Page 48 of The Deadly Candies

Dio mio. Kathy.(beat, voice rough with emotion)Say it again. Say my name.

KATHY(laughs merrily)

Melo. Melo. Melo. Carmelo. My hero with the broken ankle. My best friend. My love! Melo!

CARMELO (releases a deep exhale)

I have my memories. I have drawn you a hundred time. But what I miss the most is your voice.

KATHY (softly giggles)

That is the most beautiful thing you’ve ever said to me. I’m sorry I couldn’t call from the payphone like we agreed. I have to use my coins for Mama. This is better.

CARMELO(appreciative, cautious)

This is better (he sighs with relief) Are you safe? Tell me fast—they track these calls from the house.

KATHY

No, no—Ms. Lottie let me use her phone. I traded a day’s pay. I’m safe. Like I wrote you. I’m in Mississippi, but?—

CARMELO(interrupting, pained)

Jesus. Jesus. This is my fault. You didn’t even get to finish school. It’s my fault, Kathy. I fucked up bad. We should have gone to Canada. (he starts hyperventilating) we-we-we—should have listened to Mama Stewart?—

KATHY(defiant, but her voice wavers)

Shh. Shh. Stop Carmelo. This is not our fault, it’s theirs. They thought they could separate us. They can never. I was with you. Wasn’t I? In the hospital. Was I there? Tell me, because on the bus you were there… you are with me Melo.

CARMELO (relaxes, breathes, eyes closed)

Yes. You were there. In my dreams we made it Kathy. You were my wife. I had a home for us. We got married and we—we were a family.

KATHY (smiles)

See! Me too! On the bus. I would close my eyes and see you. You told me to be strong, to be ready, Carmelo. You said you were coming for me. It’s not all bad here. Plus, cotton’s prettier than you’d think like clouds on the ground. The land in the delta is flat, so I can see it stretch all the way to the sun in the horizon.

CARMELO (sighs)

That’s not funny. I just can’t believe I’m speaking to you after all these months.

KATHY (voice soft and reassuring)

How do you feel? Stronger? Are you better?

CARMELO (his voice picks up)

Yes. I am. My leg, bothers me sometimes because of my ankle. The doctors say I’m getting better. I’ll be able to walk on my own without my cane.

KATHY (nods in agreement)

Good. Because I’m ready. Ya hear. Melo—(suddenly fierce)—I ain’t staying here. We still going.

CARMELO(sharp inhale)

Kathy.

KATHY (speaks fast)

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