Stolen Lives

by Joy Redmond

  Ali felt deep sympathy for the pain her aunt was feeling, but she couldn’t bring herself to feel truly sad at the news. She really had no idea how to feel at that moment. The church sisters left shortly thereafter, each of them telling Aunt July to call them if they could help in any way.

  After they had gone, Ali asked quietly, “What do we do now?”

  “I’ll have to claim their remains and we’ll have a funeral at the church. It’ll be a closed casket ceremony, but we’ll give them a beautiful send-off. They were godly folks and many people loved them.”

  In spite of her aunt’s grief, Ali found herself thinking back to when Mama Jane had died in a fire. Grandma and Grandpa hadn’t bothered to claim the remains or have a funeral for their youngest daughter. As far as Ali was concerned, they were nothing but hardhearted hypocrites, but out of respect for Aunt July, she bit her tongue and kept her thoughts to herself.

  * * *

  Two days later, the visitation and funeral was held at the little country church where Grandma and Grandpa had attended for so many years. Ali had never attended a funeral except for the one that she, Toots, and Nancy had held for Mama Jane, so she had no idea what to expect. It was an all-day affair, and Ali found herself wondering if it would ever end. The congregation wailed and carried on as if the world had come to an end, but Ali didn’t shed a single tear.

  As the ceremony drew to a close, the congregation began marching around the walls of the church, led by a man shaking a tambourine. Ali leaned over and asked Aunt July, “What are they doing?”

  “It’s called the Jericho march,” Aunt July said simply. “They’ll march around seven times, like Joshua in the Bible.”

  “Oh,” Ali whispered and wondered if the walls would come tumbling down.

  When the congregation had taken their seats again, the preacher offered a closing prayer. Then everyone went out to the gravesite in the cemetery on a small hill behind the church. That service also seemed to go on forever. Ali was so hungry that she wondered if the growling of her stomach was loud enough to drown out the preacher.

  Finally, the last amens were said and the mourners began to walk back down the hill, but Ali stayed behind, telling Aunt July she’d join her in a few minutes. Sister Bea and Sister Bertha held Aunt July’s arms as they left the cemetery.

  For a long moment, Ali stood looking at the two coffins, her mind drifting back to the first time she’d met her grandparents. Grandma had hugged her awkwardly, but had seemed happy to see her, but Grandpa had just smiled and patted her arm. She remembered how happy Grandma was while they shared a banana split and how her eyes twinkled as she picked out her school clothes. Grandpa never seemed to like shopping, but he never said anything about it.

  She remembered how much she had looked forward to their Saturdays together—but that had all changed after Mama Jane died and the endless Sundays began. She remembered all the questions that she had been forbidden to ask—and now there were so many questions that would never be answered. Her grandparents had taken them to their graves.

  “It’s just not right,” she said softly, as if her grandparents could hear. “I had a right to know!” Then she found herself laughing out loud as she imagined the look on her grandparents’ faces when they got to heaven and found Mama Jane waiting for them. Before turning to go, she shook her head and said, “Goodbye, Grandma. Goodbye, Grandpa.”

  But she didn’t shed a tear.

  As she walked down the hill, Ali wondered if heaven was a place filled with understanding, forgiveness, and unconditional love. If so, maybe Mama Jane and her parents would finally find the peace they could never find while they were alive. She desperately hoped that was the case.

  In the church basement, Ali found three large tables laden with enough food to feed an army. As she ate, she continued to ponder the situation, though she talked to no one about it.

  When it was over, Sister Bea drove them back home. During the drive, Ali heard the two women talk about what wonderful Christians her grandparents were. It almost made her sick to her stomach. Did real Christians beat their kids with tobacco sticks? Did real Christians lock their daughters in closets and ignore their screams? Did real Christians decide who would go to heaven and who would go to hell?

  Ali knew for certain that Mama Jane was in heaven, and she vowed that someday she would tell Aunt July exactly how she felt about it all. Somehow, it seemed fitting that Grandma and Grandpa had died a fiery death, just like Mama Jane, but that brought a terrifying thought to mind. Were she and Aunt July destined to die in a fire, too? Was that how the entire Monroe family was destined to leave the world?

