Bring on the Blessings (13 page)

“Bored.”

Lily replied, “Well don’t let Tamar hear you say that, she’ll put you to work peeling potatoes or something.”

“What?”

“You heard me, so act like you’re having a good time even if you’re not.”

Lily threw Bernadine a wink, then said, “Everybody’s around back. Come on. Trent and the boys are already here.”

C
lay Dobbs was tending the grills. “I hear you steal cars, Amari.”

“Yep.”

Clay looked him in the eye. “You bragging?”

“I just thought you wanted me to tell the truth.”

Trent rolled his eyes and shook his head.

“What’s the fastest one you ever rode in?”

“Two thousand five Mustang. I buried the speedometer at one forty.”

Trent, Bing, Clay, and Preston stared.

Amari said, “You asked. I got sent to juvie for thirty days that time, but it was worth it. The car belonged to a Ford engineer. He told me to look him up when I turned eighteen if I wasn’t in jail and he’d get me a job test driving at the proving grounds because I didn’t crash his car.”

Trent had never met a youngster like Amari.

Preston looked out over the gathering and said, “Hey, Devon. Here comes Zoey.”

The men watched the little deacon’s face light up. Trent said, “You can go meet them if you want, Devon.”

“Thank you, sir.”

Trent thought the boy would take off running but he didn’t. He walked.

Amari said, “Is it just me or is Creflo strange.”

“Quit calling him that,” Trent said pointedly.

“I give everybody nicknames. It’s fun. You don’t think he’s strange.”

“No stranger than you,” Bing said.

Amari grinned. “Good one. I think I’m going to like living here.”

By Bernadine’s estimate the open field behind the house was filled with a good sixty people. There were blankets spread out, card games going on, and people sitting and laughing in lawn chairs. From speakers somewhere Stevie Wonder was singing “Signed, Sealed, Delivered, I’m Yours,” and a few of the oldsters were up doing their thing. Coolers of all shapes and sizes were filled with ice and canned drinks. Canopies that appeared to be made of stitched-together tablecloths held up by poles and then staked to the ground with lengths of plastic rope offered shade where nature provided none. There were dozens of them all over the field, fluttering like colorful flags, and the people camped beneath them looked to be having a good time.

She even saw children playing off in the distance. She hadn’t seen any kids since coming to Henry Adams. It made her think of her kids and wondered if they’d find some playmates. “Do all of these people live here?”

“No. Most of them drove in or flew in from other places.
Marie taught school here for a long time before retiring. A lot are former students and their families. When I was growing up there was some kind of summer celebration like this every year.”

Bernadine noticed that some of the people were in period dress. The men had on long-sleeved old-time shirts and vests and women were in high-collar dresses. They made her sweat just to look at them. “What’s up with the old clothes?”

“There’s a Henry Adams Historical Society and whenever there’s an event the members encourage folks to dress up, but in this heat that’s insane.”

Bernadine thought so too but was fascinated by the idea. “Reminds me of the people at Colonial Williamsburg.” She wondered if duplicating that idea on a regular basis might be a way to generate some tourism dollars. One of Agnes’s suggestions had been to build a museum to house all of the Henry Adams artifacts. Bernadine wondered if maybe they could hold some type of an annual Founding Days event to show off the history.

Up ahead was a large purple and white canopy. Beneath it were two extra-long tables covered with red-and-white-checkered tablecloths.

“This is where we put all the food when it’s time to eat,” Lily explained. “Are you hungry? Mr. Dobbs just took some hot dogs off the grill.”

“Are you girls hungry?”

Zoey didn’t appear to hear the question because she was too busy smiling at the suit-wearing Devon coming their way.

“You can go on ahead, Zoey.” Still wearing her green flip-flops she hurried off to meet up with her friend.

Crystal was dressed in a pair of Daisy Dukes and a halter top. Bernadine could see the attention she was drawing from some of the men and the disapproval on the faces of some of the women. She was going to have to take Crys shopping as soon as it could be arranged.

The meat was being cooked on three huge oil-drum grills tended by the aforementioned Clay Dobbs. He was decked out in an apron that read “If You Can Shoot It—I Can Cook It!” and he was moving around the pits with a practiced efficiency.

Seated at a table nearby were Trent, Bing, Preston, and Amari.

Mr. Dobbs took the sheets of seasoned chicken from Lily and opened one of the drums. While he placed the pieces on an empty section, the sweet smell of the meat already cooking inside rolled out on hickory-laced smoke. Bernadine couldn’t wait for dinner.”

