The phone rang and she thought it was probably Cliff, good she thought, they should arrange to get together for a talk.
“Hello?”
“Hey, Little Flower, it’s Blackie.”
“Hi Blackie, Is something up?”
“I’m just calling you to remind you about the Tribal Council meeting tomorrow night,” he said.
“I remember you’re all coming here, right?”
“If it works for you,” he said, “It beats heating up our conference room for just an hour or two, besides your coffee and refreshments are much better.”
“Great,” she said. “I’ll see you tomorrow night, Blackie.”
“Bye, see you then.”
Blackie was a medical doctor and acting chief of the tribe. The real chief was a very elderly man who was consulted on all decisions and served as ceremonial leader. Abby had only met him on official occasions, but she noticed that his eyes would always light up when the children sang, or recited, or put on a play. She thought of him as a ‘grandfather’ in her mind.
Blackie had asked her out when they first met but she had decided it was best to keep the relationship on a professional level. He was a big, handsome man who drove a sports car and had a reputation as a ladies’ man.
When she teased him about all of his lady friends, he would say with a completely serious face, that he was diligently seeking a wife. She would burst into laughter.
They had become real buddies and he often helped her with background for her articles and spoke to her classes. He took her hiking and even took her fishing to some of his secret spots.
Once, just last year in the early spring, they were hiking in the redwoods and found a beautiful little flower blooming bravely in the cold. Blackie told her it was a wild orchid.
Blackie must have a new woman in his life because they hadn’t been hiking since then. Maybe she would catch him between women sometime and they could go hiking again.
She sat sipping Irish Breakfast tea from a mug and watched swirling, wispy fog begin to break up under the sun. Biting her lower lip and breathing in the rich aroma of the tea she began reading through the papers. The first one turned out to be Ben Tanaka’s. The papers were number coded but she recognized his work. Good work, Ben, she thought to herself as she scanned the grade into her computer and added it to the list of grades that she would fax to the campus office.
She read each paper thoroughly and followed the same procedure she had with Ben’s essay. Essay papers were harder to grade then objective tests which the computer on campus would score and grade but she thought essays were the best way to test the student’s effort over the whole term and their grasp of the subject. She was a popular professor but expected real work from her students and often got exceptional results.
It took all morning to grade the papers and then she remembered the list of craftsmen that she had promised Tom. Waif was asleep in the folds of her robe and grumbled as she got up and went downstairs for her address book. She made the list and before going back upstairs she put the casserole in the oven and set the timer.
Abby took a long, hot shower and the timer went off just as she was coming back down stairs. She was wearing a lime green, linen pants suit with a darker green and blue striped silk blouse. She removed the casserole from the oven just as she heard Tom’s knock on the back door.
He was dressed in casual slacks and shirt with a sweater slung over his shoulders. The sun brought out gold highlights in his hair and his eyes were shining with pleasure and anticipation.
He cocked his head, “Ready, professor?”
“Let me get my casserole snug and we’ll be on our way,” she said.
They settled into his jeep and she reminded him of the way to the old church. They drove down the bluff and through a few blocks of residential neighborhoods to the old church and parked in the dirt parking lot among pickups and other practical vehicles.
“Did I tell you how great you look today, green is definitely your color,” he said as he switched off the engine. “Was that your mother’s locket,” he asked?
Startled, she said, “Yes, I’m surprised you noticed it, I don’t think it’s very valuable.”
“It is to you, besides, I like older jewelry. I have some of Aunt Agatha’s.”
“Shall we go in,” he asked?
She grinned at him as he got out and waited while he went to the back of the jeep and retrieved a Styrofoam ice chest full of soft drinks.
They entered the church hall where long tables covered with checkered, paper tablecloths were burdened with crock pots, hot plates, and foil wrapped bowls and platters. Women of all ages, sizes, and shapes from tow head to gray haired, fussed at the food on the tables while the men were gathered in small knots at the far end of the hall. Children ran back and forth between the two groups and in and out of the church doors.
Tom stopped in his tracks and eyed the two groups, “I’d forgotten the division of the sexes, post puberty, that is,” he joked.
“Definitely not Los Angeles,” she laughed. “The men do seem to mix in well once the food is ready,” She remarked dryly.
“I just bet they do,” he said with a hint of sarcasm in his tone.
“Do I detect a feminist lurking in there somewhere,” she asked?
He winked, “Guess I’ll just mosey on down and discuss important stuff with the men folk.”
She giggled and punched him in the shoulder.
He pretended that he lost his grip on the ice chest and bobbled it. They both laughed as he pretended to regain his hold.
As they amused themselves a pretty, dark woman in a stylish suit and very high heels broke from a knot of women at the tables and headed directly toward.“Will you two behave,” she hissed, shaking her finger at them.
Tom almost collapsed at that and said sotto voce, “Good heavens, its Aunt Agatha, reincarnated.”
