Turns out Melvin and Lexie's little baby, Iris Anne, died that morning. Nobody could tell 'em why. One of the nurses found her. She was in one of them cute little beds you can see clean through the sides of. She'd already turned blue. They tried to git her to breathe, but she must not wanted to 'cause she didn't blow any air back at 'em when they put their mouths over hers, 'cluding her nose and breathed lots of air into her. They told Melvin they did that for a long time, breathed in her mouth and nose, but it didn't do no good.
Seems Lexie come down to where the babies was that morning. It had a window with a big sign above it said Nursery. It was so the daddies could see their new young'uns and how big they was and show 'em off to folks that come by. It was real early. It wasn't even light out yet. By then them nurses was shaking Iris all about and yelling for the doctors, and Lexie, she seen them. She just burst right in and yanked Iris Anne out of their arms and wouldn't let go. Them nurses told her to put the baby down.
"It's dead!" they yelled. "It's dead!" Imagine that? No wonder Lexie lost her mind. The doctors come and give her this powerful shot, Melvin said, before they could pry the baby from her, and then they took her back to her room.
"When she woke up they had to tie her to the bed," he said, "'cause she wouldn't stay put. She was wailing so loud the doctors said to take her to the nervous ward, she was scaring the other mothers." Melvin were in a bad way. He was talkin' real fast and pacing hisself back and forth, back and forth. Mama grabbed his arms and tried to plant him in the gravel.
"Hold on, Melvin," Mama said, "and let me git my wits. You're makin' me dizzy!"
"They put this straitjacket on her and tied it so tight, she near couldn't breathe," Uncle Melvin said. When he got there it was mostly over. They didn't have no telephone number to reach him at and was waiting on him to show up for a visit. Turns out, Riley Davis, that worked at the hospital heard the commotion and knew Melvin. He told 'em Melvin worked at Jenkins's Trailerama when he weren't workin' at the mill, so them hospital folks sent the sheriff deputy on over to Mr. Jenkins's place to tell Melvin to get to the hospital quick. 'Course Melvin done like he said to. Knowing Uncle Melvin, he was probably worried sick to death, 'cause he loved Lexie more than any man I knowed of loved a woman.
When Melvin got to the hospital he wanted to take Lexie out of that place, but they told him he couldn't, not until they was sure she wasn't a danger to herself. They had her on a special watch where they thought she'd kill herself. Melvin was so mad. They put her in this room where the walls was padded and they took away all her clothes.
When we got to the hospital they told us to wait in this little room for the doctor to come and talk to us. That's when Uncle Melvin told Mama what they done to Lexie. Then he cried like a baby. I felt bad having Maybelle there with us seeing that. She weren't family or nothing. I think she was uncomfortable, too. She kept saying things nobody much wanted to hear.
"Now now, let's look on the bright side. No sense being downhearted," she said. Then later she said, "Probably something was wrong with that baby. I understand it's nature's way of being merciful. Probably for the best it was." That was just too much for Mama. She like ta' let her have it.
"Mz. Hawkins, it was real nice a' you to bring Lori Jean and I don't want to be disrespectful to you or nothin', but we don't need you addin' to our grief."
"Well, excuse me! I'm just giving my opinion, Nadine," Maybelle said real snippy like.
"Listen, you old woman, you give us one more a' your opinions, I'm gonna give you one a' mine." Mama made herself a fist and aimed it right at Mz. Hawkins. "I'm gonna stuff it right down your throat."
"Don't be getting all smart with me, Nadine. I'll call the law."
Things was heating up real good. Uncle Melvin put a halt to it.
"Stop it, the both a' you. Ain't we got enough trouble here?" he said. He used his big hands and wiped his face off. His eyes was all bulgy and red.
"Where's Ray, Mama? Ain't Ray comin'?" I said.
"He's fixin' to dig around the outhouse now the ground's all soggy from the rain. Ain't no one drove out to tell him what's happened," she said.
I must of turned white as a Klansman when she said he was gonna dig around our old outhouse.
