Carrying Mason (7 page)

I
hurried to gather all the photos back into Ruby Day’s shoebox—all except the two pictures of her near that horrible sign.

Just as I set the box on the dining room table, I recognized Mama’s voice on the porch.

“It won’t matter that we miss church,” I heard her say through the opened window. “Luna needs us. Ain’t no rule that a body has to be in church every single Sunday. Helping people who need it can be just as much worship as sitting in a pew singing hymns.”

“Well, that might be true, but Luna should be in church too. Probably nothing we can’t handle after,” I heard Daddy say.

I waited to open the door until Mama knocked, just so they wouldn’t think I was standing there listening to them.

“Mama.” I gave her a big hug and held on for an extra second or two. Next I hugged Daddy, but not for as long a time.

“What’s going on, Luna Fish?” Mama asked.

“It’s about Ruby Day.”

“Figured as much,” Daddy said. “I knew there’d be trouble.”

We all went to the living room.

“Where is she?” Mama asked.

“I made her go to bed. She slept on the floor all night.”

Mama sat on the sofa. Daddy stood with his hands in his pockets. “What do you mean she slept on the floor?” Daddy said.

“She has a shoebox filled with pictures and she was looking at them all last night. I found her asleep this morning.”

“What pictures?” Mama asked.

“Like this.” I held the picture of Ruby Day out to her. She took it and studied it a second. “Home for the Feebleminded? Is that Ruby Day? Wow, she looks so young.”

“Yes, Mama, that’s Ruby Day. And the picture made her awful upset. Do you think it could be why she’s so afraid of Aunt Sapphire?”

“Aunt Sapphire?” Mama said. “Who in the world is she?”

“She’s a woman who showed up here yesterday
and started saying that Ruby Day had to go back to Philadelphia with her—now that Mason is … is gone. But I don’t believe her.” I looked at my daddy. “Do you think Ruby Day is afraid she’ll have to go back to this … feebleminded home?” I looked at Mama. “If you met Sapphire, you’d know. She has dead foxes and a snooty face. We can’t let that happen. You told me they’re terrible places. They treat people so mean.”

“Aunt Sapphire?” Daddy said. “You saying this is a family matter? We are not getting stuck in family matters. Family is family, and even though you live here, Luna, you are not Ruby Day’s family.”

That was when Ruby Day nearly stumbled down the steps. She pounded her temples in time with her steps. “Is so. Luna is like my own daughter. She takes care of me—like Mason did, only he was a boy. Luna is a girl.”

“I know. I know,” Mama said. “Let’s just settle down and see what we can figure out.” Mama looked at me. “Luna, make some tea for me and Ruby Day. Now, Ruby Day, you come on over here and sit.”

“Okay, Mama.” I looked at Daddy, who decided to sit in the big chair. He was wearing his Sunday suit with his shiny shoes and white socks sticking up. “You want anything, Daddy?”

“No. I just want to get on with it.” He checked his watch.

I put the kettle on to boil and waited. I knew Mama
well. I knew she would want to sit with Ruby Day with no words for a minute or two. It was her way. She always said that there wasn’t any rule that said people had to be talking all the time. Sometimes just sitting quietly was required. I peeked into the living room and knew without a doubt that Mama was correct in her estimation that day. Ruby Day had her head on Mama’s shoulder while Mama gently stroked her hair.

Mama looked so pretty. But she always did. Her Sunday dress was mostly beige but had tiny green vines all over it. And she wore a little hat with a beige veil that barely covered her eyebrows. I was still in my pajamas.

I prepared the tea the way everyone liked it. Mama drank hers with milk. Ruby Day liked milk and sugar. I even made a cup for Daddy, without anything in it, just in case he changed his mind, and carried the heavy tray into the living room.

“Now tell me, Luna. What in the world happened?”

“Like I said, Mama. Aunt Sapphire happened.” I sat in the rocking chair.

