Fern
by
Diane Batten

"June!" Cecilia pounded on the back screened door, "June!" She threw the door open, "I don't have all day!"

Rushing through the hallway June almost collided with Cecilia. "Lord, you don't have to scream. I'm ready. What's wrong with you today?" she asked , glancing at the Grandfather clock in the foyer "You're thirty minutes early."

"I'm not," Cecilia said, pointing at the clock "And, that antique hasn't worked right since we were nine years old. Now come on, they're having a sale on tuna fish and I want to stock up. You know how Eitty-Bitty loves tuna," Cecilia said.

June smoothed her hair and looked at the Grandfather clock, "Why are you in such a snit today?" she asked.

"I'm not in a snit, June, I'm in a hurry," Cecilia said heading for her car.

"I'm driving!" June shouted.

"June Buckman, I told you last week I wouldn't ride with you again. Lord, you almost killed us. I don't know what all is wrong with you, but I do know your driving has going to hell," Cecilia said, slamming the car door. "Well don't just stand there, get in."

June set her jaw and opened the car door. "Don't get testy with me, Cecilia Louise. I don't have to go to the Piggly Wiggly with you, I could drive myself," she said.

Cecilia grinded the car into reverse and accelerated out of the driveway, "Testy! What's got into you," she said and stared at June, "What? What? Come on tell me!"

June pretended to stare out the window.

"Ah! You are trying to hide something! Tell me Junebug!" she exclaimed. In her excitement, Cecilia swerved into the left lane.

"Watch where you're driving! My God you're going to kill both of us before we reach the Piggly Wiggly. And you talk about my driving," June screamed, holding onto the dash.

"Tell me Junebug or I'll stop this car right here," Cecilia said, slowing the car down.

"You are in a snit today! And I don't want to tell you," June said.

Cecilia's eyes darted over June as she drove into the parking lot, "Well, I'll let you off the hook for a little while," she laughed. "At least until I get my tuna."

June rolled her eyes. "Don't start pestering, Cecilia. When you get in these snits you can be a real pain," she said.

Cecilia slammed the car door. "I told you I'm not in a snit, June. You're the one that's in a snit. Not me," she said and dropped her keys into her purse. In her half running gate, she left June in the parking lot.

June smoothed her hair back, smiled at Mrs. Miller and slowly walked to the electric doors.

"Here, you push the cart," Cecilia said, rolling a cart to her.

"I always push the cart, other wise you'd run through here like a manic," June said.

"Snit," Cecilia whispered.

"Morning Miss Cecilia, Miss June," Harold said as he passed them.

"Umh!" Cecilia responded, hurrying to the tuna.

"Good morning, Harold," June said, smiling. She pushed the cart down the isle, "You know you could at least be civil to Harold. After all he is your cousin."

Cecilia held two cans of tuna up and said, "You say that to me every Wednesday and every Wednesday I give you the same answer. His father is a fool and he is a fool and I don't talk to fools even if they are family. Now, next Wednesday do you think we could possibly not go into this?" She dropped the tuna into the cart and smiled. "Besides, if I said hello to him after ignoring him for all of these years he might have a heart attack and die. And lord knows I don't want the family accusing me of killing Harold with kindness."

June laughed, "Cecilia, you know you'd give that boy your head if he needed it."

Pointing her finger, Cecilia said, "Now that's a lie, because that boy needs a brain. And I'll be damned if I'll give him mine." She put eight more cans of tuna in the cart.

"The limit is six and you have twelve," June said.

Cecilia waved her off and pulled the cart down the isle. "You know," she said in a low voice. "I call them the bugger bunch."

"What are you talking about?" June asked.

"Harold, Millie and their six, count them, six boys. They're like buggers an embarrassment to the world. You can't fling them across the room at family get to gathers, there's to many of them," she said.

June swiftly looked to see if anyone could here them. "Cecilia!" she said shocked at her words.

Cecilia's eye brows mischievously bounced up and down. "Now, maybe next week you won't ask me about Harold," she said.

"Maybe next week I won't' even come to the Piggly Wiggly with you," June retorted.

Cecilia rolled her eyes to the ceiling. "Don't get your step-ins in a knot. You know how I am when you keep things from me," she said.

"And if I tell you, you will be in a bigger snit than you already are," June said, pushing the cart to the check-out counter.

Unlocking the trunk, Cecilia grabbed the bag of tuna and slammed the trunk closed. "Don't just sit there, June. You're coming in for coffee," she shouted, hefting the bag higher.

"I'm not coming in if you're going to bully me," June said, getting out of the car. "I'll walk home."

Disgusted, Cecilia turned around. "When have I ever bullied you? Come on, I made crumb cake. Good Lord, June! You know the older you get the worse you get. Stop pouting and come on," she said.

