Kinfolks

“Ow! What was dat fo’?”

“Not telling me about this here chile.”

“Auntie, I swear I didn’t know eitha! Eddie didn’t tell me nuthin’.”

“Then it fo’ your brotha not tellin’ me.”

It took everything in us not to laugh. How many times had we been on the receiving end of someone else’s disciplinary reward? Aunt Ida Mae grabbed Thomas’s hand and pulled him close so she could hug and kiss him. Again, how typical, whip your behind and then kiss it and make it better.

We spent a long time exchanging pleasantries, answering Aunt Ida Mae’s questions about our careers and families. More people filtered through bearing food, paper goods, beverages, and words of comfort. The last influx of people brought Estelle, Jamaica, and Michelle.

Grief had drawn lines on Estelle’s flawless skin. She had aged years in hours. Jamaica’s normal flamboyancy had given way to a quiet, subdued state. Michelle, however, floated in on an imaginary cloud.

Jamaica gave kisses all around. He spent a long time with Aunt Ida Mae, fussing over her beautiful designer jogging suit. Auntie loved the attention. Estelle spread polite greetings to everyone, then settled quietly in Daddy’s favorite chair. Michelle stood around waiting for someone to acknowledge her presence. I guess I had to be the one.

“It’s good to see you again, Michelle. It’s amazing we’re never in contact living in the same county.” Small talk was wasted on her.

“Well, I’m always available for family. You should call my assistant to schedule a meeting.”

“I’ll do that.” What I didn’t add was, when Don King gets a haircut.

“I can’t believe I had to rent an American car. I haven’t driven anything but European cars since I started working in Hollywood.” Michelle waited for one of us to bite.

“I thought your mother picked you up from the airport?” I’d found an easy mark.

“Oh, ummm, well. She insisted.”

“Michelle, what’s it like to work in Hollywood? Who do you hang out with? Do you know Master P?” Derrick was rapid-firing questions.

“Oh no, I work with the upper echelon of Hollywood. I work with Denzel, Steven, George, people like that.”

“What exactly do you do for these upper echelonees?” Dawn expertly served up sarcasm.

“I’m working with the behind-the-scenes crew.”

“Oh, a friend from law school did that to put herself through school. It’s called production assistant, right?”

“Well, I’m not just a production assistant. I work closely with the directors and technical crews.”

“So just what are you then?” Renee asked.

“Stop frontin’, Michelle. You’re a Starbuck-runnin’, Krispy-Kreme-gettin’, dry-cleanin’-pick-uppin’ flunky. We’re your family. And you couldn’t rent a Gremlin with your no-credit-havin’ ass.” Jamaica’s hand flared as he spoke.

“Why are you talking to me like this? You have no idea the advances I’ve made since you took your faggoty ass to Paris.”

“You betta watch your mouth, gurl. We have some elderly people here,” Renee chastised.

“At least I know exactly who and what I am,” Jamaica said. “You’re still trying to find yourself. You need to climb down off that high horse before you get knocked off by a tree limb.” He rolled his eyes and snapped his neck so hard I thought he’d get whiplash.

“I know full well what I’m doing, and I’m very proud of my accomplishments. Just because you’re onstage performing doesn’t make you any better than me behind the scenes. We’re both in show business.”

“Those of us who can perform, do; those who can’t, hate!”

Michelle turned quickly and disappeared into the crowded living room. We each shook our head and smiled. Michelle hadn’t changed. She’d always been a legend in her own mind.

I brought Renee and Dawn up to speed on Collette’s absence and suggested we not expect her to do the right thing.

“Explain to me what’s wrong with that woman?” Dawn started pacing.

“She’s angry because you all have accepted me as your sister. I’m sorry that I’ve caused a division. I wanted more than anything to be accepted and to become one of you. I realize now that was a pipe dream. When I’d heard Poppee was dead, I never thought of anything except getting here. I knew this is where I belonged.”

“Dis prolly ain’t my place, but it ain’t nevah stopped me befo’. You right, chile, dis here is ‘xactly where you belong. I don’t rightly know why Eddie didn’t tell us ’bout you. But we yo’ fam’ly. No ifs, ands, or buts—just love.” Aunt Ida Mae took a long swig from her Bloody Mary.

With that we all said, “Amen.”

All heads turned as we heard an unfamiliar voice call, “Nina!”

“Mom!” Nina ran to the newcomer, embracing her and starting to cry.

“Oh, sweetie. I’m so sorry, so, so sorry.” The woman I presumed to be Nina’s mother stroked her back as she hugged her.

“Where’s Edwina?” Nina managed to say as she stood upright.

“She’s right behind me.”

“Everyone, this is my mother, Delores Cannon.”

