Green Eyed Monster

Savannah Tolbert

Mrs Tolbert finally returned home. The neighborhood, along with Solomon and family, threw her a grand celebration. I made sure I was far, far, far away. I planned a week's vacation in Oregon and visited Ocean Shores, Washington, for the Venetian experience. I even visited East Eden. It's breathtaking there, but more horror stories than I could bear. The stories were intriguing, but by nightfall, I made sure I was far, far from there, too. By the time I returned home, all the festivities had 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 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 isn't going to be here much longer. And between you and me, 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, and she 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 and continue, "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 deed, 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 and she says, "No, I'm kidding. My Savannah was flawless. David was a student aide 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 to lack or want 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 had grown to 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."