“Old? Speak for yourself,” Beverly said.
I was speaking for myself. I enjoyed the evening, but tonight was the exception. I missed the theatre, Cheesecake Factory, and watching the Bulls. I had only been in Eden two months and had settled into a routine of going to work, eating dinner, and going to bed. I’ve already gained seven pounds. We need to accelerate our house hunt so we can get closer to Memphis. Maybe then we’ll get out more and Derrick won’t feel obligated to spend almost every evening with his grandmother. I noticed the dining room curtain move as we turned into the driveway, and the porch light came on.
“That’s sweet,” Beverly said. “Anthony was so busy doing his own dirt, he never paid attention to when I came or went.”
I limped out of the car and waved to Beverly as I opened the front door.
“Where you been?” Derrick asked as I stepped in the house.
“At Mazzio’s,” I said and limped to the couch.
“They close at ten o’clock. It’s after midnight.”
“We stayed while they cleaned up. Then we hung out a little while in the parking lot.
“You expect me to believe that? It’s cold out there.”
“We had an unexpected surprise that made us oblivious to the time and the weather. Besides, why are you interrogating me?”
“Because nothing is going on in Eden at this time of night. Maybe you were hooking up with Antoine. I saw you two at the game.”
“Antoine Parker? You’ve got to be kidding.”
“You seemed mighty glad to see him.”
“Derrick, I haven’t seen him in twenty years.”
“You hadn’t seen me in twenty years either. All I know is you defied me when I said we were coming home.”
“Defied you? I wanted to celebrate with my family. You should have come too.”
“You keep forgetting, I’m your family now.”
“It’s not an either or. And I don’t have to jump when you say boo.”
“Well don’t let me catch you or hear about you doing something or being somewhere you’re not supposed to be.”
“Are you threatening me?”
“Call it what you want. You’ve been warned.”
“You’re acting crazy. First Daddy, now you. This must be the twilight zone,” I said as I stood. “I’m going to bed. Maybe I’ll wake up and find this was all a dream,” I said wincing and walking toward the bedroom.
“What happened to your foot?”
“It’s my leg, not my foot, and that’s what you should have asked me about.”
“What happened?”
“I twisted it jumping out of Antoine Parker’s window when his wife came home.”
“Lucky for you I know he’s not married. But don’t take me lightly. I’m not playing.”
That’s what worried me.
“Trouble, trouble, I've had it all my days.
It seems that trouble's goint to follow me to my grave.”
Alberta Hunter
Chapter 6
DOWN HEARTED BLUES
Carl had worked eight consecutive days and was looking forward to his day off. He and C.W. were going to Little Rock to watch his son play in his first game. Another boy on the baseball team had to withdraw from school when his father’s job transferred him and the coach asked Carlton to join the team. Right now he was a backup catcher, and last in batting order. But Carl knew that would just be temporary. His son was as passionate about baseball as he had been about basketball. It had even motivated him to improve his grades. Carlton asked his dad if there was any way he could send him to a hitting camp this summer. All the other boys were going. Carl agreed without hesitation. His ex-wife hadn’t been too crazy about the idea, especially when she found out how much it cost.
“You must be back on the pipe to talk about spending that kind of money on some baseball mess,” she said. “If you have extra money to throw around, I can use it for dental bills and school clothes.”
“Kids take clothes, shoes, and food for granted. This is something extra I can do for him that he will appreciate.”
“I’d rather see you pay that kind of money for a tutor or something that will help him in school,” Pat said. “Besides, I already told him ‘no.’”
“I didn’t know he asked you. I don’t like him playing us against each other,” Carl said. “I’ll talk to him about that. But it’s not like it was when I was coming up. Kids these days have trainers and there is no off season. His teammates have been playing organized ball for years. This will help Carlton catch up. And if baseball keeps him motivated, then his schoolwork will be better. He has never asked me for anything. Let me do this.” Their double-team worked and Carl paid the registration fee.
He had also paid on a birthstone bracelet for Portia’s birthday. The jeweler in Forrest City let him do a layaway. He had offered him an account, but Carl didn’t want any debt. He noticed Portia admiring Carolyn’s bracelet and decided it would make a perfect birthday gift. They hadn’t talked about it, but they had become a couple. Carl almost felt like he had a regular life. He was working, spending time – and money – on his children, and had a lady to share his off time with. He was still living in his parent’s house and driving his mother’s old car, but at least he had a reason to get out of bed, and a little spending money in his pocket.
The thought of money reminded him that his paycheck was late – again. He was hired as a painter, but did plumbing too, and since Mr. Franklin had been out, Carl also supervised the jobs.
Mr. Franklin had emergency surgery five weeks ago and the company was unraveling. Customers were complaining because jobs had gotten out of order. They were running out of supplies because the materials order hadn’t been placed and most importantly, their paychecks were late. His son was filling in as best he could, but he had a full time job of his own.
“I’m sorry to trouble you,” Carl said as he entered the office. “I hope Mr. Franklin is doing better.”
“Hello, Carl. He’s progressing slowly. I’ll tell him you asked about him.”
