Part 42 (1/2)
60) Invitations
NOAH AND AND I sat at the kitchen table the following afternoon with a bunch of construction paper, scissors, and glue, making invitations to his party. His birthday was less than a week away. It was an annual tradition so invites weren't strictly necessary, but he liked making them. I sat at the kitchen table the following afternoon with a bunch of construction paper, scissors, and glue, making invitations to his party. His birthday was less than a week away. It was an annual tradition so invites weren't strictly necessary, but he liked making them.
Not that we were any good at it. Noah cut out pictures from magazines and newspapers and pasted them onto the construction paper. I wrote down the party information with a Sharpie. Noah signed them. The invite for his grandparents wound up with a picture of the new mayor on it, which Noah had chosen for reasons I could not fathom. Mrs. Humphries' invitation had a picture of a horse. Father Ginderbach's had a cutout of Garfield.
”Maybe It Was Memphis” by Pam Tillis drifted through the kitchen courtesy of KUDZU.
The phone rang.
”I'm returning your phone call,” Jackson said. ”What are y'all doing?”
”I love it when you talk Southern.”
”I'm working on it.”
”We're getting ready for Noah's birthday party. How do you feel about dressing up as a superhero?”
”Me?”
Noah was busy cutting out a giraffe from the newspaper, not paying attention, so I said, ”Someone wrote a letter to Iron Man, wanting to know if they could be friends. Actually, I think he wanted Iron Man to find his mother. If I rented a costume, would you consider wearing it and showing up at the party? If he asks about his mother, you might tell him she went to heaven to talk to Jesus or something like that.”
”Under normal circ.u.mstances, no, I would not consider doing something like that. But I'll do it for Noah. And you'll owe me big time.”
”I'll be sure to stock up on lube.”
”I get off in a little bit,” he said, hinting.
”You know where I live.”
Who was that? Noah asked, raising his eyebrows after I hung up the phone. Noah asked, raising his eyebrows after I hung up the phone.
J.
Is he coming to my party?
Yes.
He grinned broadly.
Is he going to be my dad too?
Maybe someday.
Do I have to make an invitation for Memaw? he asked. he asked.
No, she's the host of the party. You don't have to invite the host. she's the host of the party. You don't have to invite the host.
What are you going to get me for my birthday?
You'll see.
Daddy!
I'm not telling you.
Please?
You'll have to wait.
Please?
Sorry.
Please?
I'm going to get you a potato.
You are not!
Yes I am. You know we don't have any money.
We never have any money!
If you're good, I'll buy you two potatoes.
You're a potato, he said, sticking his tongue out at me. he said, sticking his tongue out at me.
61) Unfortunate timing
THE PHONE PHONE rang that evening as I made spaghetti and meatb.a.l.l.s while Jackson and Noah played Xbox in the living room. rang that evening as I made spaghetti and meatb.a.l.l.s while Jackson and Noah played Xbox in the living room.
It was Mrs. Warren.
”h.e.l.lo, Wiley,” she said. ”I wanted to thank you for coming to the funeral and bringing my grandson.”
”You don't have to thank me.”
”Even so. It was kind of you. And I think we've turned a corner with Mr. Warren. He's been asking me what we should get for Noah's birthday present, so I thought I'd call you and ask.”
”Are you coming to the party?”
She hesitated.
”I'm afraid we'd be... well, it might be uncomfortable. I can't imagine we're well-liked in your household.”