Swan Place Read Online Free PDF Page B

some swapping—a red jellybean for a green one and ten jellybeans for the ears off someone else’s chocolate rabbit. But no one took a single bite, not even Little Ellis, who was too young to understand but seemed to know the rule anyway.
    “Wash your hands and come on to the table,” Aunt Bett called.
    We came into the dining room to find the table loaded with food. There wasn’t room for even one more small dish, and no room around the table for one more chair. Besides the wooden chairs that matched the table, there were three kitchen chairs, as well. For a moment, we all just stood there, staring at the table. There was a big platter of sliced ham with the browned pineapple slices all around the edge, a bowl of potato salad, a dish of Aunt Bett’s famous pickles, a plate full of deviled eggs, a big bowl of coleslaw, a glistening bowl of Jell-O salad, and a basket piled high with biscuits. Aunt Bett even had fig preserves to put on the biscuits.
    “Dove, you sit here and we’ll put Molly and Little Ellis on either side of you, so you can help them with their dinner. The rest of you sit in your regular places.” So we all finally managed to get into our right chairs, even though they were packed so tight together, and join our hands for the blessing.
    “Lord,” Aunt Bett began. “We thank you for your risen Son this Easter Day. Make us truly grateful for all we receive from You, and especially the food You have put upon this table. Bless all who are here and make us thankful for each other. And bless those who have gone ahead  . . . ” I kept my eyes shut tight, but I was once again seeing that dream I’d had, with my mama strong and healthy again and her going along so happy, holding the hand of the risen Lord. “. . . In Jesus’ name, amen.” As soon as Aunt Bett said amen, we all started in to serving ourselves and the little ones. And I don’t know what I’ve enjoyed a dinner so much, even with my stomach hurting about Mama. We all ate and ate, and Aunt Bett would look around the table at us having such good appetites, and I could tell how pleased that made her.
    After dinner, Aunt Bett, Darlene, and I cleared the table of the dinner things and Aunt Bett brought out a high, white coconut cake for dessert. By the time we had each had a slice, there wasn’t room enough left for a single piece of Easter candy.
    “Darlene, you and Dove go put the little ones down for a rest, please. And then come help me with the dishes.” The children were so stuffed, they followed us gladly into the bedrooms, where Darlene and I pulled back the bedspreads, stripped the children of their shorts, and helped them get settled on the cool top sheet. Even Molly didn’t complain, and Little Ellis was almost asleep when we tiptoed out and closed the door. Then we did as we were supposed to do and went to the kitchen to dry and put away all the dishes. We were almost done when Aunt Bett said to Darlene, “Honey, would you leave me and Dove alone for a little bit? We need to talk about  . . . things.”
    “Yes’m.” Darlene glanced at me before she left the kitchen. Aunt Bett kept washing the last few dishes, and I kept drying. When the last plate was washed, she rinsed it and handed it to me. Then she leaned up against the sink and looked out of the window. “I don’t know why, maybe it was all that good singing at church this morning, but I was thinking about the time our mama—your grandmama—sent me and your mama to take piano lessons with old Miss Eunice. Lord have mercy on her soul!”
    Aunt Bett motioned to me to come sit at the kitchen table with her. I guess she remembered how much I liked it when she talked about her and my mama as children together. Mama never would tell me things about that, but I don’t know why. Too, Aunt Bett was seldom in a mood to tell me stories about the olden times. She was usually too busy making pickles and washing and ironing clothes, and cooking for her big family. It