Sugar Doll's Hurricane Blues

by Lauber, Kalua

  “We’ve got to find Mona.” Remy said as he took Sugar Doll’s hand. “The only place besides the French Quarters she could go would be the Superdome.”

  Sugar Doll wasn’t as certain as Remy. They were in their car but the wind and the rain was overwhelming. Signs were straining at their bases and the traffic lights whipped back and forth at an alarming rate. “The French Quarters are already experiencing wind damage and fallen trees. Please be advised that the Quarters are closed to the public.” A news reporter droned on as Remy hit his hand on the steering wheel. Sugar Doll changed the station. “Mayor Thompson has ordered a mandatory evacuation. The hurricane has been upgraded as a category five and is expected to create a state of emergency.”

  “Oh Remy, what are we going to do?” Sugar Doll cried thinking about the fact that the club was on the tree lined Royal Street.

  “We are going to go to the Quarters to see if Mona is still there and then we are going to head to Gonzales before it’s too late.” Remy nosed his car toward the Quarters. The rain fell down heavily but it wasn’t as bad there as had been reported. It was no more than a bad thunderstorm. As they came close to the club there was a tree strewn in front of the narrow street so Remy just stopped the car where they were and hopped out quickly. He looked back in and signaled for Sugar Doll to stay where she was. He walked around the perimeter of the building and could see that it was locked up tightly. He went to the back alley and saw Mona’s Lincoln Continental packed up to the roof. He walked to the back stairway and yelled up, “Mona! Mona!” There was no answer. He knocked on the door and the adjacent window and saw no signs of life. He knocked harder and stood and waited. He shrugged and walked back down the steps to the front street. Sugar Doll was standing in the rain holding her arms. She looked beautiful. “Honey, get back in the car, she isn’t there.” Remy ran up to her and led her back to her side of the car.

  The storm was getting worse and it was important to find shelter. Remy and Sugar Doll drove up to Claiborne street to hit the expressway but were met with a blockade. There were orange signs all over but no one to give direction. Remy realized that he had waited too long and that they had to find immediate shelter. He knew that the French Quarters were on higher ground and so returned to his apartment on Vieux Carre at Dumaine and Royal. Sugar Doll sat silently. “Honey, it looks like we are going to have to ride this thing out here. After the storm we will go to the Superdome to look for your mama I promise.”

  “I’m scared Remy, are you sure we’ll be alright here?” She shuddered, thinking about the possibility of drowning.

  “Honey, the French Quarters have survived yellow fever and numerous hurricanes and it’s still standing. We are on higher ground and couldn’t be in a better place. I’m going to board up the windows to protect us from flying debris but we’ll be okay.” Remy took her hand as he led her back up to his second floor apartment. The memory of their last evening together came rushing back to him but he suppressed it. There was no more time for playing.

  The Young family sat shivering in the corner of the old high school. They were afraid and somehow silence helped that fear. Mai Young looked over at her husband with disgust. She felt like a refugee all over again. Why hadn’t he saved some of the money they made in the store? She knew that it was useless to ask herself this. Ever since that damned Casino had opened in the city he couldn’t miss a night and thinking himself a rich man he always bet high. He had always been so responsible. She looked at her children sitting there afraid and alone. She wanted to reach out to them but she didn’t want to scare them by doing something out of character. The wind outside raged. The rain and the lightening had gotten even worse. They should have at least gone to a storm shelter or the Superdome. Mr. Young was afraid of the area. He had been mugged by young, muscular black kids and he never wanted to go close to it again. So the decision had been made to go to the old school. They at least had enough food for a month and water. This was the benefit of owning a store. They sat next to the small fire her husband Huy had built for them. She was too angry to meet his eyes.