Abby was giggling so hard that she just stood shaking her head and sputtering at Tessie.
“The Prodigal nephew, I presume,” Tess extended her hand toward Tom introducing herself.
Still holding the ice chest, Tom managed a slight bow and told Tess his name.
In control again, Abby said, “Tom this in Tess Danelli, my crazy friend, and Tessie this is Tom Yancy, my other crazy friend.”
Tom tried to ignore the ‘Newhart’ reference and behave himself.
“I’ll leave you two and to get acquainted while I get this casserole over to the table,” Abby, said escaping to a serious group by the tables.
A little later as she was chatting with Aunt Bessie, Abby saw Tom and Tess walking toward the end of the table laden with the liquid refreshments. Suddenly, Aunt Bessie eyes widened and Abby knew she was no longer listening.
“Tommy! Tommy Wyatt Yancey, you get yourself over here.”
Everyone turned at the commanding tone.
Tom walked toward Aunt Bessie looking like a ten year old caught in the cookie jar.
Abby could see that some people were looking skeptical while others shook their heads, implying, “Why, sure, that’s Tommy Wyatt. Why, I would have known him anywhere”
Aunt Bessie opened her arms and hugged Tom with all of her might, tears in her eyes. Abby could see a suspicious glint in Tom’s eyes as he hugged back.
Aunt Bessie held Tom at arm’s length, “How long have you been in town and not one word? You may just be due a paddling young man. How long can you stay,” she asked?”
Tom gave Aunt Bessie another big hug and said, “I’ll be opening up the house, Aunt Bessie. This will be home base now.”
“Well, I’ll be over first thing in the morning to give that house the once over, must be covered in dust and cobwebs.”
“Hold it Aunt Bessie, I’ve already hired a cleaning service. They’ll be there first thing in the morning to get it all shiny clean”
“Hummph, then I’ll be there to make sure they give it more than a ‘lick and a promise,’ can’t trust a man to handle these things.”
“I don’t imagine I have much choice in the matter so I’ll leave the supervising chore in your capable hands, just leave the hard work to the crew,’ he warned.
Fred, who had been bouncing up and down and hanging on to every word could contain himself no longer, “Boy, you really staying?”
He shook Tom’s hand vigorously, “Son, we’ll be real happy to have you back. Bessie here goes out to your Aunt’s grave every month after church. Keeps the plot real nice, she does.”
Tom kissed Bessie’s cheek, ”Thanks, Aunt Bessie, from now on I’ll be here to go with you.”
“Agatha will be real happy about that, Tommy, but this is a happy occasion. Hope you’re hungry, we’ve got enough here to feed an army.”
“Sure am, Aunt Bessie, but before I eat I have a ‘bone to pick’ with your husband here.
“You told Abby Cavanaugh that I’m up to no good and a ‘city slicker’, Fred.” Tom shook his head sadly as the crowd hung on to every word.
“Why, I’ll be...,” he dodged his wife’s elbow, “So you’re the ‘city slicker’s’ been hanging around up at the county seat. Must be getting muddled in my old age, but how come you know Abby, son?”
Tom laughed and winked at Abby, “Well, she’s my neighbor, Fred.”
“Dad blamed, that’s right, boy. Your house is right next to the one she bought a few years back.”
The crowd laughed, Fred as hard as the rest even though the joke was on him.
After that the rest of the townspeople who knew Tom began shaking his hand and slapping him on the back, the women kissing him on the cheek. New comers welcomed him as they were regaled with tales of his childhood pranks. Tom soon had the little, two year old Tanaka in his arms as he chatted with the circle of town’s folk around him.
Soon the food was arranged to everyone’s satisfaction and the covers were removed. The children were served first and then the grownups lined up and heaped their plates full.
Tom came and sat next to Abby when his plate was full. Bessie and Fred sat across the table and Manuel Abreu and his wife next to them, the Tanaka’a and Tess were grouped around them.
The men and young boys were teased for their enormous appetites and the women were praised for their culinary skills.
“Cat got your tongue, Professor,” Tom asked?
“Just wool-gathering,” she grinned sheepishly.
“In sophisticated Los Angeles society that’s called intellectialize,” he laughed.
“Want to know my definition of intellectualizing,” she asked with humor in her eyes?
“I know the answer to that one,” Tess laughed, “Abby’s definition of intellectualizing is call “trivial pursuit.”
They all laughed, Tom the hardest,” Some of my friends in Los Angeles would be highly offended Abby; in fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if some of their ears are burning right now.”
Tom got up to refill his plate, his hearty laughter still ringing in their ears.
Tess scooted over to Tom’s vacant place on the bench, “Let’s go see if there is any of that great jello salad left.”
“Sure, do you need anything, Aunt Bessie,” Abby asked?
“Could use some water, Abby, gets hot in a crowd.”
They got up and took seconds of some of the dishes on the table. “I’m glad you suggested I come today, Abby, it’s been a lot of fun and Tom is terrific. He’s nothing like the fish man.”