"You okay, Lori Jean?" Mama asked. "You don't look so good, honey."
I didn't feel even as good as I might of looked. I never did make it out to the shed to take the money and bury it somewhere else on account of all that rain we'd been having. Ray'd find it for sure.
"Mz. Hawkins," I said, "could you take me on home? I feel right poorly, I do."
"Well, I don't know. Seems I'm not appreciated by this family," Maybelle said. She looked right at Mama when she said it, 'stead of at me.
"Oh, Mz. Hawkins," I said, "you surely are 'preciated. You're definitely the most 'preciated person I knows right now."
"That's only 'cause you want something. I won't be taken advantage of," she said.
"No ma'am. Surely not. I'm gonna come help you today, I am. Soon as I feel better. I need to get home and rest so I'll get better and then I can come help you," I said. "For free even. On account a' you givin' me a ride and all." I was gonna beg her if I had to. I had to get out to the shed before Ray did.
"But we gotta hurry. I'm gettin' sicker by the minute, I am."
"Not until your mama apologizes to me, young lady," Maybelle said. Mama sat there all quiet like.
"Come here, Lori Jean," she said. "Let me feel your forehead. You got yourself a fever?"
"Yes, Mama, I surely must. I'm feelin' real bad, I'm tellin' ya'." Which weren't a lie. I was. Mama felt my forehead with her hand, then she leaned her cheek against it to check it better.
"You're burnin' up!" she said. Fancy that. I must of been burning up with fear 'cause I weren't regular sick or nothing. I was plumb sick to death over what might could happen to us all if Ray found that money.
"I must be, Mama. I'm feelin' mighty hot," I said. I give her the most pitiful look I could muster.
"You best tell Mz. Hawkins how sorry you are, Mama, for sayin' them sorrowful things to her. Best tell her you didn't mean it," I said. Mama sat pursing her lips.
"It was grief talkin' for sure, don't you think, Mama?" I said. Mama looked over at Mz. Hawkins, who was sitting with her nose in the air.
"Maybelle, I'm rightly sorry for what I said. I know you was just tryin' to be a help and here I was bein' a nilly," Mama said. Maybelle just sat there.
"Please forgive me my foolishness, Maybelle. You always been right good to us and I'm sorry. I truly am." Tears was welling up in Mama's eyes. Maybelle still sat there with her chin all stiff like and tipped upward. I didn't mind begging Maybelle for help, but I didn't want my mama to have to.
"That was a right nice 'pology, wasn't it, Mz. Hawkins?" I asked.
"Humph!" Maybelle said.
"You can be sure my mama means every word a' it. She's a good Christian lady and you is, too. And God's probably smilin' down on both a' ya's right now for making friends." I think Maybelle's face softened a little bit.
"He probably's fixin' to bless ya' good. Send somethin' right nice your way 'cause he sure likes forgiveness. He sure enough does." Maybelle smiled at me.
"One a' his favorite things, it is," I said, "forgiveness."
"All right, all right. Let's get going," Maybelle said.
"Yes, ma'am." I kissed Mama and Uncle Melvin goodbye.
We headed on out to Maybelle's car. It took forever. It was barely spring, but it was muggy outside and Maybelle sure took her time. She had a little fan she kept brushing back and forth in front of her face. We needed to hurry and here she was moseying along like she was strolling a baby carriage, not a care in the world. Meanwhile, me and Mama's world was coming to an end.
We made it to the car and I breathed me one a' them sighs of relief.
"I need to stop at the market on the way home. Pick up a few things," Maybelle said.
"Oh, Mz. Hawkins. That's not a good
idea. I wouldn't want to get sick in your nice car," I said. "We best get me straight home 'fore I puke."
"I'll get you a grocery bag and you can put your head in it," she said. "I'm not making two trips." And that's what she done. She come back a bit later with a paper sack for me to stick my head in. Then she went back inside and didn't come out for what seemed like hours, but probably weren't. She had a grocery boy in tow. He loaded her things into the trunk and she give him a quarter.
