Read Online Playing by the Rules: A Novel by Elaine Meryl Brown - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Elaine Meryl Brown
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don’t need more money. You got plenty of money. Just looking for trouble finding things to worry yourself about for no reason.”
“All I can say is, put the community first,” offered Ole Miss Johnson, taking a break from her food as if she had just lost her appetite. “The rest will take care of itself. Ain’t no need in dividing folks, splitting something in two when it’s got more strength as one.” She patted the corners of her mouth with her napkin as if her cheeks hurt. “Don’t be fooled by nobody.”
“I’ll say amen to that,” said Sadie, trying to keep the food inside her mouth.
“Me too,” agreed Theola, winking at Clement.
“Depends on what you mean by oppressed,” said Vernelle. Thinking about what Ole Miss Johnson said earlier in the conversation about colored women being oppressed by colored men. “Rufus with his loud self tries to keep me down with the volume of his voice, shouting over me like what he got to say is more important,like I’m standing in a room on the other side of the house. That man makes me half-deaf, forcing my ears to put up with that racket. I need the right to peace and quiet. Shucks. If I can get them rights, now that’s something I’ll sign up for.”
While everyone fell out laughing at the table, Medford leaned over and whispered to Louise.
“I don’t oppress you, do I baby?” He was having a sudden need for her attention.
It seemed to Nana as if this was the first time the two had spoken since they arrived.
“Not at all,” Louise replied, trying to put on a smile. “I’m not talking about you.” She playfully nudged his arm, forgetting about her attitude. Regardless of his having another woman in his life, she still wanted a friendship between them.
“We’ve always been liberated,” said Nana. “As far as I’m concerned, I don’t know why in heaven’s name we need an organized group to take on that mission.”
“The bottom line is, y’all are just trying to avoid being in the kitchen,” Billy said to his sister. “That’s what it all boils down to. That’s all it is… just admit it. Well, if you want to know the truth, kitchen work is y’all’s job.” He waited for the backlash to hit him. There were gasps from the women, including Nana, who was scowling, but he didn’t care; he was just getting started. “And y’all are better suited for that kind of work than us men. Y’all got them little tiny hands that can get the grease out of the corners of pots real good, arms slim enough to reach in and out of ovens, find food in the back of the refrigerator. Y’all are better at organizing all those cans and jars in the cabinets, polishing the silverware, putting it back into place, and it’s our job to come along and mess everything back up. Ain’t that right, fellas?”
None of the men at the table dared to agree with Billy. He was on his own.
Elvira nudged her husband hard with her elbow.
“Ow,” said Billy.
“Can you punch him for me too?” asked Louise.
“Hey, if the system works, it don’t need fixing.”
Elvira hit her husband again.
“Ouch!” exclaimed Billy.
“Seriously,” said Louise, when she caught Nana’s attention. “The double standard on the sexes is problematic—even here in Lemon City.”
“If you’re complaining about how sex is,” Billy snickered, “your boyfriend ain’t taking care of business.”
“I’m speaking in terms of compensation and promotion,” added Louise.
“Not at the dinner table, Billy. Not in front of company,” said Nana. “Not on Christmas Day. You know better.”
“Sorry, Nana.” Billy sat back in his chair, making an effort to cover his laugh behind his napkin.
Nana just shook her head. “Bootsie, you still singing with the Pursuit of Happiness Jubilee Choir?”
“Yes, Ma’am. In fact, we have a concert New Year’s Eve at the church. Would love for y’all to come.”
“We’ll be there,” said Nana. “So will Medford. And Louise will be
“All I can say is, put the community first,” offered Ole Miss Johnson, taking a break from her food as if she had just lost her appetite. “The rest will take care of itself. Ain’t no need in dividing folks, splitting something in two when it’s got more strength as one.” She patted the corners of her mouth with her napkin as if her cheeks hurt. “Don’t be fooled by nobody.”
“I’ll say amen to that,” said Sadie, trying to keep the food inside her mouth.
“Me too,” agreed Theola, winking at Clement.
“Depends on what you mean by oppressed,” said Vernelle. Thinking about what Ole Miss Johnson said earlier in the conversation about colored women being oppressed by colored men. “Rufus with his loud self tries to keep me down with the volume of his voice, shouting over me like what he got to say is more important,like I’m standing in a room on the other side of the house. That man makes me half-deaf, forcing my ears to put up with that racket. I need the right to peace and quiet. Shucks. If I can get them rights, now that’s something I’ll sign up for.”
While everyone fell out laughing at the table, Medford leaned over and whispered to Louise.
“I don’t oppress you, do I baby?” He was having a sudden need for her attention.
It seemed to Nana as if this was the first time the two had spoken since they arrived.
“Not at all,” Louise replied, trying to put on a smile. “I’m not talking about you.” She playfully nudged his arm, forgetting about her attitude. Regardless of his having another woman in his life, she still wanted a friendship between them.
“We’ve always been liberated,” said Nana. “As far as I’m concerned, I don’t know why in heaven’s name we need an organized group to take on that mission.”
“The bottom line is, y’all are just trying to avoid being in the kitchen,” Billy said to his sister. “That’s what it all boils down to. That’s all it is… just admit it. Well, if you want to know the truth, kitchen work is y’all’s job.” He waited for the backlash to hit him. There were gasps from the women, including Nana, who was scowling, but he didn’t care; he was just getting started. “And y’all are better suited for that kind of work than us men. Y’all got them little tiny hands that can get the grease out of the corners of pots real good, arms slim enough to reach in and out of ovens, find food in the back of the refrigerator. Y’all are better at organizing all those cans and jars in the cabinets, polishing the silverware, putting it back into place, and it’s our job to come along and mess everything back up. Ain’t that right, fellas?”
None of the men at the table dared to agree with Billy. He was on his own.
Elvira nudged her husband hard with her elbow.
“Ow,” said Billy.
“Can you punch him for me too?” asked Louise.
“Hey, if the system works, it don’t need fixing.”
Elvira hit her husband again.
“Ouch!” exclaimed Billy.
“Seriously,” said Louise, when she caught Nana’s attention. “The double standard on the sexes is problematic—even here in Lemon City.”
“If you’re complaining about how sex is,” Billy snickered, “your boyfriend ain’t taking care of business.”
“I’m speaking in terms of compensation and promotion,” added Louise.
“Not at the dinner table, Billy. Not in front of company,” said Nana. “Not on Christmas Day. You know better.”
“Sorry, Nana.” Billy sat back in his chair, making an effort to cover his laugh behind his napkin.
Nana just shook her head. “Bootsie, you still singing with the Pursuit of Happiness Jubilee Choir?”
“Yes, Ma’am. In fact, we have a concert New Year’s Eve at the church. Would love for y’all to come.”
“We’ll be there,” said Nana. “So will Medford. And Louise will be
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