Ain't Nobody Nobody by Heather Harper Ellett

Author:Heather Harper Ellett [Ellett, Heather Harper]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781947993709
Publisher: Polis Books
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Just as Mayhill slammed a strange boy into the side of an old black Datsun, Birdie cut a slice of Mr. Boudreaux’s watermelon for breakfast and handed it to Onie in her recliner. Birdie stared out the window into the driveway and willed Bradley’s truck to appear. Across the pasture, Mayhill’s truck was gone. For a moment, she considered he had gone missing too, and an ache of concern sprung up like a fever blister, all surprise and annoyance.

Onie’s television was off, which was a promising start to the day, but the sound of her slurping and gnawing at the watermelon was eerily reminiscent of hogs at a trough. It was like she was tasting it for the first time, all ruby-mouthed and happy. It was the loudest Onie had been in a year and had the welcomed side effect of making her look alive.

“Do you remember a man who hung out with Dad and Dale Mackey?” Birdie settled on the arm of Onie’s recliner and watched her closely. “He started coming around after the trees died.”

“Rudy Lyons,” Onie said, pink dripping down her chin. “He wrecked the bailer first thing one morning. Still drunk from the night before.”

It was a surprisingly detailed response, though wrong entirely.

“No,” Birdie said. “This man came up here with Dad and Dale.”

“Rudy Lyons is a good one,” Onie said. “Could write pretty well, considering. His mama was totally illiterate. Good people though.”

“Onie, I’m not asking about Rudy Lyons. I know Rudy Lyons,” Birdie said. “I’m asking about a very specific man. I don’t know his name, but he had a tattoo.”

Onie wiped her hands on her skirt and turned on the television. This irked Birdie and she wondered if she should just drop it, but Onie was talkative, and in one glorious morning of them sharing a watermelon, the house seemed less tinted with loneliness. A back and forth exchange! An honest-to-God conversation, snuggled up on the recliner! She mentally noted to feed Onie watermelon daily. Maybe it was the sugar.

“This man came up here one time with Dad and Dale,” Birdie said over the television. “Bradley didn’t know him. I had never seen him before.”

“Cat on a hot tin roof,” Onie said suddenly.

“What?” Birdie asked, not sure she heard right.

“Cat on a hot tin roof.”

Birdie searched Onie’s face, suddenly sure she was speaking in code. She scoured her memory. Yes, yes…Cat on a Hot Tin Roof…Tennessee Williams…or was she referencing an actual cat…there was a feral cat named Emerson…

Then Birdie followed Onie’s gaze to the television. Wheel of Fortune. Six words. O’s bubbling up across the spaces.

“The damn puzzle!” Birdie said. “CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF.”

Onie grimaced but didn’t admonish her language, though Birdie desperately wanted her to do just that kind of thing right then, slap her face, say, "Watch your mouth, child!" To say a normal, predictable adult thing right then (though, let’s be honest, Onie had never said normal things). All Birdie wanted was a sane adult around, to be taken care of.

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