"You're a nice young man. And fancy that, you being Verna Louis's boy! Why I haven't seen your mama since grade school," Maybelle said. "Now you tell her I said hello and give her my number. Tell her to call me. Married herself a doctor, you say?"
"Yes, ma'am. Daddy's got a big practice over in Carrollton."
"Well, what are you doin' way over here in Decatur then, Clayton?" Maybelle asked. Good grief, time was running short and Maybelle done run into kin of someone she knew when she was a girl, and here she was trying to fill in all them years in between. No telling how long she'd be once she got going.
"Mama's sister took sick and I come to live with her. Help her out around the house," that Clayton fella said. He seemed right nice. Had a nice face, too. Exceptin' for his teeth. They was bucked and stuck out of his mouth even when he closed it.
"Yes, ma'am. She's all alone. Her husband died last year. She never had any children."
"My, my," Maybelle said. "That wouldn't be Stella, would it?"
"No, ma'am. Aunt Stella died years back."
"I'm so sorry to hear that."
"Thank you, ma'am."
"What happened to poor Stella?"
"Her appendix ruptured."
"That's so sad," Maybelle said. "You tell your mama I'm real sorry to hear that."
"I will, ma'am."
"So you're staying with your mama's older sister then? What's her name…"
"Ruth Anne."
"That's right, I remember. She's older than your mama. Graduated, she did, before your mama and I even made it outa grammar school."
"Yes ma'am. A lot older."
"Well, here's my number…" Maybelle handed him a slip of paper. "Give that to your mama. Don't forget now."
"I won't, ma'am."
"And tell her…"
"Mz. Hawkins," I called out. "I'm feelin' so pitiful. Can we hurry?"
"Oh, my! I almost forgot. Got a sick neighbor child to take home," Maybelle said. That Clayton fella glanced at me in the car. Maybelle cupped her hand to her mouth and whispered, "Poor white trash from Elmer County," but I heared her.
"Her mama works for me. I'm helpin' them out a bit," she said and waved goodbye before she climbed in the car. I wasn't going to get over to the shed before Ray did. Too much time had passed. Ray got off work Mondays at noon; that was their slow day, and here it was almost one o'clock and we still had to drive all the way back home and then I had to make it over to our old place on foot. I needed me a miracle, but we'd already got one what with Irl getting well. Thing is, God had a lot 'a other folks to tend to, and they deserved theirselves maybe a miracle, too. I couldn't hardly ask for another one, but I sure wanted to. And I sure should have, 'cause that day marked the beginning of the end.
Chapter Nineteen
"Isn't that beat-up rattletrap Ray's truck, Lori Jean?" Mz. Hawkins asked.
"Why, it surely is," I said. I was getting me a miracle after all. Ray's truck was stuck in the mud at the side of the road. Looked like his reckless driving finally paid off good. He run off the road and got hisself stuck real bad. Maybelle pulled over.
"What happened, Ray?" she asked.
"What in thunder do you think happened? Fool woman."
"Don't be gettin' all nasty with me, Ray Pruitt. I got your girl here. Taking her home sick." Ray didn't say nothing. Just kept digging at the back tire with a shovel.
"Mama's at the hospital with Uncle Melvin, Ray. Little Iris Anne died this mornin'."
"She did now, did she?" Ray said, like it made no difference to him none. "Well, these things happen."
"I think Mama needs you, Ray. Mz. Hawkins can call the sheriff deputy man when she gets home. He'd come git you and take you on over to the hospital. Then you can git your truck later when Uncle Melvin can help ya'. Don't you think?" I asked.
"There ain't nothin' I can do. No sense in me goin'," he said.
"Sure there is. Mama needs you real bad. She's right sad. 'Bout fallin' apart, she is," I said. Ray got in the truck and run the engine good. All it did was dig the back tires deeper into the ruts he dug.
"Damnit to hell!" he said. "Go ahead and call them deputies. But tell 'em to bring Melvin, so I can get this dad blame truck outa here now, 'fore it sinks any deeper."
