Marge & Esther

Marge and Esther

by

B.D. Adams

©2014

            Saturday afternoon. It was a hot, but balmy, Saturday afternoon. Not much activity. Even the birds and the chipmunks were taking a break from flying and scampering.

Marge so enjoyed gardening with the earth’s aromas, to make a bed ready for the next

season. Tilling and weeding and planting in her minor patches. After a few hours of her hot work, she decided to park on her neat, well-swept porch, to sit in her old rickety rocking chair and slowly rock.

She had made lemonade earlier, so ice-cubes were added to the glass pitcher. The pitcher sat with some other glasses on the matching round wicker table between the two porch chairs. You never knew who might stop by. She always liked these days in the late summer. Today, more than hinted that Fall would be welcomed after the Dog Days of summer!

            Her neighborhood was that of vintage residents. She always liked that definition over “where old folks lived.” Vintage, as a good wine! No wine today ... just good lemonade.

Occasionally, grandkids would be visiting at one neighbor’s or another so she’d watch them play. Right now, the only sounds were the buzz of dancing honey bees and the whispered flutter of the leaves. After 73 years of these days, she just sipped her lemonade and watched the warm breeze stir the leaves on her old Mimosa tree and the Cone Flowers and Daisies by her porch. To Marge, this was heaven. She smiled.

In the summer, she felt more comfortable to wear her cotton dresses or skirts of midi-length with sneakers, with or without socks. Her wide-brimmed straw hat completed her summer attire for gardening. Right now, the hat and gloves rested easily on the floor beside her.

Marge laid her head back, closed her eyes and fanned herself with her dish towel as she rocked.

            “Yoohoo,” a sung greeting was said to Marge from the near sidewalk. She opened her eyes and smiled pleasantly to Esther, a vintage friend.

            “Esther ... what are doing out in this heat?”

            “Visiting you, you silly goose,” she said with her happy grin. Esther didn’t wait for an invitation. She went right up on to Marge’s porch, took up the other wicker backed chair with the comfy pillow seat.

            Marge immediately poured lemonade for her friend. The ice cubes chimed against the pitcher. Marge smiled to her.

            Esther took the glass and sipped a few large sips, and then sighed as she said, “Gonna be a hot one.” She continued to grin with a wink.

            Marge gave a wide grin herself and said, “Hope little Sheba comes home.” ¹

            Both women began to laugh loudly with mirth!!

            “Burt Lancaster was soooo handsome in that movie,” Esther said dreamy-eyed. Their laugh wound down. “That was the prettiest I can remember seeing Shirley Booth. Loved her as Hazel ²”

            Marge agreed and poured herself more of the cool drink.

            Both women loved going to the movies. They went together many times, especially to the Theater Deja-vu that showed the vintage movies. Casablanca³ was their favorite!

            Esther always dressed more stylish than Marge. She was trimmer than Marge and would

wear beige linen slacks and silk blouses in the summer. The blouses would be in pastel shades with short sleeves and very clean canvas shoes. Today, her color choice was teal. Her hair was salt and pepper, becoming more salty, in a gathered ponytail off her neck. Marge’s hair was snow white and kept very short.

            “Did you go to church?” Marge asked.

            “Not today.”

            “Oh? Why not?”

            Esther grimaced slightly and said, “Marge ... I don’t go all the time. And, when have you ever been concerned with my religious habits?”

            Then, Marge just gave her a quizzical expression as she leaned more forward to look up to the sky beyond the porch roof.

            “What in the world are you doing?” Esther queried. She tried to see what Marge was trying to see.

            “Just looking to see if my house will get hit by a thunderbolt!” Marge grinned widely.

            Esther playfully jostled Marge’s shoulder. They were good friends and enjoyed their fun.

            “Have you seen Laura today?” Marge inquired.

            Esther shook her head, but then informed, “Saw Madeline and Chester as they sat in the park on the bench.”

            “The same bench?”

            “The same bench.”

            “Hope nothin’ happens to that bench. They would be at a lost,” Marge mused.

            The women gently chuckled and continued to sip.

            “Look ... look over there,” Esther pointed out. “Isn’t that Donald Hopkins?” She took out her glasses from her purse to better see. She adjusted the glasses and affirmed, “Yep ... that’s Donald. He has seemed to be in better spirits since his Elizabeth’s passing.”

            Marge had been divorced for many years and Esther was a widow of many years, as well. In any case, they were without male companions. Marge didn’t care, but Esther always scoped who she could.

            Esther got all a twitter because Donald crossed the street at the corner and headed to Marge’s house. Esther smiled so widely, Marge was afraid she’d rip the corners of her mouth! He came right to the porch with his happy wide smile that made his mustache seem more elongated. It wasn’t waxed today, but it was freshly trimmed. Even with a balding pate, he was an attractive man for his years!

            “Good afternoon, ladies,” he greeted. He had on taupe, twilled slacks. His short-sleeved, light yellow, cotton button shirt did look cool. His casual Dockside shoes looked comfortable. As he got to the porch, he motioned like he wanted sit on the porch near them. The sun was at the other side of the house, so the porch was shaded.

