Chapter 12

“In this world, I lock out all my worries and my fears In my room, in my room”

“The Beach Boys”

The next morning.

After a scrumptious breakfast of French toast and crispy bacon, we loaded up the Plymouth and headed north for mama’s house plus a night of dancing and billiards at Tommy’s joint. Well, it belonged to his mother.

“Tommy.”

She started right in.

“What sweetheart?”

“Now, no hanky panky up in your room, okay?”

“Of course, but you’re going to play Toss and Tickle with me, aren’t you, baby-girl?”

Toss and Tickle was a game they’d created where he would toss the girl onto his bed from about eight feet away, then run after her and tickle her. She’d laugh hysterically and they’d repeat the process over and over again.

My only concern, that I kept to myself was that his bed was right in front of an upstairs picture window. I worried he’d toss Girl too frisky, she’d bounce on the mattress and attendant metal springs and get launched thru the window and end up down on the front porch. But I knew better than to warn them off. They weren’t about to listen. They were adorable playing the damn game I had to admit.

His parents, well his mother had kept his bedroom as it was when he left it many years earlier to join law enforcement. It was like going back in time to 1960. It was a sanctuary for himself and he loved having Girl in there with him. But just the girl. I wasn’t welcome, I knew that at once, so I did not loiter.

“Of course, sweetheart. I want to play with you, but, we mustn’t do hanky panky. Please promise me, darling.”

“A kiss or two, though is okay, right?”

“Sure, but, just a couple and we must keep your bedroom door open.”

That rule was from way back when we first dated.

I wanted Girl to come in and sit on my bed with me, watch some TV. Just sit on the edge, not in the prone position for the crying out loud.

You’d a thought I was asking for the moon. Furrowed brow, near tears, I had to settle for her to stand in the doorway for the first few weeks before she’d sit on the bed and hold hands with me. And the door had to remain open at all times right thru the night before our wedding.

“Mrs. Castleberry, make Cully-boy promise to not close his door.”

“Cully!” Mother and dad in unison from the living room.

“Thank you, Mr., and Mrs. Castleberry.”

“You’re welcome, sweetheart.” Mother and dad in unison.

“Oh, and another thing, Tommy, like I said earlier this morning when we woke: All our dances are with one another.”

“And I agreed, baby-girl, remember?”

“Just double-checking.”

She wanted to tell him, to remind him in front of me just in case something bad happened she’d have me as a witness as to what had been agreed upon beforehand.

“It would break my little heart to see you dance with another girl tonight, well any night for that matter. I would want to go home then, Tommy.”

She finally got around to me.

“Cully, make sure and not talk over mama.”

“Got it. Guy’s what should I do if she asks me any questions about us?”

I knew darn good and well that they were going to ditch me downstairs so they could have fun and frolic up in his room.

After I went out to the base the next morning Tommy and the girl went back over there. Mama spent most of Sundays at church so the house was available. They played Toss and Tickle and did naughties. “He wants to do it to me in his bedroom, Cully, bless his little heart. Afterward, he’s going to take me and buy me a new dress, then dinner. Is that okay, boy?”

“Sure.”

She was ready.

“Just tell the truth. We have nothing to hide. Right, Tommy?”

“Right.” Kept his eyes on the road.

Tommy didn’t figure he had to explain himself to his mother. He was in his mid-30’s and felt that he shouldn’t have to.

Girl and he had disagreed on this point. I was not privy to that discussion. Got everything after-the-fact when she’d worn him down and he’d agreed to do it Girl’s way.

She did not want to go half-way with Tommy’s mother. She loved the man and wanted his mother to be aware of her love for her son. Sure, it was odd at default, but there were only the two options and Girl wanted nothing to do with the option that did not include full disclosure (save the suicide attempt) with Mrs. Gentile.

That’s why Girl immediately procured the blessing from the woman for Girl’s presence in her son’s life and his mother’s life as well. Both me and Girl for that matter. And it had to be that way if we were to be successful in saving Tommy.

“We can’t go half-way, Cully. We haven’t since that night and we’re never going to. I told Tommy that and he agreed. We then prayed over it in our bed. You agree, boy?”

“Agreed.”

“Thank you, darling.”

“And I phoned mama this morning and we’d like you boys to pray, you know together in the living room before we leave.”

“Oh, and I’d like to invite her to have supper with us, Tommy.”

He was ready.

