Фэнни Флэгг - The Wonder Boy of Whistle Stop

Although she was lonesome, dropping out was in some ways a relief. But she still had a long future in front of her. And filled with what? She was no longer a wife or a mother, both her children were grown and married. So who was she?

She should have finished college. She remembered how much she’d wanted to become an interior designer. She had even taken a theater course in college and had been very good at set decoration. But while she had been busy raising her children, the world had left her behind. Unless you were computer savvy, you didn’t stand a chance at getting a good job. And where modern technology was concerned, Ruthie was still somewhat in the dark ages. Her doctor had prescribed some kind of antidepressant pills, but they gave her anxiety, so she stopped taking them. She would rather feel depressed than anxious.

She was at a crossroads. She either had to turn left or right, or sit in the same old place and wait until it was her time to move on to Briarwood Manor, or, as her father called it, “God’s little waiting room.”

(WHISTLE STOP, ALABAMA’S WEEKLY BULLETIN)

April 28, 1954

BEAUTY SHOP TO CLOSE

Opal Butts tells me that since most of her customers were railroad wives, and so due to a lack of paying customers, she is going to have to close down the beauty shop and move to over to Birmingham. Sign of the times, I guess. I remember when I was growing up, there were thirty or more trains coming through a day, now there are maybe only four or five. Sheriff Grady says it’s partly because people are in too big a hurry to get somewhere and are jumping on airplanes instead of taking the train. As for me, I told Wilbur that I wouldn’t ride up in the air in one of those flying tin cans for all the tea in China.

Idgie Threadgoode says that business is down at the cafe, too. I sure hope she can hang on. What would we do without the cafe? Here’s hoping one of those super-duper highways they’re talking about will come out our way and bring a whole lot of new folks to town.

On a happier note: Idgie tells me that her brother Julian has now moved from Marianna, Florida, to Kissimmee and has purchased a two-acre orange grove. Also heard from Idgie that Buddy Threadgoode is still in the top five of his class at college and plans on becoming a veterinarian. And another little birdie (Peggy’s mother) tells me that wedding bells for Buddy and Peggy might be ringing real soon. As we all know, Buddy did not have a good beginning in life, but it sure looks like he is going to have a happy ending.

As of this week I am running out of news, so if you have any, bring it over. Make it good news if you can. We need all we can get.

…Dot Weems…

P.S. Here IS an interesting post office fact for you: Did you know that up until 1913, children in America could legally be sent by parcel post? Whew. I’m glad I wasn’t a postmistress then!

ATLANTA, GEORGIA

December 2013

THE YOUNGISH WOMAN with slightly pink skin and red fuzzy hair quickly adjusted her glasses as she scanned through the contacts file in Mr. Merris’s computer.

A clearly distraught Mr. Merris had just rushed into her office with the news, and ordered her to call Mr. Threadgoode’s daughter “right now” and let her know. Then he’d run back out, leaving her holding the ball. When she reached the names starting with the letter “C,” she suddenly felt a sense of dread. Oh Lord, she wished she’d never taken this job. She’d only been working at Briarwood for three months and already regretted it. If she hadn’t just bought herself a new Toyota hatchback, she would have quit the very first week. The job was just too emotionally draining. She was perfectly fine doing accounting and filling out payroll, but she hated having to deal directly with the families, particularly when she had to be the bearer of bad news. And why did Mr. Merris need her to call the daughter “right now”? Why didn’t he just wait and make the call himself? He was good at it, and was used to it. She wasn’t.

After she found the name and number, she took a deep breath and dialed. She could already feel the perspiration beginning to form on her upper lip. “Oh, please, let it be an answering machine so I can leave a message.” But, unfortunately, after three rings a live person answered.

“Hello?”

“Is this Mrs. Brooks Caldwell?”

“Yes, it is,” said a pleasant voice.

“Uh…Mrs. Caldwell, this is Janice Poole, assistant director at Briarwood Manor. We met the last time you were here, in the reception area….I have red hair?”

“Oh, yes. How are you?”

“Well, um, not so great at the moment. I am so sorry to have to tell you this, but I’m afraid we lost your father this morning.”

“What?…Oh no…”

“Mr. Merris wanted me to call you right away and let you know.”

Ruthie, who had been standing by her kitchen sink having a last sip of iced tea, suddenly felt weak. She walked over to the table and sat down.

“Mrs. Caldwell? Are you still there?”

“Yes, I’m here….Oh my God.”

“I’m so so sorry.”

“Oh my God…what happened? I just talked to him last night.”

“He didn’t say, all I know is Mr. Merris seemed extremely upset and said it happened under very unusual circumstances, and to tell you that he will be calling you within the hour with the exact details.”

“You don’t know the details?”

“No, I’m so sorry….I don’t.”

“Where is my father now?”

“I don’t know.”

“Oh…well…can’t Mr. Merris come to the phone now?”

Janice looked out her door and saw that Mr. Merris was still outside on the sidewalk talking to the policeman.

“He’s still tied up dealing with the authorities right now. But I’m sure he will call just as soon as he can. And again, I am so very sorry….”

After she hung up, Janice looked out the window again. Something odd was definitely going on. She’d never seen Mr. Merris so upset. And why had he called the police? That was definitely weird. Did he suspect some sort of foul play?

AFTER SHE HUNG up, Ruthie felt as though she had been hit in the stomach with a shovel. Then when the initial jolt wore off, and the news started to sink in, she began to feel an all-too-familiar numbing sensation. Having been through this situation twice before, she realized that she was probably going into shock. Sadly, she was no stranger to this kind of life-shattering news.

A few months ago, she had received the same phone call from Mr. Merris, telling her that her mother had suddenly passed away. And three years before that, a mutual friend had called and told her that Brooks, her forty-eight-year-old husband and the love of her life, had just dropped dead on the golf course. And like today, both calls had come from completely out of the blue. Of course, she’d known this call would be coming someday, but no matter what you thought, you were never really prepared.

Ruthie could feel her heart pounding and her hands were shaky. She glanced up at the clock. It was almost twelve noon. What should she do? Should she call her son and her daughter? Or should she just wait to hear from Mr. Merris? No, she wouldn’t call. She would wait until she had more…information. The girl said it had happened that morning. Then she wondered why they’d waited so long to call her. That didn’t sound like he had died in his sleep. Was he still in his room? Had it been some kind of accident? She wouldn’t doubt it. Lately he had been so stubborn, and refused to wear his new arm except for special occasions, which only made it worse when he fell. He’d fallen and broken his wrist the last time. She sighed. After spending all that money, time, and energy to get the very best prosthetic arm made, why wouldn’t he just wear it? Ruthie was suddenly torn between being mad at him and heartbroken at the same time.