Down Home Blues

by Phyllis R. Dixon

  “In name only. You think you can just do what you want and still claim rights over me and my salon?”

  “Our salon.”

  “Whatever. Just don’t come around here making trouble,” I said and hung up the phone.

  I searched through my contacts and found Sandra’s number. Sandra is from Eden and when I got my license she was one of my first customers. I did her hair at a reduced price while she was in law school and Sandra did the paperwork when we opened the salon. She helped get charges dropped when Tony got in trouble a few years ago and represented me after the shooting incident. Now I have another job for her.

  “Sandra, can I come to your office in the morning?” I said as soon as she answered. “I want to file for divorce.”

  “Beverly, are you sure?”

  “I’m positive.”

  “I knew you and Anthony were separated, but I didn’t know things were this bad. I may be prying, but you are more than a beautician to me. Have you guys gone to counseling?”

  “If we go to counseling, after five minutes, the counselor will ask, what took me so long.”

  “Then think about mediation. It’s cheaper and quicker.”

  “Will you still represent me?”

  “Usually there aren’t any lawyers; that’s why it costs less. But I can advise you if you’re sure this is what you want.”

  “I’m positive. When is your first opening?”

  “My calendar tomorrow is pretty full. Is seven too early? I can get with you before my first meeting.”

  “Seven is perfect. I’ll be there.”

  How ironic that my final straw with Anthony was not over a woman, but a man.

  CAROLYN

  One thing about moving home, everyone thinks I’m their personal lawyer and accountant. Raymond keeps bugging me about working with his protest group. I had to get my brother out of jail. Aunt Belle wants to sue every business that doesn’t meet her demands. One of my cousins called and wants me to help him and his siblings straighten out the deed to their parent’s land. And, Derrick wants me to help the church apply for a loan. Now I know how Beverly feels when we all show up for free hair dos. But Daddy doesn’t fall into that category. I’ve always done his taxes and it’s the least I can do for him. It’s an annual reminder of how much my parents accomplished.

  During a time of overt segregation, and elusive bank loans, Mama and Daddy survived and thrived. As a child, I was embarrassed by my homemade dresses, rotary phone, and sack lunches. I couldn’t understand why we only had one TV. The kids uptown seemed to have more, while we seemed to be still living in the dark ages. Later, I learned that the tractors, tillers, and combines I had considered little removed from a mule and whip, were expensive pieces of equipment, and a better investment than televisions and clothes. Instead of worrying about how to keep the land, he has to worry about estate planning, wills and trusts. Besides his taxes aren’t complex, although it did take me longer than I had planned. I promised Derrick I would be home before noon, but the time went by faster than I realized.

  “Daddy, I’ll print a copy for you when I get home,” I said as I turned off my laptop and checked my watch again.

  “You’re sure I don’t need to sign some papers? I really don’t like sending my taxes over the computer like that,” C.W. said. “How do I know that no one else is going to get my information? I’ve seen warnings about identity robbery on the news.”

  “Nothing is one hundred percent foolproof, but filing online is more secure than shuffling and mailing all those papers. Daddy, I wouldn’t let you do anything unsafe,” I said as I grabbed my computer bag and purse. “I’ve got to get home. Derrick and I have an appointment to look at houses this afternoon, but I know you’ve been up since before day, so you’re probably ready for lunch. Want me to fix you a sandwich or something?”

  “That’s okay,” C.W. said as he opened the freezer. “I’ve got some plates up here that Emma fixed. I’ll just stick one of them in the microwave.”

  “All right then, I’ll see you later.” As I opened the door, my brothers stepped on the porch. “So what have you two been up to?” I asked as I searched for my keys.

  “I’m getting the boys ready for a track meet. Carl and I jog around the lake and whoever wants to show up does.”

  “The way I’ve been eating, I should join you guys. Call me next time.”

