Kate’s Night to Remember

by David Henson

“So I say, ‘You aren’t man enough.’ Came right out and dared him. That’s how I am,” Kate Kendra says, lifting her chin. She sits on the curb for lunch break, eating a chicken sandwich and swigging a cola.

“Kate, no more teeth than you got, I don’t see how you eat,” says George, another worker at the factory.

“Hell, these gums been without teeth so long they can chew anything. Besides, being toothless has its advantages.” Kate flashes George a smile, opens her mouth and bobs her head.

She holds up a morsel of chicken. “Puss, puss.” The factory mouser strolls over and meows. “You know what you got to do, Grasshopper.” When the cat raises its paw, Kate drops the meat.

The cat eats the treat then rubs against Kate’s bare legs. She’s the only woman who wears shorts to work. She thinks her legs are sexy despite the small burn scars. As she drops another piece of chicken for the cat, the horn sounds, and everyone but Kate heads back to work.

After a minute, she finishes her sandwich and heads inside. She pauses at the entrance to the factory floor, takes a deep breath, then strides forward. Heat slaps her face, and a cacophony of bangs, clangs, shrieks and beeps engulf her.

When Kate arrives at her station, Henrietta, the spot welder Kate is loading jigs for, looks at her watch. “We got an hour to get this shipment done,” Henrietta says and hefts a loaded jig into place on her machine.

“Just so’s we can start the next one,” Kate says. As Henrietta welds, Kate brushes her hand at a shower of sparks that arcs onto her legs. She begins loading wires into a second, empty jig.

Kate and Henrietta complete their tasks and swap fixtures. Kate pops out the welded dishwasher rack, avoiding the part that’s still smoking, and starts inserting wires in the now-empty jig as another shower of sparks lands at her feet.

Kate stops working and stretches her arms upwards. “Let’s go out tonight, Henrietta. Dick can look after Jenny. I’m sure he ain’t been doing nothing all day.”

“He hasn’t found a job yet?” Henrietta says, working the welding machine’s foot pedal. “How’s Jenny and him getting along these days?”

“Better than Jenny and me. She’s thirteen and thinks she knows it all. Reminds me of myself when I was her age.”

“Reminds me of you now. Do you think Jenny still sees her dad behind your back?”

The thought of Jenny seeing Ralph makes Kate angrier than a hot weld. “I think she goes to see him at the Walmart, maybe even to his apartment.”

While Ralph was in jail for a repeat DUI, Kate took up with Dick, who moved in with her. When Jenny’s father got out, he moved back in with Kate, and the four of them lived together. Dick and Ralph argued constantly and nearly came to blows a few times. Kate finally told them that one of them had to leave.

“You ever wish it was Dick that moved out?”

“They’re both assholes.”

As Kate continues loading wires, Lucas, the janitor, comes by to sweep the sawdust he’s spread around Henrietta’s welder to soak up leaked oil. An older fellow, he’s short with a belly that hangs over his belt.

“Lukey!” Kate throws her arms around the man’s neck. “Henrietta and me’s going out tonight. Wanna join us?”

When Lucas tries to pull away, Kate tightens her grip. “Or I’ll come to your place, and you can try to get it up for me.” She kisses him on the cheek, knocks his hat to the floor and runs her hand over his bald head.

“Go easy on him,” Henrietta says and turns back to her machine.

Kate looks away from Lucas. But I can’t help it, she thinks. It helps pass the time. “Well, Lukey, I suppose it’s not your fault you’re too old. Tell you what: if you ever feel something moving between your legs, you call me.” Kate leads several workers in a chorus of whoops and hoots as Lucas picks up his hat and starts sweeping the gunky sawdust.

Four hours later, the end-of-shift horn blares and Kate rushes for the punch clock. “Alright people. This day’s dead. Let’s get the hell out of here.”

* * *

“Don’t suppose you looked for a job today,” Kate says to Dick.

Dick, sitting at the kitchen table, takes a drag off his cigarette and swigs from a can of beer. “Gotta be careful with my back.”

Kate rolls her eyes. “You know, Dick, I don’t work my butt off so you can sit on yours all day.”

“I do plenty around here.”

Kate tightens her jaw and feels her cheeks burn. “Like those?” She jerks her head toward the dirty dishes piled in the sink. “Or that?” She points toward the trash can, which seems to be vomiting an overflow of waste. “You—”

“School was a real bitch today,” Jenny says, coming into the kitchen. “I’m starved. Mom, get me something to eat.”

“I’m tired, Jenny. Get it yourself.”

Jenny rolls her eyes. “You’re so mean. No wonder Dad walked out on you.”

Kate cuffs her daughter’s head with a glancing blow. “Respect your olders.”

“I know how to be a better mother than you, Kate,” Jenny says and slams out the back door.

“And stay away from the Walmart.”

Dick lights another cigarette. “You shouldn’t let her talk to you like that.”

“She hears you disrespecting me and thinks she can, too. Quit changing the subject.” Kate grabs Dick’s cigarette, takes a drag, and drops it into his beer can.

“Who’d look after the kid if I wasn’t around?”

