Pearl looked at me for a long while, her eyes filled with tears. But just when I thought she was on the verge of opening up to me, Betty Jo was beside me, trying to comfort me, patting my arm as she guided me into the hallway.
“Everything’s going to be fine. You’ll see. Henry and me—we’re so happy I’ve found you a home. You’re going to love it there, out in the country, away from everything. I had no idea you were having so much trouble … you know … adjusting and all.”
As Pearl edged out of my room, I caught a glimpse of her pale, drawn face. When I heard her door shut, I knew she would not speak up today, and maybe not any other day, for that matter.
It was now entirely up to me to speak for my best friend from Southern High.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Betty Jo, Henry, and I stood in the small office, waiting for judgment. We stood in silence and, just like my first day at Sweetbriar Manor, I watched the lava lamp, its blob moving upward, changing shape, and floating down to rise again. I felt totally unprepared and unsettled, unsure how this meeting might end. I looked at my watch. The woman was three minutes late.
And what could be keeping Smiley, William, and Shirl?
The phone on the desk suddenly jangled and shook. You would have thought the ceiling had caved in, the way we all jumped. It kept ringing, three, then four times before the woman rushed in, slammed the door behind her, and snatched the phone out of its charger.
“Hello. Yes, this is Miss Johnson. Yes, I’m aware she has died. Pray tell me why you haven’t called Snoddy’s. What? Stanley’s has already picked her up? Well, if that’s what she wanted.” She turned and glared at me as she continued. “I’ll see that her things are taken there this afternoon. Yes, I’ll make sure Mrs. Hopper gets the message.”
As the phone receiver rocked on the desk after being slammed down by the irate administrator, she said stiffly, “I don’t know how or when, but she had written a request for you to bring her clothes to Stanley’s Funeral Home after she passed.”
“Alice wrote about a lot of things,” I said in a smug voice. “Her funeral, her demons, her hopes, her five hundred dollars left in a box of baby clothes for a young mother.”
The woman blanched white as a bedsheet, but I pretended not to notice.
“Alice was an angel, and now she’s flown to heaven. Her spirit’s gone, but we need to honor her wishes. I have her funeral clothes in my closet. We picked them out before she was taken to the hospital. Shirl has offered to fix her hair, and I’m certain Smiley will want to go. Betty Jo, will you and Henry carry us over there?”
“Of course, but—”
The director cleared her throat, but her voice sounded like a frog had latched on tight. “Wait … I … this shouldn’t take more than ten minutes; then you people can be on your way.”
“No,” I said adamantly. “I need to take care of Alice first.”
Betty Jo stared at me, eyes wide and mouth open. Henry studied his shoes. That tiny office grew so quiet we could hear the fluorescent lights buzzing. Even Prissy remained speechless.
I spoke quickly before she found her voice. “And another thing. I need more than ten minutes to say what I have to say before I leave here, but Alice deserves our attention right now. This monkey business can wait.”
Henry stood beside me and offered his arm. “You’re right, Mother Hopper. Miss Johnson, we’ll return later this afternoon if you can work us into your schedule.”
“I … I don’t think …” she sputtered.
“Would a couple of hours give you enough time, Mother?” Betty Jo asked.
I nodded because I was unsure of my voice—overcome by my family’s sudden support.
“Three o’clock, then,” Betty Jo said. “We’ll be here at three.”
Prissy gave a curt nod, her mouth pressed into a straight line. She flung open her office door and rushed out. Then she stopped short, and the three of us scrunched up behind her.
“What are you people doing here?” she shouted. The woman raised her arms, hands spread wide open as if she could make you people disappear.
Smiley, William, Shirl, Lollipop, and Lil looked as determined and solid as a promise, like a gathering at the river. I wanted to hug them all.
William winked and flicked his cigar, wagging his eyebrows like Groucho Marks. He must have found what I’d told him to look for, in the place I told him to look—the recycle bin.
Smiley spoke first. “We’ve heard everything, and all of us plan to be present for the meeting. The dining room ought to be big enough. William’s bringing his tape recorder.”
