I lined up the three hats on my bed—a mound of bright pink ruffles shaped like a turban, another that looked like an upside-down basket covered with black feathers, and the third one a swirl of sequined red satin with one red plume on the side.
“My, my, would you look at these,” I whispered as I placed the red one on my head. It felt several sizes too small, so I examined the inside and saw that Alice had stuffed the hatband with toilet paper. When I removed the paper, out tumbled little white pills.
The other hats revealed the same. I scooped up all the pills and dumped them into my nightstand drawer until I could decide what to do with them. Alice didn’t need them, but somehow I couldn’t force myself to be wasteful and flush them down the commode, which is what I should have done.
I went back to Alice’s room, but didn’t tell Smiley what I’d found besides empty liquor bottles. He didn’t have to know all her secrets.
We didn’t stop until we worked our way through every box in Alice’s closet and every drawer in the small chest. I was glad not to find any more surprises.
Soon we had a small pile of her things for nearly every woman resident. Now we had to locate William and ask him to deliver everything.
He wasn’t hard to find. He and Lil were in his room playing cards. The door was propped open and his big laugh rolled down the hall, followed by a lilting voice like that of a young woman. A chair had been pulled over to her wheelchair tray, which they used as a table. William surveyed the cards he held and chewed on his cigar.
When Lil noticed us, she waved one jeweled hand. “Where have the two of you been hiding? We need a foursome. Right, Willy?”
He looked up at me with a grin and, of course, one of his winks. “Now, lovely lady, let’s not rush into things. You’re a fast learner, but I haven’t taught you everything I know yet.”
She laughed as if he’d told the most wonderful joke. “Willy’s teaching me to play poker. Why, it’s a sight more fun than bridge, Agnes. A sight more fun.”
I whispered to Charlie, “Wonder what her Edward will have to say about this?”
“William, we need you to deliver some of Alice’s things—and throw a few things away.”
“Give me a time and I’ll be there, Red.”
“Ten o’clock tomorrow morning. We labeled everything with a name and room number.”
He saluted and winked again. “You got it.” He laid down his cards. “Full house.”
In a mock whine, Lil said, “Oh, Willy, I want to win. Show me how, won’t you?”
The whole scene was making me nauseous. “Come on, Smiley, let’s go get something to eat. I’m having a sinking spell.”
When I turned around, I realized Smiley hadn’t said a word the whole time we stood in the doorway. His faraway look suggested his mind was on other things. When he moved into the hall and headed back to Alice’s room, I caught up to him and tugged on his shirtsleeve.
“Leave me be, Sis. Something is missing. Something Alice told me to find a good home for. Almost forgot. Can’t understand where it could be.”
“What is it?”
“Sometimes when she’d had a few too many sips, she’d tell me things. Things that happened over fifty years ago.”
“Alice had a son,” I said.
He stopped short and faced me. “How did you know?”
“The box that flew out of the closet.”
“Ahhh,” he said with eyebrows raised. Then he grinned like a person remembering something delightful.
I poked him on the shoulder. “Don’t think I didn’t hear you laughing when I fell.”
As he tried, unsuccessfully, to straighten his face, I pretended to be miffed. “I could have been hurt, you know. What if I’d broken a hip?”
“Oh, Sis, you should have seen that awful little hat flying off your head.”
“Well, the important thing is I have what you’re looking for. It’s in a safe place. Now, tell me all about Alice and her son.”
The dining room was deserted. Someone had dimmed the lights, and the air conditioner gently moved the green velvet drapes back and forth. Shirley, the nail lady and now chief Sunday cook, had been gone for hours. In the kitchen I found a banana, two boxes of cereal, and some milk. I returned to the table nearest the kitchen and the farthest from the foyer steps.
“Charlie, I hope that awful woman has turned in for the night.”
Smiley was not going to be rushed. As I munched on a generic version of raisin bran, he finally opened the frosted flakes, poured them into his bowl, and sprinkled two heaping spoonfuls of sugar on top. Then he began slicing the banana with his Fuller Brush knife.
