Nimravid (The MacFade Chronicles Book 1) Read online

  Everyone kept bowed and Effie cleared her throat meaningfully inclining her head and motioning to the crowd. I was stuck and there was no help for it. I desperately searched my memory for the blessing Father Marcus used at a parochial football sausage and corn supper I attended.

  I cleared my throat and said in a deep rich timber. “Dear Lord, we humbly come before you on this beautiful afternoon, which you have made, to thank you for the abundant blessings you have poured out among us, your flock. We thank you for this opportunity to fellowship with family and friends and for the blessings of new acquaintances to be made on this day. We ask that you bless this food and nourish it to our bodies as your spirit nourishes our souls.” There was perfect silence. “I think I missed something.”

  “And the church said?” Effie supplied loudly. “AMEN!” came the collective response. Velda tottered forward on unstable legs to take my arm. “That was just beautiful, baby.” Thelma per usual, was right behind her. “Amen Sister, amen.”

  “I agree,” said Effie in a suspicious tone, looking to Claire. “I thought you told me this boy was an agnostic?” So why the bloody Hell did she expect me to say the blessing! Claire just stared, surprised as Effie was. That sly old biddy had tried to put me on the spot!

  “Mmmm hmmm…vicious, careful, Alex.”

  “You don’t say? Way ahead of you, Mai.”

  Effie touched the fingers of her right hand to her forward in a gesture of alarm. “Oh! I almost forgot the greens. Mr. Walker, come help me get the vegetables will you dear?” I bowed and grandly opened the kitchen door. “Lead the way, Ms. Barnes.” She bowed back. “Thank you, Baby.” Baby?

  “Oh, Yea Gods! Have you not paid any attention, since we moved here? A casual term of endearment, usually from the older to the younger.”

  “They think I’m a kid, don’t they?”

  “I believe they might. I can’t know for sure because WE AREN’T ALLOWED TO READ THEM.”

  In the kitchen, two pots were simmering and creating mouthwatering aromas. I stood over the greens and wafted some of the steam toward my face. “That smells incredible.” Effie smiled proudly. “Why, thank you, Mr. Walker. Do you have collard greens often? I am known far and wide for mine.” I shook my head. “I’ve only eaten them once, as a child. We really didn’t get such things often, back in Japan, but I don’t think the ones I had, were prepared properly.” Effie nodded knowingly. “Greens are more of an art than science, Dalton. Everything has to be in balance, between the salt, sugar and vinegar. It’s almost Zen, I suppose is how your people would look at them.” My people? “How did you have them?” I smiled as I remembered my overzealous moment in the San Francisco Farmer’s market. “Raw.”

  “Oh, then you DEFINITELY had them wrong. You’re in for a treat.” I acknowledged her self-praise by tilting my head and gave her a nodding, bow. “I’m looking forward to it, maestro.” I could Sense Effie’s mind working on something. “So you had them as a child? How long ago was that?” Oh very subtle Effie. “Hmmm… Let me think, that was over 30 years ago. I was nine.”

  “Stick that in your pipe and smoke it you salty old viper.”

  Just then, Velda, Thelma and Claire walked into the kitchen, trailed by a young boy of about 16. Effie slapped her thigh and threw her dish towel at me. “BOY! You trying to tell me you’re 40 years old? Bullshit!” I caught the towel with an almost casual movement of my hand and Claire took it from me, folded it and placed it on the oven door handle. “No, Aunt Effie, he really is 40 almost 41.” I could almost hear the wheels in Effie’s mind grind to a halt. “Oh, that’s disappointing.” I looked to Claire, she grinned and shook her head. “Why is that, Ms. Barnes?” I asked in an only slightly, suspicious tone. Effie gave us a guilty smile which quickly turned into a frown. “Well…”

  “Meow.”

  Effie stopped midsentence. “What was that?” I turned around. No cat in sight except me. Effie continued with her original thought. “I had a bunch of cradle robbing jokes all lined up and now they’re useless. My day is just ruined, just ruined…” Out came the cackle again. “I’m just playing. Girl you still done really well for yourself, even if you did end up with an older man.” Velda and Thelma both walked up to scrutinize me. It was a very uncomfortable feeling. Thelma looked at me like she was trying to read my wash and care instructions. “Boy, what’s your secret?” I shook my head. “No secret, Ms. Thelma. This is the way I have always been, since I stopped growing.”

