Hildreth 2-in-1
Page 60
When Thomas met me and Dad, we found Mother, who had slipped away, sitting atop a piece of stone that read,“Shalt Not Steal.” She wanted to take it with her as a memento, but she couldn’t carry it. She cried quite a few tears of desolation over those ruins.
We waited for her to speak first. “I can’t believe it would end this way.”
“It’s not ever really over,” Dad assured her as he gently wiped concrete dust from her face.
“You’re right . We’ll just go get us another one and start this whole thing over.” Her voice grew louder with each word.
Dad took her hand and led her in the direction of home. “How about we just go rest for a little while first?”
Thomas and I sighed.
She let out a relieved sigh herself.“That would be nice.”
We gathered Vicky and what was left of her belongings. Most were gathered as evidence. Or offered. She just wanted them to be sure it wasn’t a left-wing conspiracy, so they took off with her sleeping bags and Thomas’s tent. I was certain they would end up in some trash bin between here and the airport.
As we started our walk toward home, or our wobble, depending upon whom you were watching, others began to pack up their memories of the week as well . The cameras were packed away, and the trucks lowered their lights. Sleeping bags were rolled up, and coolers were hauled off. Hugs were given . Tears were shed. High-fives offered. But as we walked in the direction of home, the city of Savannah headed back in the direction of,well, Savannah. Still a little odd, no doubt. But our familiar kind of odd.
The first block, nobody said much. I broke the silence with my good news.“I moved out!” I declared. No better time than the present.
“You what?!”Vicky screeched. “Jake, you let our baby move out?”
“She was going now or in two weeks,Victoria . Why delay the inevitable?”
“It’s an amazing place,”Thomas offered.
“Really?” She was having trouble believing it. “Do you have furniture?”
“A bedroom suite.”
“That’s all?”
“Yes ma’am.”
“What will you eat on?”
“I’ll get a table eventually.”
“Where will you sit and watch TV?”
“On my bed for now, I guess.”
“Jake,my baby doesn’t even have a sofa.” She was truly horrified.
“Victoria, that’s what happens when you move out on your own . You have to work your way up to those things.”
“Darling, don’t you worry . Your mama will take you shopping this weekend, and we’ll get you set. If you are going to move out, then we’re just going to make your new place beautiful.” She hobbled along, broken heel in hand and a new mission in mind.
I wasn’t sure that was best. It might result in free stuff, but it still required shopping . With my mother . Maybe she could just go by herself and surprise me.
“Maybe you should just get me a key,” she said.“Then I could just come and do it whenever I was free.” On the other hand, maybe one day of shopping would be better than a lifetime of drop-ins. “And your dress is fabulous, Savannah. Ooh, we could go get you some clothes this weekend.” She had said we. Someone needed to rescue me.
“Anyone know what time it is?” Thomas asked, giving me a wink.
I looked at my watch.“Five o’clock . Well, Mother, I do believe you have just been saved from serving time.”
She looked at us and rubbed her behind. “I did my time, I assure you.” That made us all laugh. “But I would have stayed as long as necessary.”
As well as I thought I had known my mother last week, I now knew her differently. I now believed that she meant what she had just said. I wrapped my arm around her. She would have reciprocated but her arms were a little tired. She just laid her ratty head on my shoulder . Truth be known, the whole thing had made me tired, as tired as Joy assured me I looked. And this after only three weeks back home . Two weeks at my new job. One day in an apartment I had yet to sleep in. I knew what I needed. I needed a vacation. Surely nothing could happen on vacation.