Horrible Harvest

She set next to me, a napkin covering her naked breast. Her flame-red hair give more light to the room than the window at the door. “You got any money, lil’ ten-second Tennyson?”

My cheeks turnt ruddy at the sound of her voice. I shook my head.

“That’s a shame.”

“Why?”

“Because for half a bit, I could lose this napkin.”

“Why?”

“Why? What do you mean, why? Don’t you wanna see what’s under here?”

I took a bite of a Groundnut Cake. “Already seen it.”

She chuckled. “True enough.” She removed the napkin and tossed it on the table. “Look all you want. No charge.”

Seconds of needling silence near killed me. I spent more energy than I had trying not to look at her nakedness. Finally, I just said something to be saying something. “You know my daddy?”

She sipped from her glass. “Not really. This is my first – transaction with him. He’s got a reputation around here. I know him by that.”

“What kind of reputation?”

“One that is indicated by his nickname. He’s quick and frequent. Does his business like he’s a starving man seeing food for the first time in days.”

I give pause to think over her answer and then said, “What business you got with Daddy?”

She choked on her latest sip of drink. “I keep forgetting you ain’t but a little ol’ thing. It’s just business. Come back in four or five years, and I’ll teach it to you. Only, I’ll show you a different pace than your daddy’s. One that makes it worthwhile for everybody.”

“Yes, ma’am.” I didn’t have no idea what I was yesin’ to, but if she wanted to show me her business, I didn’t see how it’d hurt. “You one of Lady Faye’s girls?”

She smiled. “I am.”

“She’s your – surrogate?”

She looked confused. “If you say so.”

“What is that exactly?”

She shrugged. “Don’t ask me. You’re the one who brought it up.”

“Oh.”

“Let me ask you something.”

“Ok.”

“How many girlfriends you got?”

I give her question some thought. “Don’t know no girls, so I guess I’d have to say none.”

“Well, on behalf of girls everywhere, that is a shame for all the females in the world entire.”

I shrugged. “I don’t know no one at all, really – Not young like me, ‘cept my brother Charles. There’s Douglas, but he’s older – Older than you, I reckon.” I hesitated before saying, “There’s Kenneth – I guess.”

“Who is Kenneth I guess?”

I laughed. “No. It’s just Kenneth. He’s a boy. My age. More or less. Moved close to us. We shook hands.”

“Is he your friend?”

I shrugged again. “His Daddy’s rich.”

“What’s that mean?”

“He’s particular about things. I ain’t the kind his Daddy likes.”

She nodded. “You mean his Daddy’s a jackass.”

I laughed.

“Look here, you like this Kenneth?”

“Yes, ma’am. I suppose. He seems nice enough. Got a friendly way about him.”

“Then, sweety, next time you see his Daddy, you just walk right up to him and – ” She balled up her fist and punched the air. “Pow! You punch that rich sumbitch square in the nose.”

I laughed harder.

“Let me tell you something, Augustus Tennyson. Rich fellas run through this place like shit through a goose. I’ve had – business with politicians, shipping magnates, slavers, tycoons of near every sort, and I tell you true, I’d rather spend time talking to you right here at this table than earn a hundred dollars doing business with any of them diseased roosters.”

A black woman of good cheer and size, and in full dress, entered the kitchen carrying a basket full of foodstuffs from the market. “Wha-choo doing in my kitchen with your lady knobs hanging out, girl? You know I don’t like that.”

“Miss Ginger, have you met our guest?”

The black woman looked me over. “Lordy, you crackers coming ‘round here get younger every day.”

“He’s not here for our services, silly. His Daddy’s upstairs.”

“What kind of father brings his toddler boy to a house of ill-repute?”

Penelope laughed. “C’mon now, Miss Ginger, he ain’t a toddler.”

“Near enough, I say. Too young to be ‘round here, that’s for damn sure.”

“He ain’t doing nothing but sitting in your kitchen eating up all your Groundnut Cakes.”

“And looking straight at your lady biblicals.”

Penelope rolled her eyes. “He’s having the time of his life, ain’t you, Augustus?”

I shrugged.

“Of course he is. You’re giving him a show.”

“Penelope,” Lady Faye called out after scrambling down the stairs and stepping into the kitchen. “Run and get Rachel and Colleen. He’s raring to go.”

“He’s got the money then?”

“Just give it to me in full and then some. He’s got the run of your room until he bows out. He’s likely to go into the early morning hours unless you three can break him down.”

Penelope gulped down the rest of her liquor and stood. “We’ll break him.” She winked at me. “Your Daddy’s gonna have to be carted home in bandages, boy.” Then she palmed the back of my head, leaned down, and planted a kiss on my crown. “Mr. Augustus Tennyson, it has been an honor and a pleasure to spend time with you. Remember – ” She held up her fist. “Pow. Right square in the nose.” She give my hair a tousle. “You and this Kenneth, you’re going to be best of friends.”

She hurried out the kitchen and headed to the parlor. I watched after her, sad to see her go. I ain’t never really felt noticed before. She looked at me. Give me a laugh or two. Yes, sir, I was surely sad to see her go. We didn’t spend but five or ten minutes in that kitchen talking, but it’s a place I’ve visited in my mind whenever I call up time I’ve spent well in this world.