Chin Up, Honey

by Curtiss Ann Matlock

  Johnny’s dispirited voice sounded in her ear, and John Cole came out of the bathroom and gazed at her again.

  She said into the phone, “Don’t go jumpin’ to conclusions, honey. It’s probably just too much togetherness for both of them.”

  As Johnny agreed with this in a half-hearted manner, she missed all of what he said, because John Cole f lipped on the television. She got out of the bed to leave the room, then stopped, saying, “Here’s your dad. Say goodnight to him,” and handed the phone over to a somewhat startled John Cole.

  Father and son spoke briefly—two sentences about work, one about the NASCAR race—and when John Cole had hung up, Emma explained what Johnny had told her.

  “What do you think is goin’ on?” John Cole asked.

  “I have no way of knowin’.”

  “You want to call him back? Maybe you need to talk to him.”

  “No…I’m sure that Johnny and Gracie can work it out. That’s what you and I have had to do all along.”

  28

  1550 AM on the Radio Dial

  The Home Folks Show

  Winston was in an especially good mood. “Great day in the mornin’, friends! You’re listenin’ to the Home Folks Show, and if you are hearin’ my voice, you’re alive and so am I. That makes it a good day.

  “A special welcome to our new sponsor, the folks at Ol’ Blue Dog Food. This is the best sellin’ brand in a three-state area. Ol’ Blue is the only brand eaten by my best dog friend, Munro. Give us a word on this, Munro.”

  He swung the microphone downward, and Munro, who had his paws up on the desk, gave two good barks.

  “So there’s your testimonial, folks. We want to thank the bosses over at Ol’ Blue Dog Food for pickin’ our Home Folks Show to sponsor on all of eight stations in Southern Oklahoma. Yes—you heard right. We are now on a total of eight stations, one of them heard all the way down into Texas. We are a hit, folks!”

  A loud wha-hoo sounded over the airwaves, followed by applause and a bit of happy banjo. Jim and Winston loved their sound effects.

  “Okay, to keep things perky here, what do you call a cow with no legs?

  “Stumped on that one, are ya? No, that’s not the answer. Y’all think on it, while Alabama sings that it feels so right. This one goes out to Miss Vella.” Jaydee had called in the dedication, but Winston conveniently forgot to say that part.

  Belinda came hurrying into the studio. “I’m here. Am I late?”

  The men and Willie Lee regarded her, wide-eyed. Winston had a moment of wondering about his faculties. He raised an eyebrow at Jim and was relieved to see the boy shrug, indicating he was equally surprised.

  “I don’t think so,” Winston told her. “I think you’re a day early.”

  “Isn’t it Wednesday?”

  “Tuesday.”

  “You’re kiddin’ me.” She looked at Jim, who nodded. “Well, darn it, I’ve been thinkin’ it was Wednesday all mornin’.”

  “I guess you might as well come on and do your show,” said Winston. “Willie Lee, slide that chair over here.”

  “I can do two shows,” Belinda said as she pulled papers from her purse. “Today and tomorrow.”

  “This is called the Home Folks Show with Brother Winston. You can go on today or tomorrow, then wait until next week.”

  “Then I’ll wait.” She started out of the room and came back. “Since I thought it was Wednesday, I made an appointment for tomorrow, which I thought was Thursday, but it isn’t, so I’d better go on today.”

  There was no way Winston could follow that, and anyway, the boy was pointing at him. Winston said into the microphone, “Did you think of what they call a cow with no legs?”

  What? came a recorded chorus.

  “Grumpy,” supplied Winston, and recorded laughter followed him. He and Jim Rainwater laughed together.

  Belinda had herself sat down, and she gathered her breath as Winston got mileage out of telling how she had come to do her Around Town and Beyond program a day early. He was having a grand time, and she glared at him.

  “But first it is time for our birthdays today,” he said.

  With a large sigh, Belinda sat back in the chair.

  There came the sound of a trumpet. “We wish a happy birthday to our pastor over at the First Methodist, Reverend Stanley Smith, who reaches the ripe age of fifty-five today.”

