“That’s nice.”

“Yeah, it sho’ is. I’m going to look for me a car.”

I know I must be hearing things. “Aunt Suzie, where in the world would you get that kind of money?”

“I been saving.”

“Hold it a minute. First of all, when was the last time you drove a car?”

“In 1978, I thank it was. Some thangs you don’t never forget how to do, baby, if you get Aunt Suzie’s drift.” And she lets out a howl.

“I thought you could barely lift your leg ever since you had your hip surgery.”

“I’ll manage.”

“But what about all that medication you take?”

“That’s my business. Ain’t it? I’m tired of sitting in this house waiting for the senior citizens’ bus or my friends to take me everywhere. Shoot. Sometimes I don’t feel like being bothered with old folks.”

“Do you have any idea how much cars cost these days?”

“I got almost sixteen thousand dollars in the bank, baby; I should be able to find something that run for that, you thank?”

Did she say sixteen thousand? I just grunt a chuckle. No wonder she done lost so much weight. She ain’t eating. But Aunt Suzie been losing it in the head for a long time; I don’t know how she think she gon’ get behind a wheel. “Aunt Suzie. Let me ask you something. Do you have a current driver’s license?”

“It’s in my wallet.”

“But is it current?”

“I don’t know. Stop worrying so much, Charlotte. So how you doing these days?”

“I’m fine.”

“That’s good. And Al?”

“He’s at work. Just got back from his fishing trip.”

“Did he catch anything?”

“Yes he did.”

“Then tell him to save me some for my Deepfreeze.”

“I will.”

“How the kids?”

“They fine. They at the movies.”

“You still only got three of ’em, don’t you?”

“Aunt Suzie, you know how many kids I got.”

“It’s too many to keep track of sometimes. How many?”

“Still three. Same as last week and last year.”

“You know your Aunt Priscilla getting out of prison sometime this week.”

“Don’t give her my number, please, Aunt Suzie.”

“I won’t. She said she might wanna go spend some time with Viola, when she get back on her feet good.”

I knew this call was really about Mama, she just getting around to it.

“At the rate she going, I betcha Viola gon’ be dead before me.”

“Stop talking like this, Aunt Suzie! I mean it!”

“I ain’t said nothing that probably ain’t true. I know it ain’t what you wanna hear, but, hell, I may be losing my mind, but one thang fo’ sure, I ain’t got no problems breathing.”

“Well, thanks for cheering me up, Aunt Suzie.”

“You’re welcome. We all getting old, Charlotte. You is, too, so don’t go acting like gon’ live forever.”

“You finished, Aunt Suzie?”

“Nope. How come you didn’t take your ass out there to see your mama?”

Goddamnit! I don’t need this from her, too. But. Say something. “Aunt Suzie?”