“Banana?” he asked.
I shook my head. Mercy, Charlie, he probably uses that thing to trim his toenails too.
He wiped the blade on the edge of the tablecloth, snapped it back into the knife casing, and dropped it into his pocket.
“If Prissy—I mean Miss Johnson—ever sees you doing that, she’ll have a total fit and probably confiscate your weapon.”
“Prissy, huh? Seems everyone has a little pet name for our beloved director.”
I shared the other names I called her out loud, but kept a few others to myself.
Smiley seemed to relax a little and that made me feel better. He pulled the knife back out of his pocket and examined it. “My stars, Sis, a man’s got to hold on to a few old habits. It’s a comfort, don’tcha know. Like those ridiculous hats of yours. A part of you.”
“I’m going to overlook that remark. I want to know about Alice.”
“Well, Sis, it’s like this. When she was a young woman, she fell in love with a married man. Didn’t know he was married, mind you, not at first. Started coming into the library where she worked. Regular con artist, if you ask me. She believed every lie that man ever told, I reckon. Wish I’d been around at the time. I would’ve—”
“Settle down,” I said. “Watch your blood pressure. Just tell me about Alice.”
“Well, she ended up getting pregnant, and this man, if you want to call him that, disappeared. She started asking questions around town and found out he was from Charleston, a regular blueblood, and already married. She was too ashamed to go back home to Richmond, so she stuck it out in Columbia. Lost her job at the library and had to take in laundry. When John Howard was born, he was a frail little thing, sick all the time. And Alice was fragile herself. Well sir, this preacher’s wife who couldn’t have any children, convinced Alice to let her adopt him. They gave Alice five hundred dollars, just to help her along, but she never could bring herself to use it. She signed all the papers and agreed to never see her baby again.”
“So she might very well have a son somewhere. Did she tell you this preacher’s name?”
Smiley shook his head and sadness filled his eyes. “Never did. Think they moved up north soon after. But that’s not the worst part.”
With trembling hands, he took his handkerchief out of his back pocket and blew his nose. While he tried to gain his composure, I eased into the kitchen and boiled us some water so we could have tea. “Heavens to Betsy, Charlie, what else could have happened to that woman?”
I returned with two cups of hot tea, doctored with lots of sugar and a little cream. “Let’s sit here all quiet-like and sip awhile,” I said. “Then you can tell me the rest.”
He looked up at me with those big brown eyes of his, now shiny with tears. Without any warning, I felt all fluttery inside—and foolish besides—and hoped he didn’t notice I hadn’t touched my tea. I didn’t trust my ability to raise the cup to my lips and swallow. When he began talking again, I had to ask him to repeat, blaming my hearing aid.
“Alice lost her mind … a breakdown. But she knew enough to realize she needed help. Committed herself, she did. Stayed at that place down on Bull Street a full year. Never told me what all happened there, but soon after she turned to drinking. Packed John Howard’s clothes away, along with the five hundred dollars, and never looked at them again.”
/>
“Merciful heavens, the things people keep inside.”
“She said for us to find a single mother who could use his clothes and the money. Said they’d stayed in a box too long. I promised her we would.”
“And just how are we going to do that?”
“I’m sure you’ll figure out a way. Resourceful. That’s what Alice called you.”
“She did?”
“Alice understood people. She was a wonderful woman.”
“What do you mean was?” Somehow that word flew all over me. “She hasn’t died. You said she might have weeks. Besides, only the good Lord knows when our time on this earth is over and done with. You talk like we just came from her funeral.”
“For pity’s sake, Agnes.” Smiley’s words heated up too. “Don’t you think I know she hasn’t died? It’s just that … that I won’t ever see her again.”
Now I was really getting steamed. “And why not? Where’s your gumption? Who says we can’t go visit her at Mission?”
“That’s nearly thirty miles away.”
