Leech Hoose, part ten

They were eating their second meal together. Leta had married Mr. Leech Hoose on Saturday, and on Monday, she and her children Vivian and Dale moved into his house in East Toledo. Before he went to work that morning, she asked him what he wanted for supper, and he requested chicken and potatoes. Her first mistake of the meal was to add green beans. That was easily resolvable, however. She simply served the green beans to the children and herself and gave him her portion of potatoes.

Her second mistake was that she tried to engage her family in conversation during the meal. She wanted her new husband and her children to like each other. She wanted to establish a family dynamic immediately, even though two hours earlier she cautioned her children about upsetting their new stepfather. As a result, she prompted a conversation.  Leech made it clear that he was not interested, but she persisted.

“Shut…your…mouth,” Leech yelled.

Leta was too stunned to speak. She had never heard him raise his voice like this, and he had never been so unpleasant toward her.

At the first meal that the family shared together, he had been friendly and amiable. That meal took place a few months earlier, in early October. For his 35^th birthday, she made him a sumptuous meal of roasted pork, mashed potatoes and gravy, sweet potatoes, and corn with a pineapple upside down cake for dessert. She had also secured a pint of strong whiskey from one of her late husband Albert’s former clients.

When he arrived, Dale, dressed in his Sunday best with his hair slicked down, greeted Mr. Hoose at the door, took his hat and coat, and gestured to the “seat of honor.” Vivian, wearing one of Leta’s nicer dresses brought him the glass of whiskey on a little tray that Leta inherited from her mother. Once he took the glass, Dale pushed a small footstool toward him, enabling Leech to put his feet up slightly.

“Thank you very much, little boy,” Leech said. He finished his drink and handed Vivian the glass, which she hastily refilled. “Good girl.”

“Supper will be ready in a minute,” Leta said from the kitchen area where she was cooking. As their garret didn’t have much of a facility, she had to concentrate on the many elements of the meal to ensure that all would be ready at the same time. “My darlings, why don’t you introduce yourself to Mr. Hoose while I finish up.”

“I’m Vivian,” the girl said.

“I’m Dale. I’m 12,” the boy said eagerly. “Actually I will be 12 tomorrow. Tomorrow is my birthday.”

“So is this a double celebration?” Leech inquired.

“Oh no,” Dale explained, “tonight is special for you. It’s your birthday. Happy Birthday, Mr. Hoose.”

Leech sipped his drink.

“You keep this place nice,” he said.

“We try,” Leta said, “don’t we, Vivian?”

“Yes, Ma,” Vivian agreed.

Both children were still standing near Leech, Vivian holding the small try with the whiskey bottle, and Dale even closer, fidgeting a little with his hands in his pockets, and his eyes focused on their visitor.

“What?” Leech said to him. “Do I got something in my teeth?”

“No, sir,” Dale stuttered and stepped back.

“Dale,” Leta said firmly but gently, “you know it’s not polite to stare.”

“Yes, Ma,” Dale said sheepishly, stepping back and turning toward his mother.

“It smells good,” Leech said.

“Thank you,” Leta said. “I’m making mashed potatoes and gravy to go with the pork roast. I hope that’s all right.”

“Potatoes is good,” Leech said. “I don’t care much for gravy, but most folks like it.”

“We love gravy,” Leta shared, “don’t we, children?”

“Yes, Ma,” Vivian answered.

Leech signaled that he wanted a refill, and she obliged.

A few minutes later, Leta served the meal. They did not have enough room on the table for everything, so she served one item at a time. First, the chicken, then the potatoes, gravy, and some stewed tomatoes.”

“Where did you get stewed tomatoes?” Leech questioned.

“We canned them, Leta answered. “The landlady lets me grow a few tomato plants out back.”

“I love stewed tomatoes!”

“I remembered you telling me, and it’s your birthday, so I thought….”

Although the children waited to say grace, Leech immediately began to eat. When she sat down, Leta looked at her confused children and smiled. Vivian had poured her a glass of whiskey for her mother, which she lifted into the air.

“A toast,” she said.

Leech stopped eating and looked up.

To be continued.