  “I guess that’s the only way we’ll get to see you,” Carl said. “We haven’t seen you much since the tournament. Looks like married life is keeping you busy.”

  “Before you dash back to your honeymoon nest, don’t forget the CARE meeting,” Raymond said.

  “What?”

  “Remember, I told you about the Coalition Against Resource Exploitation?”

  “Oh, yeah. Derrick said that’s just a bunch of outside agitators trying to stir up trouble.”

  “Wow, the Carolyn I knew would make up her own mind. Does he tell you what clothes to wear too?”

  “Don’t even go there, Raymond. I’m sure it’s a worthy cause, but I don’t have time for politics.”

  “Clean air and water is something everyone can agree on. We are getting legal counsel from some national organizations, but it would be good to have local help too.”

  “It’s still tax season. I may have to work late.”

  “Surely you can leave on time one day. This is important.”

  “I know it’s important and to do it justice, will require a lot of time, something I don’t have. I feel like I spend half my day on Interstate 40. Derrick and I have been looking at houses and we’re getting his ready to sell. Plus, Derrick seems to think those leases will bring a lot of money to the landowners around here. Let me think about it.”

  “What’s to think about? No disrespect to my brother-in-law, but those big companies fund all of the state commission members’ campaigns. So of course, Derrick is going to say what his bosses say. This is the reason we stayed in slavery so long – those in the big house didn’t want to sacrifice their comfort. Not realizing what enslaves one enslaves us all. You need to decide whose side you’re on.”

  “I know I’ve been gone a while, but where did all this fracking business come from? I know we were kids, but I don’t remember any talk about drilling oil when we were coming up,” Carl said.

  “It’s not oil, it’s gas. The gas has always been there, but it was too expensive to detect and retrieve. Prices have gone up because gas is more energy efficient than oil and doesn’t pollute the air. Technology has improved and now the companies can locate the reserves and extract gas at a profit,” Raymond said.

  “So how can they do that without buying your land?” Carl asked.

  “It’s called mineral rights,” I said. “Mineral rights entitle the owner to the minerals below the surface. They have the right to extract the minerals from the earth or mineral owners can lease their minerals to a third party like U.S. Energy to extract. If a third party extracts minerals, the mineral rights owner will receive payment in the form of royalties. Mineral property is considered a real property much like surface property and it can be retained, transferred and leased in whole or in part. In most states, it’s legal to own or lease the mineral rights but not the surface property. The deed will disclose who owns the mineral rights.”

  “See, you already know enough to be of help to us. How you can turn your back on this with a clear conscience is a mystery to me,” Raymond said. “Harriet Tubman said she could have freed more slaves if she could have convinced them that they were slaves. Your refusal to help is just as bad as—”

  “Don’t preach to me. Just because—”

  “I’m going inside,” Carl said. “I’ve seen this fight before.”

  “No one’s fighting,” Raymond said as he held up a peace sign. “But this is our family legacy. Daddy could have made a lot of money if he had sold to Consolidated Farms a couple years ago. But he didn’t. If they start all this fracking, the value will decline plus there will be t
oxins to worry about. Maybe you don’t understand since you don’t have children.”

  “What’s that supposed to mean?” I asked.

  “I’m just saying. Your line stops with you, but we need to think about future generations of this family.”

  “I seriously doubt that Malcolm or Rayven want to be farmers.”

  “Even if no one farms the land, we can’t sell it if the water is contaminated,” Raymond said.

  “This is such a mess. I should have listened to your mama. She wanted to sell this place and move uptown. I told her she could do what she wanted after I was gone,” C.W., said as he sat in the porch rocking chair with his steaming plate. “I never imagined I would be here without her.”

  “I know, Daddy,” I said and kissed him on the cheek. “I miss her too.”

  “Then we should honor her memory by making sure her legacy is intact.”

  “Raymond, give it a rest,” I said as I picked up my computer bag.

  “While we’re resting, the white man is poisoning our land. Do you want me to talk to Derrick?”

