I was anxious to get up and mingle, but I sat as stiff as a tree limb while Aunt Mattie continued. “I can’t tell you how scared I was for you and Yvonne, not to mention myself. When them laws busted in here Tuesday night, they shook me up so bad I thought I was having a heart attack.” Aunt Mattie shuddered. “That’s why I couldn’t make it to the back door like everybody else. Hiding in your broom closet until things died down wasn’t no picnic,” she said with a groan. She leaned closer and whispered in my ear, “By the way, with all that’s done happened, I’ll let you slide on your tab. You can catch it up when you get back on your feet.”

I whispered back, “Thank you. I hope you don’t get mad, because it might be a while before I can get caught up. Money don’t grow on trees. In the meantime, can I still visit your girls? Until I get my bearings back, I’ll need a little something extra to take the edge off me . . .”

Aunt Mattie gave me a exasperated look and a neck roll. But she still told me what I wanted to hear. “I guess you can. Only once or twice a week until you get caught up on your tab. Poontang don’t grow on trees neither. Do you hear me, young man?”

“Yes, ma’am,” I muttered, with my head bowed like a contrite puppy.

Yvonne was entertaining a bunch of guests on the other side of the room. Joyce occupied the spot on my other side. She was busy chatting with one of the men who worked for the railroad.

When he walked away, Aunt Mattie reached across my lap and tapped her arm. “Joyce, where is Odell at tonight?” she asked, blinking her beady black eyes. “Is he out in the boondocks taking care of his sick daddy tonight?” There was a suspicious look on her face. I didn’t think she knew Prince Charming was spending his weekends with another woman. But I had a feeling she suspected he was doing something other than taking care of his sick daddy.

“Yes, ma’am. That’s where he’s at.” Joyce rattled off the words in such a dry, low tone, I could barely hear her. She hadn’t said too much since she walked in the door half a hour ago. “He said we’d come back over here when he gets home Sunday night.”

“Uh-huh.” Aunt Mattie jabbed my side with her bony elbow, and added with a sneer, “With Odell living just one house over and being such a close friend, I’m surprised he didn’t come to welcome Milton and Yvonne home as fast as he could, like the rest of us. His daddy can’t be that sick . . .”