Читать книгу The Book of Harlan - Bernice L. McFadden - Страница 36

Chapter 28

“I’m thinking about enrolling in nursing school,” Lucille announced suddenly while she and Emma sat in her kitchen sipping sweet tea and chomping on fried bologna sandwiches.

Emma’s mouth dropped open. “Nursing school?”

The good times, Lucille explained, were rolling to an end. “With the Depression and things being the way they are, we ain’t selling records like we used to.” She shrugged her shoulders. “My manager says my style of music is going the way of the dodo bird.” A wounded chuckle escaped her.

“Nursing school?” Emma echoed.

“Um-hum, what else am I gonna do? Day work?”

Emma slowly shook her head. She’d traveled that road, and it had been bumpy and unforgiving.

“I can see it now,” Lucille spoke dreamily, “me walking into some white lady’s house in my starched maid’s uniform, all ready to attack the baseboards and her husband’s dirty drawers, and then . . .” She paused dramatically; her eyes stretched saucer-wide and when she spoke again her voice was shrill and animated: “Oh my! Is that Lucille Hegamin? The Lucille Hegamin? Why, I saw you perform at the Panther Club, and I have all of your records!”

The women howled with laughter.

Lucille wiped tears from her eyes. “I won’t put myself through that type of embarrassment.”

“And the house?”

Lucille’s face clouded. “Gonna have to let it go.”

Emma reached across the table and closed her hand over Lucille’s. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be. I . . . we all had some good times here. It served its purpose and served it well. My season is over. Seasons come to an end. Don’t the Good Book say as much?”

Emma nodded.

“Besides, it wasn’t always easy being Lucille Hegamin—”

“The great Lucille Hegamin,” Emma corrected with a smile.

“So they say,” Lucille sighed. “People don’t know how hard I had to work. How much I had to give up.”

“I know,” Emma said.

Lucille turned toward the window—sunlight lit the tears swimming in her eyes. “You know, it wasn’t easy being in Mamie Smith’s shadow.”

Emma squeezed her hand.

“You don’t get no parade for being second,” Lucille huffed.

Emma, eager to brighten the grim mood that had befallen the kitchen, hurriedly changed the subject. “So, when you gonna start nursing school?”

“Hmmm, I don’t know yet. Right now, it’s just a thought. Until I make up my mind, I’m going to ride this train until it runs out of steam.”

“Oh?”

“Umh-hm. I’m booked solid for the next six months.”

“That’s good.”

“God is good.” Lucille winked and raised her glass of sweet tea in salute. “I’ve got some dates booked down south, and I was wondering if you think Harlan might wanna come along.”

Emma was struck. “Really?”

“After all he’s been through, seeing that child doing what she did . . .” Lucille trailed off, shaking her head. “I just think it would be good for him to get away.”

Emma grinned.

“Best he see for himself that this life ain’t as easy or as glamorous as folks think. Best he see the for-real-deal before he jump in with two feet.” Lucille drained her glass, slapped her chest, and belched. “What you think, Emma? You think he ready for the road?”

Emma beamed, “Yeah, I think he is.”