“This is unheard of. It’s ridiculous,” Miss Johnson spewed, her anger rising. “What do you people think you’re doing? You have no right to—”
I thought of Alice and some of her words spoken on the porch. “We’re shining a light into a dark corner.”
“You’re crazy. You’re all crazy. Demented. No one believes crazy old people.”
Francesca wheeled closer. “Maybe not, but we’re ready to tell what we know. And if no one listens, we’re all leaving this place. Right everyone?”
“Tell ’em, good looking,” William said. Everyone nodded or murmured in agreement.
“Hold on, hold on,” Henry said, trying to put a lid back on a boiling kettle. “Let’s not get too hasty. I’m sure all of this is a misunderstanding—on both sides.”
There were loud groans and murmurs. Sweet Henry, the perpetual peacemaker. But I think the good Lord decided to break up our gathering and get us moving. Like the Israelites, we had circled this mountain long enough.
Betty Jo was the first to notice. She screamed, pointed, and swooned into Henry’s arms. The rest of us stood frozen in place. We watched Ida Mae walk as slowly as a bridesmaid down the stairs in front of us, as calm and collected as you please. What she was doing upstairs, I had no idea, but she didn’t have a stitch of clothes on her tall, pure-white, bony body. She didn’t clutch a bouquet of flowers, but a long blacksnake was draped over her outstretched hands.
Before Ida Mae reached the bottom step, most of us had scattered like troops escaping from a live hand grenade. Those of us headed to the funeral home made it out the door and slammed it behind us, setting off the tune of “Dixie.”
I heard Prissy holler loud enough to wake the dead. “Mother, put that thing down! No, never mind! Don’t put it down!”
We had traveled at least half the length of the wheelchair ramp when we heard the door open with such force it slammed against the wall and shattered the glass. Then a figure emerged. Lollipop was holding the blacksnake as Ida Mae had done, and the creature seemed as content as a kitten.
Lollipop walked down the steps and into the front yard where he released the snake. We hightailed it out of there and jumped into my daughter’s car. Henry and I zipped into the front with Betty Jo while Smiley and Shirl fell into the back.
“Whew,” Henry said, wiping his brow. “What kind of place is that, Mother Hopper?”
“That’s a good question,” I said as the car sped away.
In all the excitement I had forgotten to retrieve Alice’s clothes from my closet, one of the reasons we were going to Stanley’s, but Betty Jo would not turn around.
Shirl spoke up. “Don’t you worry none, honey. Soon as we get there I’ll call Baby—uh, I mean Jack. If he ain’t left Case’s yet, I’ll ask him to pick up her clothes. He’s bringin’ some vegetables to The Manor anyhow, so it won’t be no trouble.”
“Fresh vegetables?” I asked, unable to believe my ears.
“Yep. Corn, okra, tomatoes, cucumbers, and green onions. Some of it’s imported but tasty just the same. We’re gonna have us a vegetable plate and cornbread for supper. Betty Jo, you and Henry are invited to join us.”
Betty Jo and Henry looked at each other with wide eyes. I said what they must have been thinking.
“I probably won’t be there.”
Shirl said, “I can’t say for certain if you will or you won’t
, but you aren’t the only one with a card up her sleeve.”
Smiley slapped his knee. “Yeah, that’s for sure.”
Neither of them offered to explain, and I didn’t ask them to, but their words gave me a spark of hope.
Henry reached into his pocket and handed his cell phone to Shirl, looking like he was enjoying this strange new adventure.
“Here you go. Make that call and let’s get this show on the road.”
Chapter Twenty-Six
I tucked a small coin purse into Alice’s casket. Her baby’s lock of hair, bracelet, and ring would be buried with her. Then Smiley asked to spend some time alone with his friend. He said he wanted to bring Alice up to date and brush her hair one more time before Shirl plaited it and wound the braids on top of her head like a crown.
I knew she was not there in that small body, but I also believed this precious lady’s spirit could hear him, just like my Charlie had done for the last few years.
