Chapter 4: Muzzle Your Mouth

Ida has fair skin with gray eyes. She has thick shoulder-length brown hair with white streaks. Her hair is swept into a French twist updo. Her face is made up of black eye shadow, black eyeliner, and red lipstick. In her ears are diamond studs and around her neck is a necklace with a large diamond in the center. Ida stands at five feet seven inches.

She is wearing a white symmetrical short-sleeve knee-length dress with black trim that masks her pear shape. Over her dress sits a black mink coat. Around her waist is a black leather belt with a D frame and prong. On her feet is a pair of black leather three-inch pointed-toe high heels. Her hands are covered by black leather gloves. In her right hand is a white leather two-strap purse with black trim.

"What are you doing here?" Letha asks folding her arms.

"I'm here to see my grandchildren and speak with you. May I come in?"

Letha exhales stepping aside. Upon entering the smell of food invades her nostrils making her smile.

"What is that heavenly smell?" Ida asks looking at Letha.

"The half-breed made dinner," Letha says dryly closing the door.

"You mean Kathy made dinner?" Ida asks correctively.

"No, I meant the half-breed made dinner."

Ida rolls her eyes and goes to the foyer closet. She sets her purse on the shelf removes her coat and hangs it up. She puts her gloves inside the right pocket. After closing the door, she walks to the dining room with Letha in tow. When she arrives, everyone looks at her.

 "Good evening my darlings," Ida says sweetly looking around the table.

 "Good evening, Grandmother." the teenagers say in unison.

 "All of my aspiring, talented grandchildren. Yorkshire the football star, Galleria the model, Kathy the novelist, Natalee the eye-opener, Bossier the movie star and Lynn the lawyer."

"Of course, Galleria is the most talented and most beautiful. She's going to carry on the family name and leave behind a magnificent legacy."

An uncomfortable silence falls over the room. Ida looks over at her daughter shamefully before looking back at the table.

"Would you like anything to eat Grandmother?" Kathy asks sweetly.

"Most certainly dear."

"No need for that. I'm sure she's already eaten. Besides she shouldn't sicken herself with this slop you call supper." Letha says harshly.

"Don't mind your mother Kathy I am famished."

"Groovy, I'll be right back with your plate," Kathy says happily leaving the table.

"Vernon," Ida says dryly looking down at him.

 "Ida," Vernon says returning the dryness.

 "So, what has transpired since my last visit?" Ida asks looking around the table.

 "I took home another pageant crown back in September. The winter competition is next February on the twentieth. I have no doubt that I will win that one too." Galleria says arrogantly pushing her hair behind her left shoulder.

"Congratulations Galleria but always remember this. Confidence is vital and arrogance is deadly."

Galleria's smile dissolves.

"I auditioned for my school play Meadow's Escape earlier today. I think I have a really good shot of landing the lead female role." Bossier says excitedly.

"That's wonderful Bossier. Diligence and dedication can be a double-edged sword. They can be your greatest allies or your worst enemies depending on how you use them."

"I'll remember that."

Kathy returns with Ida's plate. She grabs her plate and sets Ida's before her along with an empty glass. She pours some tea into the glass.

"This looks as exquisite as it smells. Superb job Kathy." Ida says proudly looking up at her.

"Thank you, Grandmother," Kathy says before going to the kitchen.

"Yorkshire how about you? Is there anything exciting happening in your life?" Ida asks curiously looking at him while cutting into her baked fish.

"I was supposed to play in the homecoming football game this Friday but I'm failing Calculus so I won't attend the game," Yorkshire says sadly before sipping his tea.

"That's unfortunate, but here's some consolation for you. The same energy you put into extracurricular school activities should be applied even more to your academics."

"Yes ma'am," Yorkshire says nodding his head.

He then glances at Letha who's staring her mother down.

"Natalee, Lynn is there anything you want to share with me?" Ida asks looking between them.

Lynn's eyes begin watering and she shuts them quickly. When she opens them, she smiles at Ida.

"No ma'am there isn't," Lynn says before giving her attention back to her plate.

"No ma'am," Natalee says placing some fish in her mouth.

"Why are you questioning them like they're standing trial?" Vernon asks.

