Sugar Doll's Hurricane Blues (22 page)

Mona walked over to the broken service window that Bernie had boarded up. She swept up the glass into a bin, dusted off her skirt and locked up the back area of the bar.

“Let’s go kids.” Mona said.

She hadn’t been a mother in years. It felt good.

“Miss Jones, can you come by our rooms please.” Pastor Han spoke into the phone. Big Ma’s heart raced. What could it be?

She rushed toward his rooms.

“My cousin just came back from flying over the Parish. James why don’t you tell her what you saw.” Pastor Han motioned for Big Ma to sit down.

James was a tall, powerfully built young man. He was young and handsome. He had a kind look in his eyes.

“Well ma’am like I was telling my cousin, it’s bad. The entire town is decimated, gone, and our little neighborhood is unrecognizable. The only reason I knew where I was because of the radar and latitude. There were 30 foot waves that just took everything. There were a few boats stacked against each other and the bridge is still intact but the town is just…well…gone.”

It was late evening when Big Ma received the news that all of lower Plaquemines Parish had been devastated. There was nothing left. Her little house by the river was gone. Her husband had built that house with his own hands.

Chapter Seventeen

“Sugar, let’s go back to my apartment. We aren’t going to find her here. She may have gone somewhere else.” Remy suggested after the third level of searching bore no results.

“You’re right. Let’s go. I’m tired and we still have to wade through that mess. I just want to go and clean off and sleep.” Sugar Doll agreed.

They made their way back through the crowded Superdome. As they left the building they saw that their boat had remained untouched. Grateful that that was the case Remy jumped into the water and waded through it to retrieve the boat. Sugar Doll waited gratefully on the steps. Every inch of her body ached. Remy paddled toward her resigned to the thought that it would probably be impossible to find Mona until the storm was over. Eddie had disappeared into the Superdome and they hadn’t seen him since.

“Let’s go honey.” She straddled onto the back part of the boat and hugged Remy from behind. She felt relief and comfort as she leaned her head against his back.

More people were out wading through the water. It was obvious that no help had arrived as more people swarmed on the Superdome. It was no better than where they had come from.

“I’m glad that I have somewhere to go.” She whispered to Remy as they passed a woman and child wearing tattered clothes.

“Me too Sugar, me too.” Remy pulled her arm tightly around his chest.

They finally made it to Canal Street which had blockades set up and uniformed police officers on patrol.

“They must be guarding the Quarter.” Remy said. He dragged the canoe like an obedient dog behind him. Sugar Doll nudged closer to him as she realized that somehow New Orleans was under martial law.

“Sir, you gonna have to turn back. The Quarters are closed for business. Haven’t you heard? We’ve done had ourselves a hurricane.” The first police officer said.

“I…we…live in the Quarters. We just went out to try to find her mama.” Remy said politely.

“Ah, that’s nice but I’m not allowed to allow anyone to come through here.” The officer said.

“I have my driver’s license here proving my residence.” Remy took out his wallet.

“Let me see it.” The officer said. Remy handed over the license.

“Okay, I’ll let you pass but you shouldn’t try to come out after this. The mayor will be setting up a curfew. The city is closed for business and anybody out here is probably up to no good.” The officer looked sternly at both Sugar Doll and Remy.

They walked carefully past him. “Hey, where are they going?” Another officer yelled out so they quickened their pace.

“I never thought I’d have to make a run for it to go to my own apartment.” Remy laughed.

“We’ve already been given permission to go why are we running?” Sugar Doll asked already out of breath.

“Just in case.” Remy said as he looked over his shoulder to see the officer conferring with the one who had released them. He slowed his pace and grabbed Sugar Doll’s arm.

“They’ve stopped.” They both breathed a sigh of relief as they walked slowly toward the Quarters.

They entered Remy’s apartment exhausted from the day.

“Well Sugar it looks like our water supply is nil.” Remy said as he tried the faucet but there was no running water.

