Date: Sunday, 12/7/69

“Sundays are family days,” Charles said as he strode out of the shower this morning. I wasn’t sure what he meant by that. I was still in bed, reading poetry, Adrienne Rich mostly but other books littered my side of the bed. He had a towel wrapped around his middle and with no hair on head, he looked different to me. More like someone from my side of the tracks than from his. I know we never talk about this. How rich he is but he is.

We spent Saturday night giggling through a number of the plans we want to make. With the winter break coming up, we will be off campus for a few weeks. Charles told me his parents have an apartment in Paris where we could go to plan what we want to do next.

He said, “My parents have an apartment in Paris,” the way I would say, “My parents have a split-level house in Skokie.”

Inside me, a little well began to fill up with these warm waters. Like the cold and emptiness I had anticipated in my return to Skokie during this upcoming break had disappeared. Now, I was in the midst of planning a trip to Paris.

However, before those plans could be put into place, Charles wanted to call my parents to tell them the news.

“Charles,” I said, “don’t you think I should get out of bed first and start my day before we try and call them? Besides, it’s an hour earlier there.”

I forgot to look at the clock; we had slept in and it was already noon.

“My point exaclty. Calling them before you have the chance to chicken out. Give me the number.”

He stood at the foot of the bed. Fully dressed now and looking quite handsome in his heavy woolen shirt and blue jeans, he was ready to do anything. All hints of that devastating depression had lifted.

Seeing him so happy, I didn’t want to refuse him anything. In all honesty, this was one of the more distasteful things he could have asked me to do.

I told him, but I was just joking, “I’d rather die first. You can bury me and then dig me up once they’ve had some time to think things through.”

He didn’t find my comment funny at all.

Charles reminded me that he’d already told his parents. He didn’t see why I couldn’t tell mine. I knew I couldn’t put this off forever. Comments like, not all parents are made the same, weren’t going to dissuade him, I could see that.

He went on to say that his parents were upset that I hadn’t come with him as we had planned. His goading worked. I gave him their phone number and I could see by the smirk on his face that he felt like he had won a big moral victory.

He went into the living room to place the call. I would have preferred getting dressed, having breakfast, waiting a little longer.

He laughed at me and said, “They can’t see you, so relax. These are your parents we’re calling.”

“I know’” I said, “that’s the problem. You’ll see.”

He dialed their number and waited for someone to answer. I could tell by the look on his face that it was Odessa who answered the phone. She must have been surprised when he said who he was and that he needed to speak to my father. When she heard him ask to speak to my Pops, she wisely put Mama on the phone.

I watched Charles talk to my Mama. This was the first time in my life a man had called my family to tell them good news. He enjoyed talking to Mama, which must be a sign of good things to come.

I’ve never seen Charles look like he did talking to Mama about our future plans. As hazy as they are, he seemed at ease to admit we didn’t know much yet. Or as he said it, “We haven’t formalized them yet, but we are working on it.”

He even promised to keep her up to date with what we were going to do. Then she started talking on her end. I never thought Mama could talk this much to a complete stranger. She made him laugh. He laughed a few times and when I asked him what it was, he turned his back to me and continued listening to Mama. They talked a long time and then he handed me the phone.

For some reason, I hadn’t realized that I, too, would have to talk.

“Hello Mama,” I said and heard her sigh with relief.

“Scags, I ‘m so happy for you. He sounds so nice and smart. I can tell he likes you and that makes me happy. You can’t tell much about a person talking to them on the telephone but I am glad he called. That was a very gentlemanly thing to do. How expensive is this call getting to be? Do you want me to call you back?”

I had to assure her that not only was it okay to talk as long as we wanted but not to worry. If she wanted to talk to us, she should call here collect.

Charles watched me as I talked to Mama. When I told her to call us whenever she wanted to but collect, he shook his head yes. His smile said to me that I had done a wonderful and brilliant thing. Why hadn’t he thought of that? Being in love changes so much about how two people are with each other, I see now.

Mama whispered to me on the phone, “Is he rich, Scags?”

There was no reason to whisper back; Charles couldn’t hear the question. I replied, “Yes he is fabulous Mama and I can’t wait for you to meet him.”

“Oh Scags,” Mama said, “I am so happy for you. You will have a good life now, I know that. I’m going to figure out how to tell your Pops. I want him to know how grown up and ready to move along you are. I’m sure he will be happy too. Don’t worry about that. Odessa has been standing here listening to us talk. Her smile will light up all of Chicago tonight, Scags. I love you.”

Silence sometimes works as an answer between us. I took a deep breath and said I had to go.

“I know Scags. Take care.”

We hung up.

I grabbed Charles and took him with me into the shower. We eventually ran out of hot water. What a crazy way to live, but I love being in love.