Making Waves

by Cassandra King

  “Donnette, this dryer of yours is hot as hell!”

  Well, that worked. Frances Martha like to have had a fit, squawking about the preacher next door and telling Harris on me. Donnette came running over, fussing about me taking the cotton off my ears. She turned the dryer down and fixed me back up. As she tucked me back in, I whispered so that Frances couldn’t hear me, “Why don’t you tell Frances Martha about how you fixed Miss Maudie up for the funeral? She loves to hear things like that.”

  Sure enough, a few minutes later I eased the cotton up and listened, and that’s what they were talking about. Frances’s eyes were as big as saucers, and she was taking in every word. Thank you, Jesus. And I didn’t have to lie either. The hair dryer was hot as hell.

  In spite of the nerve-wracking morning at Donnette’s beauty shop, I was pleased with the way my hair turned out, so I felt as good as could be expected when me and Taylor got to the church that afternoon for Maudie’s funeral. Donnette fixed some soft curls around my face, which went real well with my navy blue suit and lace blouse. I was glad, when we got ready, to see that Taylor had on a dark suit and looked so nice. I hadn’t seen him in a suit since his senior prom. He really is a handsome young man. I was proud to have him escort me into the church.

  I wanted to get there early to get a good seat and get my walker folded and out of the way. So we were half an hour early. Also, I knew the casket would be open at that time. I wanted to see Maudie, one last time. Taylor couldn’t understand that, I could tell. He looked at me like I’d lost my mind when I told him the reason I wanted to get to the church early. He was too young to understand what it meant to me, to lose the last friend I had left on this earth. Young people can’t understand things like that. Maybe it was just as well, otherwise they might never want to grow old.

  Taylor helped me walk down the aisle of the church once we got inside. Thank goodness we were the only ones there. It took forever, poking down the aisle with my walker, Taylor holding my elbow and walking along beside me. I couldn’t help but think of the other times I’d walked this same walk, and the people waiting for me at the end of it. Today it was my dear Maudie. And Maudie’s casket—it was a pretty one, bronze and shiny, not gaudy at all. Maudie’s family, what was left of it, gave the casket arrangement of red roses, Mary Frances had told me yesterday. I had reminded her that I wanted mauve roses on mine, if they could find them. I love that color. My wedding dress was the palest mauve you’ve ever seen.

  When we got to the casket, both of us stood there a minute. I noticed that Taylor looked away, anywhere but at the casket. Lord have mercy, I’ve never seen so many flowers. Maudie would sure love that, way she loved flowers. Her yard was always as overgrown with plants as mine. Neither one of us could stand to cut anything back. Nearest the casket was a huge arrangement of blue and white mums, and sparkly letters in the center spelled out “ZCS.” Zion County Schools. Isn’t that sweet! I bet they took up money from the schoolchildren to buy that one. That would mean a lot to Maudie.

  Out of the corner of my eye I saw Cleve and Pleese Davis, who helped Cleve out part-time, all donned out in their dark suits. Pleese was always around when there was a funeral. He also worked on appliances, too, just an all-around handy man. Someone told me he dug the graves as well.

  I finally made myself get close enough to the casket so I could see Maudie. I wasn’t prepared to see her lying there like that; I never was. I almost fainted when I saw dear Rufus in his casket—it was such a shock. People say folks look so natural laid out; they’re just asleep, they say. Well, it’s true that they’re asleep in Jesus. But, Lord, when you first see them, they look so—dead. There’s no other way to say it. They just look so dead. I heard the preacher say one time that it’s real important when there’s a sudden death for the kin to see their loved one in the casket, that makes them know they’re really dead. I know for sure if that sight won’t make death real, nothing will.

  Taylor turned his head quickly away as I took a deep breath and looked down at Maudie. I knew if I stood there for a minute, taking deep breaths, I’d accept seeing her like that.

  Oh, dear Maudie! I wisht to goodness you’d sit up and talk to me. Just sit up and talk to me, my dear. But instead she was laying there so very, very still. Her waxy-looking hands were neatly folded at her waist, and her pale face was a lifeless mask, like it never was in life. Even Donnette’s makeup couldn’t bring life to her face. The rouge looked orangey on her, but her hair did look real good, I had to admit. Just like she always wore it, so neat in those big white waves. Her painted mouth was set primly in a little smile, and I smiled when I looked at it.