  In his study, updating his words for a funeral he would have to preach that afternoon, the pastor heard the announcement from the small stereo on his shelf. He paused, knowing his family had called it in and feeling especially grateful, as he had survived triple-bypass surgery six months earlier. Naomi came through the door and set herself on his lap and told him there were more birthdays to come.

  “Fred and JoBeth Grace’s little girl Christy turns sweet seventeen today.”

  In her bedroom, Christy stood in front of the mirror in a new Wonderbra her mother had bought her against her father’s wishes.

  “And it was Iris MacCoy’s birthday yesterday, but she has refused to give her age for the past five years. Let’s just say we all agree that Iris is one full woman and we’re all glad.”

  Down at the Main Street Café, where Iris was having coffee with her husband, she heard this come over the radio. She stood and gave a bow, and her husband was both proud and annoyed at how the men all looked at her. She did not need a Wonderbra and was the happiest woman alive.

  A recorded chorus sang “Happy Birthday.”

  Belinda sat up and got herself all ready again, only to have to sit through songs by Garth Brooks and Vince Gill, and Winston giving the weather and touting the IGA’s sales.

  Finally, when she was sitting there wondering if she should get up and go to the restroom, she suddenly realized Winston was saying, “It’s time now on The Home Folks Show for Around Town and Beyond with Belinda Blaine.”

  He was ready and quickly moved the microphone back several inches.

  “Hello, everybody…” Belinda grabbed the microphone and brought it closer, speaking carefully. “I would like to say that I read in the Valentine Voice that today is Be Late for Somethin’ Day. I guess for me it is Be Early for Somethin’ Day.”

  She was pleased with how all of that had fit together. She wished Jim Rainwater would do some thinking on his own and play the laugh track.

  “Also according to the Voice, this week is National Singles Week, and the month is National Spinach Lovers Month. I don’t know who makes this stuff up, but I imagine there’s money involved somewhere.”

  There came the sound of a ta-dum, and Belinda jumped. She saw Jim Rainwater grin at her. The sound effect was nice, but now she had to find her place again. She wished she had gone to the bathroom while she had the chance.

  “Comin’ up this Saturday, the Red Cross is holding a first aid and CPR course for babies, children and adults. I don’t think they mean babies and children can take the course—it’s for adults to learn how to do CPR, includin’ on babies and children, too. It’s at the high school. Call 555-1010 to get registered.

  “Delta Blankenship has started giving piano and dulcimer lessons. You can look her number up in the telephone book, because she didn’t give it to me.

  “Larkin Ford called to say that if you’ve found two black steers west of town, they are his. They obviously had legs, since they walked off.” She looked at Jim to see if he took note to put on the laugh sound, but he was cleaning his fingernails.

  “Under make-ups this week are Cory Makescry and Vicki Dinwiddie, and Amber and Glen Dixon. You can get in on a pool for how long things will last with Amber and Glen over at the domino club. Under divorces are Emmett and Laura Starter, and firmly under break-ups are Vella Blaine and Jaydee Mayhall.

  “Last of all, Inez Cooper says she did not start the fight at the tape table up at the Glorious Women’s Day. This has been backed up by several witnesses.

  “That’s it for today, friends. Call me with your news. Back to you, Winston.”

/>   Winston had been reading the paper and came up with a start. Grabbing the microphone, he launched in with, “We got a beautiful day…just a minute and I’ll find the forecast….”

  Belinda passed Willie Lee without offering him extra ice cream. She hurried into the restroom.

  A half an hour later Willie Lee was outside bidding goodbye to Winston, who was a little torn about leaving the boy behind.

  “Sure you don’t want to change your mind and accompany me?” he asked.

  Willie Lee shook his head. “I will some-time.” All he knew was that today he was to do something else.

  “Okay. See you tonight, and we’ll tell each other our adventures.”

  Winston got into the black limousine that was to drive him to personal appearances at a grand opening for a Wal-Mart Super Center store and the dedication for a new senior community center. Thinking of the excitement ahead, he quickly forgot to miss Willie Lee. Life was just carrying him onward in new directions.

  When Jim Rainwater came jumping out the door behind Willie Lee, all that was left of the limousine was a rooster tail of dust.