"No sense usin' that kind a' language, Ray Pruitt. Show some respect," Mz. Hawkins said. "I got a right mind to leave you to your troubles. Filthy mouth and all."
"Well, excuse me, Maybelle," Ray said and took his cap off. He bowed over at the waist.
"Please send the good deputy on over to get Melvin so he can help me get this fine truck outa this nice mudhole." He slapped the sides of his overhauls and put his cap back on and smiled at her, but it was a smart-mouth kind of smile.
We drove on off. I looked out the rear window and Ray was sticking his finger up in the air at her.
"He's givin' you the middle finger, Mz. Hawkins," I said. "I think you should leave him to his troubles, don't you?"
"Humph!" she said.
If she didn't send no one to help him, I'd have me plenty of time to do what I had to do at the shed. Maybelle dropped me off.
"Thank you kindly, Mz. Hawkins," I said. "I'll be over to help you like I promised once I feel better."
"Well, get some rest, child," Maybelle said and drove off. I got my dirty overhauls out of the basket of clothes Mama and me was fixing to wash that afternoon and put 'em on quick like. There wasn't a minute to spare nohow.
Once I got to the shed I found out the flour sack had mostly fell apart in that soggy ground; rotted near clean away. I gathered it up as best I could and drug it and the money into the woods. I had to make me several trips 'cause the bills kept falling out along the way. I found me a tree had the bottom all hollowed out. I rolled up the sack as best I could and stuck it inside. I piled on sticks and leaves and whatever ground cover I could muster to put on top. Then I packed it down real good. It sure was a relief. Now I just had to get it back to the cotton mill and everything would be okay. Ray and Mama and me could work on being a family. It's hard to be a family if 'n a pa's on a chain gang, even a step-pa. When I got home Mama was there waiting on me.
"Where you been, Lori Jean? I been worried sick." She come out on the platform and stood with her arms crossed in front of the trailer door.
"I thought maybe a walk in the woods would clear my head, break my fever good," I said.
"Why, that's crazy talk. You best come in and lie down a spell."
"Yes, Mama," I said.
"And just look at you, plumb full a' dirt. Looks like you rolled in them woods."
I didn't make it over to Mz. Hawkins's that day. Mama made me stay in and rest. Fed me bread in a bowl with milk and sugar sprinkled on top. But it was hard acting sick when I wasn't. All the while, Mama was busy making arrangements for us to bury Iris Anne. The day of the funeral was my birthday. I was ten. Mama took care of everything. She got the church folks to let us bury Iris Anne in the cemetery plot right on top of MeeMaw. They said we could put her there on account there was plenty a' room. They was probably right. Ray said MeeMaw was six feet under. If he was telling the truth for once, might be room enough for me someday 'cause Melvin said Iris Anne was only twenty-one inches long. Six feet, that's a lot of room. Might could put us all there.
At the cemetery we all crowded around in a circle. Everyone but Lexie. She didn't get out of the hospital 'til the next day. I think Melvin planned it so she wouldn't be there for the burying. He knew Lexie wouldn't want to see little Iris Anne packed down into the ground
, when just a few weeks before she was carrying that little baby around in her belly, feeling her kick. The preacher come and give a blessing.
"Lord, we commit this child to eternal peace. May she rest in your loving care, residing safely in your arms for all eternity. May you comfort those who would prefer that she remain and remind them of your promise that we shall all meet again in everlasting paradise."
We was all pretty much crying by then. Even Mama. I wondered why she didn't cry over little Paulie, who probably would have been a right fine brother to me. Maybe she was so grieved by my real pa running off, she couldn't think straight about anything else. We laid out some flowers on top of the dirt mound for Iris Anne. Then we sung "Amazing Grace" 'cause we didn't have no hymnals with us, and we knew the words to that song. Then we left. The sun wasn't shining at all and black clouds was rolling in. Seems sadness was everywhere that day. Guess even heaven didn't like taking no baby girl away so soon, even though it was the one getting her.
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