Cruisin On Desperation. Pat G'Orge-Walker
I’m the only white woman in the group and y’all think I can afford it?”
It was out in the open now.
“I thought you knew that,” Needy answered.
“Of course we’d ask you to pay for it.” Ima added, “It’s all part of the Reparations Act.”
“Huh?” Birdie said in amazement. “What Reparations Act? What does it have to do with me?”
By the time Needy and Ima finished with their customized version of slavery and its awful consequences as it pertained to them, personally, Birdie had thrown in a set of Louis Vutton luggage for the three of them. She also spent the next ten minutes apologizing for the horrific acts of her ancestors. Birdie was so caught up in her supposed guilt that she’d forgotten that her grandparents hadn’t arrived in America from Europe until 1908.
Birdie’s relief at absolving her guilt took her into generosity overdrive. She promised to take Ima and Needy shopping for new outfits at the Cost A Plenty boutique. When she finally slowed down enough to take a deep breath, she realized that she really didn’t mind that perhaps her new best home girls were taking advantage.
“We accept your apology and the gifts of luggage as well as the new clothes,” Ima said, sheepishly, after determining that Birdie wasn’t much of a fighter. She was about to choke from trying to keep her laughter from escaping.
Needy wanted to feel guilty about taking advantage of Birdie, but she couldn’t. Seeing someone else become the butt of a joke was a welcome relief. Hearing Ima apologize almost sent her over the edge. She slapped one hand over her mouth to stifle the losing battle with her laughter and pushed a pile of papers towards Birdie. “Take another look at these brochures. Just pick one and we’ll take it from there.”
“You pick one. After all, since I’m paying for all this it’s the least you can do.”
Needy’s eyes locked with Birdie’s. Now is not the time for her to grow some courage. Birdie wouldn’t look away. Reasonable doubt tugged at Needy, but she decided to ignore it.
Ima’s sense of drama ignited. If she read the two women’s body language correctly, and she was sure she did, there was a seed of confrontation germinating. Evil gardener that she was, she’d water it later with a few well-placed lies.
Needy carefully scanned each brochure, finally settling on the one with the most colorful cover. As she slammed the brochure down in the center of the table, diabolical smiles spread across Ima and Birdie’s faces.
“Oh yeah, this is gonna be wonderful.” Birdie suddenly felt invigorated. “Getting even may be expensive but you can’t put a price on what I’m feeling right now.”
“Why shouldn’t we go on a breathtaking cruise? And, I mean that literally.” Needy’s fat cheeks plumped with joy.
“It’s sailing to the Southern Caribbean. I’ve never been to that part.” Birdie’s thin fingers flipped through the brochure and her enthusiasm mounted. “It starts off in Miami, Florida and sails to Mexico, St. Maartens and Jamaica.”
Needy pushed her chair back and leapt up. “This is a gift from heaven.”
“It’s not really a gift if I’m paying for it,” Birdie reminded her.
Birdie might’ve as well have used sign language because Needy didn’t hear a word said as she reveled in her imagination. “We’ll be on the high seas eight days and seven nights on a ship. Elbow to elbow with an abundance of single and available men. I’m getting that old feeling again.” Needy had a smile that seemed to emanate from her very core.
“Listen up! Earth to Needy!” Ima roared, slapping the back of Needy’s chair to startle her, which caused her to take her seat again.
“This is not about getting you a man.” Ima continued, “Keep to the plan. It’s about payback.”
The smile vanished from Needy’s face faster than her money around the first of the month. How was she going to stick to the plan of getting back at Lyon Lipps when she could be getting a man? That particular cruise was very expensive. In her mind, any man who could afford it had to be someone of substance and financial stability, and she didn’t care if he came aboard in a wheelchair or on a skateboard. She wasn’t sure how she was going to pull it off. No way was she going to go on a cruise and return without a man.
Time was running out and that’s probably why they chose to sail on an ocean liner called Desperation of the Seas.
5
Needy and Birdie went their separate ways after the meeting.
By the time Needy returned home she felt invigorated, and yet at the same time, a little guilty. Her conscience pricked her. She hoped they hadn’t gone too far when they convinced Birdie to underwrite their venture. Although Birdie was, without a doubt, one of Lyon Lipps’ victims, so were the other women. Nevertheless, they didn’t have the finances to bring that scallywag down.
“Get it together, Needy,” she scolded as she peeled off her perspiration-drenched clothes. “You’re doing what you gotta do.”
A tall glass of iced tea took the edge off her guilt, so she immediately dialed the others for an emergency meeting. She told them that after Sunday morning service, everyone should return to her house, and she’d give the news.
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