Page 90 of Cookout Carnage
Everyone stared at the metal napkin holder from the diner in the middle of the table.
‘Thank you again, Sherri-Lynne,’ said Fender. ‘That was real sweet of you.’
‘I want to have a quiet meal with all of my family,’ Lynne continued. ‘This weekend is about celebration, not arguments.’ She sat back down. ‘Fender, honey, tell us about your plans.’
Sherilyn stared at her brother. Before he left, he had simply been enormous. But over the years it appeared he’d lost all his fat and turned it into muscle. Now he was as big, solid and intimidating as a tank. If she didn’t know him and saw him walking down Main Street towards her, she’d cross the state to avoid him.
Fender shuffled on his seat, staring at his plate. ‘Well,’ he began. ‘Y’all know I got my GED.’
‘Yes, honey, and we’re so proud of you,’ encouraged his mother.
‘I, I didn’t want to tell you, cuz I didn’t know if I could do it or not,’ he continued. Everyone leaned a little closer. Fender sat up straight, his cheeks reddening, and looked them in the eye. He cleared his throat. ‘But I got myself a bachelor’s degree.’
There was silence as disbelief rippled around the room, then Lynne was on her feet again.
‘Oh, my lord!’
Axle leaned across the table to high-five his brother.
‘What?’ asked Ford. ‘How d’ya get that?’
‘He stole it, Pa,’ replied Axle sarcastically. ‘How d’ya think he got it?’
Lynne was hugging Fender, attempting to get both of her arms around his bulk as tears streamed down her face.
‘Fender, baby I’m so proud of you. I just knew you could do anything. I knew it. Maybe Sherri-Lynne can put in a good word for you at her company? You could work there? You gotta come up to Chicago with me next time. Maybe she can get you an intern position?’
Sherilyn froze. She opened her mouth, but her throat was closed as it fought back her scream.
Fender shook his head. ‘The city ain’t for me, Mama. I know what I want to do.’
Lynne sat down, still holding his arm. ‘Well, what is it, honey? What do you want to be?’
Fender rubbed his tattooed jaw. ‘I wanna be a kindergarten teacher.’
Sherilyn: You there?
Tris: I’m here. How was dinner? You get into trouble?
Sherilyn: A little. It’s okay now. You had enough to eat?
Tris: More than enough. I think Amy’s trying to fatten me up for the cookout in a couple of days.
Sherilyn: Hog roast Brit for Fourth of July?
Tris: Now I’m properly worried.
Sherilyn: Ha! If you hear banjos, then you need to start running.
Tris: I’m packing my bags now.
Sherilyn: Nooooooooooooo!
Tris: You want me to stay, Hot Sauce?
Sherilyn: Yes X
Tris: Can you Facetime?