“She won’t do it, Girl. She has her Saturday night television and wouldn’t miss it for the world.”

“Well, I’ll invite her anyway.”

Tommy was looking forward to dinner before we headed to his joint. Knew a place in his old neighborhood that served soul food. He loved to break bread with Girl and I. I didn’t talk much and those two did. And they never spoke over one another. It was a joy to watch those two converse, for heaven’s sakes. And when I did have something to add they let me right in, didn’t grudge it whatsoever. Did not patronize me in the least. Tommy and I would sit on one side of the table, or, booth, Girl on the other side. Tommy had always sat on the same side as his women, but, Girl and I always sat across as she wanted to see me/him when she spoke to me/him. He loved that arrangement once he got used to it.

“Boy, look, a dirty book store!”

We were still a few blocks from mama’s house.

“Crocker’s XXX Books, Novelties and Arcade”

“Tommy, take me in there. Cully won’t take me with him.”

“Girl! You won’t go with me to those places. I’ve tried,”

“That’s true. I was trying to be diplomatic for your sake. Tommy, take me before we go dancing, okay?”

“Sure.”

“Have you ever been in there, Sergeant Gentile?” As she massaged his broad shoulders.

“No, can’t say I have.”

“We’ll leave boy in the car, okay?”

Laughing to beat the band the both of ‘em.

“Baloney! I’m goin’ in too.”

“Will you buy me a surprise in there, Tommy? Please?”

“Whatever you want, baby-girl. What are you going to be looking for, angel?”

“We should get something for when we’re home tonight, yes, boys? I want to have a fun today and a wild night. Cully, Tommy wouldn’t do it to me this morning. I wanted to be on top and he said ‘uh-uh.’”

Her laughter was loud and hardy.

“Girl! You said ‘no’ to me. Said we should wait until tonight so I’d be, how did you phrase it? Oh, yeah, “wild and wooly.’”

“Abstinence is good for you both. Cully tried to lure me into his bed this morning when I woke him, Tommy.”

“And you turned me down cold as well, Girl.”

“I’ll make it up to you both tonight, I promettre. That means I promise in French, Tommy.”

Tommy’s house had one of those large (G’s) in the middle of the front screen door bracing.

Of course, Tommy had to remind Girl about (Toss and Tickle) as we gathered around the trunk of the Plymouth to retrieve the cornbread and some do-dads that Girl had wrapped as gifts for mama.

I didn’t think turning him down that morning was the best strategy if they were going to be alone in his bedroom tossing her about, but when Girl said ‘no’ it meant ‘no.’

And of course, now that she’d put her being on top of him in my gourd I was struck as well. I had not seen her ride him. The thought was incredibly exciting.

“Just don’t throw her thru the damn window!”

No, I didn’t say that, but the window was foreboding from the porch level.

Mrs. Gentile was everything Girl had claimed she’d be. Rebecca Gentile, “Miss Rebecca” to the neighborhood she lived in, ‘Mama’ to Tommy, Girl, and me.

“Cully-boy, now you call me ‘mama’ please.”

And it felt right, felt comfortable. She hugged us all, but I noticed the hug twixt her and Tommy was not as tight as I’d expected. He was distant from her I could sense it from the doorway.

“Tommy believes she won’t let him grow up, Cul.” After I’d inquired as to what the problem was.

Put like that told me Girl didn’t agree with Tommy.

About a month later after another Saturday visit with mama, we loaded up and took off for home.

“Where shall we eat, children?”

“Take me home.”

“Uh, oh.” To-my-self.

“We’re not going to supper?”

“No. Take me home, now.”

“What’s wrong, baby-girl?”

“When we get back, Tommy.”

She was livid. I’d been there at livid. It’s no fun.

Not another word all the way home.

They went down to their bedroom upon arrival.

She chewed his ass loud and strong over his treatment of his mother. Read him a riot act.

I retreated to my chair and read the paper.

Made him phone her in front of us both.

I tried to make it to my room, but, she forbade it.

“No, Cully, I want you to hear this as well. Get over here.”

He made the call and the apology. Then she got on the horn and apologized for not calling him out at the house.

“Yes, mama. Thank you, mama. We love you too, mama. If you need anything please call night or day. Goodbye, mama. God bless you too.”

But she didn’t let it fester, nary a second.

“I’m hungry, guys. Let’s go to Country Kitchen, okay?”

He looked as if he was going to cry.

“Cully, give us a couple of minutes, please?”