Gates of Paradise (Casteel 4)

Daddy filled a plate with food and flopped into a seat by one of the tables Fanny had set up on the lawn. Mother and I joined him, and we ate as we watched the crowd of revelers working themselves into a wilder and wilder frenzy. I recognized many people from town. Fanny had obviously invited everyone she came across, I thought, determined to make her party a memorable occasion for Winnerrow.

Most of the people were laborers and service folk. None of my parents' high-class friends had attended, not even out of respect for them; but I knew that was something Mother would forgive them for. I couldn't remember ever seeing my Mother look as uncomfortable as she did now.

Suddenly Aunt Fanny stopped the dance and went to the leader of the band. He nodded, and the band played a short introduction followed by a drum roll. Aunt Fanny turned over a small garbage can and had two of her young male admirers help her up onto it.

"I got a few words to say," she began.

"Only a few?" someone shouted, and there was a hubbub of laughter.

"Well, maybe a dozen or so more," Aunt Fanny countered, and there was more laughter. "I'd like ta thank ya all fer comin' ta my fortieth birthday party. That's right, I said forty, an' I'm darn proud of it, proud ta be forty but look like twenty." She spun around on the turned-over garbage can to show off her figure, thrusting her breasts out. The men around her whistled and stomped their feet.

I looked at Luke. He had retreated to the sidelines and lowered his head. I felt terrible for him and wished I could take his hand and lead him away, far away.

"Other women, especially the high and mighty ones in Winnerrow who couldn't bring themselves ta come ta ma party, lie about their age. They gotta. When they were twenty, they looked forty."

There was more laughter. Then one of her young men shouted, "I'm twenty, Fanny. How many times does twenty go into forty?"

The laughter grew louder. Fanny beamed, put her hands on her hips and turned to him.

"Not once," she exclaimed, and her audience howled. "Anyway, you dummies, I gotta lot ta be happy about tonight. Ya see my son Luke standin' over there, lookin' as though he would like to crawl under a rock. Weil, he's done me proud. He's been accepted ta Harvard, and they want 'im so bad they goin' ta pay-the whole darn bill. How's that fer a Casteel, eh?"

Luke looked up, his face so red I thought he would just burst into flame. Everyone had turned to stare at him.

"Well, ya want ta make a speech about it, Luke honey, or don'cha think these hillbillies could understand ya?"

Luke didn't respond.

"That don't matter none, honey. I kin speak enough fer the two of us, and when I git to Harvard, show those professirs a thin' or two."

"You sure will, Fanny," someone shouted.

Then the band struck up "Happy Birthday" and the audience started to sing. Fanny, posed on the turned-over can, smiled widely at Mother and me. When the song ended everyone applauded while a half-dozen young men rushed forward to help Fanny down.

Moments later our attention was drawn to two men who began pushing each other. One accused the other of cutting into the beer line ahead of him. Their friends, instead of separating them, egged them on until one swung at the other. People rushed to break them up. The whole thing struck Daddy as funny.

"I'm ready to leave, Logan," Mother announced firmly. "This party is only going to get worse and worse."

"In a minute," Daddy said, and rose to get closer to the fight. The two men were hurling curses at one another. I could hear Aunt Fanny's laughter over the din. The wind had intensified and the bulbs strung over the lawn began swinging back and forth. Aunt Fanny's banner snapped as it was driven up and back, so that it now waved loosely in the night like a flag of war.

Aunt Fanny came charging forward to the scene of the brawl.

"What's this 'bout fightin' on ma birthday?" she demanded, her hands on her hips. Three of her young boyfriends gathered around her and began describing the fracas. She was wobbling on her feet as she listened. Luke came up behind her, looked my way and shook his head. Mother suddenly surged forward and seized Daddy's arm.

"Logan, I want to go home. Now!" she insisted. He stared at her a moment and then nodded. She led him over to where I stood.

"Let's go, Annie." The rage in her face looked like it was about to explode.

I got up and followed her, my father trailing behind, but before we made it to our car, Fanny spotted us and screamed.

"Where ya goin', Heavenly? Ma party's fist gettin' started!"

I looked back, but Mother told me just to keep walking to the car. Fanny's laughter followed us like a tail on a kite. Daddy stumbled behind us and caught up after I got into the back seat.

"Can you drive?" Mother asked him.

"Of course I can drive. I don't see what you're getting so excited about. Two guys had a little disagreement. Nothing to it. They're best of friends again already."

He got in and fumbled through his pockets for his keys.