  “I don’t need you to talk to Derrick. I can think for myself.”

  “It doesn’t look that way to me. You are still a Washington.”

  “I said I would think about it.”

  “Well, don’t take too long. They’re already drilling on the Martin’s place. You know that’s only five miles away. We’re running out of time.”

  CARL

  “Sanford and Son is over forty years old and the show is still funny,” Carl said as he turned up the volume. “These shows they come out with now aren’t worth watching.”

  “I enjoy Sanford and Son as much as the next person, but I’d rather not watch a new show or an old show,” Portia said as she took the remote control and turned off the TV. “Let’s do something this weekend.”

  “Something like what?”

  “You haven’t been to see your boys in a while. How about going to Little Rock tomorrow? You can drop me off at the mall, go visit them, then come pick me up and we can go down to the Rivermarket for drinks or dinner.”

  “I don’t like to see them when I don’t have money.”

  “I’m sure they just like spending time with you. There are lots of free things you can do. They could care less how much money you have.”

  “But I care. I missed my last two child support payments and I refuse to show up at their front door empty handed.”

  “Then let’s go to a movie. The new Denzel Washington movie has finally made it to Forrest City.”

  “What part of ‘I don’t have any money’ don’t you understand?”

  “My treat,” Portia said.

  “You paid the last two times. You can’t keep paying for everything.”

  “I don’t care how much money you have or don’t have. I wouldn’t offer if I were going to resent doing it. And if you’re that concerned about money, you can start by quitting smoking. Cigarettes aren’t cheap.”

  “Even guys on death row get cigarettes,” Carl said as he stood.

  “That’s because they’re going to die anyway. Why don’t you go back to the job your father lined up? Their business may have picked up by now.”

  “They didn’t lay me off. I found out my father was paying them. He may as well have just been giving me the money.” Carl had caulked all of his father’s windows, cleaned the chimney, weeded his mother’s flower beds and helped the guys mend his father’s fences. These tasks kept him busy while he looked for a job. But prospects looked bleak.

  “He was only trying to help. You’re letting your pride get in the way of your relationship with your boys and letting people help you.”

  “Sometimes I feel like that’s all I have left.”

  “The Bible says, pride goeth before a fall.”

  “The Bible also says, if a man doesn’t work, he shouldn’t eat.”

  “Well you definitely need to eat. We’ve got to keep your strength up. I’ve got some work for you to do,” Portia said as she tried to grab Carl’s hand.

  “I’m not in the mood,” Carl said.

  “So much for my pride,” Portia said. “How about going to the lake? That’s free.”

  “I see the thrill is gone. You used to say you didn’t care what we did, you just wanted to be with me.”

  “I do want to be with you, but that doesn’t mean we have to sit around the house all the time. All we do is eat, fool around, and watch TV.”

  “Maybe you need to find someone with a more exciting itinerary. Sounds like you’re getting bored with me.”

  “I just don’t like you feeling sorry for yourself all the time. It’s depressing.”

  “I’m already depressed. No need in both of us being depressed,” Carl said as he pulled his keys out of his pocket. “Maybe we’ve taken this thing as far as it will go.”

  “What does that mean?” Portia asked.

  “I think you know what it means. Take care of yourself,” Carl said as he walked out the door.

  CAROLYN

  Who knew one of the best restaurants in the state was in Forrest City, Arkansas? Before it became known as the place where T.I. went to prison, Forrest City was known for Maggie’s Kitchen. The décor wasn’t fancy but the food was scrumptious. They were even featured on an episode of Diners and Dives on the Food Network. Ordinarily, I would have left a little food on my plate, but the food was too good to try to be cute. I swirled the last morsel of blackened catfish in the teriyaki sauce and cleaned my plate.

  “Looks, like you enjoyed it,” Derrick remarked. “How about dessert?”

  “I'm already afraid the button on my skirt is going to pop. I know you don't want to be embarrassed.”

