Hope Floats Page #7

I still see her.

No, Mom. No.

No. It's happening with Bernice too.

It's happening with Bernice.

She doesn't even look at me

the same way.

It's like there's a wall between us.

There's a wall and it's killing me.

Because the one thing that l said,

when l would grow up...

...if I ever had a daughter of my own,

she would know her mother loved her.

I would hug her

and l would tell her nice things.

And l wouldn't just let the daddy

do all the hugging.

And now I realize that--

I realize that it doesn't matter...

...who or what or when...

...or where the hugging happens.

Sometimes you just need a hug.

And it just didn't work out that way.

Well, l--

I've seen you hug your daughter.

She knows you love her.

Yes, mothers love their daughters...

...even if they show it poorly.

Hi, Julia.

Here's the talent show list.

It's up! The audition list is up!

I hope I'm near the beginning.

I'm so nervous.

Bernice!

Bernice.

Hey, I was gonna do a poem.

They don't like too many poems.

Hey, Birdee.

Hey.

Chris. How are you?

Fine. What's up?

I was wondering if you could--

Bernice!

Bernice, honey!

Isn't that your mom?

Sweetheart!

Let's go.

Could you give this to her?

She forgot her lunch.

Sure, sure.

Thanks. Thanks.

Good to see you again.

When the rain is blowing in your face

And the whole world is on your case

I could offer you a warm embrace

To make you feel my love

When evening shadows and stars appear

And there is no one to dry your tears

I could hold you for a million years

To make you feel my love

Hey, Daddy.

Do you remember who I am?

Hello.

Hi.

Isn't she beautiful?

Yes, sir. She sure is.

That's my daughter, Birdee.

She's marked for happiness.

And how do you know that?

If you look at her, child,

you'll see it.

My God, you're right.

I see it.

Hey, honey.

Your mom called a while ago.

She said she'd be home soon.

Do you want me to tuck you in?

Yeah? How tight?

Tight.

Okay.

Snug as a bug in a rug.

You're so much like your mama.

She use to love me to tuck her in real tight.

I'm not like her.

We're different.

It's like we're not even relatives.

Oh, well, yeah.

Yeah, l know what you mean.

Relatives are trouble.

I couldn't agree more.

I ever tell you about Walter,

my brother? No?

Well, what you have to go through

with your mama...

...the suffering,

that's what l had to suffer with Walter.

One day, we were playing out back,

down by the river...

...and we came across

the most beautiful anthill you ever saw.

And then Walter, he immediately kicked it

and stomped on it...

...and just scattered it

to the four winds.

I just started howling. I was just--

I yelled for my mama.

I ran up and I grabbed her...

...and dragged her down there,

just crying and carrying on.

Anyway, my mama was trying to

calm me down, so she said:

"Wait, wait. They're not finished.

Not by a long shot."

And we waited and waited

and sure enough...

...those little black specks just started

scurrying every which way...

...just working hard to build

their home back.

And l said, "Why did they do it?

I'd just give up. I mean, it's hopeless."

And my mama said, "Yeah, you know,

if there's just one of you.

But there's lots of ants down there.

And they're all relatives.

They're family, just like we are."

Well, that's what families are for.

That's why they invented families.

So hopeless didn't get the last word.

So listen, if ants can do it,

I figure we can do it.

You know, my Birdee has a lot more

strength than she's ever known.

And one of these days,

she's going to realize it.

I love you, Grandma.

Oh, honey. Honey.

"My cup runneth over."

Say, haven't you got a birthday

coming up here pretty soon?

You want to tell Grandma

what you wish for? No?

No.

No?

Well, never mind. I'll figure that out.

I have my magic ways.

Good night, honey.

Good night.

Oh, Birdee.

When did you get home?

Oh, a little while ago.

I went to go see Daddy.

Oh, that's nice.

Yeah.

Well, you were always

Daddy's girl.

Not just his, Mama.

Thank you.

Well...

...you're most welcome.

I'm gonna get some tea. You want some?

No, I'm okay. Thanks.

Grandma? Grandma?

Mama?

Grandma!

Mama? Mama?

Mama, what's up? Mama,

what's wrong? Mama? Mama?

Oh, God! Mama--

Bernice, go dial 911.

Mama. This isn't happening to me.

Come on, not now, Mama. Not now.

Don't do this to me now, Mama.

Come on, Mama, don't do this to me now.

Wake up, Mama.

Mama, wake up! Wake up! Mama!

Mama, please.

Oh, God. Oh, God. Oh, God.

No. No. No.

Im privileged to have known

Ramona Calvert all my life.

I don't believe she needs to be idealized

in death beyond what she was in life.

A complicated woman

and a generous one.

Proud, and yet humble enough

to help many of her neighbors...

...quietly, simply.

The mother of two fine daughters.

The wife of one good man.

She doesn't require any fancy words

from the likes of me.

All I need to say is I will miss her,

as will we all.

And l know,

even seated next to our Father...

Daddy, he's back.

He came back for us.

He came back.

Thank you, Grandma.

Thank you.

May she rest in peace.

In the name of the Father,

the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Amen.

May God be with you.

And also with you.

Daddy, l knew you'd come back!

I knew it!

Take it easy, Bernice. You're choking me.

Come on. Let me get a look at you.

What are you doing?

Taking it home.

Okay.

Hey.

You doing all right?

Yeah. Thanks.

Want to come see Mama?

Hey, Travis.

You mind if l sit down?

Birdee, why don't you sit down?

That can wait.

Would you like sugar or cream

with that or are you okay?

No, I'm fine.

How are you? You want anything?

Im good.

Yeah? Okay.

You got a telegram?

I waited my whole life

to get one of these.

Still ain't happened.

It's from your mom?

I tell you, she must care about you

an awful lot to send you a telegram.

It's for Aunt Birdee.

Even so.

What you thinking about?

Whether Aunt Birdee wants me.

Yeah, she does.

My grandma's dead.

I know.

Birdee, you're not gonna

make me feel bad about this.

Only thing Im guilty of

is falling in love.

I didn't want it to happen.

I didn't seek it out, Birdee. It just happened.

Oh, Im sorry.

Are you talking about me or Connie?

Because you seem to fall in love real easily,

so it's only natural to be confused.

Here you go, Daddy.

Didn't l tell you to play outside?

I'm not leaving until you stop fighting.

We're not fighting. Nobody's fighting here.

Nope, you never did,

did you?

Things always came real easy to you,

didn't they? Real easy.

Hey, almost as easy as discarding

your wife and child, huh?

Kind of like a to-do list.

Wife's gone, check.

Daughter's gone, check, check.

Birdee, you left, remember?

No, you left long before l left you.

This isn't about who left first, Birdee.

We're not in love

with each other anymore.

You said you weren't gonna fight.

Bernice, if you do not get out of this house,

you're gonna wish you had.

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