“You act like it might as well be the moon. I’m not talking about walking, and a taxi would cost a fortune, but how about the bus? I’ve seen the local Stagecoach Express pull into Mike’s station across the street. And you can bet if they stop at nothing more than a wide spot in the road like Sweetbriar, they stop in Berea.”
“Do you really think we could?”
“Give me one good reason why not.”
“Have you considered the cost of the tickets? And what about the bus schedule?”
“Let me handle the details and don’t worry so much.”
His eyes widened and he hit the table, making our teacups dance. “By golly, Sis, what would I do without you?” He jumped up and I did too because I was afraid he might fall, moving so quick like that. He hugged me tight just as Prissy walked into the dining room and flipped on the lights.
“What on earth are you people doing in here? Mr. Abenda, I’m surprised at you. Now, Mrs. Hopper, clean up this mess before we have roaches. I’m going to check on Mother, and I’ll be back in fifteen minutes.”
She started to leave and then stopped. “You people don’t waste any time, do you?”
Chapter Eighteen
I could feel my face burning. “That woman. What a witch.”
Smiley gathered our bowls. “Don’t let her get to you. Unhappy. That’s her trouble.”
“Don’t try to excuse her. I’m not happy either. I hate this place. And … and I’m leaving here as soon as I can.”
“What? You can’t do that.”
“And why not?”
“Well, be mighty dull around here is why. Mighty dull. And besides, you just said we could manage a trip to see Alice. How are we going to do that if you’re gone?”
After reassuring Smiley I hadn’t found a house or apartment to move to yet and I’d see him tomorrow, I tidied up and turned out the lights. Then I walked to a window, pulled back one velvet drape, and stood looking out for a good long while. I’d acquired the habit on the farm. Before retiring, my eyes would rest on shadowed fields, the darkened tobacco barn, or the cedars along the fencerow. I would listen for a hoot owl’s call or a raccoon rummaging in the night. My heart grieved for all those things.
A noisy moped drove past, followed by the sheriff’s car. Then the street was quiet.
Later, when I passed William’s door, it was closed, and a scratchy record played “Love Me Tender.” I could hear heavy feet shuffling about. I supposed Lil had tired of losing every poker hand and finally retired to her room.
I crawled into bed weighted down with my thoughts and feelings all in a tangled mess. My mind drifted back to the days, weeks, and months of living in the little farmhouse after Charlie died. Finally at peace with Charlie’s death, I kept to myself mostly. My life was pretty much the same day after day. I kept busy from dawn to dark with gardening, mowing, trimming, and keeping the place up in general. I talked to Charlie and took care of Miss Margaret. I couldn’t say I was exactly happy, but I was content with my life. Wasn’t I?
William either opened his door or turned up the volume on his record player. The same Elvis record was playing again. Before I drifted off to sleep, I said, “Charlie, it’s a pure shame for any man to have to dance alone. A pure shame.”
Somehow during Sunday night’s fitful sleep a plan must have formed in my mind, because the next morning as I placed Alice’s black-feathered hat on my head, I knew what to do.
I could almost hear her whispering in my ear: The antidote for frustration is action. A strange, yet comforting, feeling traveled clear down to my toes. I had something to do before visiting my friend and found myself humming, “Onward Christian soldiers, marching as to war.”
“Who am I to question such as that?” I said to no one in particular.
I opened the door of the beauty parlor. It had one swivel chair with a sink and a mirror, one padded armchair with an attached dryer, and three plastic chairs that looked like Laundromat rejects. Not even a snappy name over the door like the Kut ‘N Loose on Main. This place was obviously an afterthought. Nothing like the words I’d read in the brochure: And a state-of-the-art beauty salon. Every woman’s dream.
My guess was that it was originally a small, enclosed back porch. It wasn’t big enough to whip a cat in as Mama would’ve said. But its unpainted wood floor and ceiling, and walls of beadboard topped with windows all around, made up for its size. I decided this was my favorite room in the whole place, untouched by a decorator in love with sea-foam green.