Lily said, “I’m going to head back inside for a minute. You going to be okay, Bernadine and Crystal?”

Clay waved his fork. “They’ll be fine. You just go tell Ms. Agnes to hurry up with that sauce.”

She saluted and barked, “Yes, sir,” before hurrying off.

Bernadine saw Trent’s eyes follow her departure for a moment. When he saw Bernadine watching him, he asked Crystal, “You sleep okay?”

“Yeah, but this is boring.”

“Oh, really?”

It was Tamar. She’d just walked up and Crystal froze.

“You ever shuck corn?” Tamar asked

“No.”

“Then I’ll teach you. Come on.” She handed Clay the large pot of sauce he’d been waiting on, but Crystal didn’t move.

“I think Ms. Bernadine needs me to keep an eye on Zoey and Devon.”

“I think Ms. Bernadine can do that herself. Come on.”

Crystal turned to Bernadine. “Do I have to?”

“I think you do, Crystal. Might be fun.”

Crystal’s highly glossed pink lip poked out. She huffed out her displeasure, then followed Tamar back across the field.

Bernadine shook her head and took a seat at the picnic table with the men. Amari began asking Clay and the others a million questions, but some of the answers he received helped Bernadine learn things she didn’t know, either, like Clay, Malachi, and Genevieve Curry all graduated from high school together and that Clay was Trent’s godfather. Malachi and Clay had been friends since kindergarten.

Before long they were rejoined by the women from the kitchen, including Crystal, whose skimpy clothing was now hidden beneath a long T-shirt with a Kansas State University logo on the front.

Tamar explained, “Her top got all wet washing the corn.”

“Ah.”

Crystal sat down at the picnic table as if she was mad at the world. Hoping it might cheer her up, Bernadine said, “Thanks for helping Tamar.”

“Not that I had a choice, but you’re welcome,” she grumbled.

All of the prep work in the kitchen was done, so now it was time for them to relax and enjoy the festivities. Bernadine could see Marie walking the field and holding court. She gave hugs to her former students, kissed grandbabies, and stopped and talked with everyone. It was obvious the schoolteacher was well loved. “What did Marie teach?” Bernadine asked Lily.

“Everything. English, science, math. You didn’t play in her classroom either. If she had to call your parents because you were cutting up, forget it. She ruled. And Lord help you if you didn’t do your homework.”

Tamar cut in, “I remember the time Trent decided football was more important than algebra. Marie made him spend a whole weekend at her house catching up. He ate there, slept there. Grandson never missed another assignment. Did you?”

“No and neither did anybody else. She didn’t play.”

Before he could say more, the sound of jeers swept across the field and everyone at the table turned to see the cause. Riley Curry, Genevieve, and a tall skeleton of a man Bernadine didn’t know had just arrived. Trotting beside them on a leash was Cletus, who was decked out today like a Green Beret complete with camo uniform and a small beret. Riley, dressed in that same black suit, was grinning and acknowledging the boos with presidential-like inclinations of his head.

“Good grief,” Ms. Agnes said.

Bernadine had to agree. The hog was apparently ac
customed to being in the spotlight because it seemed to be showing off like a pure bred at a dog show. She noticed mothers were holding onto their younger children, though, and wondered what that was about?

“What the hell is that?” Amari asked. “Sorry for cussing.”

“A hog,” Trent said, his eyes hard.

“Looks like a big rat.”

“He’s mean enough and he bites.”

“What’s wrong with Zoey?” Preston asked with alarm. “Look!”

Bernadine turned to see Zoey running toward the table. She was looking at the hog with terror in her eyes. Crystal stood and took off at a run and scooped her up. Zoey practically climbed Crystal’s neck.

Holding the small child tight, the teen carried her back. “She’s shaking.”

Everyone at the table could see the shivers coursing her little body.

“Hand her here,” Bernadine said, concerned. “It’s okay, Zoey. Nothing’s going to hurt you.”

By then the Currys were on them, and Zoey was clutching Bernadine so tight, she thought she might suffocate.

Clay snarled, “Get him out of here, Riley. The little girl’s scared.”

Riley smiled. “Of Cletus? Oh come now, we all know Cletus wouldn’t hurt a fly.”

Clay snapped, “Did you hear me? Get that hog out of here or I’ll gut him right here and throw him on this pit!”

