no longer reacted to the hollow wet noises he made when drinking. Or his threats. She looked away when he dabbed his fingers on the front of his Rolling Stones T-shirt.

  “You hear me, Lora? You know how lucky you are?”

  Delora remembered the shirt well. It was one she’d bought him when they’d traveled to Troutville to the monster truck rally during those first few months of freedom after high school. Those had been good times, in a way. She’d been so young and hopeful.

  She sighed. The shirt now stretched taut across his thickened frame.

  “Yeah, Louie. I know.”

  She turned from him and tried to empty her mind so she could enjoy the evening. She’d become good at traveling to other places in her mind. She continued to catalog her environment, however, every leaf that had moved since the last inventory. One thing about nature. It was never static. There was always an undercurrent of motion, probably insectile. Weather dealt a hand as well.

  Delora read once that there were ten quintillion insects on the planet, outnumbering humans by ninety-five percent. She had no idea what a quintillion was, but it was odd to think of those unseen populations. Nature’s constant ebb tide was evidence enough of their existence.

  “You ain’t got nothin’ else to say?” Louie asked.

  Delora thought about Rosalie’s anger. She had lied and told Rosalie that she had gone early to work, but Delora knew her keen eyes had taken in the fact that her foster daughter still wore the same clothing as the day before. Had she said something to Louie? Delora really didn’t care.

  Delora took a deep breath and slipped inside as quietly as she could.

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  One evening, depressed and reluctant to drive the forty miles into Goshen to work, Righteous decided he was just plain tired and needed coffee. He pulled into the French Club. Inside, the wooden paneled walls gave this steak house just the right amount of shadowed ambience. A polished bar stretched across the back wall on the right. To his surprise, he saw Sophie’s friend Delora working the bar.

  “Hey there, gal, how’s life treating you?” he said as he slid onto a barstool. “I had forgotten you work here.”

  Delora smiled and he felt warmed by her sweetness. Sophie sure knew how to pick them. “Hey yourself,” she replied. “What brings you out this late at night?”

  “On my way to work, over in Goshen. Just need some coffee is all. Need some energy ’cause I sure am not in the mood to work.”

  Delora laughed and nodded her blond head in understanding as she moved to the coffee machine. Within seconds, a steaming cup was in front of him. “We’re not one of those fancy coffeeho
uses, but Esther swears by this blend.”

  Righteous blew on it, then tasted it straight up without cream or sweetener.

  “Good,” he said. “She’s right on about that.”

  “So what do you do?” Delora asked. “Bartender? Is that what I heard?”

  Righteous snickered. “I do whatever. I started out as a grunt at the Thirsty Rogue back when I was in high school. I carried beer kegs, washed glasses, wiped up the tables, you know. The hardest thing was cleaning up all them bloody bodies off the floor. They really make a mess.” His eyes roamed across Delora’s face, waiting deadpan for her to get it. His hunch paid off as she broke into soft laughter.

  “You are some piece of work, Righteous,” she exclaimed, leaning her forearms and upper body on the bar. “How long have you known Sophie?”

  “Man, years.” He sipped his coffee. “Since I was a kid. My family grew up near Lisse and seems like she was just always there. She went to school, like I did, though a lot of the bayou people teach their own at home. She never had no brothers or sisters and me neither so we sorta talked. We had gaydar even back then I guess.”

  “Can I ask you something personal? When did you know you were that way? I mean, were you young?”

  He thought a long moment, then sighed and spoke carefully. “Actual, I never gave it much thought one way or t’other. I was, you know, by my uncle when I was little. It’s the way it’s always been for me. I was seein’ this older guy all through school so wadn’t much time for girls. Then I met Stephen and that was it. I like the boys and all…”

  He blushed and paused to imbibe more coffee. The rich brew was working its magic and he felt like he might actually be able to work his shift.

  “The boys? I thought you were with Stephen.”

  “I know.” He had the grace to look sheepish. “I guess the devil gets in me. I’m gwine stop, swear it. I gotta stop.” He tucked his head and rotated his stool from side to side. “What about you. When did you know you was gay?”

  “Shhh! Big ears in this place.” Delora glanced back toward the kitchen. “I didn’t know for sure until Sophie.”

  “No shit! She is great, ain’t she?”

  Delora’s smile was soft and mysterious. “Yeah, she is. So great she scares me.”

  “How do you mean?”

  “Like I might disappoint her or something.” It was Delora’s turn to blush.

  “Y’all ain’t done nothin’ yet, have you?” he stated with keen insight. He squinted one eye and studied her. “You ain’t!”

  Delora closed her eyes and reached for her cigarette pack. “I’m not sure that’s any of your business, smarty-pants.”

  “Oh, honey, you got to get on that thing. What are you waitin’ for?” He puffed out his round cheeks and made a comical face.

  Delora looked away as she lit a cigarette. Righteous grew serious.

  “It’ll work out, Delora. Falling into another person is just about the easiest thing you can do. All you got to do is let it happen. Miss Sophie is puredee gold and just about the smartest someone I know. You ain’t got one thing to worry about if it’s her. Believe me on this, okay?”

  Delora looked at Righteous and was impressed by his seriousness. “I think I do.”

  “Good.” Righteous stood and laid two dollars on the counter. “I’m goin’ to work now. You behave yourself or, if you can’t, don’t get caught.”

  Delora grunted as she lifted the money and headed to the register. “I got a long way to go to get in as much trouble as you do, Righteous. You have a great night!”

  Righteous threw back his head and laughed as he left the restaurant.