  The boat frolicked over the water like a playful pony. Bertrand no longer had anything else to vomit and so was reduced to painful dry heaves. “Lawd have mercy, how long is this going to go on?” He had drifted somewhere in the middle of the river. The tugboat seemed sturdy and big but that didn’t stop waves from crashing onto the deck. What was he thinking about coming on the water in the eye of the hurricane. He turned on his transistor radio and heard the dreadful news that it would be a category five hurricane but now it was too late to turn around and woefully he realized that he knew little about handling a boat. He realized that playing on your father’s boat every summer didn’t qualify one to handle a tugboat. The first big wave that came toward the boat looked like a small wall. Bertrand try to steer clear of it but it came straight across and appeared to have no end. He was surprised to see that the tugboat plowed through the wave and kept going. He made the sign of the cross “God, I’m a man, I’ve sinned and I ask for your forgiveness.” Bertrand put his head down in reverence. When he looked up a 30 foot wall of water crashed down on him slamming the boat into mere splinters.

  Mona walked toward her house on Dauphine Street in the Maringy neighborhood. It was down river east of the Quarter. She rarely used the house because she preferred to stay in her apartments in the bar. She couldn’t bear to return to the scene of her lover’s shooting. The wind forced her to walk sideways but now she could see her house in the distance. She saw boarding on the windows and was grateful to her kind neighbor an elderly white gentleman who kept a look-out on her place. She paid him a little each month and that supplemented his pension check. He’d offered to do it for free but she felt better being able to give something to the man she had known since she was a young woman.

  Finally getting to the door she leaned against it in exhaustion. The wind had to be about 50 mph. She didn’t know how she’d walked through it once she stood on her porch. She leaned heavily against the door still feeling the grief of losing Tony. She heard a tapping and looked over to see Mr. Reniar looking out at her in concern. She motioned for him to come over to her. The old man closed the blinds and disappeared for a moment. He reappeared with a large umbrella and wearing a big coat. It wasn’t cold at all but she supposed his age caused him to have to wear it. “I thought you had gotten out of town honey.” He squinted up at her through his enormous glasses.

  “No, there was some trouble at the club sir. I’ve decided to sit it out here. Do you want to join me? I have a pantry full of food and a freezer full of beer.” Mona said hopefully, she didn’t want to be alone.

  “Do you have coffee?” The old man asked.

  “Yes sir, I sure do.” Mona nodded relieved.

  “Well then I could use the company as well.” The old man took out his spare key for Mona’s house and opened the door.

  “I’ll be right back honey, put on some coffee. I have to go and get my medicine and my wife’s picture.” The old man winked and walked out again before Mona could stop him.

  She walked into the house she’d bought with her successful business. Tony rarely came to this house. It was her sanctuary. As she walked into the living room the plush sofa looked so inviting that she didn’t bother to change into dry clothes. She stretched out on the couch and fell into a deep sleep.

  Big Ma had fallen asleep on the double bed fully dressed. She had gone to bed praying for her children. She was dreaming. She saw herself as a young girl of about fourteen. She was on the levee playing and she knew that her mother didn’t want her there but she remained playing and throwing rocks onto the water. She saw a funnel cloud coming up the channel of the river but could not run. Her legs were rooted to the spot. The tornado on the water drew closer to her splitting the water like Moses on the Red Sea. The tornado came off of the water and hit the land splitting the trees and heading for her. She began to run her heart pounding. She turned back to look and thought of Lot’s wife. She
did not turn into a pillar of salt but the tornado was right there and it pulled her up into its belly. She whirled around and around and around. She screamed. Big Ma sat up in the bed her face pouring sweat. “Bertrand!”

  The night proved long. The wind whipped through the French Quarters snapping trees and pulling up signs from the ground. Wires popped from their place and the world was at war with nature. Inside the Superdome Patrice and Elise hugged each other as the windowless dome made them feel as though they had been caught in a tunnel. Bobby Joe and Tommy sat quietly looking up at the ceiling which was dripping water. Elise imagined the storm as gigantic monster, the howling of the wind and the occasional loud thuds which hit the building sent her into a panic. She cried silently as Patrice calmly held her hand.

