Фэнни Флэгг - The Wonder Boy of Whistle Stop

1955

WHEN RUTH DIED, Idgie’d had to hold herself together for Buddy’s sake. He needed her to be strong. She had wanted to close the cafe then, but she couldn’t. She needed the money. She had made a solemn promise to Ruth that no matter what, she would make sure that Buddy finished college.

Buddy had taken his mother’s death pretty hard. It had happened in his senior year of high school. However, the next fall, after he left Whistle Stop for college and got busy making new friends, things changed for the better. But not for Idgie.

Every evening after the cafe closed, Idgie would grab a bottle of whiskey from under the counter, get in her car, and drive all night long. She would speed seventy or eighty miles an hour, flying up and down dark country roads, her radio blaring, drunk as a loon, singing at the top of her lungs.

It was as if the speed, the noise, and the booze could somehow help numb the pain. And it did for a few hours, but then every dawn, when she got back home, she still had to face another day without Ruth. Another day of hating God for taking her away.

But later, after Buddy graduated from college and was on his way to a great life, Idgie felt she had kept her promise to Ruth. And now what? The town was falling apart, all her railroad pals had left, everyone else was leaving or getting ready to. Her older sister Leona had just written to her wondering whether they should sell the old two-story Threadgoode family house, since nobody was living there anymore. Idgie really didn’t have a reason to stay, and every reason to take off. The cafe held too many memories. Besides, she had just spent a rough night in jail over in Gate City, for speeding and drunk driving. She had to get out of town before one of these nights she killed herself, or even worse, someone else. Her friend Sheriff Grady had made a call to her brother Julian in Florida, and told him that everybody was worried about Idgie. She was just not herself anymore. He told Julian, “You better do something soon, ’cause I don’t know if I can get her outta jail the next time. Especially if she takes another swing at some cop that’s tryin’ to arrest her.” Julian immediately called Idgie and told her to get herself down to Florida now, or if not he would come up and get her.

A week later, when Idgie pulled up to his house and got out, Julian was shocked at her appearance. She was bone thin, looked terrible, and reeked of whiskey and cigarettes. She fell down twice before he could even get her into the house. The next morning, after she’d had a few cups of coffee, Idgie’s hands were shaking and she was sweating and pale as a ghost, but she was at least halfway sober. So Julian started in on her. “Grady called and told me a friend of his over in Gate City had clocked you doing ninety-five miles an hour at four o’clock in the morning. Do you realize you could have killed yourself drinking and driving like some kind of maniac?”

“I don’t care…wish I had.”

“My God, Idgie. I know you lost your best friend, but you’re actin’ like a damn fool, getting yourself thrown in jail like that. What in hell are you thinking?”

She looked at him, for a long time. Then she said, “Ruth was more than a best friend, Julian.”

Julian was a little surprised to hear her say so, but he just nodded. “I know that, Idgie. I just don’t see how killing yourself over it is going to help matters. We all lose people, Idgie. That’s life. I love you, but you aren’t special. You’re just another human being who lost somebody they loved. I’m your brother, don’t you care about me? I don’t want to lose my little sister. And I’ll tell you another thing. Ruth would be ashamed of the way you’re acting. Sure, you miss her. We all do, but is this any way to honor her memory? And if you don’t care about yourself or me, at least think about Buddy. You’re the only parent he has left. Do you think he wants some drunk old woman showing up at his wedding? You need to stop this nonsense now. Do you hear me?”

Idgie had heard what he said. And he’d made a point. Ruth had been a lady, and she would have been ashamed of her.

—

THAT NIGHT SHE found herself sitting next to Julian in an AA meeting. After Idgie joined Alcoholics Anonymous, her life began to change. She found a female sponsor to help her with the Twelve Steps, and Idgie actually did what the woman said to do. Her sponsor was a tough old Florida gal who didn’t let her get away with a thing, and, being so stubborn, Idgie needed that. In the following weeks, she met an awful lot of nice people that were just like her. People who had been through hell and back, trying to move forward to a better future.

Idgie found that she actually loved going to the meetings and getting to know everybody. It was almost like living in a small community again. She still missed Whistle Stop, but she knew there was nothing there for her anymore.

It took a while, but eventually Idgie even started to believe in something again. It wasn’t the same exact faith she’d had as a child, but it seemed to work.

After a few years of being sober, Idgie started sponsoring newcomers herself, and some old-timers as well. You couldn’t drive by the fruit stand without seeing someone sitting outside with her, talking to her. Of course, she still missed Ruth as much as ever, but at least she was not killing herself or anybody else over it anymore. She didn’t have time. She was kept pretty busy these days at the fruit stand and tending to her beehives and, as she put it, “Just doing my little bit for mankind.”

JUST AFTER RUTHIE and Evelyn left the hospital that afternoon, Nurse Terry knocked on Bud’s door and walked in.

“Hey, Mr. Popular. You have a couple more visitors.”

Bud looked up and was surprised to see Billy Hornbeck, his friend from the train, walk in with a young lady.

“Billy, my boy! Hey, what a nice surprise. How are you?”

“Just fine, sir. How are you?”

“Fit as a fiddle. How did you know I was here?”

“It was in the papers. I hope you don’t mind my coming. I just wanted to check up on you. You should have told me you wanted to go to Whistle Stop. I would have been happy to take you.”

Bud laughed. “Well, Billy, I didn’t know I wanted to go myself, until I got to Birmingham. But I never did find it, and not only that, I lost my arm out in the woods.”

“Yes sir, I noticed it was missing. But at least you’re okay.”

“I am, and it’s really sweet of you to come and check up on me.”

“No problem. But the other reason I came is that I wanted you to meet Geena.”

The young woman standing with Billy stepped up and said, “How do you do, sir,” while shaking his hand firmly. “Pleased to meet you.”

“Same here, Geena.” Bud looked at Billy. “Is this the fire-person you told me about?”

“Yes sir,” he said, beaming at her.

“So, Geena. I know you are not supposed to tell a fire-person they are pretty, but you sure are.”

“Thank you, sir.”

After they had visited a while, Terry came back in and said, “Sorry, folks, but we have to get this guy up to physical therapy.”

“Oh, that’s all right,” Billy said. “We were just leaving.”

“Well, I guess I’ll have to do what she says. She beats me up if I don’t. But thanks so much for coming, you two. Great to meet you, Geena.”

“Same here, Mr. Threadgoode. Sorry you lost your arm.”

As they went out the door, Billy stuck his head back in for a second and said, “The wedding’s back on.”

Bud gave him the victory sign. “Good for you, boy.”

Bud then turned to Terry and said, “Ain’t love grand?”

“I wouldn’t know….I’m married.”

THE NEXT MORNING, Ruthie and Evelyn came to the hospital at around eight to pick Bud up.