‘Kirk,’ she said, ‘you get out of that car. Come and meet a real English lady.’
Kirk was still small for his age. Carla towered over him. He was screwing up his face about having to meet a bunch of people, hanging back, pulling on Lo's shirt.
‘Quit that!’ she said. ‘Now, offer Kath your hand and say howdy-doo. She's come all the way from England to take a look at you.’
Kath and Kirk shook hands. ‘Nice to meet you,’ Kath said. ‘I see you've got another copper-knob in the family, then, Lois?’
Lois said, ‘How are you, Kath? I'm real glad to see you again.’ She said it nice, like she meant it.
We took her dress in to hang it, keep the big cape collar in shape. It was kinda aquamarine.
I said, ‘Kirk's a little gentleman.’
‘Ha!’ she said. ‘He's still full of Dramamine. You wait.’
I knew he'd been in a couple of different schools. He had been asked to leave because he got unruly.
Lois said, ‘I couldn't come without him. He's too much of a handful for Herb's mom, and Herb couldn't get time off. I've threatened him, though. He better behave. I haven't come all this way to have to drag him outta the chapel, miss Gayle's big moment. You met the bridegroom yet?’
I said, ‘Yes. He's young; he's in shape.’
‘Sounds good to me,’ she said.
So we spent Gayle's wedding eve at Snead's Ferry, drinking Dr Pepper and eating Krystalburgers.
I said to Gayle, ‘How about your friends from the camp? They coming along?’
‘I didn't really make any yet,’ she said. ‘I guess it's because I'm older.’
Betty said, ‘And, honey, they probably heard you were an officer's wife. You know what enlisted can be like.’
‘Nothing wrong with enlisted,’ Gayle said. ‘Matter of fact, they're my kind. I'd sooner be with them than the types you get at the OWC. Arranging their flowers. Looking down their noses at you.’
Lois said, ‘And how is dear Audrey?’
Audrey was at Truxton Ferrers in Oxfordshire, England, Lance now flying a big desk for Strategic Air Command. They had sent Gayle and Ray a beautiful Wedgwood-blue Jasperware table lighter. Real elegant.
Gayle said, ‘I didn't mean Audrey.’
Lois gave her a quizzical look. She said, ‘Well, that's funny, ‘cause you just described her to a “t”.’
Kath said, ‘Well, I speak as I find. Audrey was the soul of kindness to us, after we got flooded out.’
Lois said, ‘Sure. Well, that's Audrey's kinda thing. Good works.’
Kath flashed right back, ‘Better than making mischief.’
Lois turned away.
Betty said, ‘Girls, let's all tell what we're gonna wear tomorrow. Lois, why don't you start?’
Sometimes Lois wouldn't be saved from herself.
‘Just my usual horns and a tail,’ she said. ‘Hell, do we have to drink this kiddie stuff all night? Can't we get something a little stronger?’
‘Lois,’ Gayle said, ‘I'm off the drink and I'm staying off.’
‘Okay,’ Lo said. ‘Did you take the pledge for me too?’
I kicked her under the table.
‘Ray a Baptist, by any chance?’ she said.
‘Yes, he is,’ Gayle said. ‘And y'all are gonna be drinking peach nectar at the wedding breakfast.’
46
There was trouble when we got back to the hostess house. Kirk erupted when he found out Crystal and Carla already got the top bunk. I guess the Dramamine was wearing off.
He climbed up, tried to drag Carla off the bed. Betty and Crystal were fighting him off but he kept coming back for more, pinching and trying to bite. It took Lois to stop him. She grabbed him by his hair and the seat of his pants and shook him till he stopped thrashing.
‘I warned you,’ she was yelling, ‘you ruin this trip you'll go home in pieces. I'm in no mood.’
She threw him on his bunk and he just lay there, turned in on himself, picking at the comforter, wiping his eyes with the back of his hand.
Everybody was quiet, acting busy putting on their face cream and curling up their hair. It was Kath went to him eventually.
‘You know what?’ she said. ‘You could make yourself a little hideyhole here. Look. We can hang this blanket down from the other bed. That'll be like a curtain. That'll be like your own little tent. Then you'll be the lucky one.’
