When they left the hospital, Trixie blinked in the scorching sun as she got her bearings before guiding the others. As they walked to Wimpy's, she pointed out landmarks on the town square. "There's Hoppy, the weather vane on top of the courthouse. We wish on him for good luck. And that's Crimper's department store. If they don't have what you want, you'll have to drive to Monroe. Or Ruston."
"We will buy our jeans there, Honey," said Sunny. "Maybe today. But I am hungry. I did not have lunch, though I tried your mother's cornbread, Trixie. It was very good. I suppose we must learn to make cornbread in Louisiana? Is it difficult?"
Trixie laughed as they crossed the last block to Wimpy's. "No. Even I can make cornbread. And Bobby can make it with a mix. But you'll have a cook."
Sunny and Honey exchanged dark looks. Honey sighed. "The cook will make Korean food for Grandmother. So please teach us how to make cornbread. If we're allowed in the kitchen. It's not that I don't like Korean food, but not for every meal."
"You can come over and eat with us whenever you want," said Trixie. As they approached Wimpy's door, she pointed. "See that big white house, just a block off the square? That's my Aunt Alicia's shop, the old Fowler house. She and her best friend live upstairs. Miss Betsy runs the tea room, and Aunt Alicia sells all kinds of things, mostly handmade. Dad says that Aunt Alicia could sell you a dirty dishrag, and you'd be bragging to your friends about this fantastic Tunica weaving that you got for an incredible price. And she sells our vegetables too. The tourists from Bayou D'Arvonne love the place."
Sunny stated as she pushed open Wimpy's door, "I like American food. I am glad this place serves hamburgers."
But she and Honey stood back when they entered the old diner. A juke box pumped out 50s rock and roll, but not louder than the laughter. The big night-black man at the counter laughed loudest of all. Trixie couldn't tell who told the joke—the patrons perched on the vinyl-covered stools were cackling too.
"Hi, Trixie," boomed Mike from his domain behind the counter. "Have you brought me some new customers? With Mart gone, we're fair like to go out of business. When's he coming back to rescue us?"
Trixie guided Honey and Sunny to the first booth by the door. "Not until the middle of August. I've brought Honey and Sunny Weon, who just moved into Manor House. They want to talk to Miss Luann, if she's got the time."
"Mama!" Mike hollered toward the door to the kitchen. "You got company!"
Miss Luann joined them just after they placed their orders. She was easily as tall as her son, taller than most men. Her frame was sturdy, like a linebacker. Her hair had gone a grizzled gray, but her midnight skin was still mostly smooth, only a few lines around her mouth and eyes. Trixie introduced the Weons and their situation. Sunny didn't speak, happy to let Trixie lead, until Miss Luann broke the silence that followed.
"So how many maids will you be wanting, Miss Sunny?"
Sunny clasped her hands and wrung them. "I do not know. My brother thought I should manage this house for the experience, but I've always lived in other people's houses."
"We said the same thing about our Jeremiah, when he went to Jackson. But we got him a room at the Y first, and a one-room apartment a few months later. So it's just you, your niece, and your mother in that big old house?"
"Yes. My brother and his wife say they will visit, but they are very busy people and I do not expect them often. And then Honey will go back to her boarding school in the fall, and I will be all alone, except for my mother. And I'll drive her to a Korean church in Monroe or Ruston each Sunday and she'll find a nice Korean boy for me to marry." Sunny sounded near tears.
Honey made a squeaky sound.
Miss Luann reached across the table and patted Honey's hand. "And will you be going to college, Miss Sunny, or have you graduated?"
Sunny shook her head. "My brother said there was no point in paying for college yet when I didn't know what I wanted to study."
"I see his point. My Michelle was the same way, and I'll tell you what I told her: You start with a class or two at the community college and get some of those basic courses out of the way. Find out what you would like to study. And meet some people your own age."
"Maybe I could do that," Sunny agreed, but doubtful.
"I'll speak to your brother myself, if necessary. Let me ask: You have a cook, but do you have a housekeeper?"
Sunny answered, "All I have is a Korean cook whom I haven't met and a man who takes care of the horses. Mrs. Belden said you could suggest some other servants. I do not think I can take care of such a big house by myself."
"The first one I'd like to suggest is me for your housekeeper. I've been wanting to get out of here to something easier on my feet and out of my kids' hair. I'd go right crazy with no job at all. I worked up at Ten Acres before my husband bought this place, so I know about running a big house. I'd be mostly teaching you and keeping the maids in line."
