Evermore, Nevermore Forget Me Not

The Phone Calls

Setting: 2003...

      Connie sits playing a card game with another member at the senior center and winning ta boot too; so when one of the center's workers announces she has a phone call, she is not pleased to have to get up to say the least...

"Ello?" She says into the phone

"Hey MeeMaw," Comes Georgie's voice from the other end

"Why y'all callin Georgie?" She sighs heavily, already knowing by the tone of his voice that it isn't to have a casual conversation, "I'm in the middle of a card game."

"I need bail money," he tells her begrudgingly, "I-did somethin stupid-"

"Ya y'all did," Connie huffs out with a slight laugh, "ya called me; I told ya back when y'all stole my car that ya'd need ta make bail some day," she tells him in an 'I told you so' way, "I also told ya NOT ta come ta me," she reminds him, "what did ya do?" She sighs heavily

"I got arrested-" he starts

"Well obviously," she laughs, cutting him off

"Fur urinating in a phone booth," he finishes like she hadn't

"Were ya drunk or just bein plain stupid?" She asks flatly, "tell me y'all were drunk," she begs him

"I was," he sighs out

"Now explain ta me why y'all were drunk," she states with slight aggravation

"Erika and I got inta an argument about what ta name the kid," he sighs again heavily

"And y'all didn't call yer because ya didn't want 'er ta know," Connie clarifies, "Why the he'll didn't ya call yer mother?"

"She was at my trial," he admits reluctantly, "she told me not ta come ta call 'er for the money after she heard my defense-"

"And what was yer defense?" Connie asks still annoyed

"I told 'im: Because, that's what makes this country great," he tells her, the regret evident in his voice

"Y'all sure can be stupid," Connie sighs yet again, "Well," she starts, "I ain't sendin ya the money, so it looks like ya wasted yer one phone call kiddo."

"MeeMaw-" he starts but she hangs up on him

"Dumbass," she mutters as she dials up Her granddaughter in law's work number

"Huston museum of natural science," a voice answers, "how may I help y'all?"

"Could I please speak with Mrs. Erika Cooper?" Connie asks politely

"One moment while I direct yer call," the person at the other end says before music starts playing

"..." Connie waits, slowly growing more irritated as the music plays

"Erika Cooper: Museum Director," Erika finally picks up, "what can I do for ya?"

"Erika sweetheart," Connie starts

"Connie," she replies with slight surprise, "I was actually just bout ta head out," she tells her, "is it at all possible this can wait-"

"Yer husband's in jail fur-Well," she sighs out, "I'll let 'im tell ya that one," she goes on, "but the dumbass needs bail and I already told 'im that I ain't put it up-"

"..." Erika is quiet for a moment at this news, "well then he's gonna be there a while," she, herself sighs out, "cause I need ta get ta the doctors."

"Everything ok?" Connie asks her in concern

"I ain't sure," she admits with another sigh, "somethin just feels off some how..."

"Want me ta call Mary ta come help ya?" Connie offers, "or Missy?"

"Missy's got 'er interview with Fudduckers today," Erika reminds her, "Mary's helping the church with something I think...thanks Connie, but I'll be fine."

"Well alright," She replies with some reluctance, "keep me in the loop though; let me know what's going on ok?"

"Of course," Erika tells her before hanging up the phone

     Connie lets out a heavy sigh as she hangs up her end of the phone as well and makes her way back to her card game; it isn't until hours later that she gets another phone call...

"Ello?" She answers in a happier mood than before due to having won her card game

"Hey MeeMaw," Georgie's sighs heavily in a depressing tone

"What's wrong now?" She asks him

"Erika miscarried," he tells her in a barely hearable voice

"..." Connie remains silent, too shocked to say anything

"She ain't talkin ta me neither," he adds quietly then sighs, "I don't know what ta do..."

"Giver some space," Connie tells him quietly, "let'er grieve," she sighs out, "don't push 'er and fur god sake don't go off and do nothin stupid."

"Will the pain ever go away?" He asks, the sound of tears evident in his voice

"Fraid not," Connie sighs again, "but it will numb over time."

"Do y'all ever regret not tryin ta make a mends with uncle Carl and Uncle Stumpy?" Georgie asks with a sniffle

"..." Connie's quiet a moment as she thinks about Georgie's question, "yea," she admits quietly as she lets out a breath she'd been holding in, "suppose I do...does yer mother know yet?" She asks changing topics back to before

"I haven't told 'er yet," he admits to her, "she was dealing with something Missy did or something when I last called ta tell 'er."

"I'll giver a call a bit later," She reassures him, "just don't go do nothin stupid," she repeats, "and make sure she don't do nothin stupid either alright?"

"Yea," He replies quietly, "love ya MeeMaw."

"Love ya too kiddo," she tells him gently before they both hang up the phone

Connie wastes no time with her own thoughts and calls up her daughter: Mary real quick; Mary answers on the second ring and Connie gives her the bitter news. Mary breaks down crying the moment she hears about her daughter in law's miscarriage from her Connie. Mary tells Missy the moment that she hangs up the phone from talking with Connie and starts praying that everything turns out alright for her son and daughter in law. Erika had been four months along; they all ready knew that the baby was gonna be a boy, and that they already had a name picked out. The nursery had already been started on, the miscarriage was completely unexpected; everything had been fine and normal when they last saw the doctor, and then out of nowhere-nothing was.