  Chapter Thirty-Five

  Sophie slowed in front of Blossom’s Diner, Redstar’s finest low-priced restaurant. Delora stood by the wide glass doors, her face turned toward the stream of traffic passing by on Highway 65. Sophie gave herself a few minutes to enjoy the fineness of Delora’s profile before calling to her from the open car window. “Hey, over here. I came the back way.”

  Delora turned when she heard Sophie’s voice, and Sophie wondered if she would always thrill to this woman’s sweet smile.

  “Hello there,” Delora said as she slipped into Sophie’s car. “I was able to get the whole afternoon off, a rare event, let me tell you. So what is this big job we have to do?”

  Her lemon scent washed across Sophie and Sophie realized that for the first time in a long time she felt completely happy. She remained silent, just studying Delora, a smile on her face.

  Delora watched Sophie as well and the silence that fell between them was powerful. Their eyes explored one another with the curiosity and bliss of a new relationship. Delora laughed softly. “If you don’t drive, I may kiss you here in front of everyone.”

  “Hmm. Doesn’t sound like a bad thing to me,” Sophie replied, but she did, with a sigh, return her attention to driving. “Okay. We’re going to heal people.”

  “Heal people? I can’t do that.”

  Sophie nodded. “Well, you’ve been asking me about my work so I thought I’d give you a firsthand look.”

  Delora studied the road ahead. “There won’t be, like, gross stuff, will there?” She grimaced to Sophie.

  The healer laughed. “Wouldn’t that be something—first time out and we get a situation like that?”

  They talked about their lives as Sophie guided the car into the depths of Bayou Lisse. Sophie learned about how Delora met Louie, about her parents’ personalities and their cute quirks. Delora learned about Sophie’s mother Faye, about how she loved men and money and used them to escape the bayou. And they talked circumspectly about the powerful attraction they felt for one another and how it could be poorly accepted by a heterosexual world.

  “Hey,” Delora said suddenly, peering out the passenger window. “Isn’t that your friend?”

  Sophie followed Delora’s gaze and answered, “Sure enough. What the hell is he doing out here? Roll down your window.”

  She slowed the car, and they pulled up next to Righteous who was jogging slowly along the side of the road.

  “Well, Lord have mercy,” Sophie called through Delora’s window. “What are you doing out in this heat? Get in.”

  Righteous, panting heavily and awash with a heavy sheen of sweat, opened the back door and fell clumsily into the car. “You gals sure are a welcome sight.”

  Delora turned and grinned at the tall, thin black man. “I know you’re not out there trying to work off a few extra pounds.”

  Righteous laughed and swabbed at his face with a soaked T-shirt. “Just tryin’ to stay healthy.”

  “Why out here, though? You’re a long way from home,” Sophie pointed out as she pulled the car back onto the road.

  He nodded agreement. “Yeah, just like the bayou is all. It’s awful pretty here. Better than the hot asphalt out my way.”

  “Does Stephen know you’re out here? People have disappeared in this water, whether gators or Race’s hoodlums.” Sophie peered sternly at him using the rearview mirror.

  “Race’s hoodlums?” Delora asked.

  “Cheetah Race,” Righteous explained, apparently unwilling to talk about Stephen. “He’s our local mafia.”

  “And one bad character if you get on his wrong side,” Sophie added.

  “But I’m not on his bad side. We all went to school together, so no problem.”

  “Still it’s too hot for you to be out here,” Sophie scolded.

  “Easy on me, Miss Healer. Stop bein’ my doctor and be my friend. What are y’all doin’ out and about? Gettin’ a little lovin’ done, hmm?” he teased.

  Delora laughed as she blushed and slapped his bare knee playfully. “Righteous!”

  Sophie just shook her head. “I’m working, for your information.”

  “Yeah? Who’s sick?” He leaned forward eagerly.

  “Who isn’t sick?”

  “Now, Sophie,” Delora chided.

  “I’m kidding, I’m kidding,” Sophie said, defendin
g herself. “Firis Skope thinks she’s pregnant, and then I’m seeing the Weirtis girl, Imny.”

  “Wasn’t she the one burned?” asked Righteous. He turned his attention to Delora. “You were burned too, right? You better now?”

  Delora’s smile faded and she dropped her gaze. “I’m fine.”

  Sophie could have kicked Righteous for opening his big mouth. She glared at him in the rearview. Righteous realized his mistake right away and changed the subject. “So who’s the father? She’s only what, sixteen?”

  “She’s seventeen now and seeing the Adams boy.”

  “So they gettin’ hitched?”

  “Umhmm, I guess he’ll go to work for the oil refinery like his daddy.” Sophie navigated a difficult patch of road. They were going farther along the Bayou Lisse now, and the dirt road had grown deeply rutted with shallow pools of water filling the ruts. Trees interlaced above the car and Delora’s curiosity grew. She’d never been so far into the bayou’s interior before, and she found the scenery fascinating. It was almost like being on another planet.

  Sophie noted Delora’s piqued interest and began to forgive Righteous his earlier faux pas. “It’s amazing, isn’t it?”

  “Wow,” Delora responded. “People really live down here?”

  “You’d be surprised.”

  “Don’t you know about these people?” Righteous asked Delora.

  “What do you mean?”

  “Righteous,” Sophie said in a low warning tone.

  “What?” Righteous responded. “She needs to know if she’s part of your life.”

  Sophie blushed, feeling Delora’s eyes on her.

  “What is it, Sophie?”

  After a moment of silence, Righteous continued. “The whole bayou is full of people, but no one knows about them. You won’t find ’em on the census papers or voting or goin’ into town. It’s like they don’t exist.”

  “But how do they live?” Delora asked. “I mean, don’t they work or buy food? How about school?”