He let her fix up the blanket. Just lay there, watching her.
She said, ‘How's that?’
We couldn't see him any more. I heard him say, ‘This is my tent. No one is allowed.’
‘That's right,’ she said. ‘Now you can get in your pyjamas and be all private. All right?’
He grunted.
‘You get some shut-eye in your special tent,’ she said. ‘And in the morning we'll see what we can find in my bag.’
47
Gayle was intending to carry a white prayer book instead of a bouquet but I didn't see why she shouldn't have both, so, first thing, me and Lo went out to buy flowers. Kirk promised to behave. He was busy with a colouring book Kath had given him. There was one for Carla, too, and crayons. Kath's bag was like Santa's sack.
She had brought Scenes of London table-mats for Gayle and Ray, and scarves for all us girls, except for Betty. She had lugged a book of royal photos for her, but Betty had kinda lost interest after Princess Margaret didn't marry her Group Captain.
She said, ‘Kath, you're such a darling. But you know, we practically got royalty ourselves these days. We have Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy.’
Me and Lo were on our way out the door.
I said to Lois, ‘I hate Jackie Kennedy. She makes me feel so washed up and wore out. I'm sick of her perfect cheekbones and her French outfits.’
‘Yeah,’ she said. ‘Me too. Why the hell can't she wear a hat that says “Blumms Auto Parts”? Ask me, it's time we had a First Lady knows how to make duck calls with her armpit.’
We got in the car.
I said, ‘Lo, I have to talk to you about something.’
‘Uh-oh,’ she said, ‘what did I do now?’
I said, ‘It's about John Pharaoh.’
I heard her sigh. ‘Chrissakes, Peggy,’ she said, ‘can't you let a thing rest?’
I said, ‘Just listen, will you? I found out something and it's the darndest thing. I don't have anybody else I can tell, if I don't tell you. Did you know they weren't married? Kath and John?’
She didn't know. I could tell. I said, ‘And here's the thing. Reason they weren't married was, they couldn't be. They were brother and sister.’
She pulled the car over and stopped. Then she sat there, looking at me.
I said, ‘So you didn't know either? I wondered if it was just me.’
‘Say it again,’ she said.
So I told her exactly what I'd heard Kath say on the Greyhound.
‘Brother and sister,’ she said. And she started to laugh. ‘You're kidding me.’
But she knew from my face, I wasn't. She laughed and laughed.
Eventually she said, ‘I guess that means I wasn't as bad as everybody painted me.’
I said, ‘Well … if we leave Herb out of the reckoning.’
‘Herb's my business,’ she said. She'd stopped laughing. She said ‘Are you gonna ask Kath? About their sleeping arrangements?’
I said, ‘Any suggestions how that conversation might go?’
We bought enough carnations and maidenhair fern to make boutonnières all round, plus rice for throwing. All the while Lois kept saying, ‘My God! Brother and sister!’
I said, ‘You won't say anything to Kath? You won't get a drink inside you and say anything?’
‘At a Baptist wedding?’ she said. ‘No. Anyway, I don't want to start up with Kath. I like her. And she's looking great. She looks younger now than when we met her. She got a man? Now her … brother ain't around?’
I said, ‘No. She's just got a decent place to live. And dentures.’
/> Lois said, ‘How about you? You dating?’
I didn't have any inclination for dating. Figured I'd spent years enough fitting in with a man. Besides, I knew Crystal was still hoping me and Vern'd get back together some day. I could imagine the kinda welcome she'd give any man came calling for me.
I said, ‘You and Herb still going strong?’
‘Rubbing along,’ she said. ‘Herb's happy. Sandie's happy. Any day now, Kirk'll get happy. If I had my way, we'd move back to New York, or Albany at least. Then I could get a job. Have a few bucks to call my own.’
I said, ‘What could you do?’
‘I dunno,’ she said. ‘I could be a secretary.’
I said, ‘Do you know how to type and do shorthand and everything?’
‘I can look like I know how,’ she said.
I said, ‘I wish I could do something.’
