determine who would be champions of Brenda's
schools league. Celia and Brenda had been working
on Mama to get her to attend. They had even arranged
for us to have a hotel room nearby. Until the last
minute. Mama had agreed to go. We were all
suddenly filled with new hope. Perhaps Mama was emerging from her pit of depression on her own after all. She and I were driving to Memphis, and she was going to let me do most of the driving. I was actually excited about something for the first time in a long
time.
Most of the new clothing I had gotten when I
lost weight, however, no longer fit well. I couldn't
even close up my jeans. I had to return to my closet
and sift through older things until I found something
nice enough to wear to what I was sure would be a
victory celebration after the game. I regretted not
sticking to my dieting and procrastinating when it
came to exercise. I was sure Brenda would chastise
me for it. Despite my promises, I never joined the
girls' volleyball team. either.
The morning of the day of Brenda's big game. I
woke up early. The night before, I had gotten the car
all gassed up and ready. I had packed my little
overnight bag. At dinner. I did almost all the talking.
Mama sat listening. When Brenda called, she perked
up a bit and once again assured her we were coining.
She had lost more weight and had not been to the
beauty parlor for so long they stopped calling to see if
she wanted an appointment. She missed her regular
doctor's checkup as well, and the dentist's receptionist called to see why she hadn't kept her appointment there. She told me she simply forgot. and I made a
new appointment for her.
This trip to Memphis would mark Mama's first
real excursion away from home since Daddy's