Shirley and the rest of our group stood right outside the door, so we heard some of what he said, but when he started laughing and telling about Ida Mae, we could hear every word. The story brought smiles which did our hearts a world of good, but I worried about what was going to happen to Ida Mae when her daughter got sent up the river, which was bound to happen if the good Lord allowed justice to win out.
Jack was there in no time, his rough hands and arms scrubbed clean clear up to his elbows. With his swaying stride, he carried Alice’s lavender dress, a white slip, a pair of white gloves, and her big, worn Bible—everything she had requested. The biggest surprise followed behind Jack—Juanita carrying Frankie.
Juanita must have felt she had to explain herself. “Figured I’d pay my respects, thank Miss Alice my own self. Frankie and me, we’re beholden.”
Here was someone else who believed a person’s soul could hear her words. I gave that young mother a good hug, then we all gathered around her like … well, like family. Everyone cooed over that little redheaded baby. Betty Jo soon had him in her arms, talking to him like she thought he could understand every word she was saying.
I’ll have to admit that the way Frankie took to my daughter, she might as well have been his own grandmother—which was amazing since she and Henry had never been able to have any children of their own, and my daughter never paid attention to any child belonging to someone else. All of a sudden I realized she had kept her distance from babies and children to hide a broken heart and, as sure as God led the Israelites across the Red Sea, it sure looked like Frankie was going to mend it.
We all took turns entertaining the baby while Juanita paid her respects to Alice—though I truly believe Betty Jo could have done fine without our help. Soon after that, Jack said he had to get his deliveries done or risk getting fired. He was headed to The Manor first since he’d not taken the time to unload when he picked up Alice’s clothes. Juanita decided to leave with him so she could sit on the porch and feed Frankie while the rest of us finished up at Stanley’s. Betty Jo offered to carry Juanita back to her place when we got there. I didn’t say anything, but I hoped they wouldn’t mind waiting until after our meeting. The time was fast approaching.
We arrived back at Sweetbriar Manor with ten minutes to spare, and I said a quick, silent prayer: Stand beside us, Jesus.
Juanita sat in the swing with Frankie on her lap. The child was laughing and clapping his hands. Ida Mae, now wearing a long flimsy nightgown, sat beside them, trying to show the baby how to patty-cake. I’d never seen her outside before, and I’d never seen her look nearly sane. Maybe the snake incident had shocked some sense into her.
Juanita looked up and waved as we hurried inside the front door that now had cardboard taped where the stained glass had been. Juanita was obviously not afraid of Ida Mae, nor did she appear anxious to leave.
Shirley brought pitchers of iced tea into the dining room, and Betty Jo and Henry helped fill glasses all around. William found a seat close by and plugged in his old tape recorder. I wondered how many outdated electronics he had in his room. I was certainly glad he’d held on to this one. When he pulled out his evidence and thumped it on the table, Prissy’s eyes widened as she stood near the kitchen door, clipboard in hand. When I took my notebook out of my purse, she frowned, but I knew she had no idea what that notebook could have to do with anything.
The grandfather clock bonged three times as our gathering kept growing. Prissy flipped through her papers, tapped her pen, hugged her clipboard to her wilted, white blouse, and chewed on a thumbnail. Along with William, Smiley, Betty Jo, Henry, and Shirl, Francesca entered and parked herself next to William. Lollipop edged a chair between me and Smiley, forcing us to give him room. The hefty blonde nurse slipped into a seat by the back door. I couldn’t read her expression and wondered if she came to offer support to her employer or to speak against her.
Finally, that irritating voice cut the air. “Okay, people, it’s past time. Let’s get started.”
But it seemed she wasn’t so ready after all. We waited while she straightened her blouse, swallowed, and then licked her pale lips that looked naked without their bright red covering.
“I intend to show—” Her voice squeaked so she coughed and started again. “Mrs. Hopper has been a troublemaker from the very beginning.”
Rumblings of protest sounded.
“Hold on, people. Let me state my case.”