“Well, I won’t trouble you long. I just came in to pick up my check. You told me when I called that I could come pick it up today.”
“Oh, Carl. I totally forgot to call you. Since Dad’s been sick, it’s been hectic around here. Mr. Washington gave me the money, but I’m not sure which account to run it through.”
“What do you mean?” Carl asked.
“Mr. Washington and my dad had an arrangement and—“
“You mean my father gives your father the money to pay me?”
“That’s my understanding of the deal. I thought you knew.”
“No, I didn’t.”
“Well, I know you need your money. I’ll just write you a check out of my account. And my dad and I can settle up later.”
Carl went to the bank and cashed the check, put the money in an envelope and put it on his father’s dresser. He couldn’t get mad at his father for trying to help. Carl knew he faced an uphill challenge with a record, but he was determined to be the exception to the rule. But now he felt maybe Perry was right. He had been unrealistic and was ready to accept reality – like when he realized he was not going to the NBA, or when he realized he was in jail for more than a few days. He had tried to beat the odds, but they were stacked too high. He went to the library to use the computer and pulled up the information about the job in North Dakota. Hopefully that window was still open.
He heard his phone and saw Portia’s number. He didn’t answer.
BEVERLY
Dating is hard work. With Anthony, I didn’t spend much time figuring out what to wear. I didn’t touch up my roots or get my nails done as often. I didn’t care if I ate beans or not and I never worried about my weight. Maybe that’s why I hung on to Anthony so long. It’s easier to stick with the familiar. We never had to decide where to eat, we already had our favorite restaurants. We never had to decide what to do. We either went to Eden, the casino, or bowling. That’s
called being comfortable — or you could call it a rut.
Well, these last few weeks, I’ve gotten out of my rut. I’ve been in Memphis almost twenty years, but it’s as though I’m seeing it for the first time. I finally stopped making excuses and went out with Mark again. Who knew Memphis had a ballroom dancing club? It always looked like so much fun on TV, but it never crossed my mind that I could actually do it. And how could I have lived here all this time and not known about The Pancake Shop and their butter pecan pancakes? I’ve never liked exercising, but we’ve been doing things that don’t seem like exercise. We’ve walked through Shelby Farms, the largest public park outside of Central Park in New York City, rented bikes, and paddleboats. I’ve driven through the park on the way to the eastern suburbs, but never taken the time to actually visit. I grew up on land and got enough of nature by doing chores. But going to the park is like getting to enjoy nature without the work or responsibility. Mark couldn’t believe I had never been to Graceland, the largest tourist attraction in town. I explained that Elvis wasn’t quite as revered in the black community, but I do have a new appreciation for ‘The King’. We toured the National Civil Rights Museum. The last time I had been was as a chaperone on a field trip with Tony’s class. It’s easy to forget the struggles and atrocities black people endured. I thought I would feel funny going there with a white person and was reluctant to go when Mark suggested it. But it was educational for both of us. We went to the Stax Museum and I was surprised how well versed Mark was in soul music. We even went to the BBQ contest, something else I’ve always wanted to do.
Our relationship has been out of order. We had sex a couple times before he moved. But after my epiphany with Anthony, I’ve cut off all friends with benefits. Aunt Belle was right. I’ve never been wined and dined so much in my life. But after about four dates, when guys realize I’m serious, they move on. Mark has been the only one to hang in there. Maybe he has a steady woman in Atlanta. If he does, he does. Without the sex, I’m not as invested and can just enjoy the relationship for what it is.
This morning we went to The Pancake Shop. Mark has to work late tonight, so we decided to get together early. If I’m not careful, I’m going to gain back all the weight I lost last year. I know I need to get on the treadmill, and that was my plan when he dropped me off at home, but my pillow was calling my name.
As soon as I laid across the bed, I heard my phone and saw a text from Sharon. She said I should come by the shop as soon as possible. What could it be now? I started to call, but knew Sharon wouldn’t send such a cryptic message unless there was a reason. When I walked in, Sharon handed me an envelope. I opened it and felt my blood pressure rise. It was two sentences from Grant saying he was resigning immediately with an address and phone number to give his clients that called.
I was stunned. In the four weeks Grant had been at the shop, he had quickly become a hit. He came with an established book of business and was great with natural hairstyles, bringing an all new clientele to the salon. He paid his booth rent a month ahead and kept his station immaculate.
I have two stylists, Sharon and Fatima, who have been with me for years. Sharon always has man issues and Fatima always has issues with her children, but they’re both good workers, trustworthy, and pay their booth rent on time – usually. In some ways they are closer to me than my own sisters. I have an older lady that works limited hours. She’s the best at press and curl, and patient with children, and those people are hard to come by. That fourth station seems to be jinxed. No stylist has worked there longer than eighteen months. After I caught the last heifer in the storage room with Anthony, I decided to just let the chair sit idle. I half-jokingly said the next stylist would be a man – then I wouldn’t have to worry about Anthony. But that wasn’t why I hired Grant. He had excellent references and I was lucky to get him. He had run his own shop, but the landlord lost the building to foreclosure and the new owner remodeled the shopping center and doubled the rent. Grant had invested all of his money into leasehold improvements in his salon and couldn’t pick up and move somewhere else. He put his equipment in storage and said he would just work for a while until he decided what to do. I knew he probably wouldn’t stay long. Once a person has their own shop, it’s hard to go work for someone else, but I would have thought he, at least, would have the consideration to tell me in person.
