Mom and I returned from our shopping expedition around one in the afternoon. Mom quickly decided that tonight's dinner would be tenderized beef steak, smothered in homemade brown gravy and home style mashed potatoes. And of course, me being a girl now, I was required to help. Mom had become quite keen on teaching me to cook and that included helping with every meal.

Now helping mom cook had quickly become less of a chore and more of a daily bonding ritual. We often talked about our day as we busied ourselves around the kitchen. Mom always handled the stove while I floated around, chopping this or that, cleaning or washing dishes. Today was no different.

“So.” Mom said as she seasoned the dozen or so pieces of USDA Choice Chuck Steaks that Mr. Potter had cut us a deal on. Mr. Potters is a good man like that. He's the last of the old guard. And if I might be so bold, he's a local treasure.

“So?” I asked as I paused in my peeling. Mom had at the last moment changed her mind and had decided on home style steak fries. That that it mattered, the potatoes still needed to be washed, peeled and sliced.

“A lot of things are going on in the village.” Mom paused. “One of our sisters is sending her son down here. He's around you age. A bit on the soft side. Kind of underweight for a boy. He's having some trouble at his school. St. Katherine's. An Episcopal school in Vicksburg.” She paused. “He's having troubles with bullies and Isabella is afraid that he might snap one day and put one or two  in  the hospital. Despite his soft features he's something of a fighter.”

“Oh?” I said as I eased the knife down and peered toward my mom. I was aware that mom knew a number of local witches in our area. But I only knew the handful that lived in our neighborhood. The reason this area had been named 'Haunted Hollow' in the first place was because a thriving pagan colony had taken root in these hills and hollows. I think right now we number around fifty or so families.

“His name is Daisy. Okay is birth name is James, but everybody calls him Daisy.” Mom paused. “He's going to be living with the Crofts. You know the ones who owned Croft Veterinary Clinic.” She paused. “He's also the nephew of the new Episcopal Priest in town, Fr. Percy Bell.”

I nodded my head as I resumed slicing the newly peeled potatoes.

“Also,” My mom said as she turned around and peered toward me.

“How do you feel about helping me with my new business.” Mom said. “I would need some help, and I know you've taken some computer classes and some business courses down at the Vocational Center.” She then looked down on the ground. “And as my daughter. I'll feel better about you helping me say somebody I just hired from the streets. I trust you.”

I was so shocked that I dropped a few pieces of potato. I knew mom had been looking at opening up a small beauty salon in one of the vacant shop buildings that lined the lower end of main street. Main Street you see was divided into two sections, the upper and lower section. One could find Sunflower, the Post Office, the Library, the Main branch of Bank of Yazoo in the upper half.

A little further down one would find the town's only Roman Catholic church, St. Mary's. Across from Saint Mary's there was a government funded clinic called St. John's Clinic. Since we were on the poor side of things, mom, dad and often went there when sickness took hold of us. A bit further down you would encounter Potter's Mercantile, where mom and I did most of our shopping and where most of my clothing including school uniforms came from. Across from there was Brewer's Hardware, a little further down one could find Ginger Evans Bakery, across the street one would find Sweet Magnolia Bakery and Team Room.

Beside Sweet Magnolia one would find a comic shop that sold comics, trading cards, board games, and a few manga. A small time printing press was located across from the comic shop. Anyway I'm not going to list all the small shops located downtown. But it's safe to say that main street was the main business area and lucky enough on the lower end one could find a few vacant storefronts. Mom had been toying around with the idea of opening her own business for a good month now. And now it seemed she was read to cross the Rubicon if you will.

“I mean.” I paused. “I would love too mom.” I said smiling.

“Good, because I'm going to need somebody who can handle the front end you know. Keeping track of appointments and being the face of the business.” She paused. “And I'm going to pay you too girl. And give you some time off. Don't expect you to work for free now.” She quickly added.

I nodded my head. I guess I should tell you what kind of business my mom wanted to open up. We'll she wanted to open up her own Hair Salon. Mom had gone to beautician school before meeting dad. And had worked in several salons on and off. It had long been her dream to have her own business. A dream it seemed that would never come true till they moved to Benton. You see downtown Benton was undergoing something of a renaissance. About a quarter of those businesses I mentioned above had only just opened about eighteen or so months ago. And so far they were thriving.

“And plus, Benton needs another Hair Salon.” She paused. “One that will meet the needs of the average men and women of this town. And like the Potters I'll offer credit too.” Mom quickly added.

I knew something else was on her mind. And so as I reached into the stove and picked up a large black iron frying pan I looked over my shoulder and gave mom a look. It was an 'I'm listing' look. I placed the iron pan on the stove and turned the stove. A cup of oil went into the pan. Just enough to fry something in, not enough to bubble over and cause a mess.

