Фэнни Флэгг - The Wonder Boy of Whistle Stop

When Bud heard the news, he looked over at Virgil, who was curled up on his new KittyTower sound asleep. “Well, Virgil, you’ve scored a big victory, and you don’t even know it.”

Within the first six months, five baby kittens and three senior cats found permanent homes at Briarwood, and a lot of the residents were now working with the local ASPCA, fostering kittens and bunnies, one ferret, and one baby owl until they could find good homes for them.

And it was so pleasant to walk down the halls and hear the cheerful little bird tweets coming from the rooms. Even Mr. Merris had to admit there was a lot more happy chatter at the dinner table every night. The residents had a lot of fun showing each other photos of their pets and swapping stories about all the cute and funny things they’d done that day.

And even Mr. Merris started bringing his little dachshund Winnie to work with him.

—

A MONTH LATER, Bud was moved into a larger apartment on the ground floor with a nice window for Virgil. Later he said, “You know, Ruthie, whenever I come back to my place and see those two orange ears in the window waiting for me, it just means the world to me.”

RUTHIE WAS FLIPPING through one of her old Veranda magazines and wishing she had the money to redo her living room when her father called.

“Hey, honey.”

“Hi. What are you up to today?”

“Well, I’m making a few little changes to my will, and I need to talk to you about something.”

“Oh, Daddy, I don’t want to talk about wills. You know it upsets me.”

“I know, honey, but here’s the thing. Now, I’m not saying that it will, but if anything should happen to me, I need to make arrangements for Virgil.”

“Oh.”

“And my question to you is, would it upset you terribly if Lois took him? She knows I’m doing my will, and she asked me if she could have him. She lives across the hall and she just loves him. But now, if you want him, I’ll just tell her that I’m leaving him to my daughter.”

“No, no. That’s all right, Daddy. Listen, if she wants him, let her have him.”

“Well, I’m glad, Ruthie. I think he’d be happier staying here, in a place he’s used to. And he likes Lois. So good. She’ll be glad to hear it.”

“Was that all?”

“No. There’s something else. Do you remember that surprise I told you that you were getting when I died?”

“Yes?”

“Well, I have decided not to wait. I’m giving it to you now.”

“Oh my gosh, what is it?”

“Are you ready?”

“Yes.”

“It’s your mother’s frog collection. I know you probably thought we gave them away when we moved, but I saved them for you. There are over two hundred of them. I had them in storage, and I’m having them sent over to you. So what do you think? Are you surprised?”

“Speechless.”

—

WHEN SHE HUNG up, Ruthie felt a slight sense of relief. If anything ever happened to Daddy, of course, she would have taken Virgil. But it sounded like he would be better off with Lois. Then she wondered, who was Lois? And how did she know Daddy was doing his will? Of course, Daddy giving her the inheritance now was a sweet thought. But looking around the room, she wondered what in God’s name was she going to do with two hundred frog figurines.

ATLANTA, GEORGIA

December 2015

RUTHIE GOT IN the car and immediately wiped her hands with the disinfectant gel she kept in the glove compartment. She looked at her hair in the rear-view mirror and sighed. Just as she had thought. One side of her hair was definitely shorter than the other. Not only had Mimi given her a terrible haircut, she had probably given her the flu as well. And right before Christmas, too. Of course, Mimi hadn’t told Ruthie she was sick until her head was in the bowl and her hair was soaking wet and covered in shampoo. It was only after Mimi started coughing that she said, “Sorry. I’ve got the flu, but I came in anyway. I hate to disappoint my customers.” Ruthie had spent the next hour trying not to breathe.

Later, as she pulled into her driveway, she waved at Martha Lee’s small army of gardeners who were busy stringing Christmas lights and raking leaves.

When she walked into the house, she saw that her message light was blinking and pushed the button. It was her daughter Carolyn, telling her how sorry she was, but she was not going to make it home to Atlanta for Christmas. She didn’t say why. But it really didn’t matter. The point was that Ruthie and her dad would be spending another Christmas alone. Ruthie had spent Thanksgiving at Carolyn’s house in Washington last year. But anytime she tried to help, cook, or even wash the dishes, Carolyn would stop her. “No, Mother, don’t do that. You just go sit in the living room and enjoy yourself.”

Her son, Richard, was a different story. His lack of enthusiasm for a career in business had been somewhat of a disappointment to Brooks, because he’d hoped that one day Richard would join the family business. But Richard had chosen a different route in life. He and his girlfriend, Dotsie, were now living off the grid in a small town in southern Oregon. Both were vegan and avid bicyclists who grew their own kale.

Last summer, when Ruthie had visited them on their small farm, she’d almost starved to death. She dearly loved her son, and Dotsie was very sweet, but kale just wasn’t her thing. By the end of the week, she would have killed for a cheeseburger.

But Richard and Dotsie seemed extremely happy. And Carolyn, who lived in the very thick of Washington’s social world, was not just happy, but deliriously happy. For different reasons, both of her children were doing just fine. Ruthie seemed to be the only one floundering at the moment.

Lately she had begun to wonder whether this feeling of uselessness she had, had nothing to do with them. Maybe it was that she needed to get out and do something other than sit in the same house, on the same Circle, in the same rut for the rest of her life. Dear God, from where she started out in life, full of hope and ambition, how in the world did she wind up here? She went upstairs and got into bed, waiting for the flu to hit.

—

A FEW HOURS later, just as Ruthie was about to get up from her nap, the phone rang. It was Evelyn Couch calling from Birmingham.

“Hey. What are you doing?”

“I’m in bed with a bad haircut. How about you?”

“I’m bored.”

“Oh God, me too. I’m so bored, I’m even boring myself.”

“Hey, Ruthie, I’ve been thinking. You’re bored. I’m bored. So, you wanna have a little fun?”

“Sure. As long as it’s legal.”

Evelyn laughed. “It is. How about you coming over to Birmingham this weekend? I have a little something I want to run by you.”

“I’ll be happy to come, but don’t look at my hair.”

“I promise. Text me when you have an ETA.”

Evelyn’s call couldn’t have come at a better time. Now that she had something to look forward to, Ruthie felt much better. And they always had a good time together.

Ruthie wondered if what she wanted to run by her was the possibility of the two of them taking another trip. Evelyn had planned the last one. In May they’d gone on a cruise to Hawaii together and had a ball. They had even taken hula lessons on the ship. Ruthie had to admit that although Evelyn was older, she could sure swing those hips. When she told Evelyn that, Evelyn laughed and said, “Well, honey, I’ve got a lot more hips to swing.”

It had been so good to get away from the Circle and Martha Lee for just a little while. One night, when they were at poolside on the ship enjoying their piña coladas, Ruthie suddenly realized something and turned to Evelyn. “You know, Evelyn, you’re my Ninny Threadgoode.”