“She’d be happy to know you’re here,” I tell him.
“She went down fast. Too fast.” He lets go of my hand to put his on top of Fee’s. “I tried getting her to see a doctor. She never would listen.”
“That’s her,” I say. “You know that. Nothing any of us could have done to persuade her.”
“Just hate it had to end this way.” Marvelle wipes his nose, then stuffs his hanky back down in his pocket.
“Why didn’t she tell me she was this sick?” Tears creep back into my eyes.
That sweet man reaches into his pocket, takes out a clean handkerchief, and does his best to wipe them away. “I imagine when she found out there was nothing she could do. If I know Miss O she didn’t wanna worry you.”
“She’s the most stubborn woman alive.” I look down at her. Bright red lipstick on her lips. Lying there as sweet as a sleeping baby. “I could just strangle her. I mean it, too.”
Marvelle laughs. “She looks peaceful, Pearl. Pretty, too. You’ve got her all made up. She’d be happy about that.”
An hour later, around nine o’clock, the door opens again and Mama Carla and Selma James peek their sweet heads inside. I don’t have but a teaspoon of energy left, but I still find the strength to get up and take them in my arms. Once I’m able to let go they tiptoe over to the bed, look at Aunt Fee lying there, unresponsive.
Selma bursts into tears. “Half of our sorority is downstairs.” I’m not sure if she’s talking to Aunt Fee or to me. I pass her the box of tissues. She takes one, wipes her eyes. “We’ve taken over the entire lobby, Miss Ophelia. I’m not sure how happy the hospital is about it, but we’re all here for you.”
“Helen and Latonya are, too,” Mama Carla says from the other side of Fee’s bed. “So is Kadeesha.” Then she smiles because she knows Kadeesha and I are not the best of friends.
“Doesn’t that make you feel good, Aunt Fee?” I say, winking at Mama Carla. But Fee never opens her eyes. The morphine has her out cold.
Selma takes her by the hand. “We love you, Miss Ophelia.”
Watching the three of them at Aunt Fee’s bedside strikes a familial chord. These folks are my family. Fee would feel the same way if she were coherent. It would thrill her to know the Alpha Delts had taken over the lobby. Selma looks over at me. “We won’t stay. We just wanted you to know we’re downstairs in case you need us.”
“I guess I’ll go on, too,” Mr. Marvelle says, standing up from the chair. “You need sleep, Pearl. You’ve had a long,longday.”
As much as I’d like to have them in the room with me, I know he’s right. “Thank you. I don’t know what I’d do without all a y’all. I’m already out of my mind as it is.”
“Pearl,” Mama Carla says. “You listen to me. I want you to take all the time off you need. Kadeesha is covering your housekeeping shift, and everyone else is taking up the slack in the kitchen. I canceled dinner tonight and I’ll do it again if need be.”
“Thank you, Mama Carla. You’re mighty good to me.”
She reaches over and runs the back of her hand across Fee’s cheek. “You sure look pretty, Miss Ophelia. Your Pearl has you made up nice. Your makeup looks beautiful.”
“Doesn’t she look good?” I ask.
“She looks gorgeous,” Mama Carla manages to say, but now she can hardly talk.
I had run out to Walmart earlier and bought Fee two new pretty nightgowns—one blue, one yellow. The nurse helped me dress her in the blue one, in honor of Alpha Delt. Then I combed her hair back off her forehead, the way she likes it styled, and painted her nails. I made sure to color her lipswith her favorite red lipstick. Unless you knew she was in her mid-sixties you’d think she was my age. Not a single line on her face.
When Mama was dying, Aunt Fee told me something I’ve never forgotten. “When peoples are getting ready to meet their Maker, they need to look their utmost best.”
FIFTY-ONE
CALI
When Selma James told us in our first Monday night Chapter that Miss Ophelia had stage-four uterine cancer and wasn’t expected to live much longer, many of the active members in the room cried. Some even wailed. There were even a few girls in our pledge class who got teary. It feels like a dark cloud decided to settle over the Alpha Delt house the day we pledged, and in a strange and somber way I feel bonded to my Alpha Delt sisters because of it.
Selma adjourned the meeting early and lots of us drove over to the hospital. Since the meeting was open, we were all casually dressed in Alpha Delt jerseys and T-shirts, so it looked like a blue and white river had flooded the lobby. Selma wouldn’t let anyone go up to the room. I get that. It would have been too hard on Miss Ophelia and Miss Pearl both. Besides, the hospital wouldn’t have allowed it. Lots of the girls were pissed though, as they felt strongly about wanting to see her one last time.
Now, another week has passed and Miss Ophelia’s still hanging on. I feel terrible for Miss Pearl. Sarah told me she’s not only unmarried and without kids of her own, but that Miss Ophelia is more like a mother to her than an aunt. I remember her making that exact statement on Bid Day. For some reason Ihave a feeling Miss Pearl’s not only super sad about the thought of losing her, but she feels lonely. Most of the girls know her so much better than I do, but I felt a connection with her on Bid Day. She was kind and gracious to both my grandparents and me, and, well, I just want to give her a squeeze.
I know she’s in her closet right now because I saw her go in there when I was on my way to the study lounge, not two minutes ago. After gathering my courage, I steal down the hall, and up to the door. Knocking softly I call, “Miss Pearl? Are you in there?”
It takes her a second, but she opens the door, though only a hair. We’re eye to eye and I’m afraid I’ve bothered her when she says, “Hello, Cali.” Then she smiles and opens the door wider.
