by Joy Redmond
Since I’ll have no car, I guess I’ll be hoofing it. So be it.
Suddenly the newspaper ripped down the middle. “What the hell is that supposed to mean? You have to be more specific with your signs and messages. I’ve already told you that I’m not good with riddles. Whoever you are.”
Mandy laid her head back on the couch cushion and tightly closed her eyes. Suddenly, she saw a beautiful brick house, sitting atop a small hill. Otis and Iris were standing on the front porch. Birds were landing in a tall elm tree in the front yard.
She jerked her head up. Did I doze off? Was I dreaming? Where is that house?
Chapter Twenty-Six
Mandy readied Kati for school the next morning and managed to get her out the door in time to catch the bus. She watched as she climbed up the steps and took a seat. Kati turned, waved, and smiled at Mandy, and Mandy’s heart swelled at the sight of her daughter. She went back inside, a smile on her face, fed and dressed Tony and held him for a few minutes, her love knowing no bounds. She may not have anything, but she was rich beyond imagination with her two darlings. She was determined to follow through with her plans for the sake of her children. Holding Tony’s hand, she went over to her nextdoor neighbor’s and gently tapped on the door. I hope you’re up, Nola.
“Well, hi, Mandy,” Nola said as she opened the door. “What brings you over this early?”
“I need to ask a big favor.” Mandy tucked her head and drew a deep breath. “I need to borrow your car. I had Jack pitched out last night, but I have to go cash his paycheck, pay the rent and utilities and buy a few groceries.”
Nola hugged Mandy. “I saw the law over there last night. I kind of figured out what was going on. But I’ve got some errands to run, so just hang on a minute and we’ll be off. I can’t believe you finally got the guts to pitch him out, but—”
Mandy cut her off. “I really don’t want to talk about him. I just need to get some things taken care of. I appreciate you taking me.”
When Mandy and Nola arrived back home, Tony had fallen asleep in the back seat. Mandy gently lifted him, carried him into the house and put him back to bed. She smoothed back his hair and as she gazed at his sleeping face, she knew she had made the right decision.
Nola was bringing in the two sacks of groceries by the time Mandy headed back up the hallway. “Just put them on the table. Thank you so much. I’ll try not to be a pest. I just had to get this done today.”
“You’re never a pest. I’m glad to help out. If you need me for anything, just give a yell. I’ll do what I can. Girl, I don’t know how you’re gonna make it, but good luck.” Nola walked over and gave Mandy a gentle hug.
“Thanks, Nola. You’re a good person. I don’t know how either, but I’ve got to try.”
Mandy started putting groceries into the pantry. We’ll have a place to live, electricity, and water for another month. The groceries will only last a week. Then what? Fear gripped her. No fear, she reminded herself.
Just as she had the groceries put up, she heard a light tapping on the front door, she turned ready to do battle and dropped a can of corn that barely missed her foot. “Pearl, so help me God, I’ll take you apart!”
She went into the living room and peeked out the window and saw Iris’s car in the driveway. Mandy took a deep breath, swallowed her anger and opened the door. Iris stepped inside, her eyes red and swollen.
“I need to sit down,” she said as she lumbered over to the couch. “Will you please bring me a glass of water?” Iris’s face was ashen. Mandy was afraid Iris was going to have a heart attack.
Holy shit. She knows I threw Jack out already. It’s time for a sermon. Then I guess Otis will come by and give me his two cents worth.
Mandy brought a glass of water into the living room and handed it to Iris, then sat beside her. Brace yourself. She’s gonna raise cane.
“Mandy, Pearl Walker called me this morning. She told me what you did. She’s so upset, she’s beside herself. I can’t believe you filed for a divorce! How do you think you’re going to support yourself and the children?” Iris cried harder and continued to blow her nose, her eyes red and puffy.
“I’m going to start putting in applications anywhere I can. The Hosiery Mill is always hiring since nobody never lasts very long there. I hear they work you like a horse and the pay is little, but—”
“I won’t have my daughter working at that Hosiery Mill! Only trash works there. I’d die of embarrassment!” Iris’s face turned paler and two bright red spots appeared on each cheek. She reminded Mandy of a clown, and if the circumstances had been different, she would have giggled.