This gets Ida's attention.

"I'm not questioning them in such a way. Besides they're my grandchildren first and I'm genuinely interested in their lives. Lastly, I don't get to visit them as often as I'd like due to work so I partake in telephone calls. During those calls, my daughter never gave me any updates concerning them. So, during our last phone call, I told her I would come and visit them. But you no longer have to worry about telephone calls any longer because last month I retired."

"You came, you saw them and now you can leave."

"Keep disrespecting me and your manhood will be obliterated at this table in front of these bundles of joy," Ida says in a seething tone before placing some okra in her mouth.

"Mother, may I speak with you privately in the living room?" Letha asks standing up.

"Absolutely."

Ida cleans her mouth and gets up from the table and follows Letha.

Tiffany and George are in the dining room having stuffed baked potatoes. Inside the baked potatoes are barbecue beef tips, bacon bits, sour cream, and shredded cheese. Their refreshment of choice is a glass of lemonade.

"Wow, Tiffany you put your foot in this baked potato," George says making Tiffany smile.

"It's nothing special. It's just a baked potato with bacon bits, sour cream, barbecue sauce-covered beef tips, and shredded cheese. Anybody can cook this." Tiffany says modestly making George chuckle.

"No matter what you're a fabulous cook," George says proudly before sipping his lemonade.

"Thank you. Pa, I'm going to visit Mama this Friday."

George sighs setting his glass down on the table.

"Tiff, you don't have to do that."

Tiffany nods her head.

"I need to. I haven't seen her in a month and a half due to schoolwork. But now things are starting to slow down for a bit so I want to seize the opportunity."

George sighs looking his daughter in her eyes.

"Alright sweetheart your mother's car keys are in the nightstand drawer."

Tiffany smiles before placing some of her baked potato in her mouth.

 Letha has her back to her mother with her arms folded.

"Darling your back is facing me and I need to see your eyes."

Letha turns around sharply looking Ida in her eyes.

"You have no right to disrespect Vernon, especially in front of his children. This is my house and I think you've forgotten that. I am no longer that little girl in Gold Grass, Kentucky!"

"You've forgotten two things, child. One is who you're talking to and two is that behind these diamonds and elegant non-rhotic accent lurks an alligator. She's prepared to strike and you're standing on the riverbank unaware of the danger." Ida says trenchantly clasping her hands together.

 Letha walks over to her and enters her mother's personal space.

"Those threats won't work on me anymore. I'm an adult now and I have a right to express myself in my home. You had no right to take a jab at my husband in front of my children. Besides you can't continue walking around like you've been the earth mother when we both know you aren't. You inflicted so much pain on us growing up, especially me. You were the one who had eight children and that alone is your cross to bear."

"You will do two things and with the utmost haste. Firstly, you will back up and lastly, you will muzzle your mouth you disrespectful diarrhetic narcissistic bougee wanton tart. You have no earthly idea what pain is. I wasn't the perfect mother nor do I portray myself to be but I know I did what I had to to take care of all of you. Of my eight children, you are the most ungrateful, vindictive, and self-serving. As history is written you were the problematic, instigative child. None of your siblings liked you nor do they did they keep in contact with you. When we moved to New York in 1941 you were the one that was embarrassed of your father and me. Now you dare to stand here and try to villainize me?! No matter where you live, where you work, or how you dress you will always be that Kentucky farm girl. And for the record what you don't know that I know about you should warrant your concern."

 Letha backs away while her nostrils start flaring.

"Look at you. You're covered in diamonds and wearing mink. While growing up you always had an uppity drawl yet you worked as a domestic and laundress for several white families. But as low as you are, I'm not surprised you waited until we were grown and for Daddy to die to start living above your means. You're the one who's bougie and should be ashamed." Letha says looking her mother over shamefully.

Ida laughs in response.