  Chapter Fourteen

  Ali followed Aunt July into the house, wondering what she was supposed to say once they were inside. She wanted to offer her aunt sympathy, but she felt numb. Once inside, Aunt July headed for the kitchen. Ali sat in the rocker and picked up Mr. Puss.

  Aunt July came back into the living room carrying two glasses of lemonade. “Here you go, honey,” she said, holding a glass toward Ali. “I’m so dry I can hardly swallow. This has been a very sad day for me. You’re the only family I have left in this world.”

  Aunt July sat down on the couch and quickly drained the glass. Ali sipped her drink. She wondered why she couldn’t feel anything inside. They were her grandparents and she wanted to feel a loss, but there was nothing but relief.

  “Aunt July, have you ever wondered if Grandma would have been a different woman if it hadn’t been for Grandpa?”

  “I don’t think I rightly know what you’re asking.”

  “I mean, do you think she would have been more likable? She was just a dour old lady. I only remember seeing her smile one time. That was the day we saw each other after six years. I never once saw her when she didn’t have a look of sadness in her eyes. She said very little when Grandpa was around. When he wasn’t around, she talked somewhat, but she seemed to be choosing her words carefully, lest she say something that Grandpa wouldn’t agree with or might fuss at her for saying. I think she was scared of him. And that’s just not right. He stole her life too.”

  Aunt July drew a deep breath. “Ali, I have no idea where you come up with some of the things you say. What makes you think that everybody had their lives stolen? Ma had a happy life with Pa. I’ll admit she did fear going against him when he laid down the law, but she loved him.”

  “I think she was scared not to love him. I think she could have been a grandma that I could have gotten to know and love if not for him. And I don’t think she would have shunned Mama Jane if Grandpa hadn’t been such a tyrant. I just think she would have been a totally different mother and grandmother—”

  “Ali Monroe, you are showing disrespect for your grandpa, and I won’t hear anymore. Never speak ill of the dead. And Ma was the woman she wanted to be. She just knew how to be an obedient wife—like the Bible says. Now if that’s the way you’re going to talk, you just head off to bed. I’m grieving and I don’t need any of your nonsense. Shame on you!”

  Ali boldly said, “Shame on him! And just because he’s dead doesn’t make him a saint. I speak the truth, not ill, and being dead doesn’t change a thing. I feel sorry for Grandma because he took the sparkle of life out of her. Down deep in my heart—”

  Aunt July sharply said, “I said that’s enough! Can’t you let me grieve in peace?”

  “I sure can. I’ll take Mr. Puss and my thoughts to bed. And for what it’s worth, I’m deeply sorry that you lost your parents. If I can just ask one more question, I’ll get out of your sight.”

  Aunt July wiped her eyes and with an exasperated tone, said, “What?”

  “If they were coming in to town to see us, do you think they were going to disown us like they did Mama Jane because you stood up to Grandpa?”

  “No, that wasn’t it.” Aunt July cleared her throat. “Ma went to her church sisters, the ones who were here when you came home from school, Friday. They told me that Ma was very hurt and angry that Pa had told
us to get off his property and never come back. She told them that it was her property too, and she had the right to have her daughter and granddaughter come anytime they wanted to. She told them that she had let Pa know that if he didn’t apologize in person to us that she was never going to speak to him again for as long as she lived. She even went so far as to tell him that she was leaving their bedroom until he had made amends.”

  Ali’s heart warmed and her eyes stung. “I’m sure glad you told me this. Now I can have the kind of respect and love for Grandma that I should have been able to have all this time. I’m proud of her.”

  Aunt July didn’t comment. She merely shook her head and dabbed at her eyes.

  “We’ll be going now,” she said as she picked up Mr. Puss.” Her smile widened as she headed for her bedroom. Once she was in her room with the door closed, she sat on her bed, stroked Mr. Puss, and said, “Well, Grandma finally grew a backbone after almost sixty years. I bet Grandpa was all fired mad, he was driving like a manic since his wife had had the audacity to stand up to him and speak her mind. Now Grandma can be with Mama Jane and they can be mother and daughter again and there ain’t nothing Grandpa can do about. I sure hope God separates them from Grandpa and they can get caught up. I think I’ll just ask Him to do that very thing. It’s seems only fitting to me.”

