Page 80 of The Deadly Candies

"Don’t get comfortable. You ain’t stayin’ in Butts to teach no sharecroppers’ kids. I’m workin’ on your daddy."

Kathy’s breathing stilled.Home. Carmelo.The fantasy shimmered—her father finally gripping Carmelo’s shoulder in approval, her mama setting an extra plate at Sunday supper.

[Brenda chirped up.]

"Baby?"

[Kathy spoke, timid]

"I’m here. Is Daddy—can I talk to him?"

The silence on the line was answer enough.

[Brenda’s lie was gentle]

"He’s… busy. But he loves your letters, Kathy. Reads ‘em by the fireplace after supper."

[Kathy scoffed.]

Then why won’t he speak to me?

The question festered, but she swallowed the rest.

[Brenda eased into another subject.]

"Now listen—you tell Janey I need to speak with her. Is she with you today?”

Kathy peered out of the phone booth. Across the street, Janey licked an ice cream cone under her parasol, oblivious to the glares from white folks clustered outside the drugstore. Some red-faced man had bought it for her—that much was clear from the way he hovered, grinning like a dog eyeing a bone.

[Brenda concern came through the phone.]

"Kathy?"

[Kathy spoke up quickly.]

"She’s in the store, Mama. I’ll tell her."

[Brenda sighed.]

“You got to listen to me baby. Your Aunt Janey is all rainbows and sunshine when she blow into town. If she there she running from some new trouble she done caused. So, you stay clear of her big ideas, and schemes. Mind your business, okay.”

[Kathy sighed.]

“Yes ma’am.”

[Brenda perked up as if unfazed by Janey.]

"You keep studyin’ them books I sent. And baby?"

[Kathy voice dipped low.]

"Yeah?"

[Brenda smiled as she spoke.]

"Daddy’ll call soon. I promise."

The lie burned worse than the Mississippi sun.

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