Miss Ta Rot: A Short Story

Ruby returns with fresh coffee and a tiny birthday cake crowned with two large candles in the shape of fives. After she lit them, she and Clemmy Sue sang the Birthday song. As soon as Estelle Louise blows out the candles and wishes her wish, Ruby removes the smoking candles, and saunters back to the kitchen. A while later Ruby reappearances and asks if they were ready to meet Miss Ta Rot. Nervously they nod yes, and follow Ruby to a booth in the back of the Diner were Beth sits. When Clemmy Sue spots Miss Ta Rot she whispers to Estelle Louse, “She ain’t no gypsy cause she ain’t wearing no big ass gold hoop earrings. Why she just be a middle aged woman with god awful dyed red hair and a frizzy perm.” As they slide into …show more content…
None of my kinfolk wants me cause they be sayin’ I be a hand full and they puts me in a place for young’uns who ain’t gots no parents. I be fifteen, when I runs away from that there place. I gots me a few nickels, dimes and quarters and be buyin’ me a ticket on a Greyhound Bus headin’ nowhere. I be meetin’ Orville James on that there bus and be fallin’ in love. As god be my witness we gots off that there bus in Wrongberight and Clemmy Sue’s daddy, preacher Jarvis be marryin’ us that night. I tell you Orville James be the love of my heart and the breath of my soul. He be treatin’ me as if I be a prize he be winnin’ at the State Fair. Orville James be my bright shinin’ penny. Why he could read, write and be signin’ his own name. I be pleasin’ proud of him. Now our first little one be arrivin’ nine months after we gots hitched and for eight years, they kept a comin’. One day the heavenly father takes Orville James away from me, and one by one he be takin’ my young’uns. The last one went to the maker, two years past.” Before, Estelle Louise could say another word, the lights went out in the Diner, lightning lit the room, ear-splitting thunder shook the Diner, and the three women scream. When the lights come on again, nervous laughter