"I passed through my mother's birth canal in diamonds sweetheart. That's not bougie my dear daughter that's a proud yet disregarded fact. But tragedy struck me at a young age for me and I had to make life decisions earlier than expected. The last thing my father told me was to never lose my elegance, accent, lineage, or self-respect. You on the other hand have none of those qualities. You are also foolishly and systemically enslaved to the framed picture known as the American dream. You're paying an exorbitant mortgage and car payment which makes the bank wealthier while I'm vacationing, own several properties, and am debt-free. If anything, you're trying to keep up appearances for your peers who frankly don't give two Carolina frogs of a damn about you. A high-salaried worker is not a wealthy darling who's concubinage at a fixed rate. When you were growing up I gave you nothing but love, support, and guidance and what did I get in return? Disrespect, ex-communication, and admonishment. You see Letha the difference between you and I is you lay down jokers while I lay down kings, queens, and aces. Now I can shatter your perfect paradise with one phone call. Now you listen and remember this. My grandchildren love me and I love them and I'll be damned if you try and turn them against me. And when it comes to Kathy you had better start treating her like a human being and listening to her or you will be in for a world of hell. Now if you'll excuse me, I have dinner to finish." Ida says elegantly before returning to the dining room.

Letha swallows a lump in her throat before regaining her composure and returning to the dining room.

Over in the deserted yet forested Reba Larkwood neighborhood stands the McFarlin estate known as Grace Galore. It is surrounded by pine trees. Pulling in front of the home will bring you to a horseshoe driveway. The two-story red brick French Colonial mansion has eight windows in the front of it. It also has a simple white entablature and a second-floor balcony. The entablature and balcony are supported by eight Corinthian columns on the front and sides. The veranda is U-shaped. The hip-gabled roof has four white dormers protruding from the front of the roof.

The front door is white with eight panels. Upon entering the opulent abode there's a large foyer. It is complete with a grand marble staircase that swings westward to the second floor. The flooring throughout the home is marble except for the bathrooms and bedrooms which have ice white carpet. On the east side of the foyer is a long oak wood bench. On it is a burgundy cushion. Hanging on both walls are gold-framed oil paintings depicting male and female ancestors of the McFarlin family. Turning left leads to the living room.

It is furnished with antebellum-style furniture. The walls are beige with white baseboards. The cabriole couch and loveseat are forest green with cherry wood trim. In between the couch and loveseat is an oval-shaped glass coffee table with champagne gold trim and cabriole legs. A few feet away is a white fireplace with a black cast iron gate. Adorning the mantle are plaques and plate figurines with inspirational quotes. The windows are decorated with white drapes with gold trees on them. They are divided by gold hooks.

Walking through the living room will lead to the dining room. The walls are burgundy with white baseboards. The dining room table is oak and seats fourteen people comfortably. The chairs have stitched burgundy cushions with cabriole legs. Standing against a wall is a tall glass chest filled with alcohol. Going through a white eight-panel swinging door leads to the kitchen. The walls are beige with white baseboards. The countertop is granite. The cabinets are white with glass panels and diamond knobs.

The drawers are white with gold mountain lion ring pulls. In the center of the kitchen is a large island counter. On the left side of the counter are three drawers with matching mountain lion ring pulls. At the bottom are four cabinet doors with dark gold handles. Across from the island counter is the pantry with a gold knob. The appliances are white with chrome handles and knobs. Above the stove is a stainless-steel island range hood.

On both sides of the stove are cabinets with gold handles. On the west side of the kitchen is an archway that leads into a hallway. Turning left will lead out a door and into the garage. In the opposite direction is the parlor room. The wall is purple with white baseboards. It is furnished with two cream cabriole couches. In the middle of the couches are an oval oak wood coffee table with cabriole legs. Underneath the furniture is a beige rug with black crowns.

In the far-left corner is an olive-green piano and up against the wall is a gold harp. The drapes in this room are beige with black Japanese writing and are parted by gold hooks. Leaving the parlor room will back to the foyer. Upstairs are five bedrooms with five private bathrooms. Going right leads to the bedrooms. The first door on the right is the master bedroom. The walls are blood red with white baseboards.

Up against the back wall is a king-size mahogany four-post bed. It is furnished with a white mattress sheet, a gold bed sheet, and a chocolate brown comforter. The pillows are solid white and solid brown. On both sides of the bed are nightstands. They have ring pulls and gold lamps with white lampshades. A few feet away is the balcony. On the opposite wall stands a matching dresser. It has a dark brown marble top with tiger drawer pulls.

