Re : Chapter 2, The Family -- Oldie and Better
Anita, the oldest sister, had always worn the responsibility of being the oldest child well. She knew her burden as role model.
That was the reason that although she smoked, Anita never expected to tell the family. Even as her mother absorbed three cigarettes, Anita felt a need to demonstrate a repulsion to smoking.
When Anita got home after dining with the family, she rushed to the kitchen drawer that contained her Marlboro Lights Kings, grabbed her Bic and lit up. James almost chuckled as he said "the pressure getting to you."
"Can you believe my mother," said Anita, who was tempted to use the f word. "I anticipate two hours of preaching against mom when we take Bernice to the airport," Anita said. James agreed.
If all flights held up as scheduled, James, Anita and Bernice were to greet sister Elaine at 2:15 p.m. Then Debbie was scheduled to arrive at 2:49 p.m. with Bernice departing at 3:23 p.m.
Elaine, 23, attended graduate school in New York City. Debbie, 24, was a second-year student at law school. The four represented the early fruits of the marriage between Watson and Jo Ellen. At that time, they were still on their schedule of a child every 14 months. While sisters, they hardly looked or acted alike. There was a resemblence however.
After two cigarettes, Anita, described as pretty in the face with a modest body, was ready to depart. Bernice was far from butt ugly. He hair was brown compared to Anita's burnette locks. Carlita started a blonde trend that only a few of the sisters did not follow.
Elaine had raven hair, a face and voice made for prime time television and a body built for beauty contests. Watson often bragged that he didn't raise no fools, and the brains of Debbie and Elaine were particular testimony to that.
The first five Jones girls had graduated from college and Fran, 22, was scheduled to follow suit. She would be the last of the family to graduate from Slo Pace. Gwen, 20, was a junior, attended a double-directional public college about two hours from home and Heather, 19, was a sophomore at Slo Pace.
Before they were barely out of town, Benice jumped into the conversation asking "how do we break the news to Debbie and Elaine."
"Mom called them last night and told them the college closed," Anita volunteered. "No," said Bernice, "the news that mother is smoking again."
"Oh, that, Anita replied. "I'm for not saying anything. Maybe it will go away before we get back."
Bernice let out an uncharacteristic laugh, leaned by and looked at the Texas countryside which was not that unlike Kentucky's. Anita looked at James, relieved that the smoking topic died with a single sentence.
Large clouds built as the trio moved nearer the airport. The sky dropped for the final 15 minutes of the trip.
Elaine, who had a one-hour layover on her trip, noticed the rain just before the first landing. She scheduled the layover to have a clandestine meeting with a journalist she had befriended during her summer internship. He was 33 but single.
As they reached the airport, Anita suggested that James help Bernice with her luggage while she parked the car. Knowing the real motive for that decision, James said OK.
Anita parked the car, lit a cigarette and took her time getting back to the non-smoking terminal. She pitched her cigarette and entered the terminal. She went through security and to the terminal where they were scheduled to meet Elaine.
When Bernice got to the airport, she noticed that Elaine's plane was going to be 15 minutes late because of the rain. Her departure was still scheduled on time. Bernice greeted the news of the delay with a comment to James that she needed to pour herself a little courage. She asked the startled James to watch her luggage.
When Anita got to the terminal, she kissed James with her smoke-laden lips and asked where Bernice was. In there, James said, relaying the comment that Bernice would need a little courage to make the trip.
"I think I'll go thy to reassure her," Anita said with the big-sister attitude that had ruled her life. Anita pass the no-smoking reminder as she entered the bar. She questioned whether Bernice, a woman of the cloth, had a problem with alcohol at the age of 26. Needless to say, alcoholism did not run in the Jones family. But, until today, neither did smoking appear to be acceptable for family members.
(More to follow. Comments would be welcome. Oldie.
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