“I want to give back to this town that all. When we first moved back, I mean I was born and raised here. I had a lot of worries. Your daddy, proud man he is, paid for this house and land with most of his savings. We had very little beside my personal saving. And what little your grandfather left us.” Mom paused again. “It was hard on us all and I was under a lot of stress. And I took that stress out on you. Again sorry for snapping on you when I found you wearing that dress.”

“Mom.” I said raising an eyebrow. “Let's not talk about that night. I came close to throwing myself off a bridge that night.” Sometimes I had to remind mom of that night. I wish I did not, but mom liked to dwell on the things from time to time.

“I know petal.” Mom said as she rolled the pieces of meat around in a shallow pan of seasoned breading. “But hear me out okay. I promise you I'm getting somewhere with this.”

I nodded my head and turned toward mom. Giving her my full attention.

“Like I said, we were broke and I snapped on you. But once you came out something happened. Kayla Brewer, gave me a call. Out of the blue on morning and told me she needed some work done on the farm. Now I used to babysit Kayla when she was little and I worked for her Grandfather and Grandmother. And so, I started doing a little bookkeeping for her, I swear the girl paid me more than she should.” Mom paused again. “She also needed a haircut and her little sister too, and we'll tell you how I started cutting and styling hair too.”

I nodded my head.

“Madeline's friend, Jamie Potter, the youngest Potter girl also needed a haircut. So I did her hair, and her sister's hair and her mothers hair. Mr. Potter also allowed me to get a few basic household items from their store on credit. And yes, even he needed a haircut. Mr. Potter knew Mr. Bell, who is a big time lawyer out of Vicksburg. Mr. Bell knew somebody who knew somebody and that how you're father got hired on at Yazoo Chemical down in Yazoo City.” Mom paused again. “Mr. Bell is also the one who handled all the legal work, you know getting your name changed and all. Never charged us a dime. And his son, Daisy that's going to be moving out here in a few weeks. I think right after Halloween. Mr. Bell has a younger brother. He's an Episcopal Priest. He's the new rector down at St. Mary's Episcopal Church.” Mom recounted.

“Bloody Hell!” I said blinking. “Mom! How in the word do you keep all this straight in that head of yours. Goddess..” I paused. “It's a freaking tangled web. It's not a family tree, it's a bloody spiders web.” I added in a mouth before brain moment.

“Cerridwen Circe Whitethorn!” Mom scolded. “Your father might swear like a sailor while he's working in the shop and tinkering with the cars. But I will not have you swearing like that.” Mom spun around and fixed me with a look that caused my blood to run cold.

“It just slipped mum.” I said blushing as I returned to frying my potatoes. “Beside, I've heard you swear too. You trying to correct me is like the pot calling the kettle black.” Another mouth before brain moment. One that I'm sure would come back to bite me in the bottom.

“That it!” Mom scolded again. “You and I are going to have a little mother to daughter talk this evening after dinner. You, me and Ms. Brush.” She said, wagging her finger as she returned to her cooking. Mom then returned to her cooking and I returned to mine. Like I said that little mouth before brain moment had indeed come back to bite me square in the bottom. I did not have long to brood though, the door soon popped open and there in the doorway stood daddy.

Daddy was a tall man with short black hair. His face like always was spotted with dirt and grim. His heavy work boots were covered with mud. And his trousers and shirt, no matter the time of day, be it early in the morning and late at night always seemed dirty and wrinkled. And he also smelled slightly of grease even on his off days. I could tell he was tired, but his eyes seemed to light up when he stepped inside. Carefully he eased his lunch bucket down upon the kitchen counter and removed his hardhat.

“Good evening darlings.” He said as he hung his hardhat on a wooden peg. “Something smells wonderful!”

“Good morning love.” Mom said as she walked over and kissed down on his cheeks. I could sport a lot of stubble on his chin. “Dinner is almost ready, once you wash up I'll fix your place.” She then fixed with me a stony look.

“You go wash up too dove.” She said before turning everything off on the stove top. “And don't forget about our talk after dinner. Be sure to wash behind your ears and tidy everything up. You have a big day tomorrow and I want you looking your best.” She commanded as she made a sweeping motion with her hands.

“Talk?” Dad said as he walked over to the fridge and pulled out a bottle of drinking water.

“Yes.” Mom said in a commanding tone of voice. “It seems our daughter has forgotten her manners and is in need of gentle correcting.”

Dad said nothing but only blinked. I had been hoping that daddy would try to save me, but it seemed content in the way mom was handling everything and so with his chilled bottle of water in hand he started to make his way toward the shower. We had two bathrooms, and pretty good water pressure. One could take a bath while the other was taking one and still have enough hot water to go around. Also I wanted to get away from my mother for a bit.