‘What's stopping you?’ she said. ‘Hell, Peg, it's not like you're out in the wilderness, like me. Right now, nearest place of employment for me is Puffer's Guns and Ammo. And don't think I haven't considered it. Get myself a staff discount, go home and blow my brains out. You could be a secretary. Answer the phone. Send out for the tuna subs. Keep your nails nice. How hard can it be?’
When we got back, Carla and Kirk were both still crayoning-in like demons.
Betty whispered to me, ‘Have you noticed? How messy he colours? I don't believe he even tries to stay inside the lines.’
48
Gayle looked so pretty. She was in ivory, with a crinoline skirt, knee-length, and a lace shrug and spike heels. Ray and his best man were in their Dress Charlies: khaki shirts and ties, blue trousers with the red stripe, and white caps.
The marrying was at the Hubert First Baptist Church and refreshments were served at the Legion Hall. Peanuts, devilled eggs, moon pies and fruit cake.
Apart from us, it was mainly folk that knew Gayle from the cafeteria. There was one old boy, said he'd been set on Gayle hisself only he didn't want to stand in the way of a younger man. He seemed to have gotten over his disappointment, though, because he was very attentive to Kath. Only the language barrier and his habit of talking whilst chewing on a plug of Levi Garrett stopped things running out of control.
Ray's folks sent a telegram from West Virginia and Audrey and Lance sent one from England. Gayle's folks sent nothing.
‘You're my family,’ she said to me and Lois.
Lo said, ‘Heaven help you, my child.’
Gayle said, ‘I mean it. And when we get our baby, I want y'all back here for the christening.’
We all knew that might take a while. Ray and Gayle were having three days at Cape Hatteras, fishing for white marlin, then he was getting deployed to the Indian Ocean or someplace and she'd be on her own again.
‘I'll be fine,’ she said. ‘I've got the Silver Moon. I can work as many shifts as I choose and there's always somebody to talk to. It's not like with Okey. Sitting home waiting for him to …’
We waved them off, cleared the hostess's house, and then headed out to Surf City for one last night together. Seven of us in Lois's old Nash. It was the kind of heat that makes people quarrelsome. First Carla started up, claimed Kirk kept pinching her — and I wouldn't have been surprised. Then Carla complained about the type of music we had on the radio, and Kirk got balled out by Lois for getting chewing gum on his wedding pants.
Betty said, ‘Just put it in the icebox when you get home, and it'll pick off easy as anything.’
Lois said, ‘Where the hell did you learn a thing like that?’
‘Future Homemakers,’ Betty said. ‘Didn't you ever have Make-Good Week at Future Homemakers?’
I guess they had different things in Astoria.
Betty said, ‘Make-Good Week. Hobo Days. Bake Sales. Remember, Peggy?’
Lois said, ‘Not you too, Peg? Y'all wear special aprons and everything?’
I said ‘Not me. I was Softball, One, Two, Three and Four.’
Betty said, ‘Well, there you are. I don't believe you've pitched a ball since we were at Drampton, but Future Homemakers is still doing me proud.’ She started reciting. ‘… for we are the builders of homes. Homes for America's future …’
Lois said, ‘Sounds like Levitt Town.’
‘… Homes where living will be the expression of everything that is good and fair. Homes where truth and love and security and faith will be realities, not dreams …’
‘And gum on your pants will be fixed in no time …’ Lois was laughing. And the more offended Betty got, the more Lois teased her. I was glad when we checked into the Topsail Beach Motel and went right out again for boiled shrimp and beer.
Betty said, ‘Lois, I don't want to quarrel with you. I love you really.’
Lo said, ‘I love you too.’
The cold beer was having an improving effect.
Betty said, ‘I just don't always get your jokes.’
Lois said, ‘Hey, I open my mouth, don't care who I upset. Herb threatens to get me fitted with a muzzle.’
Betty said, ‘No, no! You make people laugh. Everybody says so. I just don't have a sense of humour.’
Lo said, ‘Well, at least you have humility.’
‘That's true,’ Betty said.
Peace reigned while we peeled shrimp.
Kath said, ‘You do have lovely grub in America. And all different kinds. Like these shrimp. They're so tasty, but I've never seen anything like that in Lynn. Chops. That's what I get at home. Chops, everlasting chops. If I stopped here long I should get to be such a size.’
