Howl For It
Page 36
Miss Pauline stared at Darla, wearing a frown that looked exactly like Eggies when he was annoyed. Only Darla found Miss Paulines frown a little more terrifying.
Darla cleared her throat. Not that you, personally, are obligated to do anything, of course. I just meant . . . me. My personal belief system.
Miss Pauline grunted and walked around Darla, heading back into her house.
What was that? she mouthed to her sisters.
I dont know! they all mouthed back.
Someone touched Darlas shoulder and she jumped, spinning around to find Eggie standing behind her.
Im sorry, he said. I didnt mean to
Darla didnt even let him finish, just threw herself into his arms. Thank God youre here!
Uh . . . okay.
What did you say to her?
Eggies mother turned away from the sink full of dirty pots and pans and faced her son. Just chattin.
Momma
I didnt know I couldnt talk to her.
Not if youre going to interrogate her.
Is that what I was doing?
Im guessing it was.
Did she say that?
She didnt have to. I know the signs.
She crossed her arms over her chest. Are you accusing your momma of something, boy?
Im just asking you not to be hard on her.
I havent been. In fact, Ive been extremely nice.
Eggie didnt like the sound of that either. Why?
What do you mean why?
Taking his mothers hand, Eggie pulled her out of the busy kitchen, down the hall, and into the living room.
Whats going on? he asked her plain.
I dont know what you mean.
Momma.
Look, you dont think I see? That I dont know my own son?
What are you talking about?
I see how you look at her, Eggie. You love her.
What if I do?
Then I had to check her out.
Why? Darla is
Very pretty and very smart and very well bred. Sos a purebred German Shepherd.
Momma.
But is she also strong enough to be the mate of my boy?
Shes not my mate.
Not yet.
But shes not now, so dont do what you always feel you need to do.
And whats that?
Put her through the gauntlet.
Now, darlinboy
No, Momma. Whatever youre thinking, whatever youve got planned . . . you leave Darla Mae out of it. He headed back to the hallway.
But we both know, his mother said behind him, that if shes going to stay here, be with you, she needs to be more than just a smooth-talking polygamist.
Eggie stopped, sighed. Its pacifist, Momma. He looked back at her. And who says shes staying here?
Youll let her go?
Who says I have to stay either? He shrugged when he saw his mother frown. A wolf needs his mate, Momma.
Theres not even a slice left, Roberta whispered to Darla. All those pies we brought and not even one slice left.
There were some leftovers, Darla whispered back. But theyre like coyotes. They scavenged everything! Took a bunch of stuff home.
I got ten bucks from Frankies Aunt Jen.
For what?
She wants me to make her some pies.
Which ones?
Pecan and apple.
Darla reached into the back pocket of her cutoffs and handed her sister a twenty dollar bill. From Eggies Aunt Beulah for the blueberry, cream cheese, and lemon meringue.
Shee-et. Thirty bucks just for some pies?
Thirty bucks for our pies, darlin. You need to keep that in mind.
You want to meet tomorrow and make them together?
Yeah. Sure. She saw Eggie come down the back porch stairs. He looked at her, his eyes reflecting the lights put up around the yard, and jerked his head toward his truck.
I gotta go. Tomorrow at noon?
Okay. Ill see if the others are up for it.
See if the others got money, too, but dont let Janie try and hold out any money on us. You know how she is.
Darla quickly walked through the backyard and around the house. As she stepped into the front yard, she met up with Eggies father. He stood by a tree, smoking a cigarette and drinking from a Mason jar she assumed was filled with shine.
She waved and he asked, You have a good time tonight, darlin?
I did. Thank you, Mr. Smith.
Thank you for coming. I know youre the only reason my boy came here tonight.
Oh, no. Im sure
He waved that jar around, dismissing what she was about to say. Lets not play with each other, pretty girl. Youre here, so my boys here. And thats all right. Its good to see him happy.
Darla cleared her throat. Not that you, personally, are obligated to do anything, of course. I just meant . . . me. My personal belief system.
Miss Pauline grunted and walked around Darla, heading back into her house.
What was that? she mouthed to her sisters.
I dont know! they all mouthed back.
Someone touched Darlas shoulder and she jumped, spinning around to find Eggie standing behind her.
Im sorry, he said. I didnt mean to
Darla didnt even let him finish, just threw herself into his arms. Thank God youre here!
Uh . . . okay.
What did you say to her?
Eggies mother turned away from the sink full of dirty pots and pans and faced her son. Just chattin.
Momma
I didnt know I couldnt talk to her.
Not if youre going to interrogate her.
Is that what I was doing?
Im guessing it was.
Did she say that?
She didnt have to. I know the signs.
She crossed her arms over her chest. Are you accusing your momma of something, boy?
Im just asking you not to be hard on her.
I havent been. In fact, Ive been extremely nice.
Eggie didnt like the sound of that either. Why?
What do you mean why?
Taking his mothers hand, Eggie pulled her out of the busy kitchen, down the hall, and into the living room.
Whats going on? he asked her plain.
I dont know what you mean.
Momma.
Look, you dont think I see? That I dont know my own son?
What are you talking about?
I see how you look at her, Eggie. You love her.
What if I do?
Then I had to check her out.
Why? Darla is
Very pretty and very smart and very well bred. Sos a purebred German Shepherd.
Momma.
But is she also strong enough to be the mate of my boy?
Shes not my mate.
Not yet.
But shes not now, so dont do what you always feel you need to do.
And whats that?
Put her through the gauntlet.
Now, darlinboy
No, Momma. Whatever youre thinking, whatever youve got planned . . . you leave Darla Mae out of it. He headed back to the hallway.
But we both know, his mother said behind him, that if shes going to stay here, be with you, she needs to be more than just a smooth-talking polygamist.
Eggie stopped, sighed. Its pacifist, Momma. He looked back at her. And who says shes staying here?
Youll let her go?
Who says I have to stay either? He shrugged when he saw his mother frown. A wolf needs his mate, Momma.
Theres not even a slice left, Roberta whispered to Darla. All those pies we brought and not even one slice left.
There were some leftovers, Darla whispered back. But theyre like coyotes. They scavenged everything! Took a bunch of stuff home.
I got ten bucks from Frankies Aunt Jen.
For what?
She wants me to make her some pies.
Which ones?
Pecan and apple.
Darla reached into the back pocket of her cutoffs and handed her sister a twenty dollar bill. From Eggies Aunt Beulah for the blueberry, cream cheese, and lemon meringue.
Shee-et. Thirty bucks just for some pies?
Thirty bucks for our pies, darlin. You need to keep that in mind.
You want to meet tomorrow and make them together?
Yeah. Sure. She saw Eggie come down the back porch stairs. He looked at her, his eyes reflecting the lights put up around the yard, and jerked his head toward his truck.
I gotta go. Tomorrow at noon?
Okay. Ill see if the others are up for it.
See if the others got money, too, but dont let Janie try and hold out any money on us. You know how she is.
Darla quickly walked through the backyard and around the house. As she stepped into the front yard, she met up with Eggies father. He stood by a tree, smoking a cigarette and drinking from a Mason jar she assumed was filled with shine.
She waved and he asked, You have a good time tonight, darlin?
I did. Thank you, Mr. Smith.
Thank you for coming. I know youre the only reason my boy came here tonight.
Oh, no. Im sure
He waved that jar around, dismissing what she was about to say. Lets not play with each other, pretty girl. Youre here, so my boys here. And thats all right. Its good to see him happy.
