The Brooch

The Visit

                            My Only Hope

"You're the only one I could turn to Uncle Jeffy! Mumma is in trouble!"

"Whatchu mean! What kind of trouble?" Uncle Jeffy said grabbing onto Maple. "Is she ok!" He frantically asked.

"Physically she's fine. But when she finds out about what happened yesterday... I honestly don't know if she will be uncle Jeffy!"

"What happened!"

"Mrs. Crowder is whut happened!" Maple hissed! "And this..." Maple said removing the apple crumb brooch from her back pocket handing it to her uncle. "Oh uncle, our perfect little lives are ruined!" Maple said plopping down in the corner...

Maple began to tell her Uncle just what had happened yesterday....

"There I was minding my own business and doing my daily chores and even some extra before Mumma came home. I was plannin on askin Mumma if I could go to the barn fire with Leslie Anne and Josephine that night. All seemed well... till...

'Knock! Knock! Knock!'

Leavin the kitchen, I peeked out of the corner of the hallway and into the livin room where I had seen crabby ole Mrs. Crowder standin on the porch lookin through the screen. Silly me, left the door wide open, so I just couldn't say no one's home. Besides Mumma and Papa raised me betta.

Reluctantly, I edged for the doe and let Mrs. Crowder in. Naw ya know when you get those gut feelings tellin ya to keep on edge? Well I had the feelin straight away. Some em strange was in her eyes. Still... I let her in...

"Mrs. Crowder, Mumma ain't home." I said still holdin the broom. "Papa ain't eitha." I said hoping she would then turn around and take her leave. But she didn't. She took off her velvet cake like fancy hat and plopped herself down right on Mumma's couch. "Ummm... Mrs. Crowder?" I said again. "No ones home... but me... and I'm doin my chores. So umm.."

"Hmm.." Mrs. Crowder uttered ignorin my words and lookin round nosy. She began to fan herself with her hat. "Landsakes child... Is this how you treat company?"

"I'm sorry?"

"Yes you are! How dare you not offer me somethin! Didn't yo parents evuh teach you to offer one a drank when they come uh callin."

"Well yes ma'am, but..."

"But nuthin! Glory alive! I'm parched! Respect yo elder and get me some em ta drank foe I pass out on this here couch. "She demanded."

Out of respect, I obliged. "Yes ma'am." I said sneakily rollin my eyes. "What would you like Mrs. Crowder?"

"Some em wet!" She sarcastically replied! "A drank child! A drank! Shoo!" She said fiercely fanning herself.

"Well of course... ummm well the only thing we have right now is water... and oh and we do have lemonade?"

"That's fine..." She said still fannin... "I'll take the lemonade... not too sweetened... and not too cooled."

"Umm sure. Comin right up." I uttered walkin to the kitchen.

"Shoo! It sho is a pretty day. Why ain't you out with the other youngins?" She shouted as I was in the kitchen.

"I plan on being." I replied preparin her glass.

"Emm hmm." She uttered. "So you say, yo mama and daddy ain't home?"

"No ma'am."

"You expectin them anytime soon?"

"Were you needin them right away Mrs. Crowder?" I asked.

"No no... they can take their time. I was just tryin to conversate with you is all..." She said still suspiciously lookin round the room.

"Well Papa went to the office and Mumma to the market. I'm sure she'll be back anytime now. But..." I quickly interjected wanting to take back my words right then and there... "Not too soon ya see.. So umm I'll tell them you stopped by.. Right after you take a sip that is... In fact there's no use of you really waitin round Mrs Crowder if we really don't know how long... they're really gonna be. Wouldn't you agree?" I said coming out the kitchen and quickly handing her the lemonade.

Being cordial as I could be I half smiled as she yanked the glass from my hand. She sneered at me as she took a sip.

"Well Mrs. Crowder, it was nice of you to stop by... and I'll make sure to tell Mumma that..."

"Landsakes child!" She suddenly interjected. "Don't you put ice in yo drinks?" She ranted handing me back the glass.

"I put three in there Mrs. Crowder..."

"Well I prefer no less than six." She fussed.

"Yes em." I mumbled annoyed. "I'll be right back."

"And add moe suga!" She hissed.

"Yes Mrs. Crowder." I slightly growled while still tryin my darnedest to maintain my manners.

"Oh merciful heavens! I can't take much moe of this here weatha!" She ranted. "Sittin here in this heat, has me all perspirin! Where's yo bathroom child?" Mrs. Crowder hissed while actin all faint.

"Umm... it's right down the first hall, Mrs. Crowder... but Mrs. Crowder..."

"Go freshin my drink child... I'm sure by the time I get back, you'll have prepared it just as I like..." She said wobbling away...

Some em told me not to let her down that hall... but I did as she said. I went and got her more ice! So much so the glass overflowed... And as she requested more sugar to give her a toothache to last for the weeks to come. Perhaps all that ice would suck it up! I mumbled in an ornery fashion.

All I really just remember is standing in the kitchen mumblin and hoping Mumma wasn't comin home any time soon. I didn't want Mrs. Crowder there in the house much longer... at least not yesterday... I can't deny... and I couldn't really explain why... but she always annoyed the dickens outta me. And that Saturday, was no different. As I really wanted nuthin more than to be out of the presence of that woman. And some em told me, I was really was about to find out why...