  “Dang, I missed him.” Jim looked down at Willie Lee. “The Today Show in New York is on the phone for Winston,” he announced. “I guess I’ll go tell them he’s gone.”

  Then, “He has a cell phone!” and he raced back inside, leaving Willie Lee looking from the door to the now-empty road.

  Willie Lee walked along with Munro down the gravel lane to the highway, where they turned toward the Berry Stop. Nicky appeared from behind the big elm tree.

  “Hey,”

  “Hel-lo.”

  “I watched ya’ comin’ from way down there. You didn’t see me comin’ along, did ya’?”

  “Yes.”

  “Aw, you did not.”

  “Mun-ro saw you. He told me.”

  “Aw, yeah, right.” Nicky petted Munro, wishing, not for the first time, the dog was his own. “I saw that old man yous always with drive off in a limo.”

  “Yes.”

  “He’s pretty big around here, ain’t he? Is he your grampa?”

  Willie Lee had difficulty with the two questions being asked together. “Mr. Winston is not too big. No. He is…Mr. Winston. We live in his hou-ouse.”

  Nicky looked at him with a puzzled frown. Willie Lee wished he could speak better.

  Just then a van coming along the opposite lane stopped. Willie Lee recognized it as the Smith van at the same time that he heard Gabby call his name. “Willie Lee!” Mrs. Smith was waving from the driver’s window. Then there came Gabby, running around the front of the van and across the street.

  “Gab-by!” he said quite fast.

  She stopped to wave at her mother, who drove on down Main Street, and then, laughing, she threw her arms around Willie Lee. He hugged her in return.

  “I’m so glad to see you. I can hang out all afternoon,” she said, and petted Munro, who licked her face. “Hi,” she said to Nicky.

  “Hey. Who are you?”

  “I’m Gabby, Willie Lee’s best friend.”

  “Aw, you ain’t. He don’t have no girl for a best friend. I ain’t never seen you with him.”

  “I am too.” Gabby said quietly and taking a step closer to Willie Lee.

  Willie Lee felt the discord and wondered what to say. He came out with, “I have to call to tell my mo-ther I am okay…or I ha-ave to go home. Par-is will call. We can get Bama Pies,” he said, thinking quite happily of the treat and that it would please his friends.

  “Yeah, and we can get Cokes there, too,” said Gabby.

  “Where?” asked Nicky.

  “The Berry Quick Stop.”

  “Uh…you got money?” Nicky asked her after a minute.

  “Yes.” She pulled the folded bills out of her pocket. When she opened her hand, Nicky went to snatch the money but she was quick and pulled her hand back. She had two brothers. She looked straight at him, and he turned his head.

  “I wasn’t gonna take yer ol’ money.”

  As they walked along, Gabby alternately held Willie Lee’s hand, then danced ahead like a fairy and came back again. Her honey curls caught the sunlight, and her smile was all for Willie Lee, and his for her.

  Nicky watched the two and considered pushing Gabby in the ditch.

  After a few minutes, Gabby asked Nicky his name and he told her. She danced off with Munro dancing with her, then came back and asked Nicky where he was from.

  “We just moved here. To a ranch ’bout a mile out. My dad’s a cowboy. He’s at the feed store. He comes every day, and I been comin’ to play with Willie Lee.”

  She pirouetted away and came back, saying, “I know you are lyin’, but I will buy you a Coke anyway.” Her father had always taught her to share, especially with those who were “the least of these.” She strongly suspected that Nicky was one of “the least of these.”

  They reached the Berry Stop parking lot. Willie Lee and Gabby headed toward the door, but Nicky held back at the corner of the automatic carwash. “I’ll wait here. Will you guys get me somethin’, too?” he asked, dropping his voice.

  “Yes, we will,” Willie Lee said.

  “Why don’t…?” Gabby started to ask, but Willie Lee pulled her by the hand, and they entered the store.

  Today Paris was on the outside of the counter and Tiffany was behind at the cash register. Willie Lee asked Paris to call his mother to report on him. As she had often made the call and was an old friend of the family, he did not have to explain further.

