Death In The Family, A - James Agee [69]
She could hear the distraught and squirming voice. Like a worm on a hook, she thought. Poor nasty fat thing! “Tell Ralph not to tell his father,” she whispered. “In his condition it might kill him. If they have to say anything, about—coming down—tell him he’s hurt.” Andrew nodded.
“Ralph,” he said. “Go away,” he whispered, for she was lingering. “We just want to remind you, it might be very dangerous to your father” (by now Mary heard him through the door; she took her seat) “if he heard this now. Of course you and your mother’ll know best but in case you have to explain, when you come away to the funeral, it might be better just to say that Jay’s been hurt; not in danger. Don’t you think?
“What did you say?
“Why no, we …
“He’s at Roberts’. I came in with him tonight.
“Why I’d suppose that …”
“Oh heavens!” Mary said, loudly enough that her father jumped. “Ralph’s an undertaker!”
“Of course, I see your point, Ralph.
“No. Not yet.
“Well the saving of money is not a question in this ...
“Look here, Ralph, will you just ...
“Will you just hold the phone a minute, please? I really think we should leave this up to Mary, don’t you?
“Of course she does. You too. I ...
“I don’t doubt it at all.
“No, I appreciate it very deeply, Ralph, and I know Mary will, but just let me consult her wishes on it, please. Just wait.”
They heard his rapid walk and he thrust his infuriated face into the room.
“Ralph,” he announced, “is an undertaker. I imagine you know what he wants. I told him it was up to you to decide.”
“Good—God!” Joel exclaimed.
“Andrew, you’ll have to tell him—I—just simply can’t.”
“He’s blaming himself for Jay’s ... He wants to try to make up for it.”
“How on earth can he blame himself!”
“For phoning Jay in the first place.”
“What nonsense,” Hannah said.
“But Jay’s already at Ro ...”
“Ralph says that’s easily arranged. He can come down first thing tomorrow.”
“Well, then we just can’t. We just won’t, no matter what. Tell him how very very much I appreciate it and thank him, but I just can’t. Tell him I’m prostrated. I don’t care what you tell him, you handle it, Andrew.”
“I’ll handle it.” He went back to the phone. “Seems downright incestuous,” Joel said.
His sister laughed harshly.
“Nothing important, Mama,” Mary said. “Just—arrangements about the funeral.”
Nothing important! Joel thought. People can only get through these things by being blind at least half the time. No: she was just cutting a corner for Catherine.
“When will the ceremony be held?”
Hannah stifled a laugh and Joel did not. Mary’s face worked curiously with a smile as she told her mother, “We don’t know yet. This was a question of where. Here or LaFollette?”
“I would have supposed that his home was Knoxville.”
“We think so, too. That’s how it’s settled.”
“That seems as it should be.”
Andrew came in. “Well,” he said, “it was either Ralph or you and I chose you.”
“Oh, Andrew, you must have hurt him.”
“There wasn’t any way out He just wouldn’t take no for an answer.”
“He’s going to make an awful case of it to his mother.”
“Well he’ll just have to, then.”
“She’s got sense, Mary,” Hannah said.
“I’m going to have a drink,” Andrew said. “God!” he groaned. “Talking to that fool is like trying to put socks on an octopus!”
“Why, Andrew,” Mary laughed; she had never heard the expression. “I’m very grateful to you, dear,” she said. “You must be worn to a frazzle.”
“We all are,” Hannah said. “You most of all, Mary. We better think about getting some sleep.”
“I suppose we must, but I really don’t feel as if I could sleep. You-all better though.”
“We’re all right,” Andrew said. “Except maybe Mama. And Papa, you’d b ...”
“Never sleep before two in the morning,” Joel said. “You know that.”
“Let