The Christmas Pearl by Dorothea Benton Frank Read Free Book Online

glasses, and wiped my eyes, which, yes, were tearing. “How did you do this—I mean, get here? Golly! My heart is still pounding like mad! Tell me! How is my Fred? Have you seen him?”
    “I got ’eah on the Mercy Train and don’t ask me no questions. It’s breaking the rules.”
    “Not even about Gordie? Oh, please, Pearl! My poor brother? My parents? Please tell me they are all right!”
    “They are all right. All right? Now, that’s all. We gots to get to work!”
    She wasn’t budging an inch, and I knew it was wrong to ask her to break the rules and cost her a pair ofwings, although I had to chuckle a little at the thought of Pearl as an angel or as an emissary of one. Anyway, what was the difference? If she was here there had to be others there , wherever and whatever there was. Evidently, this was all the consolation and information I was to receive. To tell the truth, it was all I needed, and given the messy predicament we were in, it was probably more than I deserved.
    “Well,” I said, my heartbeat finally returning to almost normal, “I thought I might come give you a hand. You didn’t have convection ovens or microwaves in your day, or food processors and so forth.”
    “Ms. Theodora? No disrespect? Iffin I can get myself down ’eah in the flesh, I reckon I can figure—”
    “Sorry! Of course you can! What was I thinking? Would you like some hot tea? I mean, do you eat and drink?”
    “Why not?” She continued opening cabinets and canisters and shaking her head.
    “What’s wrong?”
    Pearl exhaled for a long enough stretch to launch a cruise ship and send it straight to the docks in Hamilton, Bermuda.
    She said, “Where’s the fruitcake?”
    “Fruitcake?”
    “Yes’m, the fruitcake. And nut cake, rum balls, sands, fondant…no cookies?”
    “Well, over the years fruitcake has gained a bad reputation, and all those other things are considered unhealthy, you know, loaded with trans fats and refined sugar?” I filled the kettle with water and put it on the burner to boil. My hands were still trembling.
    “Hmmph! Like we all didn’t live long lives eating what we darn well felt like eating! It’s about moderation! And what’s the matter with that Christmas tree out there, and where is the manger scene?”
    “Horrible, isn’t it? This year’s tree seems to be an absolute triumph of bad taste over tradition and decorum. Heavens! Don’t say I said that. Do you mean the crèche set or the manger scene?”
    “Both!”
    “Oh, me. I’m sorry to say that people don’t care about that kind of thing anymore, Pearl. It’s so sad. No one seems to want to carry on the old traditions. Well, some do, but not this family.”
    “Hmmph.” She put her hands on her hips. “Is there any blackberry brandy in this ’eah house?”
    “Yes, look in the pantry next to the Marsala wine. Why? What are you making?”
    Pearl looked at me and smiled so wide it sent a chill up my spine.
    “I’m making Pearl feel better, and then you and I are making a plan .”
    Pearl poured herself a small glass of brandy, and Iknew at once why she had always smelled like blackberries. Old Pearl liked a little nip.
    “This ’eah is the only one thing I miss from this earth.”
    “Well, help yourself! I’ll see to it that there’s an endless supply for you!”
    “Oh no! Just a little taste is all I want. I hope this ain’t breaking the rules.”
    “Rules against a little glass of something to warm the bones?”
    “Hmmph! They rules got rules! ’Sides, I cain’t be ’eah too long. Just two days.”
    “Two days!” I got gooseflesh. “Why only two days?”
    “Hmmph. I’m lucky to get two! They only give Cinderella a few hours, ’eah?”
    ’Eah is a wonderfully versatile old Gullah word that means so many things. It could mean “you hear me?” Or “you come now or else!” Or “isn’t it true?”
    “Two days? Oh, mercy, Pearl! How will we get them on the right road in such short order?”
    “Ms.