(if I were writing this “for real” I’d have some issues.  I know.  Forgive the inconsistencies and the “voice” switching, for lack of a better term.  I think I’m feeling my way through this one.  I hope that makes sense!)

Now this is the part of the story where things get really interesting.  Momma had really taken a shine to Uncle Wayne, but she never expected him to gleam back.  The difference in their ages was too broad.  Daddy, of course, had fallen slap in love with Momma.  Uncle Wayne had somehow sensed his brother’s fancying Momma.  Boys will be boys.  There was competition brewing.

Somehow, through his vast underground network of connections, Wayne found out where Momma worked.  It was not the place where you expect a book worm like Momma to hold down a job.  You would want to find a book lover like Momma to be in a library or a book store. But, Momma was the head cafeteria lady for the local elementary school. Later, Momma would explain to us kids that if she had worked in a place where she was surrounded by books she would’ve been fired because her nose would have been firmly planted between its pages and not following the work to be done.  


Momma had a series of weekly menus in a rotation schedule.  Her crew knew how to prepare the menues.  All Momma needed to do was make sure the proper ingredients were in the kitchen at the right time and that the cafeteria books added up.  The mundane nature of the job allowed Momma’s mind to wander wherever it may.  She didn’t have to think about what she was doing, so she could make up her own stories.  More’s the pity she never wrote any of them down.

So, Uncle Wayne showed up at Momma’s school one day, just as the final school bell was clanging.  Momma, looking about as glamorous as woman could in a hair net and white apron found Wayne waiting for her at the cafeteria door.

“Well, hello” Uncle Wayne drawled in his best Jimmy Dean.

Momma stared at Uncle Wayne, who continued, undaunted.  “I met you the other evening at the beanery.”

“I remember.  What are you doing here?”

“Well, I just stopped by to see you.  I kind of wanted to get to know you better.”

“Oh.  Why?”

“Well…I just…I don’t know.  It seemed like maybe there was, you know, something between us.”

“How old are you anyway?  Are you out of high school yet?”

Wayne squirmed a bit.  “Well…not exactly.”

“So, how did you get here so fast?”

“I cut out early.”

Momma stared.  She may have been a dreamer, but somehow she never let the freedom of her dreams seep into her real life.  It never would’ve occurred to her to leave school early, regardless of what she thought might exist between herself and the young man in front of her.

“Cut out early.  That’s not such a good idea, is it?”

“Well, I wanted to see you again and I didn’t want to miss you.  I didn’t know how long you’d hang around after the school day ended.”

“I’m not sure what you’re trying to do here, kid.”

Wayne was used to winning women over with his easy smile and flattery.  It didn’t appear it was working with Momma.  He was right, though, that something was between them.  Momma still found herself drawn to him, but she knew her place.  Wayne’s attraction was motivated through sheer sibling rivalry.  There was something between them, but it could never be gotten over into anything real.

“Well…I just…thought you might want to go to another reading together some time.”

This was one of Momma’s rare faltering moments.

“Alright, maybe.  Maybe we could just meet there.  Your mother doesn’t like you out late though, does she?”

“Well…maybe I could fix something so it could happen.”

“Alright.  Well…let’s just leave it at meeting at the next one.  I think that’s best for now.”

“Ok then.”  Uncle Wayne wasn’t sure what to do next.  

“I have to go now finish up some things in the back before I can leave for the day.”

“Well…I leave you to that.  I’ll see you soon.  When I know the next reading’s coming up, I’ll stop by and make sure you know.”

“Alright, but don’t cut out of school early again.  I’m here until 4:30 every day.”

Uncle Wayne turned to go.  Momma watched him leave, not sure what to do with the volcano that was now erupting inside of her.