Cecilia cut each a large piece of cake and carried them to the table, "This is from my great Aunt Callie's recipe," she said settling into her chair.

Squaring her shoulders and smoothing her hair back June looked Cecilia in the eye.  She said, "You've been pestering me all morning to tell you what's wrong." She licked her lips. "Well, I have decided to go to Fern's funeral."

"What!" Cecilia exploded. "Have you lost the last threads of your sanity? Fern Pendleton’s, funeral!" She vigorously shook her head, "Why? She hated our guts. June, the only people that was nice to Fern was her family and they were only nice because she had all of the money. They probably aren't even going. And you're sitting here saying we should go."

Jutting her jaw out, June nodded and said, "We've known Fern all of our lives and she was a pain in the behind, but I started thinking last night."

Cecilia cut her off. "Well, that proves it right there, anybody that starts thinking about Fern need to be under a doctors care," she said.

"Are you going to hear me out?" June asked.

Cecilia's brows shot up. "Go a head," she said.

"We all grew up together, remember?" June said and paused, for Cecilia to concede the fact. "We all married in the same year. You and Bud, then Fern and Henry---."

"I know who and when me married, June. My sanity isn't in question here," Cecilia interrupted.

"Any way, we were friends." June knitted her brows. "Fern started changing after both of us had our first child. I think she was jealous," she said.

"Jealous! She should have been. Look at what she ended up with. I've always had my doubts as to whether her off springs were human," Cecilia said.

"For once can't you serious, Cecilia?" June asked.

"I am serious. Look, we were somewhat friends growing up. And she turned into the most hateful woman in three county's," Cecilia said. "June, we were somewhat friendly with Fern for what, twenty-five years? And we were enemies for forty. Do you see the point here?" She threw her hand up. "The bad years out weight the good years, June."

"Do they? We didn't really hate her, Cecilia and I don't think," June was cut off by Cecilia.

"That's the problem, you're thinking," Cecilia said.

"Excuse me, Miz. Walton, theys a Miz. Race here to you the both of use," Rose said, from the dining room door way.

Cecilia's eyes widened and said, "Thank you Rose. I'll, we'll see her in the pallor." She turned to June. "Did you call her?"

"No," June answered, sliding her chair back.

Linda Race smiled as the two entered the pallor. "Miss Cecilia, Miss June. I'm glad you're both here," she said.

"Linda," Cecilia said, motioning toward the couch.

"I can't stay. I --- I came straight from Mr. Gordon’s office," she said and fumbled around in her purse. "We had the reading of Mamma's will. And she asked that I give this to the both of you." She nervously held the envelope out. "I have no idea what's in it."

Cecilia stared at the yellow envelope and June reached out. "I was sorry to hear about your mamma passing away," she said.

"Thank you Miss June. I know..." Linda trailed off and  hrugged her shoulders. "I know you and Mamma weren't best of friends, but she did talk fondly of you toward the end. Well, if you will excuse me, Wayne is waiting in the car."

"Let me see you to the door," June said.

Cecilia waited for the door to close, before rushing into the foyer, "What do you think is in there?" she asked, pointing at the envelope. "Do you think it's her last curse on us?"

"Cecilia! I swear you're getting paranoid," June said rushing passed her.

"I don't want to read it!" Cecilia called after her. "I don't want to hear any confessions from the grave."

Pulling the chair out June sat down with a thud. "Pour us a cup of coffee and sit down. And you are going too listen to every word Fern wrote," she said.

"When was it written?" Cecilia asked, setting the pot between them.

June glanced at the date. "Last year," she said adjusting her glasses. She looked at Cecilia. "Are you ready?"

"Just get it over with," Cecilia answered.

"Dear Cecilia and June,

If you two are reading this, then I am dead, but not in my grave. That will come tomorrow. I'm sure Cecilia wanted to burn this and be done with me, but I know you won't let her June.

Two months ago Dr. Eckheart gave me a death sentence. I am sure you you've heard the rumors, my wickedness is eating me alive, although the doctors called it cancer, we know it's Gods judgment. Remember when we were children and had the world a head of us? Our dreams were happy and our futures bright.

But as the three of us know that didn't happen to me. Yes, this is a confession of my sins."

June glanced over the rims of her glasses.

 "Just it get it over with June," Cecilia said.

"My biggest sin was never standing up to Henry. I want to believe Henry loved me and maybe he did for the first few years. He was evil, evil. Cecilia he started the rumors about me and Buddy. I never had an affair with him. Henry started the rumors because Buddy wouldn't let him have that big loan he needed. He had to go up to New York and beg as he put it.

