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CHAPTER 33
When dusk was nearing, Alfred told Fred that he and Carol needed to get home and get ready for work the next day. With that, everyone decided to leave. Of course, Mary was tired and probably needed some rest as well. Bernice decided to stay behind until everyone else was gone, then she undressed Derek, changed his diaper and put his night shirt on him. Next she brought the twins inside and told them to take their gifts to their room. She stayed with them while they tried on all of their new clothes, then she helped them put away the new things.
“You all need to put on your gowns, now. Auntie Momma is tired and she probably wants to go to bed early,” Bernice told the twins while still in their bedroom.
“Okay!” they said in unison. And as they rushed to undress and put on their new gowns that Auntie Ginnie Mae and her daughters gave them, Bernice went back to the kitchen to check on Mary. “Auntie Momma, are you okay?” Bernice asked with concern as she looked at Mary sitting at the kitchen table holding Derek.
“I’m fine, babe, jus’ a bit tired, but I sho am happy for them girls, Lord knows I am.” Then Mary chuckled, “Yeah, I’m tired but a little sleep take care of that, ain’t that right, Derek?”
“Well, the girls put away their new clothes and they have on their gowns that Ginnie Mae gave them.” Then Bernice called to the girls. “Mary Jean and Mary Jane? Come in here and let Auntie Momma see your new gowns!”
The girls rushed into the kitchen looking like tired but excited eight-year-olds. They sashayed in front of Mary as she told them how pretty they looked. Then they went into the living room and sat on the couch, where they remained until bedtime.
When Fred walked into the living room from the front porch, the twins rushed from the couch to show him their new night gowns. Their excitement was evident.
“Dad, look at our new gowns!” They sang in unison, blocking his way. “Auntie Ginnie Mae gave us these!” They stood there, holding out the floral print gowns as if they were prized jewels. And indeed for them they were. “Them pretty, babe,” Fred said as he looked from Mary Jane to Mary Jean.
“Them sho is pretty. Now don’ git 'em dirty!”
“We ain't,” the twins said in unison as they raced back to the couch to re-claim their spot. Fred walked into the kitchen where Bernice and Mary were still sitting, engaged in small conversation. Derek was perched on Bernice’s lap, playing with the locket around her neck.
“Yall sho did put on a nice party for them girls!” Fred smiled as he looked at Mary, then Bernice. “That sho was nice, Momma,” he continued. “I was s'prised too,“ he laughed. “I sho didn’ 'spect all that.“ Fred reached into the refrigerator and got the water jug. Then he poured a glassful into his favorite water jar.
“Them girls deserve somethin’ nice. They good girls. Never no trouble,” Mary continued. “I’m just glad folks showed up; I sho was glad 'bout that,” she giggled.
“Me too,” said Bernice, as she bounced Derek on her knee absently. “I’m glad everybody showed up. It made everything so much more fun!” She smiled, remembering the excitement on the girls faces when they walked through the back door and saw the glowing candles on that beautiful cake that Mary had put extra time into baking.
“Everything was just so nice, Auntie Momma,” Bernice said as she looked at Mary, who had gotten up from her chair and was walking toward the pantry. It was time to prepare her supper for Monday before she went off to bed.
“I didn’ do it by myself, yall helped a lot,” Mary said from over her shoulder. “We all done it t’gether,” she said, then disappeared into the pantry.
That night, Mary was more tired than she had been since she’d moved into the Leigh home. Still, she felt thrilled that she, Bernice, Fred, Junior, and the other family members had been able to make the twins’ eighth birthday a wonderful occasion. And as she kneeled at her bed in prayer, Mary thanked God for everything that He had afforded everyone that enabled them to prepare for and have the celebration that the twins so deserved. Everyone slept well that night, and everyone deserved it.