  Mr. Puss meowed, “Amen.”

  * * *

  Another year slowly passed.

  Sister Bea picked up Aunt July and Ali on Sundays and they attended the same church. Ali was so relieved that she didn’t have to spend the long boring Sundays with Grandma and Grandpa. Sister Bea brought them home after morning church and Ali helped Aunt July cook a nice dinner. Most Sundays, Toots came over and ate with them, then she and Ali spent the day together before it was time to head back for evening church.

  * * *

  Ali’s sophomore year had been so-so, but she still wasn’t allowed to go to the gathering places with her peers. She was allowed to attend the basketball games with Toots as long as they were home games. She begged Aunt July to let her ride the bus with the other students and attend the out of town games, but Aunt July forbade it since it would be dark on the bus and she didn’t trust Ali. “You’ll be sitting beside a boy, holding hands, and possibly kissing.”

  Ali pulled her hair, bit her tongue, and then stomped out of the room. She felt as if her head was going to blow off her shoulders.

  Ali’s sixteenth birthday came on a Friday. Toots went home with Ali after school that special day. “I’m sweet sixteen but I’ve been kissed,” Ali said with a giggle. “That’s more than Aunt July can say. She going on fifty and I bet you she’s never been kissed. Mama Jane said she was too dang ugly.”

  Toots laughed. “You might be surprised. I bet there’s a lot that Aunt July has done, but she’ll never admit to it. I think that’s why she’s so overprotective with you and won’t allow you to go anywhere or do anything. She’s got secrets, girl.”

  “Who knows? She’s just stupid if you ask me.”

  “Do you think she’ll have a birthday cake and presents for us like she did last year? There’s some reason she said that I could come home with you today. Sunday is my birthday. I figure she’s got a surprise for us.”

  “She has a surprise for me about every day. Every time I ask if I can go somewhere, the answer is always no and for the craziest reasons. That woman is just touched in the head.”

  Ali and Toots were still making jokes about Aunt July and her strange ways of thinking when they reached Plum Street. “We’ll soon see what she has in store,” Ali said as they headed up the sidewalk and on to the front porch. They came through the front door and Mr. Puss ran to Ali. She picked him up, stroked his fine fur and said, “Happy birthday, big boy. You’re ten years old.”

  Aunt July came into the living room from the kitchen. “Hi, girls. Happy birthday! Before we head to the kitchen for cake and ice cream, Ali, look over there.”

  Ali turned her head in the direction of Aunt July’s pointed finger. She gasped, grabbed Toots’ arm and almost dropped Mr. Puss. There in the corner by the window where Mr. Puss sunbathed, sat a television set with a big red bow stuck to the screen.

  Ali stood frozen. She had to be dreaming.

  “It’s a television!” Ali cried. “But Aunt July, you said—”

  “I know. I said there would never be a television in this house. But Ma and Pa aren’t here to fuss about it. I know the church is against it too, but Sister Bea admitted that she had one and she said there was a lot of good things on it and it wasn’t an evil thing. So, I decided we’d give it a try and I wanted to make this a special birthday for you.”

  Ali was so excited that she threw her arms around Aunt July and hugged her. Aunt July lightly patted her back, much like Grandma used to do, and Ali supposed it was the best they knew how to give a hug. “Thank you, Aunt July. It’s the best birthday present I’ve ever gotten, well, except for Mr. Puss. He was the only present I ever got from Mama Jane.” Ali snickered and added, “And she stole him.”

  Aunt July snickered too, much to Ali’s surprise. Then Ali hurried across the floor, pulled off the red ribbon, and pulled out the Off/On button. “It’s time for American Band Stand. All the kids at school say they never miss it.”

  “I watch it every day,” Toots said. “I love it.”

  Ali stood transfixed. She couldn’t believe she was actually watching Dick Clark and all the popular teens that the kids at school were talking about.

  Suddenly, Aunt July jumped up from her chair, hurried across the floor and turned off the TV. “Young lady, you know I don’t approve of dancing, and for Pete’s sake, the way they’re twisting and thrusting their body parts, they may as well be having sex on the screen. Disgusting! There will be no watching American Band Stand! Do you hear me?”

