Page 38 of Tell Me I'm Not Dreaming
“That means you’ve met little Charae and baby Penelope.” Lyric cracks up. “Yelling at white people is what Charae thinks I do for a living.”
Ranson barks out a laugh.
Everyone is told to take a seat—dinner is ready. On the menu is mashed potatoes, green beans, baked chicken and buttered yeast rolls.
They all talk in individual conversations. Lyric is talking to Floyd’s wife when the little old lady who was pinching Big Head earlier sits on the other side of Ranson.
“You Lyric’s man?” she whispers.
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Good. You gon’ help me find Doc’s stash of shine,” she says.
Ranson looks over at Lyric who is seated on the other side of him.
“Stop looking at her. You’ll give us away,” the old lady says.
“Um, Ms. Gigi?—”
“Just Gigi.”
“Okay, Gigi. I don’t think I should?—”
“You want to impress me, don’t you? I’m Lyric, Big Head and rest of ’em’s great-grandmother, and I’m a hundred and five. If the shit kills me, then it was just my time to go.”
“Gigi, please stop trying to get Ranson to get you moonshine,” Lyric leans over and tells her.
Gigi waves her off and pouts.
Lyric leans into Ranson with her lips right by his her. “Do not get her any moonshine.”
Ranson looks at Gigi. She winks at him like they’re already accomplices. Ranson shakes his head. Gigi squints her eyes and nods. He keeps shaking his head.
“Ranson!” Eckhart calls out.
“Yes, sir.”
Eckhart smiles. “You’re joining us out on the lake tomorrow morning, aren’t you?”
“Yes, sir. I am.”
“Great. It’s going to be me, Doc, Jamar and Big Head.”
“Yeah, I told money bags we ain’t going easy on him either,” Big Head says.
“And as I said, I’m up for anything you throw at me.”
“Ranson, if you don’t have a fishing rod, you can get one from me. I have spare ones,” Doc offers.
“Thank you, Mr. Fuqua?—”
“Just call me Uncle Doc. Everyone here is named Mr. Fuqua. That’ll get mighty confusing real quick,” Uncle Doc says.
“Of course. And no worries, I have my own.”
Eckhart nods. “Alright, we wake up at 4 a.m. tomorrow, so be ready.”
“Yes, sir. I stay ready.” Ranson grins with excitement. It’s been a minute since he’s been out on a lake. Patrick and his brothers are not fans of fishing.