  “Maudie, they got your smile right,” I whispered to her. I saw Taylor look at me startled, but I just couldn’t help myself. No one else was around to hear me except Pleese and Cleve, and I didn’t care about them.

  “Maudie, you look real nice. You’d be proud to have everyone walk by looking at you today, honey. Because you look so peaceful, which lets me know you are with Jesus for sure. And the flowers, they are so pretty. I wish you could see them. Just open your eyes a minute and see them.” I couldn’t help myself; I started to cry then.

  Taylor was shuffling around all embarrassed now, because people were beginning to come into the church, but I didn’t care. Finally he took my arm gently and whispered to me, “Come on, Aunt Della. Let’s get you seated, okay?”

  I let him lead me away, back to the pew behind where the family would sit, across from the one reserved for the pallbearers. I wished I hadn’t cried like that and embarrassed Taylor, but I couldn’t help it. I couldn’t seem to stop myself, either. Soon as I got seated, Taylor fumbled around for his handkerchief and handed it to me. It was none too clean, but I took it anyway. I had one in my purse but I didn’t feel like looking for it. I didn’t feel too good at all.

  Cleve came over to us, looking all mournful and droopy like he always does. He whispered something to Taylor but I couldn’t hear what he was saying. Taylor whispered something back to him, and then he put an arm around me. I guess he was assuring Cleve I was okay, not about to have a stroke or something. Maybe Cleve was hoping he’d have another customer. I shouldn’t think that; it was nice of him to be concerned about me, even if we’ve never been close. He’s a pretty good man, I guess. He’s made Mary Frances a good husband all these years.

  With Taylor’s arm nice and secure about my shoulders, I began to feel better and was able to stop crying so hard. I never thought it dignified to carry on at funerals. Why, I never cried a bit at Papa’s or Rufus’s; everybody said I held up so well. What they didn’t know was that all my crying was inside me.

  Oh, Lord give me strength! I see Harris and all his bunch coming into the church now. The church was beginning to fill up. It would be full because everyone turned out for funerals in Clarksville. Whether you were close to someone or not, you went to their funeral when they died. And everybody knew Maudie. I bet she taught half the people in Zion County. I was sure glad we got here early and got a good seat.

  Harris and them came over and sat on the pew with Taylor and me. Wouldn’t you know that Harris would do that, wanting everybody to think we’re such a close family? That hypocrite. He shook Taylor’s hand and nodded at me. I nodded back because I noticed Estelle Hendricks sitting two pews back, and she’d tell everyone in town if I didn’t.

  Opal, Frances Martha, and that Ellis Rountree were all with Harris, all dressed fit to kill. I reckon Sonny was driving the hearse today. They all spoke to me and Opal hugged Taylor. Lord have mercy, she was a bigger hypocrite than Harris! Probably just showing off, us being up here in front of the whole church. It beat all; none of them have stuck by him these last two years but me, yet they get in front of the town and act so loving. Bunch of hypocrites!

  Opal leaned over like she was fixing to give me a hug, and I nodded to her before she got a chance. Opal has gotten fat as a hog lately. She has always been a big woman, but she has spread out even more. That dress she
was wearing really hugged her big fanny-butt.

  Then Sonny’s wife, Ellis, spoke to me, too, in her prissy way. Opal’s dress might have been tight, but at least it was a decent dark color—just you look at how that Ellis was dressed! A red silk suit at a funeral, if that don’t beat all. But what can you expect from those Rountrees? Tacky as they come, the whole bunch.

  Harris had his old bald head down and his lips were moving, like he was deep in prayer. I knew Harris; the more people came in, the longer he’d pray. He’d stay like that until he got a crick in his neck.

  Frances Martha got up and went down the aisle to look at Maudie again. Mary Frances told me she had stayed at the funeral home last night the whole time the body was in state. She just loves funerals. She stood and stared down at Maudie till I saw Opal nudge Ellis. I believe Opal was about to go up there and get her. Ellis wasn’t paying attention to her, though. People were beginning to file by the coffin now, so Frances Martha had to come back to her seat, reluctantly. Now Ellis was going to be the one to get a crick, because she kept on looking around to see who all was there. I’ll bet she figured this was her first official appearance with the Clark family, except for church every Sunday. At least she’s got Sonny going to church regular now. I like to have fainted a few Sundays ago when I walked in and saw him sitting there. It’s a wonder the roof didn’t cave in.

  Cousin Carrie came over and hugged Taylor and spoke to the rest of the family before going up to view Maudie. Me and her are about the only old-timers left now that Maudie’s gone. Well, there’s old Frank Enfinger, who is blind as a bat and never goes out anywhere. I reckon he will be the next one to go, then either me or Carrie. Unless Harris got his way and stuck me in a nursing home, then I’d go first. I hope Harris would be sorry then. He was finally through praying. Frances told me that he was real insulted not to be asked to be a pallbearer. He was an honorary one, I noticed in the obituary, but so was half of Zion County, including the school board.

  It seemed like forever before the line up to the casket dwindled out, and people settled into their pews. Cleve went up then and closed the casket lid and placed the spray of roses over it. This time I looked away so I wouldn’t start crying again. Maudie was gone forever. I always had that feeling of finality when the casket was sealed.

  Cleve and Pleese went out the church doors and escorted the family into the church. There was nobody but Maudie’s cousins from Mt. Zion. Then there was Sarah Jean, all by herself. Cleve sat her down real carefully, like she was fragile. She did kind of look it—I hadn’t seen her in ages. She’s about the same size as Charlotte, but thin as a rail. That pinstriped suit made her look downright skinny. She used to be such a pretty girl, too. Reckon she’s been working too hard at that college where she teaches. I remember Maudie was real upset over her divorce a few years back. Seems like he was a doctor. Sarah Jean’s a doctor herself, but one of those that teach at colleges instead of seeing patients.

  Brother Junkin did a real nice job on Maudie’s eulogy. He always did; he was such a blessing to our church. I’d already been over every single thing with him that I want in my service. I hope I have as many people as were here today. The church was so packed I felt like I was about to faint, but I wasn’t going to let on. Taylor didn’t want me to go to the graveside one bit, and if he thought I wasn’t feeling well, he’d have a good excuse not to take me. Of course I knew that he didn’t want to go because he didn’t want to be around people, but surely nobody would say anything to him at a funeral. Folks were always so nice and polite then, especially at the graveside. That was my favorite part.

  The choir sung Maudie’s favorite hymn, “There Is a Balm in Gilead,” and the church service was over. The preacher’s wife played the organ real nice as the pallbearers came up and wheeled the casket out. This time Sonny was with Cleve and Pleese as they led the way out, then Cleve came back and escorted Sarah Jean and the rest of the family. Sarah Jean had on her sunglasses now. I bet she was real upset over Maudie; she has always been so good to her. She tried to get Maudie to retire in Florida but Maudie wouldn’t do it. Zion County was her home. Oh, Maudie.

  Everyone started standing, then moving slowly out of the church. Mrs. Junkin was still playing away on the organ. This time she was doing “The Beautiful Garden of Prayer.”

  Taylor reached out his hand to help me up, but I shook my head at him.

  “Let’s wait until the whole church clears out, hon,” I whispered. He settled back down, relieved, I’m sure. I noticed he didn’t look around at all. Opal reached over me and grabbed his arm.

  “I sure hate it that I missed you when you came over for supper the other night, Taylor.” She grinned, and I noticed she had red lipstick smeared on her teeth. “I was beginning to think we’d never see you around here again. Thought you’d fallen off the face of the earth! How long you going to be in town?”

  “I don’t really know, Aunt Opal. I’ve got a couple of weeks free till school starts back.” He didn’t look at her, but instead faced the front and watched Pleese and Sonny load the flowers up for the graveside trip.

  “I thought Charlotte told her daddy that you were working this summer, waiting tables,” Opal said to Taylor.

  “Yes, ma’am. I was. It was just a summer job,” he replied.