  Ali buried her head in her hands. “What’s the point in giving me a present if I’m not allowed to enjoy it?”

  “You can enjoy it as long as you watch decent shows. Sister Bea gave me a list and that’s what we’ll be watching. If that’s not good enough for you, I can always return it.”

  “Whatever you say,” Ali answered, sorry that she’d hurt her aunt’s feelings. But why have a television if she couldn’t watch the programs that all her school friends were talking about? She blew a deep breath. “Well, what about that cake and ice cream. Are you ready for some, Toots?”

  Toots’ face showed sorrow for Ali, but she smiled and said, “I think I could handle some.”

  Aunt July headed for the kitchen, calling over her shoulder, “You two go wash your hands. I’ll get the plates and forks out.”

  Ali and Toots didn’t say anything as they went into the bathroom and washed their hands. Mr. Puss headed for the kitchen as if he knew his paws were clean enough and he hoped he’d get some cake and ice cream too.

  The girls walked into the kitchen and in the middle of the table sat a decorated sheet cake. Happy Birthday Ali and Toots was written across the top. “It’s very pretty. I know you baked it and decorated it yourself. You really outdid yourself this year,” Ali said.

  Toots nodded in agreement.

  “I didn’t put candles on it this year. I figured you two have outgrown the candle blowing thing. Go ahead and cut a piece of the cake and I’ll get the ice cream,” Aunt July said.

  Aunt July said a short blessing, then they began to eat. Mr. Puss stood beside Ali and meowed loudly. “Sorry, boy. I forgot to give you some ice cream.” She got the box out of the freezer and scooped some ice cream into his bowl. “Lap it slowly. You’ll get a brain freeze if you eat it too fast.”

  Mr. Puss began to delicately lick the ice cream.

  Aunt July shook her head. “After six years that cat still amazes me with how he seems to understand every word you say.”

  “He does. And I understand what he says to me when he meows. We communicate very well.” Ali took another bite of cake, then said, “I’m sixteen now and you said I could date. Todd a
sked me out for tomorrow night. I told him I could go. Please don’t tell me you’re going back on your word.”

  “I did say you could date at sixteen, but if you remember, I also told you that you couldn’t go out with a date until I got to know the boy. You can invite Todd over to watch TV, if there’s something decent on to watch. All of your dating will be done in this house.”

  “Well, if there’s nothing that you deem decent to watch, I guess we can listen to music in my room. Todd said he had some new albums and—”

  Before Ali could finish her sentence, Aunt July dropped her fork and yelled, “Ali! A boy will never be allowed in your bedroom for any reason. I can’t believe you would even suggest such a thing. No decent girl has male company in her bedroom. Oh, Lord!” she said, shaking her head.

  Ali’s jaws dropped open. “All we want to do is listen to music. We’ll leave the door open. Jeez. I can’t believe you after all these years either!” She jumped up from her chair, hugged Toots and said, “Happy birthday. I think it’s time for me to take Mr. Puss and go to my room. I’ll see you later.”

  Toots mumbled, “Happy birthday to you too. I’ll try to see you tomorrow.”

  Ali glanced toward Aunt July as if she were expecting to hear that she was grounded for making an indecent suggestion.

  Aunt July didn’t say a word.

  As Toots left the kitchen, Ali scooped up Mr. Puss and ran to her bedroom. She slammed the door. “I’ll never have a life as long as I have to live with that crazy old woman. Two more years, old boy. Hang in there with me.”

  Mr. Puss meowed as if saying, “I’m hanging with you.”

  Later that night, Ali sneaked into the living room while her aunt was in the sewing room and called Todd, which was against another of Aunt July’s rules. Girls never call boys. Ali told Todd that he could come over to her house and they could watch TV, but she wasn’t allowed to go anywhere. She felt her face turning red from embarrassment and she was expecting Todd to tell her to forget it, but he said he would be over around 7 o’clock. Ali dropped the phone and she wasn’t sure if she was happy or disappointed that he had agreed to come over and just sit and watch TV.