“I wish you wouldn’t do that, he’s the Fish and Game Biologist, Tess. You let the question slide Saturday. Why don’t you like him,” Abby asked?
“You won’t get mad, Abby?”
Tess continued when Abby shook her head, “I’m sorry but I think he’s a santimonious prude and too old for you.”
Abby looked angry for a moment and then said, “Do you have to be so wishy washy Tess, couldn’t you come right out with it,” she teased.
“I’m sorry Abby; I just don’t like the guy. I think he’s a bigot,” Tess admitted.
“It’s O.K., Tess, I’ve begin wondering myself, lately. He’s made a couple of remarks about the Indians in the Tribal Council that I didn’t care for.”
“Have you ever seen him around the Tanakas, Abby? He cuts them dead.”
“I’ve never seen him around the Tanakas, has he really been rude to them,” she asked?
Tess shrugged, “That’s my interpretation.”
Abby nodded a concerned look on her face.
“Come on,” said Tess, “Let’s go back and join the party.”
Abby grabbed a bottle of water for Bessie and they headed back to the table.
When they got back to their seats Tom and Ken Tanaka were reliving a high school baseball game. Ken was ribbing Tom about a grounder he bobbled that went for a double.
“Come on, Ken, that ball took a bad hop and what about your striking out in the bottom of the ninth, cost us the game,” Tom teased.
“Hey, they went ahead of us on your error in the seventh.”
The bantered back and forth and then Ken said, “Hey, Tom, why don’t you and Abby come over next Saturday. With my brothers and all of our kids we could get a little softball game together and maybe barbeque later,” he turned to his wife, “Sound O.K. to you, honey?”
Sherry had dark hair, ivory skin and a pixie like personality and hair cut. “Sure, you men handle the barbeque and Abby and I can pitch in and fix the side dishes.”
Tom turned to Abby, “Come along. It will be a lot of fun and we can see how well you swing a bat, professor.”
Abby wanted to accept. She liked both Ken and Sherry but she needed to straighten things out with Cliff first.
“Can I call you Monday or Tuesday, Sherry? I need to check my calendar.”
Sherri agreed and then turned to Ken, “Why don’t we have the Abrue family over too, then you could have a real game.”
The Abrue’s had already gone so Ken said, “Good idea, I’ll call Manuel tomorrow and invite them”.
Bessie rose to start clearing off the table and both Tom and Abby stopped her.
“Sit and relax, Aunt Bessie, both Ken and I bussed tables in college, we’ll have this cleared up in no time,” Tom said.
“Yes, relax and finish your water. Sherri, Tess, and I can tidy up the kitchen.”
They were as good as their word and twenty minutes later the hall was cleared and the garbage bags delivered to the curb. Tom walked Bessie and Fred to their car while Ken and Sherri gathered dishes and kids.
Ken yawned, “Good night, everyone. See you Saturday Tom, and I hope you too, Abby.
There was a chorus of goodbyes as the stragglers left the parking lot.
Tom and Abby relaxed in companionable silence as they drove home. Tom yawned, “Sorry, I don’t think I’ve been this relaxed in years. I probably would have ended up with an ulcer if I stayed in L.A. much longer.
Abby smiled, “You seem to be falling back into your life here with ease.”
“The people here are terrific. Very real people with very strong character,” he laughed. “Some people would probably consider them simple or rustic, but the truth is they are very real and very genuine,” he turned to her, “You fit in too, Abby.”
“I love it here and I agree with you about the people, but I’ve always been a small town girl. I’ve never been attracted by the bright lights.”
When they got home Tom walked her to the back door. “I hope that all of the work that’s going to go on over here next week doesn’t disturb you too much.”
“I’m usually up early,” she said.
“I have a house cleaning crew and a yard maintenance company coming tomorrow. Wednesday a fencing company will be fencing in the backyard.”
“Did I tell you I have a dog,” he asked?
“Let’s see,” she said and looked at him closely, “a Lab,” she asked?
“She’s an Irish Setter named Cassandra. A friend is keeping her while I get settled,” he answered.
“Yes, I can see an Irish Setter,” she said, then fished in her purse for the list she had made for him.
“Thanks, Abby,” he said taking the list of craftsmen. “School next week,” he asked?
“Classes are over but we have departmental responsibilities next week,” she answered. “I’ll be writing several articles this summer. I’ve already done the research.”
“Well, we’ll have to Christian this ‘Literary Row’”, he laughed.
“I had a great time today, Abby, and I hope you come Saturday to play softball.”
“I had a good time too. It was great seeing Aunt Bessie so happy to see you back. I’d better go in now, thanks for the lovely day.”
“Good night, Abby,” Tom shoved his hands in his pockets and went whistling off into the night with pictures of flashing green eyes and tousled, honey blond hair in his thoughts.
@ 2013 May karenmaceanruig
@ 2013 May karenmaceanruig
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