  “Because I was then partnered with a magical construct that repairs and regenerates my body on a nightly basis.” Mai chimed in.

  “What? You want to come out here and take a bow?” Mai didn’t dignify my remark with a reply. “Meow.” Where was that coming from? “It’s the kid.” The little shit was trying to piss me off. Claire saw me giving the boy the evil eye and decided to intercede. “Curtis, behave yourself. Mack, this is my cousin Ray’s oldest boy, Curtis.” Ah, Curtis, she had spoken of him before. His father was killed in a drive by and his mother flew the coop. From what Claire told me, Curtis is almost a photocopy of his father and his mum couldn’t tolerate the constant reminder. The boy held out his hand. “Nice to finally meet you, Day Glow.”

  “Oh Lord, help me! Help me, Lord!” wailed Effie. Her back was to us, as she had been finishing up seasoning the beans and potatoes. Her hands were on either side of the counter top supporting herself, seemed like she was in distress. I moved to assist her. The same hand, as before, clamped down on my wrist. No pain this time just insistence that I not move. I looked at Claire confused. She just shook her head and put her finger to her lips. “Help her, Lord Jesus!” chorused the two sisters sitting at the table laying a lattice crust over a pair of Dutch Apple pies. “I say, please help me Lord Jesus,” Effie gave her right foot a little stomp.

  “Help her, Lord,” came the refrain.

  “Help me, Lord for I know there is an evil spirit loose in my happy home.” Now I was really alarmed. The hand clamped down again. “But Claire…” She just continued to shake her head, as the ritual continued. “Give me strength, Lord, the strength to cleanse my home and help me to not kill someone today. I know there’s an evil spirit loose, Lord; for I KNOW, that none of my kin would DARE disrespect a guest, in MY HOUSE!” She slapped the wooden spoon she was holding down on the counter top so hard and so flat, they probably heard it on the street. Curtis wasn’t looking so cocky anymore. “What I meant to say is good afternoon, Mr. Walker. I am Curtis Mayfield Jones and it’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance.” I shook his hand. “Likewise Curtis…nice save.” Curtis wasn’t looking me in the eye. His eyes were locked on the wooden spoon Effie was still holding.

  “Come here, Boy,” Effie said in an ominous tone. Curtis froze. “Boy! Move when I say move or I’ll come over there and beat the black off you!” Curtis moved hesitantly to stand in front of Effie. “Where’d you get that Day Glow crap from? Don’t lie to me Boy, I’ll know it.” She slapped the spoon into the palm of her hand in an obvious threat. Curtis swallowed hard and carefully tracked the movement of the spoon. “No ma’am, Papa Joe calls—”

  “Papa Joe! I should have known.” She nudged Curtis aside. “Excuse me please, I have something I need to take care of before we eat.” She headed for the door. “I suppose Papa Joe is going to get the black beaten off of HIM.” I grimaced at the thought of my presence already causing an uproar. “Shit Mai! He’ll think we ratted him out!”

  “Excuse me, Ms. Barnes?” Effie stopped, as she was going to blow through the kitchen screen door. “Yes?” I steepled my fingers together as I spoke. “I hate to interfere in, what seems like family business, but I would consider it a personal favor if we wouldn’t call any more attention to this matter.” Effie thought for a second and her ire began to fade. “Alright, Mr. Walker since you’re the guest of honor, I suppose I am bound to acquiesce to your wishes.”

  “That was quite a mouthful.” I waited for her to continue but she just watched me. If this was a vocabular
y test, it was a waste of time. “It that a yes, Ms. Barnes?”