“I’ve got one gallon of water under the sink and a half gallon in the fridge.” He joked.

“I’m a typical bachelor, my food supply is terrible.” He rubbed his stomach as he looked in the bare cabinet. There was one lonesome can of tuna in the corner of the cupboard.

“I just want to sleep.” Sugar Doll sighed as she headed for the bedroom. She took off her soaked jeans and fell hard onto the unmade bed.

“Now that’s a beautiful picture.” Remy sighed as he removed his pants and shirt.

“Don’t even think about it.” Sugar Doll smiled sleepily into the pillow.

“Now that’s impossible. I am going to think about it, I’m just not going to do anything about it…yet.” Remy pulled Sugar Doll to his body and they curled into a peaceful sleep.

Big Ma watched the news and saw the lack of response the government was giving to the people. “Lord, Lord, what’s going to happen now?” She lamented as she reached for her bible. Pastor
Han and his wife tried to comfort her but they had lost everything as well. Their entire way of life was changed forever.

“Well, ma’am the one thing we all have is the good sense that God gave to us. We all have insurance.” Pastor Han tried to ease the dark mood of the room. His wife cried silently in the corner.

“Those poor people still stuck in the city with no food and water. It’s a terrible shame. It feels like we are in a third world country with no one to protect us.” Big Ma cried.

“I hate to say it but I think that because New Orleans is predominantly black the help is going to continue to be slow in coming.” Pastor Han said.

“We still human. Don’t the people see the people suffering? What about the little children? There are dead bodies in the water for God’s sake!” Big Ma said becoming upset.

“Now calm yourself Big Ma. There ain’t nothing we can do about it now. We know that our love ones are safe and sound and that’s all we can do. We can pray for America to see how they are treating us and then God will make a move.” Pastor Han began in his preacher’s voice.

“Oh Lord, Lord. Why have you forsaken us?” Big Ma cried. She felt a familiar pain down her left arm. It happened so quickly that she hadn’t noticed the warning signs. She went down on one knee, her mouth drooping to the side.

“Mrs. Jones! Mrs. Jones!” Pastor Han yelled alarmed. His wife jumped into action going to Big Ma and helping her down to the floor. Her eyes rolled back into her head.

“Call an ambulance! Call an ambulance! NOW!” She screamed.

Mona returned to the house where Mr. Renair was waiting. He had cooked a dinner of catfish and rice.

“Oh I see that you’ve brought company with you.” Mr. Renair smiled.

“Hi Mr. Renair, this is Shonda and her little brother John.” Mona introduced the pair.

“Pleased to meet you. Are ya’ll hungry?” Mr. Renair asked.

“No sir, we already ate at Mona’s.” Shonda answered. John hid behind his sister.

“We’ve already eaten.” Mr. Renair corrected.

“Oh, you ate too?” Shonda asked.

“No, pardon me; I have 35 years of teaching experience that makes me correct children. My apologies.” Mr. Renair smiled.

Shonda looked at him confused and then shrugged.

“You’ve sure got a big house.” Shonda said.

“It’s not that big but it’s nice. There is a room upstairs if you guys are tired you can go upstairs and take a nap.” Mona said.

“Thank you Miss Mona.” John spoke up for the first time.

“Just go to the first room at the top of the stairs.” Mona directed.

“Yes ma’am. Shonda and John said in unison.

They ran up the stairs.

“Nice kids, relatives of yours?” Mr. Renair asked.

“No, they aren’t. They broke into the bar. Their mother drowned in the storm and they found my place and were hiding.” Mona said sadly.

“How traumatic. Are they okay?” Mr. Renair asked.

“No, I don’t think they are. When this all blows over I’ll try to help them to find their relatives. Hopefully the power will come back on soon. I have an old generator out back. I may need your help in turning it on.” Mona said.

“I’m your man.” Mr. Renair smiled finding a new found respect for his neighbor.