MARY DID YOU KNOW?

Trigger Warning: Some use of Profanity

Mary Anne Lesure fixed her black curls and fluffed her bosom in the mirror. She twirled around in the center of her bedroom watching her dress flail open like a parachute. She was wearing her favorite powder blue satin dress with pearl buttons and matching collar broach. It complemented her golden skin very well. She had it paired with flesh tone stockings, and very demure satin Mary Jane heels she had professionally dyed to match her dress. She blew herself a kiss with her ruby red lips.

 She walked into the living room where her husband Lionel, of twenty-three years was sitting in his recliner looking off into space. The TV was on, but he clearly was not paying attention to the show. He had been that way for two months now. Just distant and cold and would not speak to her. Their marriage was rocky after their only son Jr. died in a car crash about three years back. Then she fell ill for a while but now she is back to her old self again. He had to get a second job to keep up with the bills and she knew that took a toll on him. But, then one day he just stopped communicating with her. He would not even look at her when she talked to him. She felt the pain of frustration and rejection creep up on her and instantly started thinking negative thoughts.

“I bet if that slut Charlene Buford came prancing through the door he would perk his ass up then,” she thought angrily.

They were old friends from middle school and dated in high school for a bit until she dropped out and ran off with some fellow to California to become an actor. She worked for a while behind the scenes but came back after her and the mystery fellow did not work out. Now all she blabs about are her times in Hollywood. Blah, Blah, Blah! At the last couple of lady gatherings Mary could not even get in a word about her life because of Charlene’s bragging. Then when Mary spoke the ladies ignored her. Oh, did that piss her off! Why did Charlene have to be so damn prissy?

“Lonnie baby, I’m about to head out,” she said shocking herself a bit as her voice cracked.

Lionel did not even look in her direction. Mary stood in the entryway for a moment before walking out the door. She was on her way to a tea party hosted by that “round the way” ass, Charlene Buford. Charlene was Mary’s competition when it came to class with a little sass. That woman got on her nerves always trying to show off. If it were not for the juicy gossip at the tea parties and the snacks, Mary would never be caught up with such a group of over privileged, lonely, middle-aged women.

Mary stepped out into the beautiful sun of a magnificent spring day. Her Central Gardens neighborhood in Memphis, TN was full of life. Families were out riding bikes and walking their pets, the smell of brisket from the local BBQ Café on the corner filled the air along with the scent of freshly cut grass. “God surely showing out today,” she thought with a smile. Charlene’s home was only a block away in Overton Square, a cute little section of her neighborhood filled with established bungalow styled homes and quaint gardens, with their perfect little lawns. Not her taste, but it was… cute. She walked with a little switch down the sidewalk passing Hubert Hooks sitting on his porch.

“Hey there handsome!” Mary yelled, waving flirtatiously at him. He glared at her with a stern, yet blank face.

“That man ain’t been right since his wife caught him sneaking around with that tacky Charlene,” she thought.

Well, that is what she heard. All she knows is that Loretta ain’t leave no fine man like that for nothing. Hubert kept glaring at her and abruptly got up and went into his home slamming his screen door behind him. She stopped and looked at the house confused by his behavior and could see him peaking through the curtains at her.

“Lord that man has truly lost it,” she mumbled to herself.

She continued her walk to Charlene’s house. As she approached the corner, she saw the French little bungalow painted a canary yellow with the buttercream shutters nestled on the corner with cars lined out front. The lawn was freshly manicured and the ladies from the church were standing around chatting in their pristine designer dresses and handbags. She rolled her eyes in disgust.

“Why them ladies got to show off like that?” she thought. “It’s just a damn tea party. We ain’t meeting nobody special.”

Charlene Buford stood at the end of her driveway in her blonde afro and a face full of makeup. Her mocha skin glowed. She was wearing a gold lame` jumpsuit that accentuated her tiny waist, curvy hips, and huge butt. She had one hand on her hip and the other was flopping about as she greeted the ladies heading into her backyard for the party.

        “I see you wearing that cat suit!” Mary shouted as she walked up the driveway.

Charlene flashed a smile looking past her and greeted Sister Shirley Brown as she walked up. Mary loved Sister Brown. She was an older lady in her mid-seventies, and was only 4’11 but was a black belt and would kick your tail for messing with her. She was dressed from head to toe in black with gold jewelry. Her grey hair was pulled up high and tight on her head in a bun with a cute little black lace beret on the side. She nodded toward Charlene with a slight smile and locked eyes with Mary. Mary smiled and opened her arms to Shirley for a big welcoming hug. Sister Shirley eyes widened, and she jumped back shaking her head vigorously nearly bumping into Sister Gail’s large body. Charlene and Gail looked puzzled greeting each other. Mary was so angry and confused she thought about leaving. But she decided to head into the backyard and at least be present and in the moment.

