Read Online Charlotte Figg Takes Over Paradise by Joyce Magnin - Free Book Online
Authors: Joyce Magnin
Tags: A Novel of Bright's Pond
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opening the door, so I had to quell a twinge of trepidation as the door opened a smidgen.
"Yes?" Suzy's small, sad voice sneaked from the shadow.
"Suzy." I tried my best to look her straight in the eye because Lillian DeSalle always said that you learn the most about a person when you look them in the eye. I spoke quickly because there was no telling how long Suzy would allow me to stand there.
"I just wanted to say hi," I said.
"You looking for Fergus?"
"No, I just wanted to say hi to you."
Suzy pulled the door open another inch and revealed a black and purple bruise under her left eye. "Are you okay, Suzy? Maybe you should see Marlabeth. That looks like a nasty shiner."
"Fergus will be home some time after lunch," she said. Then she closed the door.
I walked away with a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach. Lucky sidled next to me and licked my hand. "I know, boy. Something's just not right."
By the end of the second week of March I had delivered a hand-written flyer to every trailer in Paradise.
Calling all Women!
Come to the first meeting of
The Paradise Trailer Park
Softball Team
To be held April 3rd at Number 19 Mango Street
7:30 PM
No experience necessary
Bring your babies and kids if need be
On the evening of April 3rd I set out a tray of cheese and crackers on the coffee table. I chose a tray with watermelon slices painted on it. I opened large bottles of soda and juice and set them on the kitchen table beside a stack of Dixie cups and small paper napkins. Rose brought a bucket of ice and a Jell-O mold with bits of fruit and a can of Reddi-wip.
I baked three apple pies that morning, the deep-dish kind with a flaky crust that melted in your mouth. I sprayed magnolia-scented Glade around the trailer because some recent rain had brought the dead animal/nicotine smell back in places and I couldn't abide that. Especially not with company coming.
Company. It was the first time in years that I expected company in my home. Rose and Asa came by, but this had the potential to be an actual party. Herman never let me have company over unless it was Midge, and she never stayed very long.
I watched the kitchen clock and waited. Seven-thirty ticked past and only Rose and Asa and I were there. By seven-fortyfive I started to think that no one was coming and suggested we crack open the pie ourselves. I feared my dream of softball had struck out.
"We won't make much of a team," I said. "And you, Asa, I was hoping you'd be a coach, even if you only have the one arm. You can still coach softball, can't you? But now it doesn't look like it matters. No one is coming."
"I won't make much of batting coach since I only got the one hand to wrap around the bat but I think I could coach the pitcher well enough."
"Pitcher," I said. "We'll need a stellar pitcher. I could pitch myself but—here I go talking like we have a team."
Rose, who had been quiet for some minutes nodded toward the front door. "You'll want to answer that."
Lucky went lickety-split, slipping and sliding, and leaped up on the door like he had been expecting a long-lost friend.
"You don't suppose someone's come out for softball, do you?"
Rose turned her palms upward and said, "Thank you."
I pulled Lucky away from the door and opened it. Four women stood outside in the ankle-deep glow of my path lights.
"Oh, my goodness gracious," I said. "Welcome to my home. Come on in. I have pie and cheese and soda."
The women moved slowly, but soon they stood in my living room and my heart beat like a trip hammer. I was so excited, I had to take a breath.
"Help yourself to cheese and crackers and pie; of course, I always have pie. Rose brought plenty of ice for the soda and there's coffee in the pot."
One woman, a short, stubby lady wearing gold clam diggers and a sweatshirt with the word Rascal on it, stepped forward."I need to tell you that our husbands ain't going to like this, but we came anyway so I think you better make your speech
"Yes?" Suzy's small, sad voice sneaked from the shadow.
"Suzy." I tried my best to look her straight in the eye because Lillian DeSalle always said that you learn the most about a person when you look them in the eye. I spoke quickly because there was no telling how long Suzy would allow me to stand there.
"I just wanted to say hi," I said.
"You looking for Fergus?"
"No, I just wanted to say hi to you."
Suzy pulled the door open another inch and revealed a black and purple bruise under her left eye. "Are you okay, Suzy? Maybe you should see Marlabeth. That looks like a nasty shiner."
"Fergus will be home some time after lunch," she said. Then she closed the door.
I walked away with a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach. Lucky sidled next to me and licked my hand. "I know, boy. Something's just not right."
By the end of the second week of March I had delivered a hand-written flyer to every trailer in Paradise.
Calling all Women!
Come to the first meeting of
The Paradise Trailer Park
Softball Team
To be held April 3rd at Number 19 Mango Street
7:30 PM
No experience necessary
Bring your babies and kids if need be
On the evening of April 3rd I set out a tray of cheese and crackers on the coffee table. I chose a tray with watermelon slices painted on it. I opened large bottles of soda and juice and set them on the kitchen table beside a stack of Dixie cups and small paper napkins. Rose brought a bucket of ice and a Jell-O mold with bits of fruit and a can of Reddi-wip.
I baked three apple pies that morning, the deep-dish kind with a flaky crust that melted in your mouth. I sprayed magnolia-scented Glade around the trailer because some recent rain had brought the dead animal/nicotine smell back in places and I couldn't abide that. Especially not with company coming.
Company. It was the first time in years that I expected company in my home. Rose and Asa came by, but this had the potential to be an actual party. Herman never let me have company over unless it was Midge, and she never stayed very long.
I watched the kitchen clock and waited. Seven-thirty ticked past and only Rose and Asa and I were there. By seven-fortyfive I started to think that no one was coming and suggested we crack open the pie ourselves. I feared my dream of softball had struck out.
"We won't make much of a team," I said. "And you, Asa, I was hoping you'd be a coach, even if you only have the one arm. You can still coach softball, can't you? But now it doesn't look like it matters. No one is coming."
"I won't make much of batting coach since I only got the one hand to wrap around the bat but I think I could coach the pitcher well enough."
"Pitcher," I said. "We'll need a stellar pitcher. I could pitch myself but—here I go talking like we have a team."
Rose, who had been quiet for some minutes nodded toward the front door. "You'll want to answer that."
Lucky went lickety-split, slipping and sliding, and leaped up on the door like he had been expecting a long-lost friend.
"You don't suppose someone's come out for softball, do you?"
Rose turned her palms upward and said, "Thank you."
I pulled Lucky away from the door and opened it. Four women stood outside in the ankle-deep glow of my path lights.
"Oh, my goodness gracious," I said. "Welcome to my home. Come on in. I have pie and cheese and soda."
The women moved slowly, but soon they stood in my living room and my heart beat like a trip hammer. I was so excited, I had to take a breath.
"Help yourself to cheese and crackers and pie; of course, I always have pie. Rose brought plenty of ice for the soda and there's coffee in the pot."
One woman, a short, stubby lady wearing gold clam diggers and a sweatshirt with the word Rascal on it, stepped forward."I need to tell you that our husbands ain't going to like this, but we came anyway so I think you better make your speech
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