“Do you have a better idea? I have to take what I get.”
“Oh, dear. Let me talk with your father.” As Iris wiped her eyes, Tony ran down the hallway and climbed into her lap. “My ear hurt, ganmudder.”
Iris felt Tony’s forehead. “This child has a fever!”
Mandy walked over and felt Tony’s stomach. “He sure does. He’s been having earaches for a while now. I guess I need to get him in to see Dr. Morgan. But I have no money to pay for an office call or medicine. I just spent the last dime to my name.”
“Well, for heaven’s safe! Call the doctor. This child is sick. I’ll pay for everything. You see what you’ve brought on yourself? No money. No way to take care of the children. You must go back to Jack. He might not be the best husband, but at least—”
“Mother! Don’t ever mention his name to me again! I know things will be rough but I’ll find a way. The hard part is, the divorce won’t be final until it’s paid for. And I won’t be getting any child support until its final. But I’ll die and go straight to hell before I’ll ever let Jack back into my life! I’ve been in hell for seven years with him, so what does it matter? Hell is hell!”
“Well, you don’t have to use that language! Just call the doctor and see if you can get an appointment.”
Mandy called Dr. Morgan, bundled Tony up and she and Iris headed to the pediatrician’s office. The entire drive, Iris talked about the divorce. By the time they reached the doctor’s office, Mandy wished she could just push Iris out of the car and take her son, but Iris was driving.
After Tony had been checked out and diagnosed with an ear infection, Dr. Morgan said, “Mandy how are things with you? The last few times you’ve been in here, you’ve seemed very disturbed. I’ve been treating your children for over six years and I’ve always been mesmerized by your beautiful smile and dancing eyes. The sparkle has left your beautiful green eyes.”
“I finally filed for a divorce and I have no idea where I’ll find work. I’m on the verge of a nervous breakdown. And Mother is in the waiting room and I’ll catch hell all the way home. A divorced woman is not allowed in her family.” She broke down in tears.
“Mandy, take Tony out to the waiting room, let Grandma watch him, then come back and have a talk with me in my office.”
Mandy was expecting Dr. Morgan to offer her a prescription for nerve pills, which she would gladly have accepted. Instead he asked if she would be interested in working at the After Hours Clinic. Mandy could not believe her ears! She asked him to repeat what he had said and he did, and for the briefest second it takes for a child to smile, she saw her future in her mind.
“I have no experience. I wouldn’t have a clue as to what I’d be expected to do. But the medical profession has always fascinated me. My dream was to be a nurse before I got stupid, got married, then got pregnant.” But not necessarily in that order, she thought.
Dr. Morgan smiled. “Have you ever heard of on-the-job training? Nothing complicated. I have a feeling that you’ll catch on quickly. What do you say?”
Mandy’s world lit up and she did not hesitate. “Yes! I’ll take it. When do you want me to start? What are the hours? What—”
Dr. Morgan held up his hand. “First, you have to talk with Dr. Eastman. He’s the head of the clinic and he does the hiring. Let me give him a call and see when he’d like for you to come i
n for an interview. You’ll come highly recommended by me. But I can’t make any promises. Hang on a minute,” he said as he picked up the phone.
Mandy’s spirit was aflutter as she waited and squirmed in her seat as he made the call. Oh, please, God. Just let me get the interview. I can do this. And I’ll be doing what I love. A doctor’s assistant!
Dr. Morgan hung up the phone, smiled and said, “You have an interview next Tuesday at one o’clock. How does that sound?”
“That’s perfect. I’ll be there. Thank you so much!” Her eyes widened and a smile spread her lips as she looked at the doctor.
Dr. Morgan walked around his desk and wrapped his arms around Mandy. He squeezed and hugged her and he held her for what seemed like an eternity until she pulled away. She knew she was enjoying the hug and the closeness of the tall, strong, heavenly smelling man. She felt a stirring inside and she was ashamed of her feelings.