"Oh, Miss Luann! Would you save me like that? Oh, I should ask you for your resume, should I not?" Now Sunny was even closer to tears, tears of relief this time.
Miss Luann laughed and spread her arms wide. "Why, child, this whole place is my resume. You just ask anybody about Wimpy's. Now I should let you eat, and I'll go call my sister Delora. She's got some granddaughters who'd be the better for a good job. Tomorrow you can show me the place, and we'll make plans."
As Miss Luann stomped back to the kitchen, Honey picked up a french fry from the junior platter she and Trixie were sharing. She twirled it as she said, ""I hate that school! I want to go to school here and come home every day like normal kids."
"I should like for you to stay here, but you have as little say in the matter as I do," replied Sunny, gloomy. "Your mother has decided. She wants you to have Opportunities and the Best Education."
Honey dropped the fry back on the plate. She shook her head when Trixie asked if she wanted half the cheeseburger. Honey looked like someone had turned off all her lights, Trixie thought as she munched, grateful for the extra food after the lean lunch she'd had.
Sunny was biting into her Big Burger—all she'd had for lunch was a protein bar and cornbread—when Officer Webster pushed open the diner's door. Trixie almost laughed at his faked surprise.
"Well, imagine seeing you here!" he said. "May I join you?"
"Yes, sir," said Sunny, not meeting his eyes as she moved over to make room for him.
His eyes went from Sunny to Honey. "Are you two sisters?"
"No, sir," said Sunny.
"It's okay to say more if he's not on duty," said Trixie. Sometimes Sunny learned too well. "Honey is Sunny's niece."
He grinned "Sunny and Honey. Did your parents plan that?"
"No, sir," said Sunny, sticking to the first script she'd learned.
Honey said, "I am named for my mother, Madeleine, and my second name is Korean: Hana. My parents intended to call me that. But my mother nearly died when I was born, and she was sick for years. So I had an American nurse, who thought my name sounded like Honey. My parents thought it was cute, so they started calling me that too. Sunny's name is Soon-hee, and when she came to America, my father suggested that she pick out an American name or people would pick one for her. His name is Myung-hoon, but he changed it to Matthew, to make it easier on people."
"I think Sunny's a nice name. All happy and everything," said Trixie.
"Hard to live up to," said Sunny.
Encouraged at winning a few more words from her, Officer Webster smiled and tried for more. "Did you come to Sleepyside straight from Korea?"
"No, sir. I went to Dallas first, two years ago. We just moved to Sleepyside today. What a long day!" said Sunny with feeling.
"Just today! I would be happy to show you around town. It's hard to be new," he said.
"Yes, it is!" Sunny agreed wholeheartedly. "That would be most awesome sauce of you."
Honey's tablet jingled, "Oops, I did it again."
"I apologize for the wrong word," said Sunny, putting her hands over her face.
The policeman looked puzzled, and Honey explained, "She learned slang and bad words in high school. But she's doing very well! I hardly ever have to use the swearing song any more."
He laughed. "Which one is that?"
Honey punched another button, which howled, "I don't wanna hear it!"
He laughed. "My parents used to make me put a quarter in the Swearing Jar. We had enough money at the end of the year to take the family out for a steak dinner."
Sunny put her hands down and twitched her lips almost in a smile.
Trixie turned to Honey. "I really want to see how my brother is doing. Will you come back to the hospital with me?"
Honey nodded and slipped out of the booth. Trixie left Peter's twenty-dollar bill on the table and hustled Honey out the door. She looked back inside through the window until Honey nudged her.
"I thought you were worried about your brother?" Honey asked in a listless tone.
"Not really. Mama would have texted me. But I thought Officer Webster wanted to be alone with Sunny. He seems to really like her."
"Regan does too," said Honey, shrugging. "But she never notices, and she says she doesn't want to date yet. She thinks life here is too confusing."
"Well, Regan can teach her to ride, and Officer Webster can show her around Sleepyside, and she'll be dating before she knows it. They both seem nice," said Trixie. She frowned at Honey's lack of interest. "Wouldn't she be happier?"
"Maybe so. I was just thinking about what she said." Honey's eyes filled with tears. "Oh, Trixie, I don't want to go back to my school. I'll just die if I have to."