        Charlene’s backyard was a perfect square shaped garden with day lilies blooming in the flowerbeds. She had a small herb garden in the back corner and pots of chamomile were hanging from planters. There was a stone path that led to a gazebo where 4 tables of 3 were decorated with daisy print cloths and silver tea pots and fine China tea cups. A small table in the back of the gazebo was lined with snacks. There was a folding chair next to the snack table that looked welcoming, so Mary sat alone there as the other tables were all filled. She wanted to sit next to Sister Shirley, but Sister Gail’s fat ass grabbed the seat, and the other chair was Charlene’s. They were all seated on the far right and Mary was facing them sitting alone beside the snack table.

        “Ladies, ladies, ladies, thank you so much for coming out to my monthly tea party,” said Charlene. “I am going to be passing out today’s program shortly, but for now, enjoy my special chamomile tea from my garden that I learned how to make on the set of “Women in Cages” by Pam Grier while in Hollywood. That was an epic experience, and we had a damn good time. Mmph!”

Mary rolled her eyes and wished that she were hungry so she could eat up all the snacks and piss her off. She sat there listening to the ladies ask Charlene questions about all the famous celebrities she met in Hollywood. Not one person came over to acknowledge her presence. They were all into Charlene’s stories or lies, and too busy sipping on that tea. Mary looked over and saw Shirley staring at her. She kept looking down at her tea then looking over at Mary confused.

        “Charlene child, what you done put in this tea?” Shirley asked. Still staring at Mary.

Charlene while passing out the party programs said, “Why Sister Brown, you know I like to add little liqueur to get the party started.”

The ladies all burst into laughter expect for Sister Shirley. She just kept staring at Mary.

 Charlene looked up at Shirley, looked over at Mary, and asked, “Sister Shirley, why you keep staring over at the back. Ain’t shit over there but the snacks and it will not be for long if Sister Gail get over there.”

The ladies burst into laughter again as Sister Gail stood up at patted her huge belly shouting, “She ain’t said nothing but the truth!”

Mary was extremely angry at this point. She was not to be disrespected and ignored by Charlene even if it was her party. She did not know what was wrong with Sister Shirley, but she had enough of Charlene Buford. Mary stood up and stormed over to Charlene glancing over at a terrified-looking Shirley. She was so mad she did not hear Shirley screaming amongst the other ladies’ frantic chatter trying to calm Sister Shirley down. Charlene ran past Mary storming towards her and over to Shirley who was screaming and clutching the program and sobbing.

All the commotion infuriated Mary and she shouted, “Charlene you petty ass bitch! You probably gossiping behind my back and got the church ladies… "

Mary’s voice trailed off as she looked down at the program on the table. She could not believe what she saw. It was a picture of her and the title read, Charlene’s Monthly Church Ladies Tea Party Honoring the Loving Memory of Mary Anne Lesure, Sunrise June 4, 1924, Sunset March 3, 1978. Today was May 13, 1978! She froze in shock but read more.

“Mary Anne Lesure was a member of Boxwood Baptist Church, and dear wife of Lionel Lesure Sr. a World War II Navy Veteran. She lost her only son to a car accident in May of 1975 and succeeded him in death after a brief battle of pneumonia.”

Mary studied the picture of herself noticing that the dress she had on was the one she was wearing now. It was all making sense now. She understood why Lionel was ignoring her. It was because she was dead. She understood why Handsome Hubert ran away from her. He saw the spirit of someone he knew should not be walking down the street. She knew why Sister Shirley was having a meltdown. Her dear friend who has been dead for two months was haunting Charlene’s tea party.

She damn there caused the poor grieving lady to have heart attack. She looked at Sister Shirley who had passed out in fear and walked through the ladies that were standing over her. Charlene was holding a towel to Sister Shirley’s head. No one else could see her so she whispered a sweet goodbye to the ladies and hurriedly walked out of the backyard. As she was walking down the driveway, she saw a remarkably familiar face. Lionel Jr. was standing at the end of the driveway with his arms outstretched and she ran and embraced him. He told her that Dad just needs time to grieve and that he always loved her.

“He has lost his family and the only friend who understands is Charlene, so don’t haunt her like that mom,” he chuckled to her.

The mother and son comforted each other, aware of their transition then walked down the street and faded into sunlight.