The Heart is a Lonely Hunter - Carson McCullers [59]
‘I come to borrow and I come to ask a favor,’ Portia said.
Doctor Copeland was alone in his kitchen when she walked through the hall and stood in the doorway to tell him this. Two weeks had passed since William had been sent away. Portia was changed. Her hair was not oiled and combed as usual, her eyes were bloodshot as though she had partaken of strong drink. Her cheeks were hollow, and with her sorrowful, honey-colored face she truly resembled her mother now.
‘You know them nice white plates and cups you have?’
‘You may have them and keep them.’
‘No, I only wants to borrow. And also I come here to ask a favor of you.’
‘Anything you wish,’ said Doctor Copeland.
Portia sat down across the table from her father. First I suppose I better explain. Yesdiddy I got this here message from Grandpapa saying they all coming in tomorrow and spend the night and part of Sunday with us. Course they been mighty worried about Willie, and Grandpapa feel like us all ought to get together again. He right, too. I sure do want to see our kinfolks again. I been mighty homesick since Willie been gone.’
‘You may have the plates and anything else you can find around here,’ Doctor Copeland said. ‘But hold up your shoulders, Daughter. Your carriage is bad.’
‘It going to be a real reunion. You know this is the first time Grandpapa have spent the night in town for twenty years. He haven’t ever slept outside of his own home except two times in his whole life. And anyway he kind of nervous at night. All during the dark he have to get up and drink water and be sure the childrens is covered up and all right. I a little worried about if Grandpapa will be comfortable here.’
‘Anything of mine you think you will need--’
‘Course Lee Jackson bringing them in,’ said Portia. ‘And with Lee Jackson it going to take them all day to get here. I not expecting them till around supper-time. Course Grandpapa always so patient with Lee Jackson he wouldn’t make him hurry none.’
‘My soul! Is that old mule still alive? He must be fully eighteen years old.’
‘He even older than that. Grandpapa been working him now for twenty years. He done had that mule so long he always say it just like Lee Jackson is one of his blood kin. He understand and love Lee Jackson like he do his own grandchildrens. I never seen a human who know so good what a animal is thinking as Grandpapa. He haves a close feeling for everthing that walks and eats.’
‘Twenty years is a long time to work a mule.’
‘It sure is. Now Lee Jackson is right feeble. But Grandpapa sure do take good care of him. When they plows out in the hot sun Lee Jackson haves a great big straw hat on his head just like Grandpapa--with holes cut for his ears. That mule’s straw hat is a real joke, and Lee Jackson won’t budge a step when he going to plow without that hat is on his head.’
Doctor Copeland took down the white china dishes from the shelf and began to wrap them in a newspaper. ‘Have you enough pots and pans to cook all the food you will need?’
‘Plenty,’ Portia said. ‘I not going to any special trouble.
Granpapa, he Mr. Thoughtful hisself--and he always bring in something to help out when the fambly come to dinner. I only going to have plenty meal and cabbage and two pounds of nice mullet.’
‘Sounds good.’
Portia laced her nervous yellow fingers together. ‘There one thing I haven’t told you yet. A surprise. Buddy going to | be here as well as Hamilton. Buddy just come back from Mobile. He helping out on the farm now.’
‘It has been five years since I last saw Karl Marx.’
‘And that just what I come to ask you about,’ said Portia. ‘You remember when I walked in the door I told you I come to borrow and to ask a favor.