We did our best to make her feel welcome with our greetings. She seemed nice enough on the surface. I spoke up first. “We’re so glad you could make it here. We’ve had a little time to get to know Nina, and we love her already.”

“I couldn’t let Nina go through this alone. She has loved her father since the first day he came to visit her, and he was wonderful to her and Edwina. Your father was a man of great integrity. He never let his lack of love for me influence his relationship with Nina. And I don’t know what I can say to make you know that as far as … I know he was always faithful to your mother.” Fragmented words conveyed what obviously lay deep in her heart.

We looked from one to the other before Renee moved toward Mrs. Cannon and embraced her. “Thank you for telling us this. You have brought a great sense of relief to me knowing that everything Nina has told is the absolute truth.”

“What’s up?” A teenager with much attitude entered.

“You be more respectful, young lady!” Nina chastised.

“Edwina, these are your aunts: Renee, Dawn, and Glynda. This is your grandfather’s fiancée, Miss Estelle.” Nina smiled with pride as she introduced her newfound family.

“Where’s the one who looks just like you?” Edwina said, popping gum.

“She’s not here at the moment.”

“I bet she ain’t!” Edwina laughed sarcastically.

“You have to forgive Edwina. She’s a bit hostile about the family situation. She’s wanted to meet you all for years and is a little bitter about not being a part of this family,” Nina said, trying to make excuses for her daughter’s rude behavior.

“We all have some pretty strong feelings on this situation, but you really need to put her in a more respectful frame of mind.” Estelle didn’t try to mask her irritation with Edwina.

“She’s a typical teenager. Hormonal changes have made her a little difficult at times.”

We said nothing. I did say to myself, however, Eddie Naylor must not have spent a lot of time with Miss Thang!

·   ·   ·

I stood in the mirror in Daddy’s bathroom contemplating the practicality of applying makeup. I looked so pale and washed out that I needed at least a little color on my cheeks. Dawn and Renee sat on opposite sides of Daddy’s bed. Dawn had her control-top panty hose around her ankles. Renee just sat staring into space.

Derrick and Victor had undertaken the major chore of making sure the children were ready when the funeral cars arrived. They’d bonded instantly and were conversing like old friends in very short order. It was good for Derrick to have another man who shared his feelings. Loving a Naylor girl could be taxing, to say the least.

As I stared at the bathroom clock, the reality of the day seeped deep into my pores. All of the crying, all of the arguments, all of the disagreements had come down to this moment in time. In an hour someone would say a prayer for our strength. Someone else would direct us to the waiting cars. We’d ride in silence. We’d then line up outside the church in order of birth and march in slowly to music Daddy had chosen specifically for the occasion.

“Do you think Collette is going to show up?” Renee asked in a defeated tone without looking up.

“I’m praying she does. But you know how she is. She’s hell bent on hurting us even further than we already are because she thinks we’ve betrayed her. And do you know what’s so ironic?”

“Nina looks most like her?” Dawn asked the rhetorical question.

“Exactly! Hell, they look identical.”

“I can’t believe she’d embarrass us like this. She’s a piece of work, I swear.” Renee finally stood.

“Well, there are going to be some questions, you can believe that shit. Collette’s not with us, but Nina’s there. Man oh man!”

“Maybe no one will notice it’s not Collette.”

“That would be hilarious. She’d be doing this to get back at us, and no one will notice.”

“Do you think word of this has spread like a rumor on the Internet?”

“Sister Greene does know.”

We all laughed. I slipped on my skirt, only to find it was too big. I’d lost at least five pounds since Daddy had died. I realized I hadn’t eaten all day. There had been only one endless cup of coffee.

My sisters dressed in silence. I wanted to be ready to greet our visitors who arrived to follow us to the church. As I slipped on my jacket, the feeling of heaviness returned to my body. Lord, please don’t let me faint again.

“I’m going to go and greet our visitors,” I managed weakly.

“Gurl, you look terrible. I’d ask if you’re okay, but we can see you’re not. You’d better sit.” Dawn helped me to the bed.

“I’m okay, honest.”

“Yeah, right. I think we need to pray.” Renee held my trembling hands.

“Come on, Dawn. We have so much to deal with today. Not the least of which is your silly sister.” We took one another’s hand, forming a small circle.

“Father, our God in Heaven,” Renee began, “first we want to thank You for Your continued blessings. Lord, You loved us when we were too stupid to love ourselves. You’ve protected and carried us when we didn’t even know we’d fallen. We don’t understand why You’ve taken Daddy home to be with You, but we have no choice but to accept this very difficult cup from which we are forced to drink. Lord, we ask that You strengthen our steps, and give us an inner peace today and in the weeks, months, and years to come. Whatever it is the enemy is putting on my sister Glynda, I rebuke it in Jesus’ name. Strengthen her body. Please bring our sister Collette back to her senses. Help her to see this is the way it is, period. Help us to understand the Nina situation. Let us show her Naylor love and accept her the way You’ve accepted us. Lord, be with Estelle as she says good-bye to her true love. Strengthen Aunt Ida Mae and Uncle Thomas. Give us patience with one another. In Jesus’ name, and we all say …”

“Amen,” Dawn and I said together, and we hugged the woman we’d always known to be our oldest sister.