  “Yes. Now help me get these pots down to the picnic tables.” I grabbed the beans and she grabbed the greens as Claire held the door open for us both. We walked out to the porch and at the top of her lungs Effie once more addressed the crowd. “Alright y’all, meat is on the grill, sides and drinks are under the shady oak. Eat up. Oh, and just to let everyone know, the dining room has been reserved and is by invitation only and use the porta-potty in the back. I don’t want anyone messing up my house.” As she finished speaking, everyone prepared the get the festivities back underway. A little girl of no more than two or three stood at the bottom of the porch steps and motioned to her mother. She said only one word as she pointed at ME. “KITTY!” I groaned internally as a roar of laughter erupted in front of me and behind. Claire was in a lawn chair incapacitated with the sheer power of her mirth and there it was, the icing on the cake. My day from Hell was officially off to a running start. Effie had handed her pot to Thelma as she switched the bull horn on, AGAIN. “Jesus Bloody Christ!” I moaned under my breath.

  “Alright y’all, that’s the only one you gonna get. She doesn’t know no better, the rest of y’all was just wrong for that.” The laughter died quickly and the music started again. As we started down the steps, I looked at Effie out of the corner of my eye. “So Ms. Barnes, is the punishment segment of the day now over?” Effie paused for a few seconds and leaned over to me as we deposited the pots of vegetables on the buffet line. “Baby girl was right, you’re a very perceptive young man. I’m assuming next time you receive an invitation to one of my Sunday suppers, you WILL make use of it, hmmm?” They say pay back is a bitch. I say they haven’t seen pay back until they’ve met Effie Barnes. “Yes ma’am, lesson learned.”

  “Good!” She patted my cheek. “Such a bright young man! Go on now. Get yourself something to eat before it’s all gone. Don’t go all timid on me and walk into my dining room with some appetizer platter. I know you’ve got yourself a healthy appetite, there’s plenty for everyone, so load up your plate or you just gonna get sent right back out.” I smiled and nodded. My kind of gal, God help me…

  Chapter 24

  For the most part, we had a very pleasant meal and I had a chance to sample everything. Effie asked about my occupation and I told her as much of the truth as discretion would allow. Having our own private dining room helped with that, quaint as it was. Lacy drapes and doilies were everywhere, a nice white linen table cloth with name place holders. I was seated next to Effie, naturally and a horn of plenty centerpiece was all that adorned the table, with one exception… Someone had put a can of Fancy Feast at my place. Claire looked furious, but I just shrugged and slipped it into my pocket as Effie came in.

  “I saw that.”

  “Excuse me?”

  “I saw you put something in your pocket right quick as I came in. Let’s see it. Fork it over.”

  “Aunt Effie!” Claire protested.

  “Hush now. This is my house and I want to see what he pocketed, whether it be a dinner roll or a piece of my good silver. Come on now, hand it over.”

  “This really isn’t necessary, Ms. Barnes.” The look she gave me told me that we would stand there staring at each other until the end of days, if I didn’t give in. I begrudgingly reached into my pocket and produced the small silver can. “What? You a tobacco chew—” Effie stared it for a few seconds in confusion and then, in an instant, her mind sorted out the joke. “Lord have mercy I’m gonna have to break my foot off in that boy’s ass!”

  “What boy, Ms. Barnes?”

  “Curtis, Mr. Walker, this is the type of thing he would do.”

  “Well if you don’t mind my saying so, maybe we should just let it go?”

  “How’s that now?”

  “The boy is clearly engaging in what appears to be the informal hazing ritual, Claire warned me about before we arrived. Albeit incredibly poor taste, this is actually rather clever. Perhaps, the only problem is that no one has ever explained to him the boundaries between hurtful and playful?” Effie arched an eyebrow at me. She looked at Claire and then looked back at me. “That’s a lot of $4 words you’re using there, Mr. Walker. You’re sitting there thinking I understood that whole thing, aren’t you?” She waggled a finger at me. I smiled broadly and waggled a finger back. “I know for a fact, you do.” She grinned at me as her anger washed away by that same familiar cackle. “OK, I’ll admit it. He’s fit for duty.” She directed her comment to Claire. “Anyone who is a good sport like this one over here…” She pointed to me. “… has my seal of approval. You may proceed with your courtship of my niece, Dalton.”

  “Oh! Are we on a first name basis now?”

  “I don’t know, I’ll try calling her Effie.”

  “Inadvisable…”

  “I’m so bloody glad,” I said dryly. “What was that?” Effie inclined her head and ear toward me. “I said I’m so glad, quite a relief to know we have your blessing.”

  “Mmmm hmmm, that’s what I thought you said, everybody dig in.”

