Excerpt from One Good Thing
The Greyhound bus rolled into the Clarksdale station after fourteen long hours. Georgina
and Nola emptied out into the sweltering afternoon’s summer heat.
“It’s still hot as the devil’s house down here!” Georgina complained. “I hate that I have
to come back to this God forsaken place.
Nola cast her eyes on her sister with irritation. “Please Sis, don’t start already. This here’s
our home. Besides, Wilbert should be here somewhere waiting on us. Try to be on your
best behavior. We want to make a good impression on him for Maddie.”
“Please.” Georgina sucked her teeth. “I’m sure she done already told him how horrible
her sisters are for not helping out with anything and a whole bunch of mess that makes us
look worse than we already do. Frankly, I don’t give a…”
“Georgie, don’t you dare!”
Georgina pursed her lips, not finishing the slew of profanities about to pour out.
“Oh hush,” she said instead. “I’m tired and I’m hungry. We ain’t gonna get an ounce of
peace no way. Soon as we hit that door, Mama is gonna start right in on us. Watch and see.
Pulling their luggage to the nearest bench, they sat to wait for Wilbert. Nola knew
her oldest sister was right. They wouldn’t hear the end of it from their mother. It was
embarrassing enough that they had to come back home with nothing. The whole town
probably knew all about it anyway. She closed her eyes and prayed. They were back in
Opheliaville.
***
Madelyn cringed when Wilbert’s truck pulled up, and out emerged her two sisters
dressed like they were headed straight to the nearest bar stool. She was almost sorry she
asked him, at her mother’s request, to pick them up from the bus station.
Wilbert smiled at Madelyn as she stood in the doorway expressionless. The half-moon
shape his mouth made instantly disappeared as he noticed her demeanor.
“Uh-oh,” he mumbled. Removing two large suitcases from the back, he handed each
woma n a smaller bag to carry and followed behind them at a distance.
“Hey there, little sis,” Nola greeted.
“Hello,” Madelyn replied, arms folded, stepping to the side allowing them to enter.
68 | NKLC MAGAZINE