  Paris explained to Tiffany, though, while Gabby and Willie Lee got their cold drinks and snacks. “Willie Lee’s mom likes to be told from time to time where he is. Here’s her number written on the list beside the cash register.” She dialed and spoke quickly to Marilee Holloway.

  “Your mom wants to know what you’re gonna do this afternoon.”

  “We are go-ing to hang out.” Willie Lee told her, then added, “We will be care-ful.”

  Paris grinned at him and repeated this into the phone, then hung up.

  Gabby and Willie Lee put their purchases on the counter for Tiffany to ring up. Tiffany was brand new at the Stop and had to look at the prices.

  “You got your Bama Pie,” Paris said. “Don’t charge Willie Lee for that. He always gets his Bama Pies free from me.” She smiled and winked at him. “Gabby’s, too, today. Who’s the third one for?”

  Willie Lee gazed at her. “A friend.”

  Gabby looked from Willie Lee to Paris’s eyes, which were heavily outlined in black and quite a curiosity to her.

  “Oh, yeah?” Paris said.

  “Yes. We are tak-ing it to him. He is…wait-ing.” Then he added, “We are shar-ring, ar-en’t we, Gab-by?”

  “Uh-huh. With the least of these.” She gave what she knew was an innocent smile.

  “Well, you guys have fun,” Paris told them as they left.

  When Willie Lee and Gabby came around the corner of the automatic carwash, Nicky eagerly took his drink and snack.

  “Come on.” He ran ahead, all the way past the empty lot where people parked cars for sale to the shade of the crepe myrtle trees on the other side. There the three sat and ate their snacks. Nicky swallowed his Bama Pie in three big bites; then, as the other two leisurely ate theirs, he told them all about his fascinating life on the ranch with his father. Gabby kept interrupting him with pesky questions about details that seemed to have little to do with his story: “Where is the ranch? What is your last name? Do you have a mother? Why don’t you wear cowboy boots?”

  The most Willie Lee said was, “Whe-ere are your sis-ters?”

  “You have sisters?” Gabby asked instantly.

  “Yeah. They’re there at the ranch, but they don’t do nothin’.”

  A few minutes later Willie Lee saw Munro get up in an alert manner. Willie Lee began to push to his feet, too, and as he did so, he saw the girl who looked just like Nicky running toward them across the IGA parking lot. She was hollering for Nicky. Mun
ro took off running toward her, and Willie Lee went after him. Willie Lee was not very fast, though, and Nicky passed him and reached his sister, who was all upset.

  “You got to come. I can’t get her to quit cryin’. Somethin’ is wrong….”

  Munro had continued on running past the girl. He turned to see if Willie Lee was following, which he was. Nicky and his sister passed him, but Gabby matched her pace to his.

  They went down the block of the older, poorer neighborhood behind the IGA. Munro, still out front, went across the brown yard and up on the porch of a very run-down clapboard house. He sniffed impatiently at the screen door. When Nicky reached the door and opened it, Munro disappeared inside.

  Willie Lee heard the baby crying before he reached the yard, louder when he got to the door. The inside was very dim after the brightness of the summer day. And hot. Stifling hot, even though a fan blew from the corner. There were a playpen, a couch and a chair in the room, all old and broken down. Nothing else.

  Nicky’s sister started walking around with the baby. “I gave her the baby aspirin. I fed her, but she spit it all up. I don’t know what to do.”

  “If she has a fever, you have to get those clothes off of her,” Gabby said in a very knowledgeable voice that belied her tiny stature. All eyes swung to her. She set about ordering everyone around, telling Willie Lee to sit on the couch to take the baby, and telling the girl that after Willie Lee quieted the baby, she could take the baby’s clothes off.

  Willie Lee sat on the couch, Munro jumped up right beside him, and they waited, but the girl held on to the still-squalling baby. She and Nicky began to argue.

  “I’m not givin’ him Lucy.”

  “Sissy, he can help her.”

  “No…he’s retarded.”

  “You’re retarded,” put in Gabby.

  Just then the screen door squeaked, and Paris strode in and across the room, took the baby from the girl, who was too stunned to protest, and plopped her into Willie Lee’s arms.