“Family matters,” Daddy said. “I don’t want to get involved in family matters.”

Ruby Day started to talk but Mama hushed her. “Ruby Day, you just stay calm and drink your tea. Let Luna tell the story.”

I sipped my tea and started to tell them what happened.

“And then I showed you that picture,” I said in the end.

Mama took the picture, and for a minute it looked like she was praying over it. Then she looked into Ruby Day’s frightened eyes. “Is this where you lived, Ruby Day?”

Ruby Day nodded and smashed her glasses into her face.

“And this is where you think Aunt Sapphire wants you to go?”

Ruby Day nodded.

“Oh, Mama,” I said. “We can’t let it happen.”

Daddy snatched the picture from Mama’s hand. “Louise, I’m telling you, family is family. Can’t mess in family business.”

“Now, Justus,” Mama said, “this ain’t right on any account. I heard about these places.” She removed her hat and set it on the coffee table. “Dreadful. Just dreadful.”

“What can we do?” Daddy said. “We can’t keep Ruby Day here if her family has other plans. They probably know what’s best for her.”

“But Daddy, you said I couldn’t carry Mason and I did. I did that just fine. You said I’d never bait a proper hook, and I do that like a champ because Mason taught me. Ain’t you the one who is always saying, ‘I can do all things through Christ who strengtheneth me’? All things, Daddy, not just some things. Even fight Aunt Sapphire and her fancy foxes and big car.”

“But some things are not ours to fight,” Daddy said.

I swallowed and looked at Mama. “I have to try.”

Mama patted Ruby Day’s knee. “When is Sapphire coming back? Do you know?”

“Tuesday. She said Tuesday.”

Mama stood. “Okay. There is not much we can do today.” She pinned her hat back in place. “Come along, Justus. We can still make Communion.”

“Will you come back after church?”

Mama touched my cheek and then kissed me. “How ‘bout if you and Ruby Day come for Sunday supper? I’m making chicken and dumplings.”

“Okay, Mama.”

There were only a couple of things in life more inviting than Mama’s chicken and dumplings—Christmas and a good book.

I walked them to the door.

“See you at two,” Mama said. “And don’t worry too much about Ruby Day. Just go about the day as usual. Let her work in the garden or read her a story. She likes that.”

Daddy put his hand on my shoulder. “You might not win this battle, Luna.”

“But I’m gonna fight it, Daddy.”

A
fter Mama and Daddy left, Ruby Day hardly said a word, just tinkered in her garden and in her room until it was time to leave for Mama’s house.

She’d left the shoebox on the dining room table. I passed by it three or four times until I finally decided to take another look through the contents. There had to be something inside that would explain why Aunt Sapphire was so bent on taking Ruby Day back.

I made sure Ruby Day was still in the backyard before I opened the box. Nothing jumped out at first. Not until I dropped the lid. When I picked it up I found a white envelope with something scribbled on the front in black ink taped to the underside. I only recognized the first letter, D. But before I could open it, Ruby Day wandered into the dining room.

“Whatcha doing, Luna? Looking for more pictures?”

I held the envelope behind my back. “N-n-no, Ruby Day. I was just cleaning up. I guess we should be getting to Mama’s now.”

“Okay, Luna. I’ll go change back into my Sunday dress. Will you help me zip up the back?”

I folded the white envelope in half and shoved it into my jeans’ pocket. It would have to wait. Probably nothing important anyway.

Ruby Day and I left for Mama’s just a few minutes later. Ruby Day was a quick dresser, and I didn’t bother to change out of the clothes I was wearing. I helped Ruby Day button up her peacoat, and I buttoned mine. I managed to slip the envelope into my coat pocket without Ruby Day seeing me.

The day was bright but cold, with not a single cloud in the sky—unusual for October. The storm left a bright, clear day behind, with a sky so blue it seemed painted on—like a watercolor—and the air carried that nutty, brown smell of autumn. The sun felt good on my shoulders as we walked down the street. I thought about asking Ruby Day about the envelope, but before I could the twins jumped out from behind some bushes. “You coming home, Luna?” they said.