  “Now, Carolyn, you can't have a birthday without cake,” Derrick said as a chorus of waiters emerged with a hunk of red velvet cake with lighted candles, singing Happy Birthday.

  Unable to resist, I took a small bite. “This is so good,” I said as I fed a mouthful to Derrick. “But I can’t eat another bite. Let’s box up the rest to go.”

  Cecelia gave me a surprise party when I turned thirty, and some friends and I took a cruise when I turned thirty-nine. But I couldn’t remember a happier birthday. Even though it’s my birthday, I have a gift for Derrick. I’ve barely been able to contain my excitement about the news I got today.

  I took off work today, but still left this morning at my regular time. I told Derrick I was going to Beverly’s shop, and I did, but only for a wash and wrap. I didn't get a retouch or have my nails done. I arrived at the clinic by ten o'clock. Memphis Fertility Associates has one of the highest success rates in the country and was highly recommended by my doctor in Chicago.

  I listened to the doctor’s explanation of the mechanics, risks, and costs of in vitro fertilization, but I was already familiar with the process. I had researched online and read numerous testimonials from successful parents. Dr. Turner transferred my records, but the clinic retested me. I had a pelvic exam, blood test, and ultrasound for fibroids two weeks earlier. Derrick doesn’t know any of this yet. I wanted to have all the test results back and surprise him. I got my FSH test results this morning and couldn't have asked for a better birthday present. The specialists said all my tests were normal and encouraged me to bring my husband in so we can finalize the details.

  After dinner, we drove to Lake Council. We parked right next to the water’s edge and could see twinkling lights glowing from the houses on the other side of the lake. This was one of our favorite places in Dwight County. Derrick cracked the windows and the movement of the water created a melody so relaxing we didn’t even turn on the radio. It was early spring so the night air was a little nippy, but that meant there were no mosquitos yet. The reflection of the full moon on the water was hypnotic. We sat quietly for a few moments with my head nestled on Derrick's shoulder.

  “Thank you for dinner. You are always doing things for me. I want to do something for you,” I said and kissed him on the cheek.

  “Oh
boy,” Derrick said licking his lips. “Do we need to get a room?”

  “Why, Mr. Roberts, I'm a good Christian woman,” I teased.

  “You got that right. You are very good,” Derrick said softly as he kissed my neck.

  “Derrick, listen to me,” I said, scooting away from him. “I need to talk to you about something.”

  “Okay, talk,” he said holding my hand and guiding it to the hardness between his legs.

  “Derrick, this is serious,” I said and jerked my hand away.

  “All right, I'm listening,” Derrick said.

  “I want us to have a baby.”

  “A baby? You can't be serious.”

  “I'm very serious.”

  “We just got married. And, we’re not exactly kids.”

  “We’ve been married over a year and Halle Berry had a baby at forty-six.”

  “She probably had her own doctor like Michael Jackson did. Isn’t pregnancy at your age a high risk?”

  “I've been to a specialist and she said there’s no reason...”

  “When? Why didn't you tell me?”

  “I wanted to be sure first. I didn't want to get your hopes up.”

  “My hopes for what? I love our family–you and me. We should be planning for retirement, not kindergarten. We’re finally together and I'm satisfied with our life. I thought you were too.”

  “It isn’t that I'm not satisfied. But wouldn’t a baby just make everything complete?”

  “You told me you didn’t want children.”

  “I think I told myself that to lessen the sting of not having any. Finding someone to love me seemed like such an impossible task, so I gave up. But then you appeared and now there are new possibilities. They have all kinds of new procedures now.”

  “You want some kind of operation? Is that safe?”

  “No, it's not an operation. I'm talking about in vitro fertilization.”

  “Now, I know you're kidding. You want us to have a test tube baby?”

  “They don’t call it that anymore. It's not like that at all. Did you know that one-third of the procedures results in a healthy baby?”