emergencies.
"I think your budget is a close approximation of your monthly
expenses. With both your current salaries, you could get by. But if Elva stops
work, y’all will lose her income, and there is little you can cut out of your
budget to compensate," I said, running my finger down the sheet of paper
containing the itemized list. "Even if Elva has the baby and is able to
continue working, where are you going to get the money for a babysitter, food,
and clothing for the baby?"
"I don't know?" Gualter shrugged and looked at Elva as if she
might have the answer.
"Life is simpler when you're single. You have nothing to worry about
except yourself, and you are both still living at home and have lots of extra
money, thanks to your parents. I'm not suggesting you don't get married nor
have children. I'm trying to help prepare you for your new life. Getting
adjusted to living together will require compromises on both your parts and
will be stressful without money problems."
Gualter looked at Elva, smiled, and shook his head negatively.
"I know the sex seems attractive, and I'm sure it will be. But there
are many other things you haven't considered because you don't see each other
more than a few hours a day," I said realizing I had no experience living
with another person full time. "How long does it take you to get ready in
the bathroom in the morning, what do you like to eat and when, which programs
do you like to watch, when do you like to go to bed… The list is long and complicated,
and many compromises will have to be made. Adding money worries to the list
could be more than you can handle. One more session, and I'll conduct the
marriage ceremony. I want you each to make a separate list of your current
daily activities and sit down and discuss them. Don't forget your ideas on how
to bring up your child when you have one, how many would you like, concerns
about Vodou, potential conflict with your in-laws. Bring your list with you
next time. I want to see them and hear any concerns you've discovered. Be
honest. You can avoid a lot of future problems if you address any concerns now
rather than later."
They had been smiling when they had entered but not when they left. I
hated to be so pragmatic, but they would get enough glowing optimism from
everyone else. Better they approach the marriage with realistic expectations. Gualter
was looking at the frequent sex, and Elva the children she'd have. But too soon
they would find marriage was a bit more complicated.
* * *
"Good Morning, Mambo Renee," Harry Bishop said as he entered
the shop. He was a big, heavyset man with an ever-present smile on his ebony
face that softened the intimidating impression from his size and shaved head. “Have
you seen Ellen yet? She was looking for a good fortuneteller, and I recommended
you. She seems very worried, which is unusual for her."
"Yes, I did. Thank you for recommending me." I think. Life was getting complicated since
Granny's suicide. But what was I to do? I had no intention of giving up Vodou
or giving up being a mambo. And a mambo has a God-given responsibility to help
people whether they believe in Vodou or not.
"I also recommend you to a fellow named… Ken, I think it was. He was
asking around for a good fortuneteller. He claimed someone had mentioned my
name to him. Asked a lot of questions… almost like he was investigating
you." He gave me a hard look, before shaking his head like he'd just woke
up. "I wonder if you could do a reading for me?"
"Let me get my calendar." I had nothing scheduled for the next
two days. "I'm free tonight and tomorrow if that's all right or next week
if it isn't."
"Tomorrow night would be good. Seven OK?"
After I nodded, he turned and left, seemingly deep in thought. I had been
right. Ken and Sheila were using my client list to check me out, trying to
determine whether I could really tell the future or not. I could only hope it
proved inconclusive.
Later that day, two Locos entered the
"I think your budget is a close approximation of your monthly
expenses. With both your current salaries, you could get by. But if Elva stops
work, y’all will lose her income, and there is little you can cut out of your
budget to compensate," I said, running my finger down the sheet of paper
containing the itemized list. "Even if Elva has the baby and is able to
continue working, where are you going to get the money for a babysitter, food,
and clothing for the baby?"
"I don't know?" Gualter shrugged and looked at Elva as if she
might have the answer.
"Life is simpler when you're single. You have nothing to worry about
except yourself, and you are both still living at home and have lots of extra
money, thanks to your parents. I'm not suggesting you don't get married nor
have children. I'm trying to help prepare you for your new life. Getting
adjusted to living together will require compromises on both your parts and
will be stressful without money problems."
Gualter looked at Elva, smiled, and shook his head negatively.
"I know the sex seems attractive, and I'm sure it will be. But there
are many other things you haven't considered because you don't see each other
more than a few hours a day," I said realizing I had no experience living
with another person full time. "How long does it take you to get ready in
the bathroom in the morning, what do you like to eat and when, which programs
do you like to watch, when do you like to go to bed… The list is long and complicated,
and many compromises will have to be made. Adding money worries to the list
could be more than you can handle. One more session, and I'll conduct the
marriage ceremony. I want you each to make a separate list of your current
daily activities and sit down and discuss them. Don't forget your ideas on how
to bring up your child when you have one, how many would you like, concerns
about Vodou, potential conflict with your in-laws. Bring your list with you
next time. I want to see them and hear any concerns you've discovered. Be
honest. You can avoid a lot of future problems if you address any concerns now
rather than later."
They had been smiling when they had entered but not when they left. I
hated to be so pragmatic, but they would get enough glowing optimism from
everyone else. Better they approach the marriage with realistic expectations. Gualter
was looking at the frequent sex, and Elva the children she'd have. But too soon
they would find marriage was a bit more complicated.
* * *
"Good Morning, Mambo Renee," Harry Bishop said as he entered
the shop. He was a big, heavyset man with an ever-present smile on his ebony
face that softened the intimidating impression from his size and shaved head. “Have
you seen Ellen yet? She was looking for a good fortuneteller, and I recommended
you. She seems very worried, which is unusual for her."
"Yes, I did. Thank you for recommending me." I think. Life was getting complicated since
Granny's suicide. But what was I to do? I had no intention of giving up Vodou
or giving up being a mambo. And a mambo has a God-given responsibility to help
people whether they believe in Vodou or not.
"I also recommend you to a fellow named… Ken, I think it was. He was
asking around for a good fortuneteller. He claimed someone had mentioned my
name to him. Asked a lot of questions… almost like he was investigating
you." He gave me a hard look, before shaking his head like he'd just woke
up. "I wonder if you could do a reading for me?"
"Let me get my calendar." I had nothing scheduled for the next
two days. "I'm free tonight and tomorrow if that's all right or next week
if it isn't."
"Tomorrow night would be good. Seven OK?"
After I nodded, he turned and left, seemingly deep in thought. I had been
right. Ken and Sheila were using my client list to check me out, trying to
determine whether I could really tell the future or not. I could only hope it
proved inconclusive.
Later that day, two Locos entered the
Similar Books