“Excellent idea,” said a voice from the doorway. Sheriff Cawood was leaning on the door frame, hat in hand. He took a seat near William and Lil. “Go ahead, Miss Johnson. I apologize for being late. Town council meeting.”
Smiley grinned so big, I knew he had to be the one who had called the sheriff and somehow convinced him to come.
Prissy continued, her face pinched, voice low. “No need. As I was saying—”
“Speak up,” Lil barked. “Can’t hear a word you’re saying.”
“I was saying,” the woman shot back, “that Mrs. Hopper has no business living here. Why, if the head office in Tennessee knew all the rules that woman has broken, they’d … well, never mind, I decided to handle this myself.”
Just then, Jack sauntered into the room—not too quietly either, partly because of his limp and partly because of his cowboy boots. He must have finished his deliveries and showered, because his long hair was still dripping water, and he wore a clean tee shirt.
“Oh my,” Lil said nervously. “Would you look at that?”
William scowled and chewed his cigar with vigor.
Jack pulled a chair close to Shirl and rested his hat on the table. “Got here soon as I could. Did I miss anythin’?”
Shirl beamed at him and shook her blonde head.
Everyone seemed in a trance as they watched Jack—everyone except our director. When she banged a spoon on a glass of iced tea, I nearly jumped out of my skin. When she started talking again, I hoped William had enough tape to get it all.
“To begin with, Mrs. Hopper never signed her complete name to these papers to prove she had read our rules and would abide by them. That was an oversight on my part, but she should not have been allowed to spend one night here without a full signature.”
“Are you serious? Is that all?” Henry asked.
“Not by a long shot.”
“Go on,” the sheriff said.
She smiled a tight smile and shot him a nervous glance. “I know of at least five rules that woman broke, any one of which would authorize me to send her packing. She probably broke a dozen I don’t even know about.”
“Stick to the facts. I don’t have all day,” the sheriff said.
“Of course.” She coughed again. “One and two: Mrs. Hopper left the premises twice—that I know of—without signing out properly. Sheriff, one time you brought her back yourself.”
He nodded.
“Three: She entertained a man, Mr. Abenda, in her room—something I cannot tolerate.”
Betty Jo and Henry looked at me in shock.
Francesca mouth
ed, Sorry.
“Four: This woman slipped into another resident’s room to drink alcohol.”
A gasp went up from Betty Jo.
“Five: She snuck alcohol, candy, cigars, and Vick’s Salve onto said premises and hid them in her room. I don’t have the time or energy to deal with someone who can’t or won’t follow the rules. Before she came here, we had a nice, quiet place. That’s all I have to say.”
She refilled her glass with tea and sat in the nearest chair. Her shoulder pads trembled underneath her blouse, and her hand jerked as she gulped her drink, but she almost had a smirk on her face. She apparently thought I was done-for, everything over but the shouting.
Henry looked at me with an odd expression and a cheesy grin. “Mother Hopper, you have certainly been a busy lady.”
Sheriff Cawood looked around the room. “Who’s next?”
My knees felt wobbly as I stood and gripped the table to steady my hands. I picked up my notebook, but most of what I had to say came straight from my heart.
“First of all, let me say I’m deeply sorry for breaking some of the rules. I understand that a place like this has to have them in order to run smoothly.”
“My thinking exactly,” the sheriff said.
I nearly froze in fear. Was he here to take her side? I glanced at the woman my friends and I were trying to take down. She was sitting up straight, shoulders squared. Her face held a wide, self-satisfied grin.
The sheriff took out a pocketknife and set about cleaning his fingernails. Before he totally lost interest, I jumped back in.
“However, I’m not sorry for coming here. Why, my life out on the farm without my Charlie was nothing but dull and lonesome, only I didn’t know it. He told me I would make a passel of new friends and he was right.” I looked at Smiley. “Good friends are like family you meet along the way. That’s one of Alice’s sayings, and she was right.”
Contemporary Women's Fiction: Agnes Hopper Shakes Up Sweetbriar (Humorous Women's Fiction) Page 20