  “We gotta get outta here!” Elise screamed becoming hysterical. “We are going to drown here!” Elise stood her heavy body dragging Patrice with her. Patrice tried to calm her but Elise was out of control. Bobby Joe stood blocking her way. He was no more than sixteen years but massively built he grabbed Elise and shook her.

  “Calm down girl, we’s all right. We is going to get outta this. After the storm pass ya’ll coming with us. Calm the hell down!” Bobby Joe held her tightly. Elise dissolved into a crying fit. The drone of the radio continued to report on what they heard outside.

  “Forecasters fear that the levees won’t hold Katrina. The Army Core of Engineers had been warned about the state of the levees. The Crescent City could very well end up under water.” The newscaster droned on inflicting many with new found fears. People in the Superdome were huddled in their family groups. Some people prayed together holding hands while others talked trying to drown out the sound of the raging storm outside.

  “As soon as the storm passes we are going to get out of here.” Bobby Joe repeated looking into Elise’s eyes.

  “Remy are you done yet?” Sugar Doll sat on the plush carpet of his apartment as he stood at the final set of windows nailing boards to them from the inside.

  “Almost Sugar, fix me a drink will you?” Remy asked thirsty for more than just water.

  “I’m scared.” Sugar Doll said for what seemed like the hundredth time.

  “I know you are honey, but trust me, we will be okay. Nothing’s happened yet has it?” Remy asked.

  “It sounds bad out there and now I’m worried. I have a terrible feeling.” Sugar Doll admitted to the ominous feeling she had had all morning.

  “Well, let me see, we are stuck here, you saw your stepfather die and we don’t know where your momma is. Of course you are feeling upset honey. It’s only natural but I’m here for you and I’m not going anywhere.” Remy said this to be a comfort but he really just reminded Sugar Doll of all that had happened. Her face darkened.

  He hammered the last nail into the plywood and put down his hammer. He walked over to Sugar Doll and hugged her.

  “I’m sorry baby; your momma is probably halfway to Baton Rouge by now. She probably took Tony’s car in all of the excitement and forgot her own. Don’t worry at all. It’s time we get some sleep. It’s almost morning and neither of us has slept. The storm’s coming whether we like it or not.” Remy lifted Sugar Doll by the elbow and led her to the bedroom. He took off his shirt but left on his slacks. As they crawled into bed he hugged her tightly from behind and they nodded off to the rhythm of the rain and the wind.

  The Young family huddled around a makeshift fire their father had made for them. Mai Young still averted the eyes of her husband who was now staring at her intently. He knew that she considered him a failure and that this final insult would probably end their twenty-five year marriage. He remembered the first day he had come to America. He remembered working like a dog and being called a yellow nigger. He remembered Mai’s face on their wedding day. He would have wept but he didn’t want Mai to see his pain. The wind outside was fierce and the water was rising. They had already climbed to the second floor of the old school. A loud boom cracked the air with electricity and then as he looked up he saw the building collapsing. A gush of water flattened the roof and the Young family died where they sat in a circle.

  Chapter Fifteen

  There was a crackling sound. Sugar Doll listened intently. The wind was still howling but now there was something more. Remy lay asleep next to her. She got up gently in search of the sound. As she walked into the living room she felt a shiver even though it was quite warm. She saw the little radio on the counter where Remy had left it. She tried to adjust the dial to a coherent station but still just the crackling noise emitted from it. She put it down and wondered if there was still electricity. She went to the refrigerator. It was still cold but the power was off.

  “Katrina made landfall at approximately 7 a.m. this morning.” The radio began to transmit the information. Sugar Doll turned toward it like she would a welcome friend. They had survived the hurricane. “A levee was breached. We are still investigating but widespread flooding is expected. Wait a minute this just in; a large section of the vital 17th Street Canal levee where it connects to the brand new “hurricane proof” Old Hammond Highway Bridge gave way late Monday morning in Bucktown after Katrina’s fiercest winds were well north of it.” Sugar Doll ran back to the bedroom where Remy still lay sleeping.

