Part 44 (1/2)
”That way, we can pick our favorite and sell the rest on eBay and get our money back.”
”If only!” she exclaimed. ”I have two teenage daughters. If you get away with it, let me know. They're at that age where they're not quite human.”
”I'm surprised my mom still talks to me after what I put her through.”
”I'll bet you were a handful.”
”I was.”
”You have a good day, Wiley,” she said, taking her change.
I was almost four hours into my s.h.i.+ft before Mr. Owen allowed me to take my fifteen-minute break. I carried the bag of goodies Jackson had bought to the break room and wolfed down what I could, thinking I was going to have to do a lot of loving on that man as a way to say thank you.
64) The party
WE ATE ATE an abundance of hot dogs, hamburgers, and cake. an abundance of hot dogs, hamburgers, and cake.
All my aunts and uncles and cousins had come, along with Mrs. Humphries, Tonya and Keke, my friend Jasmine and her partner Lisa, and many others. Neighbors, too, and Mama's friends, even Father Ginderbach, who had an interesting, if somewhat tortuous conversation with Papaw about why he no longer went to ma.s.s.
We had a good eating.
Papaw was in fine form, though his remarks were sprinkled with the sort of profanity that would make a politician blush.
While Noah, dressed in his Superman cape and mask, was distracted with the present-opening extravaganza, Jackson disappeared into the house to change into the Iron Man costume. He waited until I texted him that we were ready for his grand entrance.
”We have a special guest today,” I said, holding up my hands in the midst of the kids.
”Who is it, Uncle Wiley?” Josh asked excitedly.
”It's someone very special and I want y'all to be good because he had to come a long, long way to get here.”
”Who is it?” the kids cried eagerly.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Jackson emerging from the front door of the house.
”Here he comes!” I said. ”Now be good, because you don't want to make this guy mad. No telling what he'll do!”
”Wah!” Noah exclaimed happily, catching sight of Iron Man strolling across our yard.
The kids started screaming.
I noticed with pleasure that Jackson filled out that Iron Man costume quite nicely.
”I'm Iron Man!” Jackson exclaimed woodenly, clearly out of his element. The children did not notice nor care. ”How are you, boys and girls?”
I went to greet him.
”Let me officially welcome you to the Cantrell Home, Mr. Iron Man,” I said.
Jackson's mask completely covered his face so I could not judge his reaction, which was probably fortunate.
”Today is Noah Cantrell's tenth birthday!” I announced.
”Happy Birthday, Noah!” Jackson exclaimed.
Then he signed: Happy Birthday! Happy Birthday!
Noah looked astonished.
You know sign language?
”Noah wants to know if I know sign language,” he said to the kids. ”Of course I do! How can I help people if I can't talk to them?”
Then, to Noah, he signed: Yes, I do! Nice to meet you, N-o-a-h! Yes, I do! Nice to meet you, N-o-a-h!
Noah went up to him, touched his arm as if to rea.s.sure himself that Iron Man was real. Then he threw his arms around Jackson's waist and hugged him.
”Let's take pictures, shall we?” Jackson said loudly when Noah pulled away.
”Who wants their picture taken with Iron Man?” I asked.
Like a bunch of tourists, they all did. I was happy to oblige.
”Well, I must go back to Hollywood,” Jackson said.
”You don't live in Hollywood,” Eli pointed out.
”Oh?” Jackson said.
Oops.
Where did Iron Man live?
”I've got a meeting there with... Beyonce!” Jackson exclaimed.
I looked at Noah.
Don't you want to ask him something? I prompted. I prompted.
Noah's face became serious.
Can you take care of my mom? he signed to Jackson in deadly earnest. he signed to Jackson in deadly earnest.
I don't need to, Jackson signed. She went to heaven to talk to Jesus. She went to heaven to talk to Jesus.
Okay, Noah said. Can you take care of my dad, too, and help him find a good job? Can you take care of my dad, too, and help him find a good job?