We stopped fast. Ruby Day almost tripped over her feet, and I drew her arm close to mine. “Don’t do that, you two,” I said. “You startled Ruby Day—and me.”

“Ah, we’re sorry,” said April. “But how ‘bout it, Luna? You coming home?”

“For Sunday supper,” Ruby Day said.

“Mama’s making chicken and dumplings,” said June. Then she grabbed April’s hand and they ran off toward the house. I smiled because I guess I kind of missed them—in a way.

Delores sat on the front porch steps. She wore a blue skirt with a white sweater and white knee-high socks and brown and white saddle shoes from Buster Brown. She looked like she was waiting for someone. Probably Carl Yeager.

“Well, look what the cat dragged in,” Delores said.

“Hey, Delores. Waiting for a bus?” I said.

“I’ve been invited to Carl’s for Sunday supper. Daddy said I could go on account of you and Ru—” She looked at Ruby Day and smiled with that fake smile of hers. “Afternoon, Ruby Day.”

“Afternoon, Delores. You look so pretty.”

Delores straightened her back. “Why thank you, Ruby Day. And you look very pretty too.”

I knew she didn’t mean it.

“Anyhoo,” Delores said, “Daddy told me I could go to Carl’s house on account of you and Ruby Day coming, and that way there’d be more room at the table, but I think they just don’t want me there.”

“How come you think that?” I asked.

“I heard Mama and Daddy talking about you and
Ruby Day and someone named Sapphire—what a crazy name. I don’t think any of you want me there.”

I smiled and tightened my grip on Ruby Day’s hand. “Don’t take it too personal, Delores, but you know how you can be.”

“What? How can I be?”

“Let’s just say you don’t have any trouble saying what’s on your mind, and sometimes that can be—”

“All right, all right. I get it. Have a nice supper.” She said the last part in her snooty voice. Then she moved a little to the left and let us past her up the steps.

“Have a good time,” I said.

“Oh, I will. I always have a good time with Carl. He’s … dreamy.”

I shook my head and felt my eyes roll in their sockets.

I pushed open the door and breathed deep. There was nothing like the aroma of Mama’s cooking—no matter what she was making. I think my Mama was the best cook in Makeshift County and maybe even all of Pennsylvania. The other mothers were always coming to Mama and asking her opinion on recipes or for directions on how to pluck a pheasant or make a meatloaf or mashed potatoes. Sometimes I thought she should have gone to some fancy cooking school like they had in Paris and become a famous chef.

Sometimes when I went to the library, or the Bookmobile came into town, I checked out cookbooks
for Mama so she could try out new recipes. Once she made something she called crepes with strawberries and whipped cream. I didn’t think there was any recipe Mama couldn’t make.

When we reached the kitchen, I heard her singing “How Great Thou Art.” Mama had a nice voice too.

“I like to hear singing,” Ruby Day said. “It makes my heart glad.”

Polly Dog came bounding down the steps with her tail wagging a mile a minute. I crouched down and hugged her with all my might. “I miss you too, girl.” She licked my cheek.

Mama walked into the living room drying her hands on her apron. She chose her autumn apron decorated with pumpkins and green vines and squash, which matched her Sunday dress.

“Luna, Ruby Day,” she said. “Supper will be ready in just a minute or two. Sit and rest a bit.”

“Where’s Daddy?” I asked. “Taking his nap?”

“Yes,” Mama said. “Nothing’s really changed around here. Daddy is still Daddy. He’ll be down in plenty of time.”

She was right about that. Daddy had an uncanny knack for waking from his Sunday nap and walking into the dining room at the precise moment Mama put the main course—a roast or a stew or whatever it was—on the hot plate on the dining room table.