  “Remy! Remy!” Sugar Doll pushed him. “Wake up!” Sugar Doll noticed the curl of a smile that always sent her heart aflutter.

  “What dahling?” Remy drawled as he pulled her toward him. He was rethinking not making love to her this morning.

  “The hurricane made landfall this morning.” Sugar Doll said flushed.

  “What time is it now?” Remy asked.

  “I don’t know, the power’s out. You left your transistor radio on though. Remy reached for his watch on the side of the bed. It was two o’clock in the afternoon. He sat bolt upright all thoughts of making love leaving him.

  “I’ve got to go outside to see how things turned out.” He got up grabbing his shirt on a nearby chair. The windows were still boarded up but the sound of rain was still evident.

  “Don’t go Remy, it could be dangerous.” Sugar Doll begged.

  “I won’t go far; I just want to look outdoors. Obviously we didn’t get too much damage here in the Quarters.” He gave her an ‘I told you so look.’ “I’ll be right back Sugar.”

  He ambled for the door. Sugar Doll stood up, “I’m coming with you.” She stated.

  “I don’t think it’s a good idea. Let me do a look see and if it’s okay then I’ll come back to get you I promise.” He kissed her quickly but pushed her away. Sugar Doll accepted his decision but regretted doing that the moment he walked out of the door.

  Remy expected to see some debris and tree branches but he didn’t expect to see so much glass laying around. The sun was shining through the light rain. “The devil must be beating his wife.” Remy repeated the old saying. He stepped out onto the curb to look at his apartment building. Some of the moldings had fallen and the sheetrock portion of the building was chipped but it was still standing. Remy looked up to his apartment windows and saw that most of the glass windows had been broken in the high winds. The boards had protected them. He turned around to look up the street and saw some other people already outside cleaning. There was water but very little. The cars on the street were covered with dead leaves. Remy walked down Tchopatulis street looking into different buildings. He heard music at the end of the street. He ran down to the street corner and there was Bernie’s open for business.

  “C’mon inside and get yourself a beer before they get hot.” Bernie called out to Remy. He was tempted but then he thought of Sugar Doll alone and afraid in the apartment. He waved and shouted, “I’m coming back. Let me get my girlfriend!” Remy smiled his charming smile and ran back up to the apartment. He ran back up the short distance he had traveled and up the three flights of stairs with relative ease. When he walked in the door he saw Sugar Doll standing with her back to him. She looked vulnerable. His joi de vive immediately came crash
ing down and he went to hold her from behind. Her shoulders tensed. “It’s all right Sugar. Bernie’s is even selling beer right now.”

  Sugar Doll swung around, “It’s not all right. People are stranded, hundreds have died and my hometown is gone Remy, gone!” Sugar Doll cried into his shoulder.

  “No baby, you are wrong. I’ve just been outside. It’s a bad storm for sure but it’s not that bad.” Remy shrugged trying to comfort Sugar Doll.

  Just then the voice of Louisiana’s governor Kathleen Blanco rang out from the radio, “Several hundred people have been rescued from rooftops and buildings. If you are with family or in a shelter please stay where you are. Keep safe. If you have tap water please boil it before drinking. We are in a state of emergency and it is important that we all keep calm. Hurricane Katrina has been downgraded to a tropical storm but there are many who need our help.” Remy walked over to the radio to turn it off.

  “Leave it on Remy.” Sugar Doll demanded.

  “It’s lies Sugar.” Remy explained.

  “No it’s not. Bertrand is out there, Mona, my friends. We have to help. We have to do something.” Sugar Doll shored up her strength and looked resolved. She walked toward the door. “You heard the governor, if you are in a safe place stay where you are. There is no electricity. I have bottled water and food here. There is glass all over the place downstairs and I’m sure it’s worse away from the Quarter. We are 5 feet above sea level Sugar. I knew we would be safe but now with everything that’s out there it’s best to stay put and wait.” Remy reasoned.