“The pleasure is all mine. If you’re hired, you’ll be working with me and six other doctors. I’ll teach you a lot, too.” Mandy saw a gleam in his eyes that she wasn’t sure how to interrupt, but she didn’t care. He had just opened a door for her.
Now, Lord, just get me through the next door, she silently prayed.
Mandy wanted to dance a gig as she left Dr. Morgan’s office and headed back to the waiting room, where she found Tony sound asleep in Iris’s arms. She lifted her precious son. We’re going to be alright, little fellow, she thought as she kissed his fevered cheek.
Iris took Mandy and Tony home, then went to the drug store to get the prescription filled. Mandy put Tony in his bed, walked into the living room and looked at the clock. It was 1 pm on the nose. This time next week, I’ll be on my way to a new life.
She sank into the overstuffed chair, closed her eyes and held her palms upward. A warm radiance flowed through her body and she let herself fall under its spell as it spread into every fiber of her being. The spirits were telling her that the tormented life she had lived for seven years was finally over.
I’m only twenty-five. I’ve got plenty of time to make a good life for me and my kids, she thought.
She heard a soft whisper in her head. A new beginning. A new life.
The next day the verbal fights on the phone ensued with Jack and Pearl. Mandy would listen for a second or two, then say, “Drop dead!” Then she’d drop the receiver on the counter top, cover it with a pillow so she couldn’t hear the dial tone and merely go her way or go back to sleep. Sometimes the calls would come at 2 am.
Three days later, Tony was over his earache, his fever was gone, and Mandy was reading him a book when she saw a Volkswagen pull into the drive, followed by Iris’s car. “Well, what on earth?” She walked across the floor, opened the door and saw Otis get out of the Volkswagen.
Iris caught up with him and they headed toward the house.
“Come in. Did you trade the one-ton truck for a little car?” she teasingly asked as Otis stepped inside.
“I don’t think it would haul enough soy beans or corn. But I think it’ll hold a little mother and her two children. What do you think?”
Mandy’s mouthed gaped. “Wha—what?”
“Well, your mother said you would have a job before long, so I figured you’d need transportation. It’s a long walk to the After Hours Clinic. And since it’ll be night work, your mother and I will keep Kati and Tony. We don’t want strangers babysitting our grandchildren.”
“I—I don’t know what to say—”
Otis flipped the car key into the air. “Catch!” he said. Mandy caught the key. “Go take it for a spin. Iris, back your car out of the driveway and park out front.”
Mandy was trembling as she pulled on a coat and headed outside. Dear God. Wonders never cease with them. One minute I hate them. The next minute I want to hug them to pieces.
Nikko whispered, If you don’t obey, the car will be taken away.
Mandy drove around town, then she drove a few miles out to the country side. She really wanted to go out to the gravel road that led to the old home where she could strongly feel the spirits, but she turned around and headed back home.
Thank you, Lord. I have transportation. Now, please help me get the job. She looked at the dashboard. No radio. We weren’t allowed to listen to music when we were a teenager, so I guess they’re going to make sure we don’t listen to it while we drive. It would be a bad influence on the kids. Rock and Roll is going to send the new generation to hell! Nikko whispered.
“I’ve done my time in hell. Music is the only thing that soothes my soul,” Mandy replied.
She parked the car in the pea gravel driveway and waved at Nola. “New wheels,” she called out. Nola gave her a thumb up sign and great big grin.
She had never bothered to take the keys out of the car before, but today she did. The neighborhood wasn’t a safe place to have a new car, even if it was a Volkswagen Bug. She walked inside the house, caught a smell of hamburgers and French fries and her mouth watered.
Otis, Iris, and the children we sitting around the lopsided table, and Mandy saw several McDonald’s bags. I was never allowed to have junk food.
“We saved you a hamburger and fries. And we’ve got cherry pies for desert,” Otis said with a bit of cherry pie filling on his chin. “How did you like the car?”
“I like it very much. I don’t have adequate words to express my gratitude.” Tears came unbidden to her eyes and she looked down at the table, but her mind was uneasy over the gift. There were going to be restrictions, Mandy was sure, and she waited.