I have missed you two, but Henry drove you away with his lies. After he came back from New York he concocted a story about my drinking. Remember the black eyes, the broken arms I suffered over the next twenty years? Henry beat me if I didn't go along with every wild scheme he came up with. I should have left him. But no, I stayed and turned into a vengeful, bitter old bitch. That's how the town sees me, my children and my childhood friends.

The tears I cried at Henry's grave were tears of relief. I felt freed from the hell I had been living. I was wrong, I had been pushing everyone away so long I didn't know how to stop. My damn pride wouldn't let me come and tell both of you how sorry I am. How sad it makes me feel, all of the years wasted, because of my pride wouldn't let me admit I was trapped in hell. Henry pushed you away and I kept you at a distance with false hatred. I didn't want you to know how weak I am.

I'm not writing this for your pity. In my weakness I made my life the way it was. I would like to ask a favor and if you two can't bring yourselves to do it I will understand. Cecilia, June. you are the only real friends I have ever had, even through the years of our little games of getting back at each other I felt your friendship. We really kept the tongue wagglers busy, and they will be even busier if you two would read the enclosed scriptures at my grave. May God be with you.

Your loving friend, Fern

June carefully folded the letter and looked into the envelope. "I don't see any scriptures," she said.

Leaning forward, Cecilia snatched the papers from her. She said, "If she wasn't dead I'd go over there and shake the life out of her! How dare she act like the bitch of five counties for forty years and not tell us." She grabbed her chest and fell back onto the chair. "Pride! What's pride between friends?"

June dabbed her eyes with the corner of the napkin. "I feel awful. The thing we did to each other," she said.

Cecilia threw her head back laughing. She said, "Fern called it games!" Sobering, she stared at June's pale face. "Think about it. The things we did kept us all going. They weren't real spiteful. Hell, we even went to Henry's funeral, the old bastard."

"But, but you said you wouldn't go to Fern's funeral. You called me crazy for wanting to go," June said.

"You are crazy, June," Cecilia chuckled. "I've told you that for years. Why would that upset you now? And as for Fern's funeral, you would have talked me into going, whether she wrote us or not.

"It's upsetting to think Fern suffered so," June said. "Damn Henry Pendleton's soul!"

"Why, June Buckman, I do believe that is the first time I've heard you cuss since we were twelve years old," Cecilia said, in mock shock.

"I cuss, I cuss plenty, but you just must not be around when I do!" June said, slamming the palms of her hands on the table. "Get your bible, we're going to find a scripture that will honor our friend."

Cecilia laid the bible on the table. "Here," she said, "this will do. He hath put my brethren far from me, and mine acquaintance are verily estranged from me. My kinsfolk have failed and my familiar friends have forgotten me. My bone cleaveth to my skin and to my flesh, and I am escaped with the skin of my teeth. Have pity on me, have pity upon me. 0 ye my friends; for the hand of God hath touched me."

"You can't read that!" June said.

"Why not? That's what happened. Henry drove Fern from her friends and family and we should pity her," Cecilia said, staring at the passage. "It's perfect. And you can say a few words. We'll make these God fearing gossiping ninny listen."

June slowly nodded and said, "Yes, we'll let them know Fern was our friend."

Cecilia slammed the bible closed. "Damn right! They'll have a massive tongue melt down. And at the end we'll spit on Henry's grave," she said.

"Cecilia! You're getting carried away," June said and sat back, then laughed. "Maybe we could wait until everyone leaves, then spit an his grave."

Watching the family members pass the casket, June and Cecilia glanced at each other.

Pastor George shook the last hand and turned to June. “Eloquent, Miss June. I know the family was touched by your words," he said.

"Thank you," June mumbled.

"Miss Cecilia," Pastor George said, taking her hand. "You're choice of verses, well..." he trailed off, nodded to them and followed the family back to their cars.

They stood alone at Fern's gave. "Do you think they can see us," June whispered.

Cecilia looked up and shook her head no. They moved to the left as they had planned and they both spit on Henry's grave.

"That's for you Fern," they whispered.

Cecilia took June's arm and slowly walked through the grave yard. "I feel free, as free as when we were children," she giggled, "I feel as free and reckless as the day the three of us stole old Mrs. Smeads cane while she was napping on her porch."

June pulled back and said, "Stealing old ladies cane when you're nine years old is a far cry from spitting on graves at sixty-five, Cecilia. We should be ashamed of ourselves, even if it was for Fern. Do you think anyone saw us?"

 "We were caught when we were nine and I'm sure some fussbudget saw us this time too," Cecilia said and squeezed June's arm. "Come on June, let's go, we can hear all of the gossip." She nudged June in the ribs. "And we'll know all of the whispering will be about us."

June laughed and glanced over her shoulder at Fern's grave. "I hope she's enjoying this," she said.

"Damn right she is!" Cecilia said. Taking June's hand they swung their arms back and forth all the way to the car.

Return to Diane's Home Page