Shiloh and Other Stories - Bobbie Ann Mason [37]
“And how in the world does she think they can afford to keep on like they’ve been doing? But I think they’ll get back together.”
“Surely they will.”
“Knock on wood.” Cleo has to stretch to reach the door facing. She is getting a headache. Absently, she watches the Today credits roll by as Rita Jean tells about her brother’s trip out West. He tried to get her to go along, but she couldn’t think of closing her house up and she wouldn’t leave Dexter. “They went to the Grand Canyon and Yosemite and a bunch of other places,” Rita Jean says. “You should see the load of pictures they took. They must of takened a bushel.”
“It must be something to be able to take off like that,” Cleo says. “I never had the chance when we lived on the farm, but now there are too many maniacs on the road.” Cleo sips her coffee, knowing it will aggravate her headache. “The way things are going around here, I think maybe I ought to go out West. I think I’ll just get me a wig and go running around!” Cleo laughs at herself, but a pain jabs at her temple. Rita Jean laughs, and Cleo goes on, “I thinks Linda’s going to have it out with Bob finally. They’re going to meet over at the lake one day next week. It wasn’t none of my business, but I tried to tell her she ought to simmer down and think it over.”
“I think they’ll patch it up, Cleo. I really do.”
“That Bob Isbell was always the best thing!” Cleo leans back in her chair, almost dreamily. “I tell you, girl, I couldn’t have survived if it hadn’t been for him when Jake passed away. He was here every hour; he seen to it that we all got to where we was going; he took care of the house here and then went back and took care of their house. He was even washing dishes. Davey was little-bitty then. Of course, none of us could think straight and we didn’t see right then all he was doing, but don’t you know we appreciated it. I never will forget how good he was.”
“He always was good to the kids.”
“They had to pinch them pennies, but those kids never did without. He makes good at the lumberyard, and with what Linda brings in from the K Mart, they’re pretty well off. That house is just as fine as can be—and Linda walks off and leaves it! You just can’t tell me he done her that way, the way she said. And she don’t seem to care!”
“She’s keeping it in.”
“I keep halfway expecting Bob to pull in the driveway, but he hasn’t called or said boo to the kids or anything. I don’t want to run them out, but I’ll be glad when they get this thing worked out! They’re tearing up jack! There’s always something a-going. A washing machine or the dishwasher. The television, of course. I never saw so many dishes as these younguns can mess up. I never aimed to be feeding Coxey’s Army! And they just strow like you’ve never seen. Right through the middle of the living room. Here comes one dropping this and that, and then right behind here comes the other one. Prissy-Tail’s got her tail tied up in knots with all the combustion here!”
Cleo stands up. She has to get an aspirin. “Well, I’ll let you get back to your doodling!”
When Cleo starts toward the refrigerator to get ice water, Prissy-Tail bounds straight out of the living room and beats her to the refrigerator.
“You’re going to throw me down,” she cries.
She gives Prissy-Tail some milk and takes two aspirins. Phil Donahue is talking to former dope addicts. Cleo turns off the TV and finishes her coffee. She looks around at all the extra objects that have accumulated. A tennis racket. Orange-and-blue-striped shoes. Bluejeans in heaps like rag dolls. Tammy’s snapshots scattered around on the divan and end tables. A collapsible plaid suitcase. Tote bags with dirty clothes streaming out the tops. Davey’s Star Wars toys and his red computer toy that resembles a Princess phone. Tammy’s Minute Maker camera. Cleo has forgotten how to move effortlessly through the clutter children make. She pours more coffee and looks at the mail. She looks at a mail-order catalog which specializes in household gadgets. She is impressed with the number of things you can