Not Just A 'Shelby'

Chapter 26: Chaos

****Author's note::: anything written in italics after this note with be someone speaking in a gypsy language. I looked for translations but couldn't find ANYTHING :(*****

After the wedding, the Lees had set up a circle of caravans around a decorated wagon and a large fire. John and Esme, as we had learned her name to be, had made a seating in the wagon while all of the families partied around them. Dot had made a home across the circle from her brother, keeping her anger as far from her happy brother as she could. She sat alone as she watched everyone around her celebrate the arrangement.

"You seem not to like the celebration." The Lee matriarch spoke as she sat with Dot.

Facing her, Dot spoke back in the gypsy tongue that she grew up to learn. "Well it is not easy to celebrate when your brother was basically sold off." Dot shot back, smiling sadly at the woman as she sipped her rum.

"Now, now child. You don't understand what had to be done." The woman spoke, hate in her words.

"I am not child. And I know how things should be ran. I held onto our business for four years while my brothers and best friends were away fighting a war that wasn't ours to fight." Slamming her glass down she pointed to the woman. "I know how things need to be done and this wasn't it."

"What's going on here?" Tom asked as he approached the two angry women.

"I was just having a good talk with your sister." The Lee woman faked a smile in his direction.

"Yeah, Tommy, woman to woman." Dot smiled back at the woman.

"We'll sit back down. I want to have a drink with my sister, since the other one is off somewhere." Tom motioned for the two to sit back down.

She looked back across the circle to see her brother laughing with his new wife, making her smile. At least something good came out of this and John wasn't stuck with a 60 year old woman.

She watched as people sang and danced with each other, laughing and shouting at the bride and groom. Tom lit himself a cigarette, lighting a second one for his sister who gladly accepted.

"Come one spin me around Again!" Yelling came from the circle.

"You two should tell Ada to slow down." Polly spoke from behind them.

Chuckling softly, Tom looked back at his aunt. "You think she'll listen to us."

"I tried stopping her, but she's been drinking. She's been stuck in that little basement for weeks. What do you expect? She's going off like a firecracker." Polly sipped her rum as she stood behind them.

They watch as Ada spun in circle, faster and faster with each circle she made. On the last circle she made, she stumbled into a Lee's arms, laughing loudly.

"Oh, Christ, Tommy, please." Polly begged as she watched the younger niece make a fool.

"Let me, you'll only make things worse than they are, Tommy." Dot glared at her brother as she stood to speak to her sister.

"Ada, come on. This isn't good for the baby." Dot spoke softly, pulling at Ada's arm.

"Get off me! Dorthea, you're just jealous that I'm having a good time, with child and all." Ada spoke in drunkenness to her sister.

"What did you say?" Dot asked, rage began burning in her blood.

"Come here. Enough now, enough." Arthur interrupted the sisters, coming between them to grab Ada.

Tommy stood from his chair, finally, seeing that his siblings were getting out of hand and causing more of a show than it already was. "Ada, come on, have a rest. Sit down."