Riley immediately placed his hands over the hog’s ears. “Hey. You know how sensitive he is.”

Tamar had fire in her eyes. “Git!”

Bernadine said, “I’m going to take her in the house.” Although she’d seen the hog a few days ago and knew it was big, up close and personal the true girth and size was jaw-dropping. It was a scary-looking thing and seemed to be surveying the scene with malevolent little eyes.

Riley pulled himself up to his full five-foot-four-and-a-half-inch height. “I just came to make sure the pieces he gets are done.”

Bernadine wondered if all hogs were carnivorous but was too outdone to ask.

Clearly irritated, Clay said, “The meat’ll be done just like it always is. Now get that thing out of here.”

But he didn’t leave. Instead he turned to Bernadine and said, “Ms. Brown. This is Morton Prell. He’s a banker over in Franklin and a friend of mine.”

Prell looked old enough to have known Frederick Douglass. His brown flesh seemed to have been stretched over his bones and his dun brown suit looked two sizes too big on his frail, thin frame, but his eyes were sharp as he took in Bernadine and held out his hand. “Pleased to meet you, Ms. Brown.”

“Nice meeting you, but I need to take her inside.”

“Riley’s told me a lot about you. Are these the children?”

Bernadine waited. Zoey’s silent tears were wetting Bernadine’s cheeks. “If you’ll excuse me.”

He gave her a cadaverlike smile. “Says you got a lot of money.”

Bernadine turned cool eyes on Riley, who simply raised
his chin as if daring her to deny the truth. “Good day, Mr. Prell.”

“I have some investments you might be interested in.”

“No, thank you.” She began to walk away, and he had the nerve to walk with her.

“You haven’t heard me out.”

“I know, but I’m up to my eye shadow in investments right now and my accountants want me to stay pat. I’m sure you understand.”

The eyes were shrewd as he checked her out. He nodded a head that had more liver spots than hair. “I understand. Keep me in mind though, if you would.”

“It was nice meeting you.”

Prell then looked over at Tamar, who was walking with her. “You all have a good time.”

Inside, they got Zoey some lemonade and set her in a chair at the table.

Lily came in a few moments later. “She okay?”

Zoey seemed calmer but her hands on the glass still shook a bit.

“Do you think it was Cletus?”

Bernadine shrugged and took the now empty glass Zoey handed her. She brushed a hand over the girl’s sweat-damp hair. “Do you want to stay inside for a little while?”

Her eyes said yes.

“Okay, then I’ll stay with you.” Bernadine could only assume it was the pig that had set her off, but why? She knew Cletus was scary looking, but Zoey’s reaction bordered on the extreme.

Soon Agnes entered to check up on Zoey, and upon finding her much more settled, she appeared relieved.

Tamar asked acidly, “I couldn’t believe Prell wanted you to stop and talk. When is somebody going to put a stake in that vampire’s heart?”

Agnes responded, “What heart?”

Bernadine assumed there was a story behind Prell but at the moment she was too concerned with Zoey to care. The tears had ceased as had the shaking. She was still a bit pale though.

Devon came in next and with him were the other kids. “She okay?” he asked.

Amari knelt down in front of the chair Zoey was sitting in and said to her sincerely, “Zoey, you have three big brothers now, me, Preston, and Devon. We’ll turn that hog into bacon if he even looks at you again, so don’t be scared. Okay?”

He held out his hand, “Now come on. Some kids want to teach us how to play something called Red Light, Green Light, and we can’t play without you.”

To the amazement of the adults, she took Amari’s hand, scooted off the chair, and let him lead her and the rest of the kids back outside to the party.

“I’ll be damned,” Tamar said.

“What she said,” the outdone Bernadine replied.

It was finally dinnertime, and after they got the kids settled in at a nearby table, the adults sat and started in on their meals. They were eating and talking about everything and nothing when Malachi came strolling over. He
had a piled-high plate in one hand and his off arm wrapped around Tarika, the girl who’d been with him earlier in his truck. She had a plate too.

Clay Dobbs took one look at Tarika and called out to his best friend, “She ride here on her tricycle, Mal, or did you drive her?”

Laughter rang out.

“Quit hating on my boo,” Tarika quipped, smiling. “You all are just jealous.”

“Tell ’em, baby girl,” Malachi crowed.

Bernadine wondered why a girl who seemed halfway intelligent was hanging out with a man three times her age.