Фэнни Флэгг - The Wonder Boy of Whistle Stop

One month before Ruthie’s seventh birthday, Bud said to Peggy, “Honey, do you think we could take a week or so off? Take a trip? I’d love to go down to Florida and see Aunt Idgie. She’s been dying to meet Ruthie, and it’s been way too long since we’ve seen her. And Ruthie needs to meet her Aunt Idgie, don’t you think?”

Peggy said, “Absolutely, I do.”

So plans were made, bags were packed, and the three of them headed down to Florida. When Idgie heard they were coming she was so excited she danced a little jig. By the time they got there, everybody in town and thereabouts, even strangers passing through, knew that Idgie’s little niece was coming down from Maryland to visit.

—

THE DAY THEY arrived, Idgie and Julian were sitting in Idgie’s front yard waiting, both tanned from the Florida sun. Bud was glad to see that although Aunt Idgie had a few more wrinkles, and her short, curly blond hair was now snow-white, when she smiled, her sparkly blue eyes were still full of spirit, still full of the devil.

When all the hugs and hellos were over, Idgie looked at Ruthie and said, “Well, now, if you’re not the spittin’ image of your grandmother Ruth, I don’t know who is.” Idgie winked at Bud and then looked at her again. “Ruthie, your daddy may have been the cutest baby in the world, but I can tell you for a fact, you take the prize. You are the most beautiful little girl in the world, hands down. I think you deserve a bowl of ice cream, don’t you?”

Ruthie giggled. “Yes ma’am.”

“Well, come on in. Your room’s ready and ice cream is a-waiting.”

After they’d unpacked and Ruthie had opened a present Idgie had for her, they all sat out on the porch, talking and drinking iced tea. Then Idgie said, “I’ll be right back,” and got up and went inside. A few minutes later, she came walking around the side of the house carrying a little white cardboard box. Bud whispered to Peggy, “Uh-oh. Here she goes.” It was the same old trick she had pulled on every child in Whistle Stop.

Idgie winked at them, and then said to her niece, “Hey, Ruthie, look what I just found out in the backyard. Do you want to see?”

Ruthie was curious and ran right over. “What is it?” She stood very still and watched with anticipation as Idgie slowly lifted the lid off the box. Inside the box, lying on a piece of cotton, was a human finger. Idgie said, “Look, Ruthie, somebody lost a finger.”

Ruthie’s eyes widened as she stared at the finger in the box. Then Idgie said, “Oh, look, Ruthie…it’s moving.”

Then Ruthie squealed, “Oh, Aunt Idgie. That’s your finger in there!”

Idgie laughed and looked over at Bud and Peggy. “She’s too smart for me. I can see, I’m gonna have to get up pretty early in the morning to fool you, Ruthie Threadgoode.”

The next day they were in Florida, they all went fishing and swimming and ate lots of seafood, and Bud, Peggy, and Ruthie all got sunburned.

Every day afterward, Idgie would take Ruthie to work with her at the fruit stand and introduce her to everybody who stopped by. “This is my niece, Ruthie. She’s so smart, she might be the next president of the United States, or a movie star. We haven’t decided yet, have we, Ruthie?”

A few days later, Idgie said to Peggy and Bud, “Hey, you two, I have a question. Could I borrow Ruthie for a couple of days? I promise to take real good care of her.”

Peggy said, “Sure, that’s fine with us.”

That night after dinner, Idgie came out on the porch and said, “Hey, Miss Ruthie, would you like to take a little trip with me tomorrow?”

“Where’re we going?”

“It’s a surprise, but I’ll give you a hint. Close your eyes and don’t look until I tell you to.” When Ruthie opened her eyes, Idgie had on a Mickey Mouse hat with big round mouse ears. “Guess where we’re going.”

“Where?”

“Disney World! I know a few of the people who work there, and we have two all-day passes to do anything we want. But we’d have to get up pretty early tomorrow. So, do you want to go?”

Ruthie started jumping up and down. “Yes! Yes!” She looked over at Peggy. “Momma, can I go? Please, please?”

At six-thirty the next morning, Idgie and Ruthie were on the road to Orlando to spend two days at Walt Disney World. A friend of Idgie’s was the manager of one of the hotels there, and as a surprise, had booked an entire suite for them. As soon as they checked in and unpacked, they ran out, jumped on the tram, shot over to the park, and hit the ground running. For two days straight they ate all the junk food they could handle. Popcorn, ice cream, candy, hot dogs on a stick, you name it they ate it. They rode all the rides, and rode Dumbo the Flying Elephant and Peter Pan’s Flight twice. Ruthie had her photo taken with Snow White, Goofy, and Cinderella, and both nights they went to the big fireworks display and drank hot chocolate.

On the second day, after they had ridden in the giant tea cups, they were walking down Main Street U.S.A., when Idgie saw Mickey Mouse himself standing on the corner waving at people. She immediately grabbed Ruthie by the hand and headed over. “Hey there, Mickey. I’m Idgie and this is my niece, Ruthie, from Maryland. I sure would love to get a picture of you two.” Mickey answered in his little high-pitched Mickey Mouse voice, “Certainly, I’d be happy to.” While they were posing, Idgie said, “We sure love your place, Mickey. I’m guessin’ this is about the happiest place in the world.” Mickey did a little dance and said, “Thank you, Idgie, we think so.” Then they headed over to the Country Bear Jamboree.

—

ON THE THIRD day, when they arrived back home, Idgie’s car was full of stuffed toys, Mickey Mouse balloons, two Donald Duck hats, a music box that played “It’s a Small World,” and a white plastic Snow White purse.

As they were helping to unload the car, Peggy said to Bud, “Look at all that stuff she bought her. She is going to spoil her rotten.”

Bud smiled. “Oh, let her. She’s only a kid once, and honestly I don’t know who is having more fun, Ruthie or Aunt Idgie.”

The next afternoon, Peggy and Bud were watching Ruthie, who was sitting out in the front yard talking with Idgie. Several of the neighborhood children had come over and were hanging on Idgie’s every word, as she told them one tall tale after another.

Bud said, “Look at her, Peggy. After all these years, she’s still the pied piper, isn’t she?”

—

THE MORNING THEY were leaving to go back to Maryland, Idgie walked them out to the car. Ruthie had her arm around Idgie’s waist and looked sad.

Idgie gave her a little squeeze and said, “Ruthie, now, what did I tell you?”

“That I’m the prettiest, the smartest, and the bravest girl in the world.”

“What else?”

“Brave girls don’t cry.”

“That’s right. And if these two ever give you any trouble, you call me and Aunt Idgie’ll come up and give them a good whooping, you hear?”

Ruthie smiled a little and nodded and climbed into the back seat. Idgie turned to Bud and Peggy. “Thanks for coming to see me. I’m telling you, that little girl is gonna set the world on fire someday, you just wait and see. I just wish Ruth had lived long enough to meet her.”

“Me, too,” said Bud.

Idgie peered into the back seat. “Bye-bye, Ruthie. You come back and see me soon, y’hear?”

As they pulled away, Ruthie watched Idgie wave until she was out of sight, and then she started to cry.

“What’s the matter, honey?”

“I don’t want to leave Aunt Idgie.”

Peggy said, “I know, sweetheart, but we’ll be back.”

—

THEY MEANT TO come back. But Bud and Peggy got busy with the clinic, and time got away from them. And on every birthday, Ruthie couldn’t wait for the big wooden box with four jars of honey and two dozen big oranges that would come from Florida with the note