Betsey Brown by Ntozake Shange Page B

clothes, much less be all on top of another body in all this heat.”
    Regina pulled away from Roscoe and tried to stand up tall so all the wrinkles in her blouse might straighten out and the passion in her cheeks somehow simmer down. Yet Vida went on in a circle around them, looking so close at the damp and rumpled couple.
    â€œDon’t you think it’s much too terribly warm, Regina, to be receiving company? The chirren are beside themselves in all this heat. My, my, here’s my fan in my pocket. And who might be this young man? On his way back to work somewhere, no doubt.”
    â€œMrs. Murray, this is Roscoe, my beau.”
    â€œYou don’t say, Regina. Allard seems a mite untidy and the girls could use some talcum quite nicely. If you don’t mind, I’ll see your visitor to the door. Then you and I will talk.”
    Roscoe stepped up to Vida. “I didn’t mean no harm, M’am. It’s just that she’s my gal and I missed her so . . .”
    â€œRegina is off on Sunday, young man, not Tuesday, not Wednesday or Thursday or Friday.” Vida ended that.
    Roscoe defended himself anyhow. “My intentions are honorable, M’am.”
    â€œNo need to impress me, young man. I’ve got no high-school drop-out to fend for. I’d hoped Regina would elevate or gravitate to her potential, but it seems her bodily needs are more the essence of her background.”
    â€œThis young man is worth more than you know, Mrs. Murray.” Regina intercepted what looked like an ugly fight. “I’ve got plans of my own with this one. I’ma make me a home with younguns of my own who’ll beat the living shit out of the likes of you and your kind.”
    â€œThat’s quite enough, Regina.”
    â€œOh no, that aint enough! You all in a tizzy cause the chirren asked us what love is. I can’t work in no house where you got to run round like a mouse cause you in love. I’ll be leaving this afternoon.”
    â€œThat won’t be soon enough to suit me, my dear.” And Vida marched back off into the house.
    Roscoe took Regina’s face up in his hands. “When there’s enough, we won’t have to take low to her kind. When there’s enough, nobody’ll look down on me and mine.” And he rocked her till the salty brine of Vida’s words fell away.
    Eugene and Betsey were by each other’s side. Eugene took Betsey’s hand. “When there’s enough, you go where you have to go and give what you got. When you’re really in love, there’s never enough to go round.”
    Betsey was afraid. Being in love brought the wrath of her grandma on Regina’s head. Lord knows what would happen to her if she were to fall in love, too. Eugene wouldn’t let her go,though. He kept whispering, “When you’re really in love, there’s never enough to go round.” Betsey’s heart began to beat less from fear than from anticipation. Eugene and Betsey were at a new stage. Betsey was over her head. Eugene, clicking his heels.
    Regina kissed each of the children and hugged them all together, like a litter of kittens. Roscoe took her off and all Betsey could think to say was: “Look, they’re in love.” Looking at Eugene she wondered did they look like that, too, but there wasn’t much time to ponder. Vida’s voice pierced their ears: “Betsey Brown, you bring yourself and all the rest of those chirren in here right this minute. You hear me?”
    Betsey was afraid again and let go of Eugene’s hands.
    â€œCome on y’all, we’re in for it now. It’s all Charlie’s fault. Getting Grandma, when he knew we were having a kissing lesson.”
    Charlie was beginning to get on Betsey’s nerves, especially when she saw that Vida’d made him a glass of iced tea, when he was the one she swore was no good northern trash.
    â€œI want all of you to sit at this