He gave a slight chuckle. “Well, ain’t that something.”
“That something,” Doll said. “One sermon the folks ain’t likely soon to forget.”
He nodded in agreement. “You can count on that, Sister Viola. Time heals all wounds. Including those festering on the inside, the ones only the Lord can see.”
“So they say,” Doll said, giving him a sideways glance. “So they say.”
Ibby closed her eyes, wondering what they were talking about. Even though there was a slight breeze, she was still perspiring heavily and felt kind of woozy. When she cracked open an eye, she found a boy’s face so close to hers that she could feel his breath on her face.
“Thaddeus Trout, what do you think you’re doing?” Doll scolded. “Get away from Miss Ibby, and go and fetch some lemonade.”
“Who is she? Why she here?”
“This here is Miss Fannie’s granddaughter. I told you about her. Where you been, anyway? You at the service, or you just now showing up for the vittles?” Queenie pointed her finger at him.
“No, Mama, I been here.”
“Where? I didn’t see you?”
“I was standing in the back with Shorty.”
“Uh-huh.” Queenie heaved up her bosom, a sure sign she wasn’t buying it. “Well, go on, fetch some lemonade, like Doll asked you to.”
After Thaddeus ran off, the reverend looked around. “Where is Sister Etta Mae? Perhaps the laying of the hands will free this child of her affliction. Sister Etta Mae, we need you over here.”
A short, fat woman in a white robe appeared by his side. “Yes sir, Reverend sir?”
“This child here is in need of your assistance.” He nodded toward Ibby.
“I can see that.” Etta Mae came and stood at the head of the cot. She closed her eyes and turned her head up toward the sky before placing the palms of her hands on either side of Ibby’s temples.
The sudden shock of the woman’s warm hands on Ibby’s face made her bolt upright.
“I dare say, Sister Etta Mae, you work fast,” the reverend declared. “Mighty fast, indeed.”
By this time Thaddeus had returned with a paper cup. Birdelia tried to grab it from him. “Give me that, T-Bone.”
T-Bone yanked it away. “No, I want to give it to her.”
“Come on now—you all stop that,” Doll snapped.
T-Bone made a triumphant face at Birdelia and handed the cup to Ibby, then disappeared into the crowd.
“What you gonna do?” Queenie sighed and rolled her eyes at the reverend.
“Keep them close, keep them close,” he repeated, then turned toward Ibby. “I’m Reverend Jeremiah, but I do believe we already met in the church a little while ago.”
Ibby blushed as she shook his hand. “I’m sorry.”
“No need for sorry, child. Take your time, sip some lemonade, then come on over and enjoy the rest of the day.” He patted her knee.
“Thank you, Reverend,” Queenie said.
“Come on.” Birdelia tugged on Ibby’s arm.
Ibby looked timidly over at Doll.
“It’s okay, baby. Go on with Birdelia,” Doll said, jerking her head toward the crowd of people buzzing around several tables in the side yard of the church.
As they made their way through the crowd, to Ibby’s relief, no one seemed to be paying her any mind. Birdelia walked over to one of the tables and handed Ibby a paper plate, a napkin, and a plastic fork. She moved along the edge of the table, pointing at the various bowls and casserole dishes.
“That there is poke salad, hoecake, black-eyed peas, collard greens, and fried okra. Oh, and Mee-maw’s famous deviled eggs. Over there we got pickled pigs’ feet, barbecue chicken, ribs, and hog’s head cheese.” Birdelia stopped to examine a big pot. “Not quite sure what that is.”
T-Bone came up behind her, holding a plate full of food. “That’s possum stew, dimwit.”
“Don’t need your help.” Birdelia gave him a put-out look.
“Appears you do,” he said, not budging. “I’m T-Bone.”
Ibby was a little disquieted at the way T-Bone was smiling at her.
Birdelia pushed him. “Go away.”
T-Bone gave Ibby a half-wink. “Catch you later.” Then he ran off to sit with some teenagers hovering under a large oak tree near the edge of the churchyard.
Birdelia continued down the table. “That there’s fatback, cabbage, jambalaya. Over yonder, on that other table, that’s all the sweets. Bread pudding, that sort of thing.”
As they sat on the ground under a tree clear on the other side of the churchyard, Birdelia warned Ibby about T-Bone. “Don’t mind him. He thinks he God’s gift to women. Got a way with him.”
The whole time Birdelia was talking, Ibby noticed that T-Bone kept glancing over at her. It was making her feel all tingly inside.
Only this time, she wished that feeling wouldn’t go away.
Chapter Twenty
That evening Doll hung Ibby’s dress up and came back and sat on the edge of her bed.