In the corner a few feet away is a body mirror. On the opposite side a few feet away from the right nightstand is a tea area. It has two cream cabriole chairs and a cabriole chair. In between them is an oval oak wood table with cabriole legs. On it is a silver tray with a white and gold glass teapot with a sugar holder and two teacups with coasters.

Not far from the tea area is the master bathroom. It has a husband-and-wife sink. The countertop is white marble. The rectangular mirror is headed by restaurant-style mirrors. At the back of the bathroom is a private toilet room and an extra closet. On the left side of the bathroom is a bathtub and shower head. On the opposite side of the bedroom is the bedroom closet. Upon walking in there is a window seat to the left with sapphire blue pillows and a white cushion.

Walking further in leads to another room. It has a square table in the center with a jewelry case in its center. On the walls hang suits and dresses. On the back wall in the center are shelves filled with high heels are men's dress shoes. Going straight ahead is a combined dressing and powder room.

The two bedrooms to the left have walls that are painted blue and red respectively with white baseboards. The first room has a white queen-sized sleigh bed with nightstands, a dresser, a walk-in closet, and a bathroom. It is complete with a bathtub and a private toilet room. The second bedroom has a queen-black cast iron bed up against the wall with nightstands lamps and a dresser. At the end of the hallway on the right is Dante's bedroom. His bedroom walls are bright pink with white baseboards. Up against the back wall is a white queen-sized canopy bed.

It is decorated with pink drapes. The curtains are secured by small gold hooks. His mattress and bed sheet are white while his comforter is pink. His pillows are also white and pink. On both sides are white nightstands with elegant pink drawer pulls. On the front wall is a white dresser with a body mirror a few feet away. To the right is the bathroom and on the opposite side is a large walk-in closet.

Inside his closet is U U-shaped shelf filled with high heels and purses. There's a medium size door room that's filled with clothes. At the back of the closet is a combined powder and dressing room. Dante is sitting at his makeup table. The white table is simple with cabriole legs. The stool has cabriole legs with a pink cushion. Dante is applying makeup to his face when a knock comes on his door. He looks out into his bedroom and smiles when he sees his father, Salvatore.

"I'm in my powder room Daddy."

 Salvatore walks through the closet and into the dressing room. Salvatore is thirty-nine years old with fair skin and short brown hair. His hair is styled in a parted comb over. His green eyes are filled with happiness and pride. He stands at six feet with a lean build. He is wearing navy blue silk pajamas with white slippers.

"So have you decided on what you're going to wear for celebrity day tomorrow?" Salvatore asks in a southwest Louisiana accent leaning against the wall.

"Yes, I have," Dante says proudly looking at his father.

"I can't wait to see who you're portraying," Salvatore says before ruffling his hair.

"Daddy you're messing up my bouffant!" Dante whines grabbing his comb and fixing it making Salvatore laugh.

"I'm sorry Princess. So how was school today?"

"To be as expected. Delorian Porter tripped me during Calculus and Mr. Loughlin gave him detention for the next two days If you ask me the football coach should benched him for the homecoming game. It's like he gets a pass to keep disrespecting me. But don't worry I won't be putting up with it for much longer." Dante says patting his hair.

"You've always been fearless, unapologetic, and a fighter and that's what I love most about you. I'm sure you're going to make sure Delorian knows better after you're done with him. Well, I'm retiring for the night I'll see you tomorrow at breakfast. I love you, Princess." Salvatore says leaning down and kissing his forehead.

"I love you too Daddy."

Once Salvatore is gone Dante stands to his feet and goes to his body mirror across from the makeup table. He places his hands on his hips and looks at his reflection smiling.

"You look pretty girl, even if it's just for bed," Dante says confidently before snapping his finger and leaving his dressing room.

He then goes and climbs into his bed.

Everyone finishes their dinner and scrapes their plates. They place them on the counter next to the sink. When Ida comes in, she sees Kathy pulling on some yellow gloves and placing all the silverware in the sink.

"Hey darling would you like some assistance?" Ida asks getting Kathy's attention.

"I would really appreciate that."

Ida walks over and stands next to her.

