Read Online Playing by the Rules: A Novel by Elaine Meryl Brown - Free Book Online
Authors: Elaine Meryl Brown
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Dolphins making it to the Super Bowl?”
Billy and Louise shook their heads.
“Nah, Granddaddy,” said Billy. “I just spent all my money on Christmas.”
“Me too,” Louise added.
“All I got to spend are words,” said Clement, putting his hands inside his pockets. “Money is something I keep to myself.”
The doorbell rang and Bootsie walked in with Ole Miss Johnson trailing behind. While Bootsie had been in the house just last week, Ole Miss Johnson hadn’t been under the Dunlap roof in over thirty years, even though she lived right next door. It seemed as if everyone stopped what they were doing to take in the spectacle of the fragile old lady emerging on foreign soil, which was as strange as witnessing concrete floating on water or seeing a mayfly in June. Judging by the quiet in the room, after welcoming her guests, Nana thought it was a good time to sit down to eat.
Once everyone was seated, Granddaddy folded his hands and said grace: “Dear Lord, thank you for bringing this family and their good friends together.” He squinted through one eye at Ole Miss Johnson. “Bless the food before us on this Christmas Day, and the fact that we don’t have to deal with Outsiders anymore. Amen.”
Granddaddy’s sensitivity to Outsiders increased about two years ago when his youngest grandchild, Faye, married one and all hell broke loose. Faye’s husband, Harry, had brought more problems with him than horseflies swarming around cow manure, and one day he turned up dead. His demise created even more chaos because Granddaddy and his family were under house arrest, considered suspects in Harry’s murder. Everyone at the table knew what Granddaddy was talking about as far as Outsiders were concerned.If another Outsider never showed up on his doorstep, it would probably be too soon.
When the clamor of sterling silver utensils against porcelain serving bowls, platters, and plates began, Louise launched into conversation. “Have y’all heard of the NBFO?” she asked, looking at Vernelle, who was the most likely to be on top of women’s and health issues. Everyone at the table seemed to quiet down in order to hear Vernelle speak.
Vernelle was a midwife who had birthed many healthy Lemon City babies. She had big, steady hands, and her arms looked as though they could extend through a long, dark tunnel and grab whatever was on the other side.
“Can’t say I have,” said Vernelle, reaching for the salt and pepper. “What’s that stand for?”
After hearing her response, the clatter at the dinner table returned to normal.
“Does it stand for New Brotherhood For Officers?” Billy offered. “For some kinda new police organization?” He stretched out his leg and the joint was so stiff that it popped on cue, as if adding punctuation to his sentence.
“It stands for …” Louise didn’t get a chance to finish her statement.
“No, no…don’t tell me,” Billy interrupted. “Let me guess.” Then he turned to his grandmother. “What you think, Nana? New Bread From Oven…Nothing But Fresh Olives.”
“Billy, quit acting stupid,” said Louise, giving him a disgusted look.
“Wait a minute. I’m not done.”
“Yes you are,” Louise replied.
“Medford, this one is for you, brother. “What about…New Boyfriend Follows Obsession.”
Medford looked at Billy and wondered if he not only read peopletheir rights, but also read their minds. Maybe he’d seen the ad in today’s Lemon City Chronicle , Medford thought.
“Nana, can you please stop him?”
Medford wanted to tell Billy to let his sister talk, but he knew better than to interfere with the siblings.
Billy was on a roll. “Clement, try this one on for size…Nicotine Burns Foul Odors.”
“Now that don’t make no kinda sense,” said Clement, looking beyond Theola, who was in his line of sight, all the way to Billy. “Now be a gentleman and let your sister tell her story.”
“Nana?” Louise pleaded.
“Alright… alright.
Billy and Louise shook their heads.
“Nah, Granddaddy,” said Billy. “I just spent all my money on Christmas.”
“Me too,” Louise added.
“All I got to spend are words,” said Clement, putting his hands inside his pockets. “Money is something I keep to myself.”
The doorbell rang and Bootsie walked in with Ole Miss Johnson trailing behind. While Bootsie had been in the house just last week, Ole Miss Johnson hadn’t been under the Dunlap roof in over thirty years, even though she lived right next door. It seemed as if everyone stopped what they were doing to take in the spectacle of the fragile old lady emerging on foreign soil, which was as strange as witnessing concrete floating on water or seeing a mayfly in June. Judging by the quiet in the room, after welcoming her guests, Nana thought it was a good time to sit down to eat.
Once everyone was seated, Granddaddy folded his hands and said grace: “Dear Lord, thank you for bringing this family and their good friends together.” He squinted through one eye at Ole Miss Johnson. “Bless the food before us on this Christmas Day, and the fact that we don’t have to deal with Outsiders anymore. Amen.”
Granddaddy’s sensitivity to Outsiders increased about two years ago when his youngest grandchild, Faye, married one and all hell broke loose. Faye’s husband, Harry, had brought more problems with him than horseflies swarming around cow manure, and one day he turned up dead. His demise created even more chaos because Granddaddy and his family were under house arrest, considered suspects in Harry’s murder. Everyone at the table knew what Granddaddy was talking about as far as Outsiders were concerned.If another Outsider never showed up on his doorstep, it would probably be too soon.
When the clamor of sterling silver utensils against porcelain serving bowls, platters, and plates began, Louise launched into conversation. “Have y’all heard of the NBFO?” she asked, looking at Vernelle, who was the most likely to be on top of women’s and health issues. Everyone at the table seemed to quiet down in order to hear Vernelle speak.
Vernelle was a midwife who had birthed many healthy Lemon City babies. She had big, steady hands, and her arms looked as though they could extend through a long, dark tunnel and grab whatever was on the other side.
“Can’t say I have,” said Vernelle, reaching for the salt and pepper. “What’s that stand for?”
After hearing her response, the clatter at the dinner table returned to normal.
“Does it stand for New Brotherhood For Officers?” Billy offered. “For some kinda new police organization?” He stretched out his leg and the joint was so stiff that it popped on cue, as if adding punctuation to his sentence.
“It stands for …” Louise didn’t get a chance to finish her statement.
“No, no…don’t tell me,” Billy interrupted. “Let me guess.” Then he turned to his grandmother. “What you think, Nana? New Bread From Oven…Nothing But Fresh Olives.”
“Billy, quit acting stupid,” said Louise, giving him a disgusted look.
“Wait a minute. I’m not done.”
“Yes you are,” Louise replied.
“Medford, this one is for you, brother. “What about…New Boyfriend Follows Obsession.”
Medford looked at Billy and wondered if he not only read peopletheir rights, but also read their minds. Maybe he’d seen the ad in today’s Lemon City Chronicle , Medford thought.
“Nana, can you please stop him?”
Medford wanted to tell Billy to let his sister talk, but he knew better than to interfere with the siblings.
Billy was on a roll. “Clement, try this one on for size…Nicotine Burns Foul Odors.”
“Now that don’t make no kinda sense,” said Clement, looking beyond Theola, who was in his line of sight, all the way to Billy. “Now be a gentleman and let your sister tell her story.”
“Nana?” Louise pleaded.
“Alright… alright.
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