Life Is Short But Wide (22 page)

Now we are at the stem of the
“Y”
I told you about. Everybody seems to be at the crux of their life, someway, at the same time. Herman, Myine, Bertha, Juliet, and Cloud. Oh they ain’t through having problems-, life ain’t like that. But there comes an end to some old problems while the new problems move into place.

You don’t have to believe me, just keep living.

Herman did return to Bertha’s house to see the people he loved and considered like family. He had become, again, the person, the man Bertha and Myine counted on for protection and help. Even Juliet, although she had Cloud to count on.

Herman hadn’t told them everything, but enough for friends. They all knew Herman’s new
phone number. He knew all about Tonya and wanted to go to the police, but Tante had told them to wait until she came, and she was on her way.

When the day of her arrival finally came, Herman was unable to take off work to take them to the airport, but Bertha knew someone else that would take Myine to pick up Aunt Tante.

At last, Myine was to meet her Aunt Tante. Tante flew in from the south of France two weeks after receiving Myine’s letter. She recognized Myine immediately; she looked like Rose, only prettier. Myine flew to embrace her aunt. The tears were ready as they both cried, and held each other.

They were driven back to Wideland, which Tante was surprised to see had grown so much: some tall buildings, and many new stores and offices. She even found an automobile rental business; she decided to rent a new car. They let Bertha’s driver friend go. Tante insisted on giving him a few dollars.

As she drove through the area that was now Black, she saw pool halls, barbershops, beauty shops, medical offices, and more. Even a bank. She asked, “They still have prejudice here? As bad as it used to be?” She didn’t wait for an answer, but continued, “I used to hate this place. It’s one of the reasons I have never come back.”

She turned her head, briefly, to look at Myine. “Now, tell me again, everything that has happened. My sister is dead. Ahhhh, that truly hurts me; I never came to help her. How did such a man, her husband, get into our family, our house? What was Rose thinking? And what is that woman, Tonya, thinking of? You, you own that property!”

Myine shook her head slowly. “She thinks she inherited it.
That it is hers. I’m the housemaid, cook, laundress, the everything. But there is nothing I can do.”

“Well,” Tante said in a hard tone, “there is plenty I can do. I need the name of a really good lawyer, fair to Black people. I’ll never find a French lawyer here. I don’t need a lawyer for much, just a little.” Her voice was confident. “I want to see him first. Now. We need to go to the courthouse for the county records.”

Myine’s heart smiled, gratefully, and she laid her hand on her aunt’s shoulder. She said, softly, “I don’t know where you will sleep; I sleep in the basement.”

Tante almost jumped in her amazement, saying, “The basement! Of your grandmother and grandfather’s house? We will talk about that later. Now … show me the way to the police station. I know where it used to be, but …”

Myine’s eyes widened with fear, and wonder. “You’re going to the police?”

Tante smiled, patting her niece’s knee. “Yes, I need to understand the law, and get a lawyer, if I need one. But, right now I want some records, and the District Attorney.”

At the county records office Tante learned the taxes were seven years delinquent; many letters had been sent regarding the foreclosure. Tante paid the taxes. While she was at the courthouse she got copies of the original deeds, birth certificates, and a receipt for everything.

When she reached the District Attorney’s office, he looked up to see the tired-looking, but elegant woman dressed in the classic suit and shoes you could tell were not made in America. He looked into the bright, pretty, but sharp eyes. He asked, “What can I do for you, Miss?”

“Mrs. Deraineau. I was born here in Wideland, now I live in France with my husband. I need some information.” From the tone and accent of her voice, you could see and hear her superior education. She did not exhibit a superior attitude; she was simply forthright, and correct in her actions and speech. He gave her his full attention and all the information she would need.

“You won’t need an attorney, Mrs. Deraineau. Just let me know if there are any problems. If everything is in your parents’ name, and I see it is, there will be no problems.”

Tante persisted, “But I need something that will look legal to her … so she will understand I mean what I say.”

The D.A. had his surprised secretary type a letter with the words, “If I can be of any assistance to you in your family matters, we are at your service. You just have to give me a call and let us know. The Court is at your service.”

Satisfied, Tante and Myine drove to the house to rid it of the trespasser. Tante brought the basement up again. “Why do you sleep in the basement, child? You are over sixteen years old; my room should be your room, at least.”

“I’d rather be separated from them, and besides, I had to be able to look for your letters to get your address. All my mother’s things were stored down there. I had nowhere to turn, except to Bertha and Juliet. And I liked it down there. I have a nice corner I fixed up for myself, and it is the quietest place in the house.”

“Bertha and Juliet. Bertha was always a help to my mother. I never really paid much attention to Juliet, though she was born a few years before me, or a few years after me; it didn’t seem important. But Bertha is getting old, and still helping even mama’s grandchildren!” Tante reached over to take Myine’s hand. “Well, I’m here now.”

Tante was in her late forties. She had matured beautifully. Everything about her was completely well groomed. She was impeccable, even after the long flight from France to America.

She had decided, after a good look at Wideland, it was not yet a city, but it had spread out wide, and had become a little more modern. There was a real district attorney instead of a sheriff.

When they arrived at the house, Tante got out of the car, and just stood still a moment, looking at the house. She did not look as though she had ever lived there.

When she spoke, she asked, “What have they done to my daddy’s house? Even the trees look sad. It should never have deteriorated like this.” She took a deep breath, and started up the path to the hanging half-unhinged gate. She looked at everything with great distaste.

