Church Folk - Michele Andrea Bowen [67]
She came back rolling a beautiful mahogany wood tray with tea and some lemon tea cakes she had made yesterday evening for Theophilus, who loved tea cakes. She served both women their tea and tea cakes, then took her favorite seat in the room, a comfortable, deep, and cushiony lavender swivel chair.
"Essie, dear, I know you are wondering what brings us to your home," Mother Harold said.
"Yeah, Mother Harold, you've got that much right."
Mother Harold gave her a mean look and continued, "Since your marriage to Rev. Theophilus Simmons, several ladies' organizations in Memphis have contacted me on your behalf, asking me to serve as the liaison between you and them. It seems that you, Essie dear, have been remiss in responding to their invitations."
As her grandmother spoke, Saphronia kept twirling that big ring, making sure Essie knew it was there. Essie took a deep breath and whispered a prayer for courage. "Mother Harold, I appreciate your help," she said. "But I'm really too busy to join any of those groups."
"Now Essie dear, as I understand it, one of the sororities contacted you, and they were even willing to wait for you to enroll in college to become eligible to pledge. Then, there was the Ladies of Distinction Social Club, filled with the wives of the most prominent colored men in the city. And, you even turned down the Memphis chapter of Class Keys, Inc."
Saphronia kept twisting that glittering engagement ring around and 'round on her finger, as Mother Harold went on, "Essie, I don't have to tell you that these are distinguished groups of colored women who are trying to help you build a proper social life in this town. No one can just join these organizations. Before you even received the invitations, you were checked out, discussed, and voted on. Most first ladies think that is an honor and would be eager to associate with colored women of this social caliber."
"Well, I'm not most first ladies," Essie said. "Their social caliber doesn't really mean much of anything to me."
Mother Harold was sure that Essie was missing the point. Could the girl really be so obtuse that she had to spell it out? With exasperation in her voice, she said, "Essie, I happen to know that the day your name came up at one club meeting, there was a serious argument. A lot of the women objected to your background. It took real effort to convince them to give you a chance."
Saphronia, who had been silent all this time, stopped playing with her engagement ring and looked at her grandmother like she was crazy. Even she knew better than to insult someone in their own home—especially if that someone was Essie Lane.
Essie got up out of her chair and walked right up to where Mother Harold was sitting.
"That is exactly right, Mother Harold. When I was a jook joint cook, most of those women would not have even formed their mouths to say good morning to me. Now I'm married to a well-respected pastor, and they've suddenly discovered I'm 'worthy' to be in a group with them. But if they didn't want me when I worked for Mr. Pompey, then they sho' don't need me now. And the same goes for you and Saphronia. Now, get out of my house."
Mother Harold looked at Essie with amazement.
"You heard me right," Essie said. "Please leave my house before I throw your old tight-tailed self right out. Mother Harold, you have some nerve, coming up in here trying to tell me how excited I should be because your old stuck-up club ladies decided that I am okay, just because a pastor saw fit to put a wedding ring on my finger. You and your kind always think you better than everybody else. But you ain't."
Essie's eyes shot over to Saphronia. "Girl, you better get her out of my house before I lose my religion."
Saphronia had said that the visit was a bad idea. She had agreed to come along only because she had wanted to show off her ring, to make it clear to Essie and through her, Theophilus, she had done very well for herself. But Essie had hardly even looked at the ring. Now she grabbed her grandmother, gently steering her to the door. When she saw Essie put her hands