Iris wiped her mouth. “We don’t want words, we want actions. If you want to show your appreciation, then you conduct yourself like a lady and a proper mother, which means there will never be a man in your life. If we ever hear that you’ve been on a date, or if a man ever comes into this house—”
Otis finished the sentence, with a look that sent shivers through Mandy. “We’ll take the car. You either be a proper mother, which means the children won’t see their mother with another man that isn’t their daddy. You disobey, you’ll pay the price!” Otis’s voice raised and his eyes became mere slits as he stared at her.
Mandy nodded and swallowed hard.
What did I say? You disobey, they take the car away, Nikko whispered.
How well I know, Nikko. Kiss ass, obey, be their puppet, or starve. What’s new?
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Mandy was a nervous wreck the day she went for her interview, and she wondered if she would ever develop an eye tic and look like Iris.
Doctor Eastman was sitting behind a desk in a swivel chair, his feet up on the desk, lighting a pipe. A woodsy smell weaved its way to Mandy and she breathed it in. It made her think of the woods after a thunder storm that she and Daddy had walked through one time, and she smiled inward.
Though he was sitting, Mandy could tell he was tall, and heavy set. He had a balding head and the edges were coal black. She watched him fiddle with the pipe and noticed he had shifty brown eyes with small pupils.
“Have a seat, young lady,” he said as he swung his feet off the desk and leaned forward in the chair. “Do you have any work experience in the medical field?”
Mandy broke out in a cold sweat. “No, sir.” And I’m out the door, she thought.
“Well, this job doesn’t require anything that Nancy can’t teach you. The hours are from 6 pm until midnight. You’ll work every other weekend and you’ll rotate holidays. The pay is only two dollars an hour, not much, but it’s forty-cents above minimum wage, not bad for this day and time. Is that agreeable with you?” He took a drag on the fancy carved pipe and waited.
“Yes, that sounds fine.” Jack only made two-fifty an hour, working on an assembly line, corking bottles of chemicals. I do believe I can survive. I can squeeze a dollar until I give Washington a nose bleed, she thought, and she wanted to jump up and kick her heels together.
“Then I’ll give you a chance. Nancy will show you the ropes, so to speak, and she�
��s easy to get along with. You’ll need to get a few white uniforms and white shoes. You don’t have to wear the white hose. Only RN’s wear them. And the uniform skirts have to be calf length.”
“That’s fine,” Mandy answered as she pictured herself in a white uniform and being beside doctors as they examined patients. A dream come true, she thought.
“Alright then. I’ll expect to see you next Friday. That’s the night that I work. Seven doctors rotate and take one night a week. We’re all different in what and how we want things done, but you’ll soon get used to our little quirks,” he chuckled. “And we do have quirks, and I’m sure Nancy will tell you about us.”
“So I’m hired?” she said, then wanted to slap herself. He said to come in next Friday. What makes me say stupid things when I get nervous?
“You’re hired!” he answered and chuckled. “Now get going, I’ve got patients to see.”
“Yes, sir. Thank you, sir. See you next Friday.”
The first night on the job, Mandy had a hard time keeping up with Nancy, who stayed on a dead run and talked fast. Mandy wondered if she’d ever remember it all. The second night was easier, as were all the nights after. After one month, she was left on her own. She had no problem doing all that was required. She quickly picked up on how the doctors wanted things done. After three months, she could predict what they wanted and what they were going to say before they told her. She was a human sponge, soaking up the training, and kept it firmly rooted in her mind, and she was happier than she had been in a very long time.
At the end of the three months, Mandy received her final divorce papers. Jack was ordered to pay twenty-dollars a week child support, based on his income. And he was granted weekend visitation. Lester always picked up Kati and Tony on Friday’s at 5 o’clock, and he brought them back on Sunday’s at 5 o’clock.
Mandy never questioned the children, she just let them talk about their time with Jack, Granny, and Poppa. She soon learned that Jack didn’t spend that much time with them, and Granny always told them what a mean mommy they had, and how badly she had treated their daddy. Mandy would just smile and say, “Well, as time goes on, you’ll make up your own minds as to who is the mean one and who was treated badly.”