I went to the back office and called him. “Grant, I cannot believe you would leave on such short notice and without having the decency to tell me to my face. Here I am making changes to the website to include you and all the time you’re planning behind my back to move. If you don’t have any more regard for me than that, then I’m glad you’re gone. You’re a fantastic stylist, but I value honesty and loyalty so it’s just as well that you leave.”
“Are you finished?”
“I suppose so.”
“Well, first of all, I did not go behind your back and plan a move. You, of all people, should know that changing locations is not good for business. Clients like stability. I have built my reputation on reliability and integrity. But I was no longer able to work in such a hostile environment. Your husband and I have exchanged words more than once and I finally told him what I thought and he fired me.”
“What?” I said. “I had no idea any of this was going on. He had no right to do that.”
“Well, I told him I thought I was working for you. He informed me that he is half owner of the shop and has just as much say-so as you do, and that my services were no longer needed.”
“Did he say why?”
“Beverly, in the dictionary under homophobic, there will be a picture of your husband.”
“I’ve tried to talk to him about that, but this is business–my business. If Anthony is the issue, I’ll take care of him. I want you to come back. I apologize and promise this won’t happen again.”
Anthony’s number wasn’t on my call log and I had to search my contacts for his number. I haven’t spoken to him since he spent the night a few weeks ago. He called a couple times, but I didn’t return his messages.
“Hey, baby,” he answered. “I’m glad you called. I’ve been meaning to call you, but my schedule—”
“Save it for one of your tricks. This is not a social call. You had no right to fire Grant.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Grant, the new guy at the shop.”
“You mean that funny boy with the braids?”
“I don’t know if he’s funny or not. I didn’t hire him for his comedic skills,” I said.
“You know what I’m talking about,” Anthony said.
“I don’t know anything about his personal business and I don’t care. He pays on time. He’s a great stylist, and he’s a nice guy.”
“Well, I can’t have no funny boys around the shop. I know you ladies seem to love them, but men won’t feel comfortable around him. And I know they won’t bring their sons in for haircuts. They don’t want that type of influence around. They convert kids.”
“Anthony, you sound ridiculous. He’s been there a month and I haven’t noticed any drop off in business. In fact, business is up.”
“Well, I still don’t want him around. I can’t stand faggots.”
“Don’t say that. That’s like calling someone a nigger. They have civil rights, too.”
“I don’t give a damn about their civil rights. You cannot compare being a slave, suffering discrimination and lynching, to faggots getting their feelings hurt. I cannot believe you are defending him. Maybe I need to keep my eye on you, too. First, you go off and get a white boyfriend. I guess next you’re going to tell me you have a girlfriend.”
“Not that it’s any of your business, but Mark is not my boyfriend. And no, I don’t have a girlfriend, but I don’t have anything against gay people. I don’t understand it, but I’m not judging. As long as they aren’t hurting anyone, that’s their life.”
“Well, that sissy can just live his life somewhere else.”
&nb
sp; “There you go again, calling him names. What if Tony told us he was gay?”
“That would never happen.”
“But what if it did?”
“It won’t, so there’s no need talking about it.”
“We don’t always know everything about our children. On Oprah there were guys and girls who announced they were gay and their families never suspected a thing.”
“Well, there’s your first mistake. Oprah is not gospel. Maybe you should read the actual gospel. For someone who grew up in church, I would think you would be the last person to tolerate that mess. Now I’m through talking about it.”
“Good. I’m tired of hearing it. Grant is coming back.” Technically, Anthony was correct. Even though we’re separated, we have an arrangement for the salon. Since he has a full time job, he rarely takes customers anymore. But he keeps the supplies stocked and fixes anything that breaks. Business is down now, but when we were both in the salon, things were booming. Our teamwork helped provide the three thousand square foot house, high end vehicles, cruises, and platinum American Express cards. When the older lady next door died, Anthony talked her children into selling us the house. He remodeled it and we moved my salon in that space. Working close to home meant less time in transit, and it was easier to manage the salon. Sometimes I wished we had worked as hard on our marriage as we did on the business, but today is not one of those times.
“Just because we aren’t living together doesn’t mean I don’t have a say. In case you forgot, I’m more than an employee. I own half of that place, and I have as much say about who works there as you do. This isn’t about him anyway. You’re just mad that I left that morning.”
“I cannot believe you. No, Anthony. This is not about you leaving that morning. Actually, you did me a favor. As Aunt Belle says, when one says ‘scat cat’ another one says, ‘here kitty’.
“So that white boy is saying ‘here kitty kitty’? Remember, you are still my wife.”
Down Home Blues Page 12