stood in front of the full-length oval mirror with a childlike scowl on her face.
“ This is the biggest dress I ever seen,” she said, pulling at the stiff white collar. “This collar thingy scratches. Can’t you take it off?”
Sophia spoke softly, “I don’t know. Mother suggested the Peter Pan collar; I don’t think we should change it.”
Flo turned to Sophia. “Do you do everything your mama says?”
“ Everyone in this house does as Mother says,” Sophia replied and turned back to her work.
***
I hardly remember the ceremony under the pin oaks in Mother’s front yard. I left for Atlanta that afternoon not long after we said our wedding vows. Flo had no choice but to settle in and obey Mother’s rules in her house. No one expected her to help with household chores because of her delicate condition, and Mother appointed Sophia to take charge of Flo’s education.
Sophia’s gentle disposition and patience made her the perfect teacher. She coached Flo daily in numeration, reading, and speech. Mother insisted that she concentrate on speech and diction so that Flo wouldn’t embarrass the family every time she opened her mouth. Sophia confirmed my notion that Flo possessed a keen mind. Finding that Flo showed little interest in classical and religious readings, Sophia switched to the Atlanta Journal and the Saturday Evening Post to hold her attention.
Mother gave us the guest room near the kitchen because it provided the most privacy. My first memory of marriage was Flo’s body snuggled next to mine. Flo’s sensuality sent electrical charges through me even in her condition. I respected her condition and held back my desire.
***
Our first child, a boy, was born unexpectedly two months later while I was away on a weekly run. I returned that Friday morning to find Mother pacing the hallway floor, cradling my son in her arms. She dipped a sachet made of cheesecloth in Carnation Milk and pressed it to his lips. The baby squirmed and made weak choking noises unlike crying, more like gasping for air. Mother was fit to be tied. She handed the baby to Miss Sara and explained that Flo had a real hard time giving birth.
“ At first, Sara and I weren’t sure if the baby was coming or if she was just cramping like some women do. Lewis hitched a ride into Lawrenceville and brought Doc James. Doc said that she was so small; he doubted that she or the child would make it. But, thank goodness, they did. He weighs only three pounds. He won’t eat.”
Mother paused while I stood before her, staring at the floor like a scolded child. I had never seen her in such a state. My heart ached when I thought of the turmoil I’d brought to my peaceful home.
“ When did this happen? Where’s Flo?”
Mother looked away into nothingness and shook her head. “Two days ago. She bled too much after the birth. Doc thinks she’s in some sort of coma.”
“ You mean she’s just unconscious, right?”
Mother pressed her lips and fought back the tears, nodded.
“ Mickey, I don’t think the little fella’s going to make it.”
The baby’s noises faded as I walked down the hallway toward the bedroom Flo and I shared. My brain felt like a shock absorber, taking in one blow and then the next. I paused at the closed door, dreading what I would find on the other side. I saw Sophia sitting by the bed beyond the crack in the door. Her weary eyes were fastened on Flo who didn’t know she was there. She looked comforted at the sight of me. She slipped out of the room to meet me.
“ How you holding up, little brother?”
I massaged her shoulder looking for words that weren’t there. I wondered what I, the man of the house, should do at a time like this.
“ I don’t know. How about you?”
Sophia shook her head and turned toward the kitchen. I peeked through the cracked door. Flo was asleep. I couldn’t see past that. Not knowing what to do, I followed Sophia to the kitchen. She checked the coffee
“ This is the biggest dress I ever seen,” she said, pulling at the stiff white collar. “This collar thingy scratches. Can’t you take it off?”
Sophia spoke softly, “I don’t know. Mother suggested the Peter Pan collar; I don’t think we should change it.”
Flo turned to Sophia. “Do you do everything your mama says?”
“ Everyone in this house does as Mother says,” Sophia replied and turned back to her work.
***
I hardly remember the ceremony under the pin oaks in Mother’s front yard. I left for Atlanta that afternoon not long after we said our wedding vows. Flo had no choice but to settle in and obey Mother’s rules in her house. No one expected her to help with household chores because of her delicate condition, and Mother appointed Sophia to take charge of Flo’s education.
Sophia’s gentle disposition and patience made her the perfect teacher. She coached Flo daily in numeration, reading, and speech. Mother insisted that she concentrate on speech and diction so that Flo wouldn’t embarrass the family every time she opened her mouth. Sophia confirmed my notion that Flo possessed a keen mind. Finding that Flo showed little interest in classical and religious readings, Sophia switched to the Atlanta Journal and the Saturday Evening Post to hold her attention.
Mother gave us the guest room near the kitchen because it provided the most privacy. My first memory of marriage was Flo’s body snuggled next to mine. Flo’s sensuality sent electrical charges through me even in her condition. I respected her condition and held back my desire.
***
Our first child, a boy, was born unexpectedly two months later while I was away on a weekly run. I returned that Friday morning to find Mother pacing the hallway floor, cradling my son in her arms. She dipped a sachet made of cheesecloth in Carnation Milk and pressed it to his lips. The baby squirmed and made weak choking noises unlike crying, more like gasping for air. Mother was fit to be tied. She handed the baby to Miss Sara and explained that Flo had a real hard time giving birth.
“ At first, Sara and I weren’t sure if the baby was coming or if she was just cramping like some women do. Lewis hitched a ride into Lawrenceville and brought Doc James. Doc said that she was so small; he doubted that she or the child would make it. But, thank goodness, they did. He weighs only three pounds. He won’t eat.”
Mother paused while I stood before her, staring at the floor like a scolded child. I had never seen her in such a state. My heart ached when I thought of the turmoil I’d brought to my peaceful home.
“ When did this happen? Where’s Flo?”
Mother looked away into nothingness and shook her head. “Two days ago. She bled too much after the birth. Doc thinks she’s in some sort of coma.”
“ You mean she’s just unconscious, right?”
Mother pressed her lips and fought back the tears, nodded.
“ Mickey, I don’t think the little fella’s going to make it.”
The baby’s noises faded as I walked down the hallway toward the bedroom Flo and I shared. My brain felt like a shock absorber, taking in one blow and then the next. I paused at the closed door, dreading what I would find on the other side. I saw Sophia sitting by the bed beyond the crack in the door. Her weary eyes were fastened on Flo who didn’t know she was there. She looked comforted at the sight of me. She slipped out of the room to meet me.
“ How you holding up, little brother?”
I massaged her shoulder looking for words that weren’t there. I wondered what I, the man of the house, should do at a time like this.
“ I don’t know. How about you?”
Sophia shook her head and turned toward the kitchen. I peeked through the cracked door. Flo was asleep. I couldn’t see past that. Not knowing what to do, I followed Sophia to the kitchen. She checked the coffee
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