Mama went back to the kitchen and to her singing, so
Ruby Day and I sat on the couch. It was old and smelled a little bit from years of spills and animals lounging on it. But it was comfortable and just plain good to sit on again. It felt so nice to be in my old house. I loved our living room, and I will confess that I missed its spaciousness sometimes. Ruby Day’s house was a postage stamp in comparison. But Mama always said with six children and a dog running around, she needed a big house. Thinking about it though, I was glad I only had to clean Ruby Day’s place.

Jasper came bounding down the stairs. “Luna,” he called. And then he tackled me. “You come for Sunday supper?”

“Yep. How ya doin’, Jasper?”

He settled himself down and looked at Ruby Day. “She staying too?”

“Yes,” I said.

“Okay,” Jasper said. “Luna, I found a turtle down at the creek. Mama let me keep him in a bucket out back, but just for a while. Then I had to let him go.”

“That’s nice.”

The front door swung open. “Mama,” Delores called. “I’m leaving.” She didn’t wait for an answer, but then again, she never did.

Mama came into the living room. “Was that Delores?”

“Yes, Mama, I guess Carl came by and got her in that old jalopy of his. I don’t like him.”

“Now, now, Luna. Let’s not judge. He’s a nice boy.”

“Must be. He puts up with Delores,” I said.

Ruby Day giggled like I hadn’t heard her giggle since before Sapphire blew into town. It was good to hear.

“Now that’s more like it,” Mama said. “Supper is ready. Would you call the twins, Luna? You can come with me, Ruby Day.”

Mama took Ruby Day’s hand and led her into the dining room. I stepped out onto the porch and called for April and June at the top of my lungs. They were probably swinging from some tree branches down the road.

But Sunday supper was not something anyone wanted to miss, and they came running quicker than bugs on roses. April had something in her hands. “Look what I found, Luna. Look.”

It was an itty-bitty garter snake.

“You put that down, April.”

“No, I wanna show Mama. I caught him all by myself.”

April dashed through the front door, and I followed. Polly barked like crazy at her and the snake and tried to corral April near the front door. But April pushed her aside. “Look, Mama. A snake!”

“A snake,” called Mama. “You toss that thing outside this
instant.”

“Oh, cool,” hollered Jasper. “Let me see him.”

“Come on, you two,” I said. “Let the snake go. Poor thing. You’re gonna kill it.”

Polly barked and jumped, trying to get the snake.

“Go on, now. Mama said to toss it outside.”

“Aw, gee,” April said. “I want to keep him. Mama let Jasper keep the turtle.”

Ruby Day walked in, and she leaned over to peek at the snake. “Mason used to catch snakes sometimes. That one’s kind of cute.” April beamed up at Ruby Day, and Ruby smiled back.

That was when Mama came back to the living room. “Well, I don’t think it’s cute, and I won’t keep a snake. Now do as I say if you want any supper.”

April stamped her foot and took the snake outside.

After the snake was disposed of, I sat next to Ruby Day, who was sitting in Delores’s usual spot. Everyone else took their usual seats. As if on cue, Daddy walked into the room the exact moment Mama set the steaming crock of chicken and dumplings on the table.

Daddy sat at the head of the table, closest to the stew.

“Looks good, Louise,” Daddy said. Then we all joined hands.

“Heavenly Father,” Daddy said. “We thank thee for this food and for thy goodness. We thank thee for our guest, Ruby Day, and for Luna, who came to eat with us this fine Sunday afternoon. We ask that you bless this food to our bodies, and our bodies to thy service. In Jesus’ name, amen.”

Then we dropped hands and started serving food. The children chitter-chattered and Mama passed rolls and butter and a bowl of peas around.

Ruby Day filled her plate with stew and peas and ate like tomorrow wasn’t coming. It did my heart good to see her enjoy Mama’s cooking. I enjoyed it as well. Mama made the best dumplings. I loved to watch her make them. She’d mix the flour and milk and salt and then drop the dumplings one by one onto the bubbling stew. The blobs always sank to the bottom like small, white rocks, but then something magical happened, and they turned light and fluffy and rose to the top. That’s how you knew they were done. Light and airy, Mama called them. Daddy called them delicious, and always smiled when he ate them.

