Poppies

“But Mama, please!” Mara-Joy pleaded, stomping in the doorway of the kitchen. “I won’t get into any trouble. I promise.” She looked at her mother in disbelief. There was no way she was missing this party. Joanna, her sister, was sitting at the kitchen table eating breakfast with their little brother Alan-Michael and their little sister Pauline. Constance, their other sister, never ate breakfast and was already at school studying. It was what she always did.

  Mama’s back was turned to them all as she flipped eggs on the stove. Pappy had just left for work with Uncle Oliver, a job he claimed was not farming but was better than working in the mills, which was the job he had years ago before he moved their family to the city to live near Shawna and Oliver.

  “Mara-Joy, you are only fourteen years old,” said her mother. “I don’t think you are old enough to go to a party with boys.” Jobeth sighed, wiping her hand across her forehead. Mara-Joy was relentless with her pleadings. “Besides, you’re to help Joanna with the children tonight. Your father and I are going dancing.”

  Jobeth looked dreamy for a moment.

  The thought of dancing in her husband Alan’s arms thrilled her. After fourteen years of marriage, she still tingled all over thinking of her sweet quiet Alan. She wondered what she had done to deserve such a decent man.

  Jobeth looked at the red-faced Mara-Joy. Her dark black hair framed in ringlets around her perfect complexion, while her piercing blue eyes danced with frustration.

  “Oh, Mama!” Mara-Joy began to cry. “It’s fine and dandy if you go out and have fun. Who cares about me and what I want to do? Don’t you understand how important this is to me?” She stomped her foot angrily. Life seemed so unfair. How could her mother be so insensitive to her needs? All her mother thought about was herself.

  “Don’t you get lippy with me, Missy, or I will swat your behind, good and hard,” Jobeth held her spatula out threateningly to Mara-Joy. “Believe me, Mara-Joy, I will.”

  “Pooh.” Mara-Joy whined. “I never get to do anything.” She stuck her moist, red bottom lip out in a pout.

  “Girls your age shouldn’t be thinking of boys and parties anyway,” Jobeth laughed suddenly. She couldn’t help herself. Mara-Joy looked irresistible cute when she pouted.

  “Why not, Mama?” Mara-Joy giggled. Knowing she had won. Jobeth would let her go if Mara-Joy played her cards right. “You and Pappy got married not much older than me.”

  “Oh you are a bold one, Mara-Joy.” Jobeth swatted playfully, with the sticky egg flipper. The girl dodged her mother’s laughing. “All right, you can go.” Jobeth relented.

  “Oh thank you, Mama!” Mara-Joy squealed, squeezing her mother’s shoulders. “I love you so much. You are the best mother in the world,” Mara-Joy sighed and hugged her mother tightly.

  “But you are to be home by nine. And I will call to make sure you are home,” Jobeth said, hugging Mara-Joy back, letting the love she felt for her daughter envelop her.

  “Oh Mama, don’t you trust me?” Mara-Joy angled her eyebrow wickedly at her pretty mother.

  “Get to school you bad girl, before I change my mind.” Jobeth gently pushed Mara-Joy from her grasp.

  “Come on,” Mara-Joy said to the astonished children sitting around the kitchen table. Joanna felt her face redden as she stood from the table. No matter how many times she witnessed Mara-Joy in action, it still shocked her to see Mara-Joy get her way, once again.

  - Chapter 23 —