“Now, let’s go do this thing.” Renee grabbed her jacket from the hanger suspended from the bathroom door frame.

As if I’d been given a shot of B₁₂, I felt a renewed strength. “And what do you mean, our sister?”

“When she trippin’, I disown her,” Renee said as we all laughed.

“Damn, I wish I’d thought of that!” I laughed, knowing humor would be elusive for the next several hours, if not days.

Dawn opened the door. It was show time.

Uncle Thomas sat looking handsome and so much like Daddy, I wanted to just hold him. Auntie sipped another Bloody Mary. I wanted to remind her we were going to church shortly but then thought better of it. Mister Willie and Sister Greene were the first to arrive. They sat talking to Uncle Thomas and Aunt Ida Mae.

“Hey, girls. Don’t y’all look beautiful. Nina was just out here, and she should be right back. Can I get you anything?” Sister Greene rose and walked toward us.

“Nothing for me. Thanks. Has anyone heard from Collette?”

“I called her to try to talk some sense into her. But she’s your daddy’s child. Stubborn as June twenty-first is long.” Sister Greene was fussing about the room, unable to not be working on something or someone.

“I don’t rightly know what’s done got inta dat chile. I’m ’bout sho’ ’nuff shame of da way she be actin’.” Uncle Thomas crossed and uncrossed his legs as he spoke.

“We just said a little prayer for her in the bedroom and actually for all of us that we just make it through the next few hours.” Renee sat next to Uncle Thomas, laying her hand on his.

I checked my watch as the members of Daddy’s domino club arrived. The funeral director would pick us up in thirty minutes. I needed to busy myself with some sort of activity, to do something with my hands and my mind. Nina and Victor entered the den wearing burgundy pants suits. They were so elegant. Nina looked even more like Collette dressed up. She hugged each of us.

“How much longer before the funeral director arrives?” Victor asked, never leaving Nina’s side.

“About thirty minutes or so. Maybe most will meet us at the church.”

Derrick arrived from the basement with five well-polished little soldiers, and said, “Well, looks like the gang’s all here. Everyone looks really nice.”

We smiled politely. Before we could respond, a clatter came from the front door that caused us all to turn. Estelle and crew arrived with Roberta on their heels. Roberta had a handkerchief at her face. I rolled my eyes and sighed deeply. Let the drama begin.

“Good evening, everyone. I see we’re all ready to go. Lordy, I don’t know if I can do this.” Estelle emptied her lungs as she spoke.

“Mama, we’ll be there for you. We got you!” Jamaica kissed Estelle on the cheek.

“You got me? Who got you? You’ve been crying all afternoon.” Estelle managed a weak laugh.

“Shhh! Don’t call me out like that, Ma!” Jamaica performed in his best dramatic fashion.

“Oh hush, boy. You just make sure none of us have to come and pick you up off the floor. Thinking you’re so strong.”

“We’re much too intelligent for all of these antics. I’ve been to funerals where you didn’t even hear the people crying.” Michelle ran her index finger around the rim of a glass filled with orange juice.

“Were these black folks?” Nina asked, amused.

“No.”

With a snap of her fingers, Nina said, “And there ya have it.”

“I just know I’m not going to be able to handle this one little bit. I had my doctor prescribe Valium.” Roberta held her head. “I took one just before I left home. Someone else is going to have to drive my car. I’m just not going to be able to.”

This slick hussy was trying to jockey for a place in the family car. “I’m sure we can find someone to drive you in your own car, or you can ride with Rico and Jonathan.”

Roberta’s eyelashes fluttered, and she seemed to have a small seizure. “I was hoping to be able to ride with y’all.”

“Hope floats, my sistah. We’ll find someone to drive your car, or you can leave it here.” I wasn’t bending, despite the pleading look in Renee’s eyes.

People again began to fill the house, each bearing a casserole dish, bag, plate, bowl, or some such container of food. Everyone spoke softly. Some stared at Nina, but asked no questions. I watched our family and friends mill about making polite conversation. Had it not been for the Sunday-go-to-meeting garments, I would have thought everyone had come over for one of Daddy’s famous barbecues. No one spoke of death. No one said that Edward Naylor’s resounding laughter would never fill this house again. I became angry. Like the swelling crest of the mighty Mississippi, anger finds it own means of escape.

Someone needed to be scared.