Green Eyed Monster

Savannah Tolbert

Mrs Tolbert finally returns home. The neighborhood along with Solomon and family throw her a grand celebration. I make sure I'm far, far, far away. I actually plan a week vacation in Oregon. I visit Ocean Shores Washington for the Venetian experience. I even visit East Eden. It's absolutely breathtaking there, but more horror stories than I could bear. The stories were fascinating and intriguing, but by nightfall I made sure I was far, far from there too. By the time I return home all the festivities have ceased.

Pulling up into my driveway, I see a thinner Mrs Tolbert sitting on her porch. I exit my car and head straight to her.

    "Well, look what the cat dragged home?" she jokes.

    "Hey pretty lady. So good to have you back."

    "It's great to be back although it's a totally different home. I told King to brighten it up, not completely change it."

    "But it's so beautiful, Mrs T."

    "I know, but I can't remember anything. I needed its walls to jar my memory at times."

    "Right. We all forgot."

    "You're in a hurry?"

    "No, just getting home from my vacation."

    "Well sit with me."

Once I'm seated she says, "I feel my transition coming Mae. Mrs T's not going to be here much longer. And between me and you, I'm glad."

    "Well, that hurts to hear. But I have to respect your wishes. It's your life."

    "Yes. ...Yes, it's my cruel life."

The sunsets. She then suggests we go inside. The house is state of the art. We walk into her plush great room and she asks, "You want tea?" I nod. She continues, "Let's sit in the kitchen then."

Her kitchen is a cook's dream. I say, "You can cook your heart away in here, Mrs T! Very nice!"

Chuckling she replies, "You know who could cook their behind off?"

    "Who? Roger?"

    "Tsst! Roger can't do shit!"

I laugh. She continues, "My Savannah."

    "Solomon's mom? Your daughter, right?"

    "Well, of course. What other Savannah have you ever heard me speak about?"

    "None Mrs T."

    "You're blessed Mae. Once David and I did the do, Savannah disowned me. I never saw her again. The next time I saw her was 15 years later in a coffin."

    "I'm so sorry Mrs T. What happened?"

    "Don't trust David, Mae. He's a monster in beautiful flesh clothing. Savannah met him when I was close to your age. He was close to my King's age, and my Savannah was only 22-years-old. She was almost as gorgeous as me."

I laugh again. "No, I'm kidding. My Savannah was flawless. David was a student aid on her college campus. My Joseph took great care of me, Savannah, and Roger. He was a hardworking man. He never rested because he didn't want me or our children lacking or wanting for anything. He was a blue collar worker, but we lived like upper middle class citizens. Joseph worked himself to an early grave. He left us a million dollar life insurance policy. We got that money, but he laid out in his will what I needed to invest in before he died. He was the perfect provider. Within a decade my one million was worth over six million. Savannah and Roger were accustomed to money by the time they were young adults. Savannah was itching to go to that ritzy school in West Chesterfield."