The Silence Between Bites
BY GREGORY HEDGEPETH
Cover image by Dieter Martin from Pixabay. Cover art by Gregory Hedgepeth.
“Now Montclair, I don’t want you to give your auntie any trouble this summer, you hear me? She’s doing you and me a big favor by taking you in.”
I crossed my arms in disappointment and sat back against the seat as we sped down the expressway towards New Lorraine. “But you said—“
“Listen, I know... but summer camp will have to wait until next year. For now, I need you to be a big boy and hang with your aunt, okay?”
I looked at her as if I understood, but I didn’t. Mama had been preaching all year long that if I got straight A’s, I could spend the summer at the camp in Effervesce but now she was reneging. “Okay,” I said simply, dropping my head.
“That’s my baby,” she said, ignoring my demeanor. “It’ll fly by—I promise. You’re going to love it in New Lorraine. You can hang out in the city and ride around the transit for free. And there’s so many things to do. Plus, your uncle can take you fishing.”
I smiled weakly at the promise of fishing. Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad. As we pulled up to the small home, the pit of my stomach floated in a pickle jar of anxiety. I had never been away from her for more than a few days at a time and now Mama was trying to convince me to stay with relatives I had never met for an entire summer. She hopped out the front seat and gestured for me to do the same. I let out a heavy sigh, unfastened my seatbelt and followed closely behind her as she made her way to the door.
She knocked stiffly three times, and almost immediately, it was answered by a tall, beer-bellied man and a short woman with wide hips and chubby ankles. Her smile beamed brightly at the sight of my mother and she pulled her in for a tight hug that seemed to last forever. Once she let go, Mama stood to the side and officially introduced me. “Monty, baby... this is your Aunt Clarice and your Uncle Petey. Say hello.”
I looked into their eager faces and gave a small wave. Aunt Clarice pulled me deep into her bosom with a suffocating hug that left me nearly out of breath. “Your cousin Hezekiah would be here to greet you, but he’s staying at a friend’s house for the evening. You’ll get to meet him in the morning,” she said, finally releasing me from her grasp. “You’re going to like it here, Monty. We made up a bedroom in the den just for you.”
“Your mama said you liked fishing,” the man said with an equally bright grin. “I’d love to take you with me. Me and Hez go about once a month. Sometimes two if need be. You’re welcome to join us anytime, okay?” I returned his smile, and for the first time, it sounded like it might not be so bad spending the summer in New Lorraine.
“Well, y’all come on in...” the woman said, attempting to pull us inside.
“Actually, I’ve really gotta get going, Clarice...” Mama said, looking back at the car like it was the only place she wanted to be.
“Aw hell, what’s so important you can’t stay around for a few minutes? I ain’t barely seen you since Monty was born. At least rest for a bit. You’ve been driving for hours.”
“I just... can’t be late,” Mama said with an uneasy smile. She turned to look at me. “Remember what I told you, Montclair. Don’t you give you them no trouble now, hear?”
I gave her my best smile, looking forward to catching my first fish. “Yes, ma’am.”
She smiled and gave me a kiss on the forehead. “That’s my baby. I’ll be back at the end of August. Maybe a little before if everything goes as planned. Clarice, y’all take care of my boy now. Don’t let him spend the whole summer watching TV.”
“We won’t,” she said, hugging Mama a final time, disappointed they wouldn’t have more time to catch up. Mama kissed me on the cheek, and just like that, she was gone. Uncle Petey grabbed my suitcase from the porch as Aunt Clarice took me by the hand and led me inside before asking if I’d like a slice of pie.
I sat at the table with a glass of milk as she went to cut me a thick slice of buttermilk-custard pie that had been resting on the counter. As she walked towards me, I salivated because I could tell by the edges that it was still warm. I dug into the sweet custard immediately, and after a single bite, I was convinced it was the best thing I’d ever tasted. As I continued eating, Uncle Petey gave her a playful kiss on the lips and escaped out the kitchen with my suitcase, leaving the two of us alone.
“Do you like the pie?”
“Yes ma’am!” I said with a genuine smile plastered across my young face. “Mama never makes pie like this.”
“Good. Now, Monty... I wanna tell you something, okay? It may upset you and you may even be a little angry... but eventually you’re going to understand that it was the best thing for you. I told your mama I would wait until August to tell you, but considering that you’re here now, I don’t see any reason to withhold the truth.” I stopped eating and gave her my full attention. “Your mama... she... she’s not coming back. It’s not that she doesn’t want you. But she needs time to take care of—look, you’re a special boy, Montclair. Your mama told me so. And I can tell just by looking at you that you’re going to accomplish great things. I know you’re going to miss her... but me and Petey and Hezekiah, we’re going to do everything we can to give you a family right here, okay?”
I swallowed the last bit of pie and considered the weight of Aunt Clarice’s words. All of a sudden, my chest felt heavy and I wanted to cry. Mama had abandoned me and didn’t even bother to tell me herself or try to make me understand why she had to leave. I was angry and hurt and embarrassed all at the same time. I sat there silently for several moments as Aunt Clarice shifted uneasily back and forth, waiting to see what my reaction would be. “Can I have another slice of pie?” I asked flatly.
Her expression told me she expected me to say more, but she didn’t pry. She returned to the counter and cut me a slightly bigger slice, returning with her best attempt at a smile. I sniffled and wiped away the tear attempting to form in the corner of my eye. I refused to let her see me cry. The second piece didn’t taste nearly as sweet as the first. I forced myself to finish it quickly as Mama’s dishonesty began to settle in the silence between bites.
Gregory Hedgepeth is the editor-in-chief of Vital Narrative Press. You can follow him on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter. Feel free to follow on all three. Or maybe just two. Yeah, two’s probably good—he’s not that interesting. Gregory Hedgepeth is also the author of MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT SUNRISES, THE YEAR THAT ANSWERED and A COLLECTION OF ECHOES. BUY THAT SHIT.