            Esther took the initiative to answer his hand motion with one of her fluttering eye smiles. It was Marge’s porch, but Esther had had her eye on Donald ever since his wife died.

            “Sure is hot today,” Donald mused. He sat near to Esther’s right.

            “Yes, it is, Donald,” Esther replied. She shyly returned her glasses to her purse. Marge had poured a glass of lemonade to hand to him, but Esther took the glass to hand to the new arrival. “Marge and I were just talking about that fact.”

            Donald took the glass from Esther and gulped a few sips. He dabbed his mouth with the back of his hand like a farm worker might in the field.

            “So, what are your plans for this evening, ladies?” Donald queried.

            “Nothing special, Donald. What are your plans?” Esther put on a face that Marge was not there, that Donald only spoke to her. Her eyes fluttered and enticed as best as she could manage.

            “Oh ... I’m always open to suggestions,” he said with his smile.

            Marge had heard this line before by this vintage fellow. He never planned anything. He always looked for that better suggestion from a better companion! To her, he had hinted twice before that they should go to Theater Deja-vu and the ice cream afterwards. His suggestion was only that ... a suggestion. Not a date. She had dressed and waited on her porch for Donald to arrive. He never showed. Marge discovered quite accidently that he did make a “date” that evening with another woman, someone Marge didn’t know.

She’s my neighbor’s aunt. I had to be polite, he informed.

            The other time, he said he had just flat out forgotten that he made any “suggestion.” Donald never apologized. He did bring ice cream to her porch once, to make amends.

            Marge, don’t you forget at times? We’ll go to the movies ... don’t know when, he gave his big smile!

            She knew deep down it would never happen. She was never bothered by his lack of decorum. Her frame of mind was not to worry about something so petty. She never took him seriously again.

            “I don’t know about Marge, but I’ve a mind to go to the concert on the museum’s lawn. A string quartet ... lovely music. Do you like classical music, Donald?”

            He smiled his trademark smile and said, “Yes, ma’am. I sure do.”

            Esther was beside herself! She wanted to continue about her favorite composers, but Donald changed directions. “Many folks milling around?”

            “Not at present, Donald,” Marge calmly said.

Esther shot a disgusted glanced to her friend that said, “Butt out!!” Marge just gave a small grimaced mouth and kept her trap shut.

With her sweet smile and as she touched Donald’s shoulder, she said, “Donald .....”

However, Donald had casually looked back to the by-street and spied someone.

“Well, look who’s walking toward us,” he smiled. “You ladies know Mary Beth Jorden ... don’t you? The other woman is her cousin from Connecticut.”

Of course, they knew M.B. Jorden! One of the wealthiest women in town, a bit younger than Marge and Esther! She was a divorcée of not long.

“Mary Beth!” Donald called to her with a polite wave. When she looked to them, she recognized Donald and gave a pleasant smile. To Esther, he commented quietly, “I promised Mary Beth I’d show her cousin around.” He stood on the walk and pleasantly, briefly took Mary Beth’s hand. She smiled politely to Donald. Both women were dressed fashion chic for the hot weather: capris pants, halter tops, Italian sandals. M.B.’s tan was accentuated by the sparse clothing, the cousin was a bit paler.

“This is Connie, my cousin,” Mary Beth introduced, and then continued to her cousin, “This is Marge and Esther. This is Marge’s home. And, this is Donald Hopkins.”

Connie gave Donald a coy smile with a mild blush.

Donald took Connie’s hand in both of his and sweetly said, “I understand you hail from Connecticut. I have loved my visits to New England.”

“Perhaps, you might visit again,” Connie suggested.

“We’re going to the museum for the concert ... Strings of Summer. Are you two going?” M. B. inquired.

“Uh ... they have other plans. I’ve already asked,” Donald said hurriedly. Donald had almost hog-tied Connie with her arm through his and he began to charge away from Marge and Esther. M. B. was taken aback by Donald’s abrupt reaction. The three departed!

“Well, I never,” Esther huffed towards Donald. She just sipped more lemonade to stay tear-free. Both women were quiet.

            Marge wanted to go to her good friend to hug her, to lessen the hurt she now felt. They had never talked about Donald, but now they both had suffered his rudeness. Marge only hoped Esther would weather this as she had weathered other aspects in her life.

“Looks like it’s gonna be a hot one,” Marge calmly commented.

Esther smiled thoughtfully and said, “Sure hope little Sheba comes home.” She just looked into her glass.

“What’s playing today,” Marge asked.

“To Have and Have Not.” ⁴

“I’ll change my shoes and get my purse.”

Family can be ignored, but good friends are hard to live without!

¹ Come Back, Little Sheba – movie 1952 – Paramount Pictures – Burt Lancaster and Shirley Booth

² Hazel – TV Sitcom 1961 to 1966 – NBC, b&w – CBS, color – Shirley Booth

³ Casablanca - movie 1944 Warner Bros. – Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman

⁴ To Have and Have Not – movie 1944 – Warner Bros. - Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall