by Shawn James
“You fits?” Millicent says. “Try dealing with one of them when they pledge. That Linda Carver girl almost drove me crazy a year ago-”
“You sound like you’re getting stressed-” I say.
“You don’t know the half of it Andi.” Millicent sighs. “Dealing with that girl was like trying to deprogram a cult member.”
“I have a feeling that they’re going to get worse before they get better.” I say.
“I don’t think I have it in me to deal with any more of those Black feminists if they’re all like Linda was.” Millicent continues. “Those women are just so adamant about fighting for a political cause that’s just nonsense. That women’s lib fight is between that White woman and her White man. It ain’t got nothing to do with us.”
“We need to stay focused on Civil Rights.” I say.
“That’s the way I feel about it.” Millicent continues. “Since when does a Black man have the power to oppress a Black woman when he’s getting his skull cracked open by a White cop? Since when did a Black man ever get the power to hire and fire anyone from a job when he can’t get any job at a White Man’s company but a janitor?”
Hearing his wife’s rant, Jack gives his wife a sly smile. “Er…Is present company excluded from that list?”
Millicent smiles back at her husband then gives him a kiss. “Wasn’t talking about you Pumpkin. You do right by us.”
“You’re only saying that because you’re married to the boss.”
“But Black people have never had the economic power or the political power to oppress anyone let alone each other.” I say. “Most of the people I knew who didn’t have fortunes like me and Alma were barely keeping their heads above water in those maid and porter jobs.”
“And the people in our class both men and women were doing their best to keep what little money they had in Black hands.” Jack says.
“That’s what makes it so ridiculous for Black women today to start embracing feminism.” Millicent continues. “There’s still so much work for us to do in getting our rights from these crackers. I just know this detour is just going to set us back.”
“If it doesn’t divide us.” Jack says.
I peer down at the sleeping Colleen resting soundly under a pink blanket on the bed. “Let’s just hope we can keep that feminist nonsense out of Colleen’s head.” I say.
“I’m going to do my best to raise her to be a lady like you and Momma.”
“Is she going to pledge Theta when she grows up?” I ask turning to Millie.
“If I’m living she’ll be pledging. I just wish she could meet you when she gets older.”
I wish I could be there for her. But with my alias being so old, by the time she turns eighteen or nineteen, I’d have reached the age where Andrea Thomas Robinson should have died a long time ago. Maybe God will make a way for us to share the same close relationship that I have with her mother and grandmother one day.
“Maybe you can tell her stories about me.”
“I don’t think they’ll be the same thing as experiencing you in person.”
“Depends on her imagination.”
“Have you imagined a future for your new alias?” Jack asks.
“Haven’t thought that far yet Jack.” I reply. “The girls here want to take care of my “descendant”, but I’m afraid taking care of her would take money away from the pledges-”
“An annuitized monthly stipend wouldn’t take too much money from them if you established a trust.” Jack replies.
“Trust?”
“It’d be just enough money for you to pay your bills.” Millie says. “You could even adjust it for inflation every few years or so.”
Okay, that sounds fair. All I really need is enough money to pay my rent, bills, and groceries and maybe buy myself a trinket or two when I’m in the city. My new alias can eventually find her own way to making a living.
“I think I could live within a budget of twelve hundred dollars a month to start.”
“We’ll take care of the paperwork when we get back into the city.” Millie says.
Chapter 4
I lean over and give sleeping baby Colleen a kiss on the forehead. I’m hoping she knows how much I love her. “If Colleen here ever comes of age, let her know how much her godmother Andi Robinson loves her.”
“Shouldn’t that be goddessmother?” Jack teases.
“Very funny.” I retort. “Maybe when she turns seventeen I’ll pop in and make her a horse and carriage made out of a pumpkin and some mice for her to go to the prom in.”
“I think she can do with a rented limo.” Mille says. “But I’ll tell her.”
“I take it this is goodbye.” Jack says.
“Sadly it is.” I say. “Andi Robinson here is gonna be too old to meet up with Colleen when she grows up.”
“We can always try to introduce you to her when she gets older. Whenever you become whoever you become.” Millie says.
“We’ll see.”
Before I go, I give both Millie and Jack hugs. I can feel their love for me as I embrace them. As Millie breaks the embrace of the hug she gives me, tears stream down her face. It’s tearing her up to let me go. “I just want to say thank you again for everything you’ve done for me.”
“Thank you for letting me be part of your life.” I say.
There’s a long silence as her words hit me in the gut. To them the passing of Andrea Robinson isn’t like the end of some alias, it’s just like experiencing a real death. She’s like a loved one they’ll never see again, someone they’ll never be able to sit down and talk to again until they cross over to the other side. Seeing how Millie and Jack are grieving her loss already, I don’t know if it’d be right to return to their lives a year later or even twenty years later.
“I’m gonna go out and see what Alma and Doc are up to.”
“You want me to walk with you?” Millie asks.
I’d love her company, but it’d be best if we had a clean break. “I think I can make it.” I reply.
Chapter 5
I quietly shuffle out of the pledge suite down the hall, and slowly make my way down the stairs. By the time I reach the vestibule I need to take a minute to rest on the sofa. I never thought it’d take so much energy to do such simple things. After living like a human with normal mortal aging for so long, I’ll never take my immortality for granted again.
I manage to get a second wind after a few minutes. Thankfully, Esmerelda is there to open the heavy mahogany door leading out to the hall. She greets me with a concerned smile. “Miss Robinson, do you need some help?”
“I can make it Esmerelda.” I reply easing off the sofa. “But I wouldn’t mind some company on my way to the patio.”
I’m glad she came, with the door being close to a hundred pounds I doubt I’d have the strength to open it even with my New Heliopolitan strength. At this age my body is so weak I can barely open a jar of pickles.
I shuffle through the door. Esmerelda closes it behind her and patiently walks with me as I shuffle down the parquet floored corridor, through the kitchen. She pushes the sliding door aside and chilled breeze hits me in the face as I step out onto the teak deck of the patio where I find Edna and Alma sitting under the umbrella of the patio table sipping on coffee. The women stifle a snicker as I huff and puff and fall into a chair across from them.
“See you made it through the obstacle course slowpoke.” Edna teases.
“One day you’re gonna get old Doc.” I snarl.
“Can’t get any sexier than I am right now.” Edna jabs brushing back her shoulder length chestnut brown dyed hair.
“You know that dye job isn’t even close to my chestnut hair color.”
Edna grimaces at me as she takes a lock of her hair between her fingers. “I thought this one was pretty close-”
“Not by a longshot.”
“Maybe Miss Clairol #146 Honey Auburn will finally do the trick.” Edna says.
“If that doesn’t work,
you could try mixing the colors together.”
Edna ponders that option as Alma takes that moment to get in on the conversation. “So how is my grandbaby doing?” Alma asks.
“Sleeping. Jack and Millie made me realize that you taking care of me is a great idea. I’ll take twelve hundred dollars a month to start.”
“Don’t you think that’s a little much?” Alma asks.
“Hey, I have a lifestyle to live.”
“Aren’t senior citizens supposed to live on a fixed income?”
She may be frugal in her old age, but I’m gonna need cash if I’m going to have fun. “I’m not gonna be a senior citizen much longer.”
The ladies gasp on the revelation then their faces quickly return to indifferent expressions. “It’d be the right thing to do in this case.” Alma says.
“I don’t know Almie.” I reply. “After seeing Millie and Jack being broken up over my loss, I don’t know if I want to come back with a new alias.”
“Haven’t you faked your death before?” Edna asks.
“Most times I just moved on.” I answer. “I never stayed anyplace in the world long enough to run into this dilemma.”
“So you never really got that close to anyone?”
“Oh, I got close to people. It’s just that they usually died before I could. This’ll be the first time I die before they do.”
“And now that you’re the one who’s dying you feel guilty.” Alma says.
“I just don’t feel it’s right to jerk people around by coming in and out of their lives-”
“Who’s being jerked around?” Edna says. “We all have to die sometime.”
“And you’ve been coming in and out of people’s lives for what? Almost nineteen hundred years?” Alma continues.
“I just feel if I came back into Jack and Millie’s life a few years from now to get involved with Colleen it’d be like cutting deeper into an open wound-”
“So don’t come into their lives.”
“But you guys need me now-”
“Andi, you need to give people time to grieve.” Alma says. “Let them deal with their feelings. Let them move on. Let them forget you.”
“I just feel there’s still so much work to be done-”
“Your work is done.”
“Done? I-”
“You have to have faith in us to continue your work Andi. Just like we believed in you, you have to believe in us to preserve your legacy.”
“I guess it’s like my father said, there’d be others to stand up and fight for the American Negro-”
“And I think we’ll be able to do the work that needs to be done when you pass on.” Edna says.
“I’d like to think so Grand Mother Flowers.”
Edna gives me a look. “Forty-three is kind of young to be a Grand Mother don’t you think?”
“As a founder, it’s my right to pick my successor.”
“Wouldn’t one of the other original sixteen sisters be a better choice?”
Those ladies are as old as Alma and I or getting as old as we are. In addition to being younger than all of us, I need someone with a strong academic background to keep the Theta Sisterhood teaching the lessons women need to learn. And Edna’s one of the best professors on the Spelman campus. She’ll keep the Theta program on track no matter what political changes are transpiring in the world.
“Doc, you’re the only person I’d trust to maintain the academic integrity of the Theta Sisterhood.”
“You know I have a good tenured job at Spelman that pays me very well-”
“So work with pledges during the summer.” Alma says. “We’ve got enough Dean Mothers volunteering to help me supervise the teaching of pledges for the rest of the year.”
“Besides, if you segue into the position now, you’ll be able to tailor the curriculum to the changing times.” I say.
“Fight those feminists.” Edna says.
“Millie can’t do it alone. She’s got her hands full helping Jack and raising Colleen.”
“You could always get Margaret-”
“NO!” Alma and I say.
“Just trying to get a rise out of you.” Edna laughs.
“C’mon, don’t kid like that! I say. “If we brought her here she’d do more damage to the Sisterhood than the feminists ever could.” I say.
“I don’t think she’d be able to make it anyway.” Alma says. “She’s still dealing with her divorce.”
“I hear she’s been dealing with her divorce by smoking the wacky tobaccy.” I say.
“Not to mention sharing free love with her share of male suitors.” Alma continues. “If I only knew what a whore I was raising-”
“Hey, you make all your mistakes with your firstborn.” Edna jokes.
“I should have let you kick her out back in 1960 when you caught her with Robert Jenkins ding-a-ling in her mouth.”
“You could have just taken a belt to her-”
“But she violated Theta Rules. So she came under your jurisdiction.” Alma says.
“And I’d say you did a great job of disciplining her with old hickory.” I say. “That’s one of the reasons why I want you to run The Thetas Doc. You don’t put up with any crap from these girls.”
Edna smiles as she thinks about it. “Charles does love to bring the boys up here in the summer.” Edna says. “You’ve got yourself a new Grand Mother.”
“What about the rest of the loose ends?” Alma asks.
“I’ll work out the rest of my affairs when I get back to the city.” I say. “After I take care of that business there’d be only one thing left to figure out.”
“What?”
“How do I kill Andrea Robinson?”
Chapter 6
I ponder options of how Andrea Robinson should die as Alma and Edna walk with me down the path to my car. With me being immortal and invulnerable there aren’t many ways to make her death appear real. Sure I could put myself in a meditative state where I slow my breathing to simulate a death by natural causes, but that’s not going to help me when the Oneonta Police perform an investigation of Andrea’s passing. If there has to be a body, there has to be an autopsy. And when the town coroner tries to find out the cause of death he’s gonna freak out when he finds out he can’t cut through my skin to perform it. Like it or not I’m going to need some New Heliopolitan help to pull this off.
I steady myself on my cane as I open the door of my Mustang convertible and slide into the leather drivers’ seat. As I turn the key and start the engine, Edna and Alma look over the Coke-bottle shaped cherry red convertible with concerned looks on their faces.
“Are you sure you’re going to make it back home in one piece?” Edna asks.
“My baby will get me home safely.” I reply patting on the wheel.
“I don’t know, this car is pretty powerful.” Alma says. “I don’t see how you can handle it in your condition.”
“If you were forty years younger you’d be challenging me to a drag race”
“You know I almost beat you in that race we had back in 1933-”
“But you slowed down at that turn.”
“Always gonna be kicking myself about that till the day I die.”
“Well, at least you didn’t crash and burn.” Edna says. “I never understood what you two saw in drag racing.”
Alma gives her a look “Are you kidding? You get such a rush when you’re behind the wheel.”
“If only your husband knew you were such a daredevil.” Edna says.
“He helped me soup up the engine.”
We all share a laugh Man, I’m gonna miss moments like this. “You two are something else.” Edna says shaking her head.
“Hey, life is too short not to have fun Doc.” I say. “Best enjoy yourself while you’re here.”
“Are we going to see you at the retirement dinner? Or after the funeral?” Alma asks.
“Depends on how I work out the details.”
I hit the gas, make the tur
n around the circle-shaped driveway and the car rushes back downhill. Before I crash into the black wrought iron gates of the Theta Estate, a flash of light takes me from Oneonta County in New York State onto the asphalt road winding around the Island of Solitude in the South Pacific. As the magic spell that naturally ages me wears off, I feel my skin tightening and my muscles growing stronger. When I see my silver eyebrows turning chestnut brown in the rearview mirror, I get a firm grip on the steering wheel, make the turn around the second curve, and maneuver the car up the driveway in front of the garage right beside my powder blue Lincoln Continental Convertible.
I’m greeted by the smiles of my brothers Horus and Anubis as I shut off the engine and step out of the car. I’m glad they’re here. Maybe they can help me find a tactful way to end Andrea Robinson’s life.
“Hey Grandma.” Horus greets looking me up and down. “Want me to help you carry those grocery bags upstairs?”
“Retorts like that won’t get you a tip young whippersnapper.” I say pointing at him with my cane.
“Man, you look just like the old ladies I see at church.” Anubis continues. “You even have on the Knee-hi’s’ like they do.”
“Well, it’s hard to get pantyhose off when Andrea has to go to the bathroom.” I retort. “What brings you boys by?”
“We wanted to know how your meeting went.” Anubis says.
Yeah right, like they’ve ever been concerned about the affairs of my sorority. They want something. I cut them a look and Horus spills his guts. “Nubsy here wants to borrow your Mustang.”
“If you needed a car you could have just taken the Continental-”
“I told you she wasn’t going to part ways with that car. It’s one of her most prized possessions.” Horus jabs.
“I would have taken the Continental, but that car is a bit too formal for going where I want to go tonight.”
I catch the eager look on Anubis’ face. “Hot date?” I inquire.
“Her name is Sharon.” Anubis says.
I can’t have my brother leaving a bad first impression on her. I reach over to the steering column and pull the keys out of the ignition and toss it to Anubis. His face lights up as he catches them. “Bring it back in one piece.”
“Oh, I definitely will.” Anubis says.
The smile on his face tells me he must really like Sharon. “You know, I’m gonna need a favor in return…”