“This would never have happened when my daddy was alive. I used to sit on those steps with my dog, Brave.” And a moment later, “I rode my horse all over this land. What is all this trash about! ? Why does everything look so raggedy, and forlorn?”

Walking behind her, Myine rushed to say, “I do the best I can, Aunt Tante. Bertha does too. But she is old. Juliet can’t do too much in a wheelchair, but she does all she can. Dreaming Cloud helps all of us. They are the only ones who have kept this house up. I eat at their house … and sleep there sometimes when it’s too cold in the basement … or too much is going on in the house.”

Finally they reached the steps of the house, when Myine spoke. “Aunty, we better go to Bertha’s first, to leave your suitcases until we get things settled. There are thieves in this house. They will steal everything you have if they can reach it.”

“My God in heaven! I’m glad my husband wasn’t able to come. This is dreadful! Lead me to Bertha. Slow now, child, slow. Aunty is not a spring-chicken, and this terrain can be dangerous.” She laughed lightly.

Bertha and Juliet were waiting in the open door. They opened their arms, and held them out to Tante as Bertha stepped forward to meet her. Bertha had tears in her eyes and a shining smile on her face. “Look at ya, Tante! You look mighty good! My eyes are so happy to see you here! This child has been done mighty wrong, and is suffering. I prayed for ya to come!”

They embraced as Tante entered the small house. “I don’t remember this house, but I’m glad you are here, Bertha.”

Juliet just smiled happily, tears rolling down her face. “Oh! Hello Tante! I am so glad you came home! What took you so many years to come back and see about things?”

Tante smiled down at the woman she remembered as a young girl, and had felt so sorry for. “That’s too much to explain, Juliet. Just try to think that I did the best I could do for myself. Now, let’s see what we can do about this Mz. Tonya.”

After they had talked, and Bertha had settled more things in Tante’s mind, Myine and Tante got ready to leave. Bertha said, “Ya can stay in my room here. It’s clean as a pin. I can sleep with Juliet.”

“Thank you, Bertha. After I look around and decide what I am going to do about things, I’ll know. I’m fatigued; that was a long, long trip. I want to see my house now. I’ll leave my things here for the time being, but I want to sleep in my own old room.”

When they reached the front door of the house, Tante didn’t knock or ring the bell; she opened the door and walked in. Tee and Dolly were in the kitchen arguing about who had bought the
last box of cornflakes. Two or three of the children were fighting over bowls. Tonya was just coming down the clothing-cluttered stairs. Clothes even hung over the banister.

Tonya looked as if she had just awakened, as she scratched her back. She looked at Tante, saying, “Whoa, there! Who’s bustin in my house wit out even knockin? Where ya go in?”

Tante, faintly, smiled. “It is I, Madame.”

Tonya looked at the beautifully dressed, immaculate, mature Black woman walking through the hall toward the kitchen. Tee and Dolly, mouths hanging open, stood staring. Even the children hesitated in their struggling with each other.

Tonya turned her eyes on Myine, who was coming in behind the lady, following her into the kitchen. Her face hardened, and looked fearful at the same time. “Who is this here woman, Myine? It’s too early in the mornin for comp’ny and shit.”

Myine started to speak, but Tante interrupted her, at the same time Tonya saw Tante’s resemblance to Rose and Myine.

Tante continued, speaking clearly and crisply with a slight French accent. “I am Tante Deraineau. I own this house. Myine owns this house. Who are you, and how did you get here? In our house?”

Tonya was speechless, as were Tee and Dolly. Even the small children felt the atmosphere change; they stood still, staring at the lady in black who had hushed even almighty Gramma. When Tonya found her voice she answered, “I married into this here house.”

Tante tilted her head slightly, and asked, “To whom were you married? My father is deceased, and I have no brothers.”

Tonya’s need, and desire, for the house would not let her give up. “Ya sister married, was married to my husban.”

Tante looked straight at Tonya. “Isn’t he deceased, also?” Then Tante turned, and started up the stairs Tonya had just come down. “I want to see my bedroom, and my parents’ old bedroom.”

Tonya, knowing her family was watching her, believing in her, tried to find some answer, some lie, for this now hated woman who had come to steal what was rightfully hers. “They ain’t ya’H’s bedrooms no more. They blongs to us.”

Tante, already going upstairs, replied, “They still belong to us, dear.”

Tonya sputtered, “Look! Ya can’t come in this here house! This here house is taken a’ready!”

At the top of the stairs, Tante turned around to say, “I stopped by the District Attorney’s office before I came … home. Anticipating that any woman who has done what you have done is an ignorant woman.” She opened her purse and withdrew the envelope, holding it up for Tonya to see. “I have proof of our ownership, and proof that you have one night to move. One night! Now, get out of our house! That does not mean move tomorrow. It means move tonight, and be gone tomorrow.” Tante turned, and proceeded toward the bedrooms as she swiftly put her hand over her nose.

“Mon Dieu! This house stinks to high heaven!”

Tonya was thinking about what was in the envelope. How much Tante knew or had been told. Her terror came, not just from the tone of Tante’s voice, but from her own knowledge of what had happened in the house. What she, herself, had done. Everyone was so quiet, Tonya could hear Tante’s voice from upstairs, from where she stood, at the bottom of the stairs.