Granpa and Mama

It was pretty easy for me to tell where Mama was headed. She was going to my granpa's house. I remember thinking I was glad it wasn't far because I was hungry and Tom was being annoying.

"Where we going Mama?" asked Tom

"We're going to Granpa's house." Mama replied

"When will we get there?" asked Tom

"We'll be there soon." Mama said

"When is soon?" asked Tom

And so it went for the ten minutes it took to get to Granpa's house. By the time Mama stopped the car, I was ready to start beating Tom over the head with his own action figure. My little brother and sisters had a way of making ten minutes feel like you've just spent ten hours tied to the ground being stung by fire ants. When I got out of the car, I thought that maybe I should shove Tom around a little just to make him cry. Then I got a look at Mama's face and I thought I should save my getting back for later when I wouldn't get in as much trouble for it.

Mama walked up to the house with Sarah on her hip and knocked on the door. My granpa opened it right away like he'd known we were coming. He looked down at all of us on his porch but he didn't open the screen.

"Hi Daddy," Mama said, "Can me and the kids stay here for a day or so? Lonny and I are having some trouble."

"I know. Lonny just called here. I bet you expected me to take you in. Well, let me tell you something. I ain't getting in the middle of what's between a husband and a wife. You best just go back now and work this out. You took vows with that man and it means you're stuck. He's a good man who works hard for you and this ain't no why to treat him."

"Daddy, I just need to stay tonight. The kids are hungry and I need to think. Please, let us come in."

"No, you ain't staying here not for one night not for one minute. This is foolishness, Karen Marie, foolishness. Where do you have to go but back to Lonny? You got no skills, no money, four little kids and none of them is over seven. You're being childish and spiteful. I don't know what that man said or did and I don't want to know. It doesn't matter. All that matters is you're a wife and a mother and that means that you got to put others before yourself."

"Mama, I'm hungry," whined Tom.

"Shut up Tom." I said.

"But I'm hungry." said Tom.

"I don't care!" I said "You been nothing but a cry baby since we got in the car. Can't you tell Mama doesn't want to hear it?"

"You just shut up, Jr. You ain't nobody's boss." Tom replied.

"I don't have to be your boss to tell you to shut up. And if you knew what was good for you, you'd listen."

At this, Tom started to cry and Mama told us both to go wait in the car.

"But Mama, it wasn't my fault. Tom is the one who has been carrying on."

"I don't want to hear it, Jr. You take your brother and your sister and wait in the car."

So Tom, Abby and I headed back to the car. Tom was still crying like a baby. I ran and got in the front seat and shut the door. I knew that Abby and Tom were too little to open the door by themselves but I didn't care. I was tired of getting yelled at for
things other people did wrong.

When Tom and Abby got to the car, Tom started crying harder for me to let him in and Abby sat down in the grass sucking her thumb and playing with her doll. I ignored Tom and watched Mama talking to Granpa.

Even thought they talked for what seemed like forever, Granpa never opened the screen and finally Mama turned and headed back towards the car.

She opened the door for Tom and Abby. Then put Sarah in her car seat. Mama reached over to make sure Abby and Tom were buckled in. Then she handed them both a piece of hard candy from her purse and told them we'd be eating in no time. Abby and Tom and Sarah didn't notice how tired Mama was but I did. I felt guilty
for not helping out more. I almost told her I was sorry when she slid into the seat beside me but I could quite bring myself to do it.

Mama just smiled at me and gave me a piece of hard candy, too. It was green apple my favorite. It's nice how moms can remember your favorite kind of candy.

Mama turned on the car and said, "Don't worry. Everything is going to be fine."

With that, she backed down the driveway and turned the car towards downtown. I wondered where we were going to go now.

As if reading my mind, Mama said, "Aunt Clara will help us."

And when Sarah started to cry in the back seat, I hoped that Aunt Clara didn't live far away.