We talked about little Gayle, and her new-found happiness. We talked about the day Okey augered in. First time we'd felt able to really let rip about it, now we were all outta danger. First time we'd owned up to each other about the nightmares and the shakes and jumping a mile high when the phone rang. If Crystal hadn't been there, listening in, I could have added never really losing your heart to friend husband, in case he don't come home some day.
Betty said, ‘I'd always do a terrible thing. Any time anything happened … I'd tell God I'd do anything, long as it was somebody else's husband they were bringing back in a casket.’ One beer and Betty could get pretty mournful. But then she stopped. She said, ‘Oh Kath, I'm sorry. Talking that way, after your sad loss.’
Kath said, ‘That's all right. Everybody loses somebody. Far as I know, nobody lives for ever.’
Betty said, ‘Well, no, but … here I am talking about losing Ed, but I still have him. You're the one has lost your … husband.’
I could hear the blood pounding in my ears. I knew what was coming next, and I couldn't stop it. I asked the kids if they wanted more Cola.
Crystal said, ‘I thought you never got married, Aunty Kath?’
‘I didn't,’ she said.
Carla said, ‘Are we talking about people dying?’
Betty said, ‘No, we are not. Why don't I give you a nickel, and you and Crystal can go and pick out something on the jukebox?’
Carla took the nickel. She said, ‘Aunty Kath's brother died and now she's all alone.’
Kath looked at Betty, Betty looked at me, Lois was studying the bottom of her glass.
I said, ‘Kath, you want to hear something crazy?’ I could feel my face was flushed.
49
Kath said, ‘I think I know what you're going to say.’
I said, ‘When we met you, went back to your place …’
‘That's right,’ she said, ‘you took me home and there was John Pharaoh and you thought he was my husband. I never even thought. I mean, everybody in Smeeth and Brakey and all around, they've known us since we were nippers. That never occurred to me. And then after he passed over, one or two things that were said …’
She laughed. ‘That's funny, really. If I'd gone in for a husband, I'd have picked somebody better than my John. I'd have picked somebody that weren't so sickly.’
I said, ‘Well, it was a kinda embarrassing mistake for us.’
Betty was sober
all of a sudden. She said, ‘You knew about this, Peggy?’
I said, ‘I've been realising, slowly.’
‘Carla,’ she said, real sharp, ‘go play that jukebox right now!’
She waited till Carla had gone. Then she turned to Lois. ‘Did you know?’ she said. Lois took a swallow of beer.
‘Kind of,’ she said. ‘Why are you getting all shrill about it, Betty? It's just a stupid mix-up.’
‘That's right,’ Kath said. ‘And I tell you what, that's probably a lot funnier for me than it is for you. Wait till I get back and tell May. She'll see the funny side of it. Me and May used to push John round in a potato box, when he was a toddler, pretend it was a dolly's pram.’
Betty was quiet a moment. ‘But …’ That was all she said.
Kath said, ‘Well, that was how we muddled along in the bad old days. We only had one room, same as a lot of people.’
Betty whispered to me, ‘It's contrary to nature, Peggy. Contrary to nature and contrary to scripture.’
Lois said, ‘Crying out loud, Betty. Anybody's think you just found out the moon was made of cheese. Didn't you ever drive through West Virginia?’
Carla come running back with the information that a guy making his selection at the jukebox had told her to get lost.
‘Time we were going anyway,’ Betty said. ‘Before I hear any more bad surprises.’
Kirk was hanging on to Kath on the way to the parking lot. I couldn't take to the kid myself, but he didn't act so cheeky around her.
He said, ‘I'm gonna be a Marine like Ray.’
‘Are you?’ she said. ‘I reckon you'd be good at that.’
He said, ‘I'm a brave fighter.’
‘I can see that,’ she said. ‘But they won't have you if you can't add up. So you've got to settle down at school. Pass all the tests.’
‘Yeah,’ he said. ‘can do all that.’ And he threw himself down and wriggled along on his belly and his elbows, Marine-style, till Lois bawled him out for ruining his wedding clothes.
I got a few questions from Crystal when were back in our motel room.
The Future Homemakers of America Page 14