The Dry Grass of August(37)

“So what does she need?” Mama asked.

“Complete bed rest for ten days, maybe longer. And she’s got to take her medicine. Apparently she hasn’t been.”

Uncle Stamos and Aunt Rita agreed to go to Kentucky if Carly could stay with us for the holidays.

I couldn’t wait to tell Stell Ann. We’d hardly seen Carly since he left for West Point three years earlier, but I remembered him so well. He’d always acted as if we were younger sisters, not just cousins.





The afternoon he arrived, Carly stood at the den door in his West Point uniform, a duffel bag at his feet, his hat in his hand, his brown eyes shining. Daddy clapped him on the back. “Good to have another man around the house.”

“Yes, sir.”

Mama hugged him. “My goodness, such broad shoulders! The army has put some muscle on you.”

“Playing football has, that’s for sure,” Carly said.

Mary stood in the door to the dining room. “Supper’s almost ready. I’m gone be leaving now.”

I said, “Carly, you remember Mary.”

“Yes.” He picked up his duffel bag. “Where am I sleeping?”

Mary went back to the kitchen and Daddy said, “C’mon, son, let’s get you settled in the garage apartment.” Even from his height of six-one, he had to look up to Carly, who was several inches taller.

Later, Carly returned to the house in what he called civvies—a plaid shirt, slacks, loafers.

The dining room table was set with Grandmother Bentley’s silver flatware, which Mary had polished, and Mama’s good china. Did Carly think we ate this way all the time?

When we got seated, Puddin asked Carly, “Why’s your hair so short?”

“A lot of folks wonder what happened to my curls.” Carly rubbed his hand over the black bristle on his head. “It’s an army cut.”

“Oh.” Puddin looked puzzled.

Davie clapped his hands. “Milk!”

Mama said, “I forgot.”

Carly pushed his chair back. “Let me get it.”

“No, no, Jubie will do it.”

I returned with Davie’s cup and heard Daddy ask, “So what’s next for you, Carly?”

“I go active as soon as I graduate.”

“It’s a dangerous time for soldiers, if Korea heats back up.”

“The army’s a great career.”

Mama picked up a platter of fried chicken. “Help yourself, Carly, then pass it down to Bill.” She said to Daddy, “Four breasts, dear. Have all you want.”

“Thanks, honey.” Daddy took two pieces and said to Carly, “Pauly knows how I love white meat.” He got up to refill his drink and leaned over Mama to kiss her cheek. “Wonderful meal, sweetheart.”

Stell raised her eyebrows at me. I wished Mama and Daddy would be lovey-dovey all the time.

Over dessert, Daddy explained to Carly about the hot water heater in the rec room. “It’s only thirty gallons, but it’s gas, so you should have enough. And when you shower, don’t stand on the drain or you’ll flood the bathroom.” In the shower, Carly would be naked.

After supper Stell and I began to clear the table, and Carly picked up serving platters.

Stell whispered, “He’s helping with the dishes.”

He wiped the table and asked, “Where’s the broom?”

I opened the pantry door. “Do you do this at home?”

“Dad would skin me if I left everything to Mom.” He started sweeping.

“Give you a whipping?”

He looked at me. “He’d take away my car keys.”

“He never whips you?”

“No.”

I turned back to the sink. I could feel him staring at me.

Half an hour after we’d gone upstairs, I walked out of the bathroom and saw Carly on the landing.

He said, “What y’all doing?”

“Getting ready for bed. Where’ve you been?”

“Talking with your parents. You know, ‘What are you going to be when you grow up?’ ”

“I’m so glad you’re here.” I touched his arm. “C’mon, let’s go bother my big sister.”

Stell was sitting cross-legged on her bed, brushing her hair. She had on her long-sleeved flannel pajamas, white with blue flowers, and she looked about ten.

“Hey,” said Carly. “Long time since I’ve been up here.”

Stell asked, “What’s West Point like?”

He sat on the rug, leaned back against the dresser. “Uniforms, drills, reveille at dawn, that sort of thing.”

“Do you like it?” Stell began brushing her hair again. It snapped and gleamed in the overhead light.

“Yeah, I do.”

I sat on the bed. “Are you scared? What if there’s a war?”

“I’ve been training to be a soldier for three years.”

“Girls?” Daddy’s voice boomed up the stairwell.

“Sir?” Stell and I answered together.

“Where’s Carly?”

“I’m here,” Carly called down to Daddy.

I heard Daddy on the stairs and there he was. “What’s going on?”