The air was faintly permed, but windows had been rolled open, and a soft breeze brought the sweet aroma of freshly mowed grass and a memory of Charlie moving across the meadow on his tractor, a Ford eight-end. My eyes closed in delight. “It’s almost as good as being back home again.”
Diamond Lil broke the spell when she wheeled into the small room and announced, “I’m first, you know. It’s only right. My Edward—”
She prattled on and on. I had heard rumors of how she lorded it over the other ladies during nail time, and I was ready. I had things to do before leaving, which I figured was going to happen tomorrow afternoon, or Wednesday at the latest, as sure as salmon swim upstream.
“I don’t want to hear about your Edmond. And I don’t care who’s first. I came to talk to Shirley—in private.”
Lil bristled and shook her finger at me. “She’s paid to do manicures from ten o’clock until twelve. Paid well, I might add. You’ll have to talk to her when it’s your turn or wait until she’s finished. I’m always first. Everyone knows that. And my son’s name is Edward.”
I plunged ahead, knowing what had to be done. Maybe she wouldn’t hold a grudge, but it really didn’t matter. “Tell me, does your son know about Willy yet?”
Anger flashed in her eyes for a split second. “Whatever do you mean?”
“I would think your son would be interested in his mother’s new boyfriend—especially someone like William Statton, who plays poker like a riverboat gambler. And he moves and grooves to his Elvis records like the King himself. A talented man. Did you know he used to raise gamecocks? Used to hold cockfights too, back in the woods behind his house, until the sheriff closed him down. I’ve seen pictures and they’re not a pretty sight.” I paused a few seconds to let all that sink in. “Didn’t you say Edmond always comes to visit on Mondays?”
“I don’t care what Willy used to do. He’s a real gentleman, and he’s nice to me. We’re just friends. What’s wrong with that?” She looked ready to burst into tears.
I almost relented. Almost.
Then she said with a deep sigh, “No, my Edward would never approve. Would you really do such a thing? Agnes, you are one mean-spirited woman.”
William did raise gamecocks. I knew because he’d proudly shown me pictures. I suppose he raised them to fight, but he never said and I never asked. Even if he had been a bootlegger, I never would have told Edward. No, Willy was the best thing that
had happened to Lil, most likely in a long time.
Shirley entered, carrying an egg basket brimming with brightly colored bottles of nail polish. “Good morning, ladies. I’m going to make you soooo beautiful you won’t believe your eyes. Why, honey, the men in your life will be putty in your hands. You ready, Miss Francesca? Just give me a second to get set up and we’ll get started.”
Her clatter of arranging little bottles, nail files, clippers, and a drying lamp halted when Francesca said, “Agnes is first this morning. But I’m second. I’ll wait outside and tell the others that Miss Monroe isn’t ready yet and when she is, she’ll open the door.” She lowered her voice and her gaze pierced mine. “Does that satisfy you?”
I nodded, too surprised to speak.
She wheeled out, full of huffs, and I could hear her loud voice through the door. “I don’t care if you did see Shirley come in the front door, she’s busy. Doing what? Sterilizing her instruments, that’s what. What are you doing here so early anyway? No use crowding around. I’m first, you know. Go back to your room.”
With lifted eyebrows, Shirley said, “What’s all this about, honey? I’m dying to know how you got to be first this morning. And my, my, where did you find such a hat? Suits your red hair. Indeed it does.”
“Isn’t it wonderful? One of Alice’s.” Then I added, “I blackmailed Francesca. Threatened to tell her son she has a boyfriend. I wouldn’t really do such a thing, you understand, but I needed to talk to you.”
Shirley laughed and shook a bottle of purple polish. “Land sakes, honey, I predict you could be first from now on if you set your mind to it. But I’m dying to know what happened when your daughter talked to Miss Johnson yesterday.”
Contemporary Women's Fiction: Agnes Hopper Shakes Up Sweetbriar (Humorous Women's Fiction) Page 14
