Фэнни Флэгг - The Wonder Boy of Whistle Stop

After Ruth had left Whistle Stop that summer to go home to Valdosta and get married, nobody could control Idgie anymore. She wound up spending most of her time down at the River Club with Eva and Jack. Idgie didn’t care that most so-called decent people in Whistle Stop looked down on them, or that Reverend Scroggins preached against the evils of the River Club, “that dangerous den of iniquity that is corrupting our youth.” Eva and Big Jack were Idgie’s friends. She liked them, and they liked her.

But later, Ruth left her husband and returned to live in Whistle Stop. It was then, when she and Idgie and little Buddy moved into the back of the cafe, that things changed. For the first three years, Idgie would sneak out at night and go to the River Club to drink and gamble, and Ruth would lie awake all night worrying about her. Finally, Idgie came home drunk one too many times. The last time was when she rolled in at five in the morning with a bloody nose. She’d gotten into a fight with someone at the poker table. The next day, Ruth took little Buddy and moved out.

She said to Idgie, “I love you. But I can’t live like this, wondering if you are dead or alive, or if someone has shot you.”

Ruth didn’t come back, either, until Idgie promised her on the Bible that she would never go down to the River Club again.

WHISTLE STOP, ALABAMA

December 4, 1938

BUDDY JUNIOR WAS hunched over the table, looking very serious and determined as he carefully composed his letter.

Dear Santa Claus,

My name is Buddy Threadgoode, Jr., and I live in the back of the Whistle Stop Cafe in Whistle Stop, Alabama. I am eight years old and I have been a very good boy. Ask my mother if you want to. Her name is Ruth. I only want one present this year. I’m not sure if you are real, but I want a dog so much. Momma says it is not good to have a dog where you serve food, but Aunt Idgie said, why not, because we have other animals, too. So please, please, please, bring me a dog. I promise to take very good care of her and love her forever.

Your friend,

Buddy Threadgoode, Jr.

DECEMBER 25, 1938

THE CHRISTMAS PARTY at the cafe was almost over. Everybody had eaten all they could hold and was happily stuffed with good food, and all the presents had been opened. Santa Claus had already left to go back to the North Pole, and Buddy was trying not to cry. Peggy Hadley had received her doll, Jessie Ray Scroggins had a new BB gun, and Buddy had received a lot of new underwear and a red cowboy hat, but he had not gotten the only thing he’d really wanted.

Later, after all the Christmas carols had been sung, Dot Weems closed up the old piano. But nobody seemed to be leaving to go home.

Idgie, who had been missing from the party for a while, walked back in from the cafe kitchen, looked around, and said, “Hey, Buddy, guess what? Santa just came back and left a present he said he forgot to give you. Should I go get it?”

Buddy looked up. “Yes, ma’am.”

Buddy didn’t know it, but all eyes were on him. They all knew what was coming.

Idgie came back in carrying a large white box. She put it down and took the top off, and the little three-legged dog jumped out, so happy to be out of the box, she ran around in circles, then she ran right across the room straight to Buddy and started jumping up and down and licking his face.

Buddy was clearly beside himself with joy and blurted out, “Look, Aunt Idgie, it’s the same one we saw at down at the River Club. And she remembered me!”

Ruth quickly turned and looked at Idgie, but Idgie pretended she didn’t see her.

Later that night, after everyone had gone home, Ruth said, “Idgie, I thought you told everyone you found that dog.”

“I did find it.”

“Did you find it in Eva Bates’s yard?”

“I may have. I don’t remember.”

Ruth knew Idgie well. When she didn’t remember something it was a sure sign that she had done it.

In the past, Ruth and Idgie had a problem where Eva Bates was concerned. And under any other circumstances, Ruth would have been very upset to know that Idgie had taken Buddy anywhere around the River Club. But when she saw that Buddy was so happy with his new puppy, she couldn’t be mad. Not tonight.

—

THE NEXT MORNING, a hungover Eva Bates picked up the phone at the River Club.

“Mrs. Bates, this is Ruth Jamison calling, Buddy’s mother.”

“Oh…um…yeah?”

“I was calling to thank you. That was a very sweet thing you did, giving him that little dog. He just adores it.”

Eva was delighted to speak with her. She had never met Ruth, but she knew all about her.

She replied cheerfully, “Oh that’s no never mind, Ms. Jamison. I got me lots of ’em. I could tell when he first seed that little three-leggedy thing in the yard, he tooked to it right off from the start. So after the boy left that day, red flags started to shoot out every which a way, and it hit me. Both of ’em had a limb that was goned. So I tole Idgie she could have it for the boy, if she wanted it.”

—

AFTER RUTH SAID goodbye, she had a change of mind about Eva. Unsavory reputation or not, the woman clearly had a heart of gold.

(WHISTLE STOP, ALABAMA’S WEEKLY BULLETIN)

December 28, 1938

A JOLLY TIME

ANOTHER YEAR IS almost over, and what a year it has been. Sipsey and Big George really outdid themselves Christmas Day. How so much good food can come out of that little kitchen is just beyond me, and it just kept coming all day long. I counted at least twenty-three turkeys and a lot more pies and cakes. Idgie and Ruth spoil us all. And I’m sure we all agree, Christmas just wouldn’t be Christmas if we didn’t spend it at the cafe. I don’t know how those gals manage to wrap that many presents, and decorate so beautifully.

I especially loved all the shiny red Christmas balls Idgie hung on the deer head above the counter!

Anyhow, thanks for the good vittles and the good time year after year. And of course Christmas really wouldn’t be Christmas without our annual visit from Santa.

With Christmas over, New Year’s Resolutions time is almost here again. Last night I started my list, and to my surprise they are the same old ones I make every year and never keep. Oh well, better luck next year. The only one I do keep is to always be grateful for what we have. And as Reverend Scroggins said last Sunday, “A grateful heart is a happy heart,” and, boy, am I grateful that we are living in this wonderful free country of ours. I read the news and it saddens me that so many people around the world are suffering.

On a happier note, I never saw a happier child than Buddy Threadgoode, Jr. It’s so good to see him smile again. The little dog he got for Christmas seems to have made all the difference to a sweet boy who deserves it.

Also, Wilbur dropped a bowling ball on his foot and broke two toes, in case you were wondering why he is limping.

…Dot Weems…

—

P.S. I THINK we might have some snow tomorrow. Another holiday miracle is afoot. So be on the lookout.

DECEMBER 29, 1938

Dear Santa Claus,

I am writing to thank you for my dog, Lady. I am sorry I didn’t think you were real, but you are, and I love you so much for bringing her to me. She was the very dog I wanted. I don’t mind that she has a leg missing at all. I have an arm missing, and I used to mind but now I don’t. Lady does not feel sorry for herself one bit and neither do I anymore. We have fun and she can jump up and catch a stick. I can throw a ball, too.

I don’t need anything next year. Thanks again.