Bartle Clunes - Chapter 33
Vida Lee comes to the crossing
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El Dorado County 1951
“Before I leave, I have something for you,” Bartle said. He handed his wife a small box.
“And what is this, Bartle Clunes?”
“I have been saving it. It was my mother's, and I wanted to give it to you today.”
“How come?”
“Because it is November 11, and it is the anniversary of our wedding day, Mrs. Clunes, two years ago today. You forgot?”
“Oh, for heaven's sake! I didn’t forget. She threw up her hands. “I just got busy that’s all! You wait a minute. I will be right back.” She flew back into the bedroom and returned with a small bag in her hand.
“Go ahead, Louvina, open yours first.” Inside the box she found a small silver brooch with little green stones that formed a single shamrock.
“Oh Bartle! How sweet this is.” She hugged him to her and kissed him.
“It is from Ireland. The little marble stones are from County Galway where my mother's family lived. It was given to her when she finished her schooling.” He pinned it on her collar and she went over to admire it in the old mirror next to the sink.
“Thank you,” she said. “It is a lovely little thing. I am honored to wear it. Now, here is something for you, not nearly so grand, but it is an old thing from my family, too, and it suits you.” Bartle opened the small drawstring deerskin bag and found an antique horn cup
“What do we have here?”
“It is an old whiskey tot made of cow horn. It was my grandfather's. I scrubbed it up a bit so you can use it. It had a leak, but I let water stand in it overnight and now it has tightened up again.”
“Well, then, this is a wonderful gift! I guess I will have to drink a dram from it once, maybe twice, every night, just to keep it serviceable, won’t I?”
Louvina laughed. “Yes, I suspect you will.”
Near the end of November, the newly expanded Griggs and Flounder Free Book Exchange was about ready to open. The painting was done, the cases were in place. Bartle, Eli and Eizer worked one Sunday afternoon dividing the books in the simplest arrangement – one corner for non-fiction, one corner for children's books and all the rest for literature.
Ayla and Lonnie, having splurged and bought themselves a new couch for their wedding anniversary, donated their old one to the reading room. Louvina brought over an electric kettle and a large jar of Nescafe instant coffee and set it up on a small card table for those who wanted to stay and read. Bartle put a row of hooks on one wall for people to leave their own coffee mugs, and on the table he put a Mason jar with a slot in the lid to drop in a nickel for the coffee. Because the room was entered through the general store, the Riles' would always be aware when someone was in there, but it would be unmanned, relying on volunteers to help keep it up.
So, El Dorado county's first free book exchange opened the week after Thanksgiving. The neighbors who came to the store for groceries paused to peek into the new room, and those who came specifically to see the new room also bought a few groceries. Either way, the Riles' were happy for the upswing in traffic and trade. Eli and Eizer walked by several times that first week, just to see how it was going and to check if anything needed attending.
A rather large woman came into the store on Monday and went to peek into the Book Exchange. She came out to the counter about twenty minutes later and introduced herself to Ayla.
“My name is Vida Lee,” she said.
“Why, nice to meet you, Vida Lee. I am Ayla, Ayla Riles.” She offered her hand. “You are new here.”
“I am. I have just retired and moved here from Alameda County. I live down the road in the house with the green mailbox. I am finding this such a lovely place to live, so peaceful and quiet. But to tell you the truth, I can't get used to all this inactivity. Lands! I don't know what to do with myself. I was wondering if I could volunteer in the Book Exchange a few afternoons a week, maybe meet some of my neighbors, keep things tidy, you know.”
Ayla welcomed her and told her to come any day and any time. “It would be terrific, Vida Lee, if you could help us keep it neatened up in there. Anything would be appreciated.”
“And who is this sweet little creature?” she asked, peering into the bassinet.
“This is my big boy, Philo, who comes to work with me everyday. He is five months old and is, apparently, the new management around here.”
Vida Lee laughed, bent down over the bassinet and cooed at Philo, tickling his neck, jiggling his feet. Philo responded with a huge toothless smile, a lively flailing of tiny fists and booties.
A few days later, Eli and Eizer came into the book room. Vida Lee was setting up a small lighted Christmas tree on the table. Eli took to her right away. She was very plump, her face round as the moon. She had a wide, friendly smile. Her gray curly hair was cut very short. She wore a voluminous dress with tiny pale lavender flowers. Eli had never in his young life had a conversation with a black person. She said, “Merry Christmas, young man!” and gave him a big, well-cushioned hug. He sat down next to her, curious.
“Your skin is brown,” he said, running one finger shyly, lightly, along her forearm.
“It certainly is,” she replied. “It's a very nice brown, don't you think?”
“Uh huh, I think so,” he said. “And you smell like flowers.”
“I do, don't I!” she answered. “Like sweet peas! Do you like it?”
“Yep. This is our new book exchange,” he said proudly. “It was my idea!”
“Well, for heaven’s sake! Imagine that – a pretty big idea for a little boy.”
“This is Eizer Griggs and I am Eli Flounder. You want to come see our cow, Rosie? We have chickens too and I am the egg man and we live just down that way and we have a crow, too, his name is Finn and you can pet him if you want. Santa Claus might bring me a bicycle.” He went on and on … and on.
She looked up at Eizer, offering him her hand, eyes twinkling. “Hello, I am Vida Lee, your new neighbor. And in case you had not noticed, I am brown and I am perfumed with sweet peas,” she laughed.
He shook her hand. “Eizer Griggs,” he said with his usual gruffness. “I am the companion of this chatterbox boy. Pleased to meet you.”
There’s a new “kid” in town. Opening up more possibilities, I imagine. 🤓
It seems like Vida Lee fits right in. With her children far away, maybe she has found a new family, too.