“So, how come Ruby Day is eatin’ with us?” Jasper asked.

“She was invited,” Mama said. “Now finish up and then you all go outside to play. Luna and Ruby Day and Daddy and me got some discussing to do.”

“Is Luna moving back?” April asked.

“No,” I said. “I’m still living at Ruby Day’s, and I think I always will.”

Daddy swallowed hard. “Well, until you go to college.”

I looked at him and watched his tattoo ripple. “I think I should go to a college around here, Daddy. That way I can still live with Ruby Day.”

He glared at me. Mama touched his arm. “Not now, Justus. Eat your meal.”

Daddy pointed his fork at me. “We’ll talk about this, Luna Fish.”

Ruby Day dropped her fork and started to cry.

“Now see what you did, Daddy,” I said.

Ruby Day shook her head. “It ain’t that, Luna. You can go to college. Mason was all set to go but …” Her voice trailed off into a whisper.

Mama clapped her hands. “Okay. Children. Out the door.”

“But I ain’t done,” Jasper said.

“Dessert on the porch,” Mama said.

“Oh, boy,” said April and June. “Dessert on the porch.” They held hands and skipped outside. Jasper followed quickly behind, chewing on a chunk of chicken.

I wiped my mouth with my napkin—Mama always used her best cloth napkins on Sunday. Today’s were brown with white eyelet edging. It made me wonder what kind of napkins Aunt Sapphire used. She probably had a servant to wipe her mouth for her. The thought made me wince at first, and then I thought of someone wiping her face like she was a baby.

And then I thought about the envelope in my coat pocket.

Mama cleared some of the plates. When she started getting close to Daddy, he said, “I’d like to finish my
meal.” He gave Mama a quick half smile. “Ruby Day’s problem will still be a problem five minutes from now.”

“Don’t make your husband go fast,” Ruby Day said. “I’m sorry I got everybody so … so out of kilter. It’s just Sapphire. She gets me sorta riled sometimes. Always did.”

“Don’t you fret, honey,” Mama said. She put her hand on Ruby Day’s shoulder. “I’ll go bring the children their pudding while Justus finishes his meal.” Then she looked at Daddy. “I wasn’t going to take your plate, dear. I know how you like your chicken and dumplings.”

Daddy winked. “I sure do, Louise.”

Mama kissed his cheek, and my heart gladdened on account I thought it was nice that Mama and Daddy loved each other so much that even dumplings could make them smile.

When supper ended and the dishes were cleared, Mama said we could wait on washing until after we talked more about Ruby Day’s problem.

Daddy sat in his chair, Mama in her rocker, and Ruby Day and I sat next to each other on the blue sofa. Jasper ran back inside, but not for long. Mama shooed him out quicker than a fly in summer. “Go on, boy,” she said. “This ain’t none of your beeswax.”

We were all quiet a minute or two until Daddy started. “Now what is the trouble? Will someone please
explain to me why Ruby Day is so all-fired upset? And what does Aunt Emerald—”

“Sapphire,” I said. “I only know she’s fixing to take Ruby Day back to Philadelphia and put her back in the home for the feebleminded. Ruby Day believes it too.”

Daddy’s eyes grew wide. “Feebleminded? Ruby Day is not feebleminded. I hate that word. She’s just a little slower on the draw than some of us—not most, but some.”

Ruby Day smiled.

“But that’s what she’s fixin’ to do,” I said. “She’s fixing to put Ruby Day back in the Henry R. Mason Home for the Feebleminded.”

“I heard you the first time, Luna,” Daddy said. “But I just don’t know if there is anything we can or should do.”

“Can you at least talk to the woman?” Mama asked. “Tell her that Ruby Day is doing fine. That Luna is moved in and helping.”