Geri Krotow - What Family Means

The biggest clue he’d overlooked was the fact that Angie had rented an apartment. She’d said that she and Jesse would “find a house later.”

“No. Yes, well, partly.” Evasiveness wasn’t a typical trait of Angie’s and her behavior wasn’t doing much to ease his concern.

“Just spit it out, Angie.”

“I’m not sure we’re going to make it, Dad.”

Will waited, holding his breath.

“Jesse’s great. It’s nothing he’s done but sometimes it’s really hard, with the two careers and everything.”

“You two have always worked it out before, Angie. I’m confident this won’t be any different.” Will knew his words sounded too businesslike but he also knew that if he pushed Angie too hard, she’d clam up and not ask for help when she really needed it. Besides, Angie was meeting with Debra later today. Angie would give Deb the details, and Deb would share them with Will.

“Thanks, Dad. Did you and Mom ever have problems like this?”

“Honey bunny, I don’t know what particular problems you’re having, but, yes, we’ve had our ups and downs. Every marriage does. We were blessed with a strong love early on. But when we decided to give it a run, well, we’ve told you kids what we went through.”

“I know, Dad.” Of the three kids, Angie had taken the brunt of the racism and prejudice faced by their young family. But that was more than thirty years ago. Angie had grown into an intelligent, beautiful woman with a mind of her own.

“If you want me, I’ll come over later this week, when I’m back from my trip, sweetheart.” He’d helped her unpack a few days earlier, and hung some pictures on the walls of her tiny apartment.

“No, that’s okay, Dad. With the weather this time of year, there’s no telling when I’ll get home at night.”

“It is Buffalo in February.” He was grateful for the heated interior of his SUV.

“Talk to you later, Dad.” She paused. “Dad? Thanks for being here for me, not just today, but all the time.”

“I’m honored to be here for you, Angie.”

And he was. Nothing made Will prouder than his family.

December 1958

Buffalo, New York

“ARE YOU SURE it’s okay for us to come in here?”

Debra’s bottom was still sore from the spanking she got from Mommy last night. She and Will had been in the woods, out of sight of the front office. Mommy had been scared when she couldn’t see Debra.

The spanking wasn’t that bad, not as hard as Daddy’s were with the belt when he’d been drinking. But the sharp sting of Mommy’s hand told her she wasn’t ever to do that again.

Or at least not to let Mommy know she was playing in the woods with Will. Every so often, Debra circled back to the swing set in the grassy area behind the office building. That way, if Mommy looked out the window she’d see her.

“Shh, we’re fine. Your mother has another couple hours of work. Didn’t you see all those folks in the waiting room?”

Will always had the answers, and Debra trusted him. He was the big brother she wished she had. Her rag doll that Aunt Jenna made her was okay, but it wasn’t Will. She loved her doll but it was still scary in the dark corners of her room.

She followed Will’s steps up the winding path that went so far she couldn’t see the end. They walked through the woods behind the playground for a long, long time.

“Will, I’m not sure ’bout this. It’s gonna get dark soon.”

Their breath formed crystal balloons in front of their faces, and the ground crackled with early winter frost. In two weeks it would be Christmas.

“Just another little bit, Deb, and we’ll be there.”

She liked how he called her “Deb” instead of “Debra.” It made her feel smart and more like a big girl.

“Okay, Will.” She shuffled her red rubber boots through some blackened leaves and kept up with him.

Will was right. In a few minutes they came out of the woods and onto a huge lawn. Even with the onset of winter, it was the greenest grass Debra had ever seen. Looming over them was a giant house.

“Will, is that a castle?” she whispered, afraid her outdoor voice would ruin the vision.

Will laughed. She liked how he laughed. It was like a giggle with no end, and his white teeth were so bright against his skin.

“That’s no castle, Deb, that’s my house. C’mon, let’s go inside.”

But her feet didn’t want to move. Mommy wouldn’t be happy that she’d gone inside Dr. Bradley’s house. He was Mommy’s boss. And Will’s family was Colored. Debra was pretty sure she wasn’t supposed to go into a Colored person’s house.

Will turned back when he got to the front door, and from the distance she saw his scowl.

“Aww, Deb, let’s go! It’s cold out here. Don’t you want a snack?”

Debra’s stomach growled when he said “snack.” It was always such a long time until supper.

“I’m comin’. Just wait.” She hurried toward him, her boots crunching on the frost-tipped lawn.

She reached his side and Will grinned at her.

“What?” She held out her mittened hands. Was he going to make fun of her freckles like the other boys did?

“You look like a fairy princess, Deb. Just pretend this is your castle.”

“Okay, Will.”

He opened the door and Debra followed close behind. She didn’t want to be left alone, either outside or in the huge house they’d entered.

They stepped into a room that made her think of the movies. A winding staircase in painted white wood wound up, up, to a landing way over their heads. A table with the biggest vase was directly in front of them. She wondered why there weren’t any flowers in this vase. Why have a vase if you don’t have flowers?

“Will, is that you?” A soft female voice floated down from above.

“Yes, Mama.”

He glanced at Debra and put his finger on his lips. He didn’t have to, though. Debra couldn’t have squeaked out a single syllable. She was afraid she’d pee her pants, she was so scared.

Would Will’s mama be mad at them for coming in?

“I’m up here feeding your brother. There are cookies on the counter, but don’t eat more than two.”

“Yes, Mama.” Will smiled at Debra and grabbed her hand.

“See? It’s okay! Let’s go get a cookie!” His voice wasn’t a complete whisper but it was quieter than she was used to.

She trailed him into a small passageway and then through a swinging door into a kitchen like none she’d ever seen. Huge pots and pans hung from the ceiling and there was a long wooden table in the middle of the room. Debra counted eight chairs.

“We don’t have eight chairs in our whole house, Will.”

“Who cares, Deb? Here, have a cookie.”

He handed her a big oatmeal raisin cookie and she took a bite. It was delicious!

“Where does your mom buy these?”

Will snorted.

“She doesn’t buy them. Patsy bakes them for us.”

“Who’s Patsy?”

“Our help. Don’t you have help at your house?”

“No. But it’s just me and Mommy, so we don’t need help.”

“Oh.”

They slid into the high cane chairs and continued to munch on their cookies. Debra couldn’t stop looking at the kitchen.

The tall cupboards had frosted glass on them and she could see stacks of dishes. When did Will’s family ever use so many dishes? She wondered if he had his own dish, like her plate with the cartoon moose on it. Probably not.

Will was a big boy already.

“Will, did you—”

The voice reached Debra’s ears and jolted her upright. She turned and faced Will’s mommy.

Violet Bradley was so pretty, wrapped in a soft pink bathrobe. She even wore fuzzy pink slippers to match. And the little baby she held was so tiny! Had Debra and Will been that tiny? What would it be like to have a brother or sister?