  “Oh, we are eating already? Isn’t anyone going to get the old timer a plate? I’ll be happy to do so. I’ll just ask him what he wants; if you’ll excuse me?” As I rose to excuse myself, a hand clamped down on my wrist. “Bloody Hell! This is getting old, what did I do now?” Claire was staring at me, wide eyed. “What did you say, Mack?” Alright, I reckoned I spoke too quickly. “I said I’d get the old timer…” I pointed to the parlor and the elderly man in the rocking chair. “… a plate of tucker. I’d be happy to do it, Claire. I’m sure he could use the company. He’s been sitting there all by himself since we got here. Why? Is that not my place?” Effie looked at me with concern in her eyes. “Baby, there’s no one sitting in that chair, you feeling alright?”

  “Yes, there is. That one over there, the geezer in the rocking—” You gotta be kidding me! “Mai?” I heard a mental sigh. “Nice going, Alex. The twins are psychically sensitive. They’ll know you’re telling the truth, it’s up to our chins now.”

  “SHIT! Any way out?”

  “You could try the Voice but Claire wouldn’t be affected and she would NEVER forgive you. The other option is to be truthful.

  “Cripes, Claire! “ I sank back into my chair. “I’m so sorry.” The mirror over the buffet showed the mortified look on my face. “This is why I don’t do the family thing. I get too comfortable and drop my guard.” The twins started whispering between each other. “Ladies…” I interrupted them. “You might as well know you’ll not be able to speak low enough for me not to hear you.” I threw my hands up in a gesture of frustrated surrender. “Might as well say it to the whole table.” The table suddenly got very quiet. Even Uncle Joe remained silent, which is really saying something. Apparently when these two speak, the WHOLE FAMILY listens.

  Velda was the first to break the pregnant silence. “Of course, Mr. Walker, that was terribly rude of us.”

  “Will somebody please tell ME what the Hell y’all are going on about?” demanded Effie.

  “Calm yourself, Sister,” said Velda. Effie deferred to her elderly sister.

  “What influence these two have!”

  “We sensed it when Mr. Walker entered the kitchen the first time. He has the gift, The Discernment of Spirits.”

  “Oh Lord, not this again,” Effie complained. Velda fixed her with a look of purest disapproval. “What? Fine, I’ll be quiet…”

  “Thank you, Sister,” Thelma replied, turning to me. “We can both feel it. Mr. Walker, discernment is a wonderful gift, from The Lord, you shouldn’t try to hide it.” Claire’s hand found mine and I turned to her. “Mack, what do you see?” She spoke in a hushed voice. Everyone at the table stopped breathing in anticipation. Everyone except Effie, she was giving me the evil eye. I shook my head and spoke in a hushed voice, “No Claire, not here. They already think I’m a freak.” Claire could see the fear and shame in my eyes. It almost moved her to tears. Her eyes were plead
ing as she stroked my right hand. “It’s OK, Mack. We’ve suspected something for quite some time now.” Effie looked as if her feathers were getting ruffled. “Not EVERYONE has.”

  “Was this why I was invited over?”

  “No Alex, Claire is surprised, this part wasn’t planned.”

  “Please Claire. I was just starting to fit in.” I was almost begging. She squeezed my hand tighter. Thelma stood up and shook her finger at me, as if scolding a child. “Oh no you don’t, Dalton Walker! Don’t you ever be ashamed of your gift. Don’t you ever let no one convince you’re less than what you are, because you’re different. So sayeth The Lord!” Velda raised her hands in the air as if she was trying to hold something up. “Amen! Preach it, Sister!” I could feel REAL Power emanating from them. Uncle Joe’s eyes were shut and he kept repeating “Thank you Jesus, Speak to us, Lord.”

  “Mai, what’s going on?”

  “Can’t you feel it? They are worshiping their God and asking him to commune with them. The room is quickly filling with power. You’re going to have to come clean; this much faith generated energy could become compulsory. You could let the whole cat out of the bag, so to speak, if you don’t head this off.”

  “How do I do that?”

  “Simple, they are praying for knowledge and truth. Just tell them what they want to know. Cross the old guy over if you can. Don’t they all deserve some peace?”

  “That was what I was afraid of.”