"How about I wash you and rinse."

Kathy removes the gloves and puts them in the nearby drawer.

"So how bad are things between you and your mother?" Ida asks scrubbing the silverware with a yellow sponge.

"Extremely bad. But I think once I'm an adult and on my own it'll improve."

 Ida chuckles.

"You truly are a Libra. You want nothing but peace, tranquility, balance, and diplomacy, even if it's at the cost of your own well-being. Darling people like your mother will never be satisfied. It's all about them and their selfish desires. I made my fair share of mistakes while raising your mother, aunts, and uncles and they turned out just fine. Your mother is the most unaccomplished personality and it shows." Ida says sadly handing Kathy the silverware.

"She's not completely devoid of humanity. She shows concern." Kathy says rinsing the silverware.

 "For whom? Galleria? She'll be successful but it will be illy gotten. Your mother favors her above the rest of you and her reasoning for it is superficial. But of all of you, you're the one who gets the brunt of her wrath and it infuriates me to no end. You're sixteen with two years left of your high school career and the last thing I want to do is uproot you and interfere with your credits and anticipated graduation. You've worked too hard to get where you are and I don't want to be the party responsible for derailing or destroying it. But you have to find a healthy way to cope with this abuse your mother is inflicting upon you." Ida says putting the glasses and pitcher into the soapy dishwater.

"I write novels, I also have Bossier, my best friend Tiffany, and my boyfriend Algier," Kathy says surprising Ida.

"That's a wonderful sweetheart. Writing is very therapeutic, having at least one relative on your side is blissful, and having a best friend is crucial. A gentleman caller is nice too when you're privy to all the ins and outs of this thing mankind calls love. You know after your grandfather died, I hated the idea of being alone but then I remembered my late childhood and how I was all alone before meeting him. I survived and made the best of the situation. So, when I found myself alone for the second time, especially at this stage in my life I embraced it instantly. You're alone on an emotional level at home and that's dangerous. But I want you to know if it ever gets too rough you can always come and live with me. I have three properties. One is Jensen Point, Florida, another in Gentry, Louisiana, and my main residence is here in Wolf Colony." Ida says handing the pitcher to her granddaughter.

As they're washing the dishes Letha comes in. She becomes incensed when she sees Ida helping Kathy.

"Kathy doesn't need help washing the dishes!" Letha barks.

"I asked if she needed assistance and she accepted it, plain and simple."

"You've already worn out your welcome. You need to leave."

"I'm not leaving until the dishes are washed and I have bid farewell to my grandchildren."

"You had better be gone within the next thirty minutes," Letha says before leaving.

"Wow. You really know how to back her down." Kathy says shocked rinsing the pitcher.

"She's my child and I have to always remind her who has the power. You should too but in a respectful manner. Just because she's your mother doesn't mean you have to deal with her toxic behavior towards you." Ida says cleaning the glasses.

Once the kitchen is clean Ida and Kathy wash their hands and leave the kitchen. Ida goes to the living room where her grandchildren are.

"Hello, my dears, I'm going home now," Ida says.

They all stand up and go to hug her. When she gets to Natalee, she looks into her eyes worriedly before leaning against her ear.

 "If you ever need anything, I'm here for you," Ida whispers before separating.

Natalee looks at her speechless nodding her head. Once she leaves the living room, she heads to the foyer closet. She grabs her coat and puts it on along with her gloves. While grabbing her purse she hears footsteps. When she closes the door, she turns around to see Letha standing there with her arms folded.

"May I speak with you briefly on the porch?"

Ida opens the door and steps out on the porch with Letha close behind.

"You have some nerve bringing your judgmental ass here," Letha says harshly earning a slap from Ida.

Letha looks at her mother angrily while holding her throbbing stinging cheek.

Suddenly a male comes walking up the pathway leading to the St. James residence. He is five feet eight inches with medium brown skin and almond-brown eyes. His short black hair is styled in a gelled pompadour. His muscular build is masked by a long-sleeved black sweater that is tucked into his white slacks. Around his waist is a black leather belt. On his feet is a pair of high-end black dress shoes. Hugging his left wrist is a diamond watch. He steps onto the porch and stands beside Ida.