  “Well, I didn’t know for sure. Thought maybe you’d decided to become a waiter for a living. We haven’t heard a thing from Charlotte since June.” Opal smirked. “She called Harris on Father’s Day, was all. What do you hear from her?”

  “Not much.” Taylor was polite to his aunt, but refused to look at her as he pretended great interest in them hauling the flowers out—there were so many. Bless his heart, I knew that he hadn’t heard from his mama all summer. Opal was looking so sly I bet you anything she knew that too, and just wanted to torment him, for pure meanness. She grinned her greasy-lipstick grin at him and reached for Ellis, who was standing next to her, still looking around at all the people as they filed out of church. Opal pulled Ellis next to her and continued to look slyly at Taylor.

  “Well. What did you think of your cousin Sonny up and marrying like he did?” As though Taylor gave a hoot about anything Sonny did.

  But Taylor surprised me; he turned around and looked real hard at Ellis, so hard that she blushed and looked away from him.

  “I tell you, Aunt Opal, I was really surprised. I thought Sonny would never settle down, become a family man, but evidently he just hadn’t found the right woman. Now he has.” And he smiled at Ellis sweet as you pleased.

  You could tell that really pleased Opal, who stuck out her big fat chest even farther, almost busting her dinner-pies out of the too-tight dress. But evidently Ellis was peeved about something else, because she glared at Taylor instead. I reached up and tugged on his sleeve before they had a chance to say another thing to him.

  “Come on, sugar. The church is about cleared out now. Let’s go.”

  It was so hot at the graveside service that I thought for a minute I was going to die myself. Because of the heat, there was not as many people here as in the church, thank goodness. I shouldn’t have come, because I really didn’t feel good, but I loved it out here so much I couldn’t stand not to. The cemetery was all the way out past the houses, at the end of the street called Cemetery Street. Lots of big, shady oaks out here, and the graves were so peaceful. However, it was really hard for me to get around in my walker because of the dry summer grass. Maudie’s family plot was down in a little valley, away from the rest of the graves, over in a back corner. I hoped I was able to walk over to the Clark plot before we left because I hadn’t been able to come out here all summer long.

  Brother Junkin didn’t do anything at the graveside service but read some scriptures and say a simple prayer over the grave. I reckon it was just too hot for anything else. I couldn’t help but be relieved; Maudie wouldn’t care, and I didn’t much believe I could stand up another minute. Me and Taylor stood in the shade of the tent, right behind the family,
but it was still awful. Soon as the preacher finished the prayer and went over to the family members to shake hands, I motioned to Taylor for us to go. It was a long climb back up that hill and to the car. Plus, I had just spotted Donnette among the crowd around the grave, and Tim was with her. I didn’t see them in church; they must have been all the way in the back. So if we left now, we wouldn’t have to see them or anyone else. We could go over to Maudie’s and wait for Sarah Jean. I’d get Taylor to bring me back to the family plot another day. I know Papa and Rufus will understand why I haven’t been able to visit them lately.

  I was so glad we came to Maudie’s house when we did, way things turned out, and that we stayed on and ate supper with Sarah Jean. The Lord does work in mysterious ways. I know that Jesus led us there, because I almost decided not to go by the time Taylor managed to get me into the car, I felt so bad. But I knew Maudie would be disappointed in me for not keeping Sarah Jean company, so I made myself go. I thank the Lord, for Taylor’s sake, that I did.

  I almost turned around again and changed my mind about staying when we got to Maudie’s house. The house was so still and so quiet. It was a big old house like mine, with a porch all the way around it where me and Maudie used to sit and visit. But it sure looked sad and empty when we got there.

  Me and Taylor went into the house like Sarah Jean said for us to do—to wait for her till she got there. So we went to the kitchen. I told Taylor to sit down and I’d fix us some iced tea while we waited for Sarah Jean, but he insisted on doing it himself. He made me sit at the kitchen table while he plundered around in the refrigerator and fixed me and him a glass of tea. Then we decided to take our tea and go into Maudie’s sitting room. It was her favorite room, a sunny little room next to the kitchen where she sat and read all the time, day or night.