“You can watch her tonight, ’cause Henrietta and me’s going out.”

Dick downs the rest of his drink and spits out the butt. “I know what you’ll end up doing.”

Kate laughs “Can you blame me? I haven’t had a real man since Ralph left.”

Kate winces when Dick raises his hand. “I ought to move out,” he says.

“That’s up to you,” she says in a softer tone, thinking maybe she’s gone too far.

“Say you’re sorry. You tell me you’re sorry, and I won’t go.”

For Kate, an empty bed goes on forever. The best part of sleeping with two men wasn’t the sex but having the warmth of a body on each side of her. “I’m sorry.”

“Then why’ve you got to go catting around?”

“Things make people do things sometimes.” Kate decides the danger of Dick leaving has passed. Now she has to work to keep from sacrificing her plans for the night. She puts her arms around Dick and begins rubbing against his crotch.

“Not this time, Kate.” Dick pulls away. “I’m leaving.”

“I said I’m sorry. What more do you want?”

“Goodbye, Kate.”

“OK, get out. And take your clothes.”

“I’ll get my clothes when I know where I’m staying. And I’m going to find a goddamn job, too.” Dick slams the door behind him.

Kate walks through the house turning on lights then calls Henrietta. “Let’s go out early tonight. Dick left me, and I’m feeling lonely as hell.”

* * *

A couple hours later, she writes a note for her daughter: Going out. Baloney in fridge. Don’t wait up. Leave lights on. Love, Mom.

Kate walks uptown and meets Henrietta outside Joe’s Blue Lounge. “Let’s have a night that’ll make us forget the day,” Kate says as she saunters into the bar.

The place is cramped with dim lights that struggle to cut through the cloudy air. Smoking is against code, but Joe’s brother is the sheriff, and Joe himself is part-time fire marshal. The tavern throbs country from a jukebox.

“Couple beers here, Joe.” When Joe doesn’t react, Kate raises her hand to the back of her head and pushes out her chest. “C’mon, you don’t want to keep a couple beautiful girls waiting, do you?”

Joe laughs and pulls two beers. “Where’s Dick?”

“I kicked out the son of a bitch.”

“So Kate’s on the prowl. I’m spoken for, but that one looks free.” Joe nods toward a corner table.

Kate spins around on her stool. “Hey, Lukey!”

Lucas looks down at his beer.

“C’mon, Henrietta. Let’s go see Lukey.”

“Seems like he wants to be let alone.”

“Nobody wants to be alone.”

Henrietta refuses to budge. Kate buys another beer and drinks it in a few gulps. “Another one,” she says to Joe. “Bottoms up, Henrietta. You won’t even drink with me, now?” Kate twists her stool toward the entrance.

“You told me Dick walked out on you.” Henrietta says. “You told Joe you threw Dick out.”

“I never seen him before,” Kate watches a man in a black tee shirt with a pack of cigarettes rolled into his sleeve. He’s big and solid-looking. “Dick walked out ’cause I didn’t give him no choice. He wanted me to be somebody else, and I told him he might as well leave.” Kate finishes her beer, buys another and twists back toward the door.

“Guess I can’t expect to learn what really happened. Anyways, if Dick’s gone, who’s watching Jenny tonight?”

“What do you mean you can’t expect to know what really happened?” Kate thinks Henrietta must be in a mood.

Henrietta eyes Kate over the rim of her mug as she sips her beer. “You had a husband, and you turned your back on him. You did the same to your boyfriend. And now you’re turning your back on your little girl.”

Henrietta’s words jab Kate’s heart. She chugs her beer, buys another and drinks it, too. She begins alternating between thinking to herself and mumbling aloud. “Jenny’s OK. She can fix herself something to eat. She can watch TV. I’m not turning my back on my daughter. No mother would do that. I just had to get out tonight. Jenny’s OK.” Kate slaps the bar. “Whiskey here, Joe.” Kate spins toward Henrietta. “Don’t be mad at me. Let’s have some fun. It’ll be time to go back to work before we know it.” Kate touches Henrietta’s arm.

“I’ve had enough for tonight.” Henrietta stands and leaves the tavern.

Well, hell, Kate thinks. She finishes her drink then rotates her stool and, seeing that Lucas is still alone, stumbles over and sits beside him.

“Hi, Lukey, mind a little company?”

Lucas downs the rest of his beer.

Kate pats Lucas’ hand. “We never get a chance to talk at work. You do a good job keeping that place clean. We’re all going to miss you when you retire next year.”

Lucas stands, his gut heaving in and out. “You listen. I’ve had women in my day that would make you look like a scarecrow. You hear me? Like a goddamn scarecrow.”

“Lukey, I don’t mean nothing by them things I say. Just a little fun to pass the time.”

“Lucas,” he says and heads for a different table.

“Go then... Lukey Lukey Lukey.”

Kate returns to the bar. “Beer, Joe.” She feels as if she’s cut off from everyone except for the bits and pieces of conversation that slice their way to her. She dreads the thought of going home to an empty bed and hopes Jenny left the lights on. She downs her drink and stares into the glass, her mind racing. Then she senses someone sitting down next to her.

“How you doing tonight, babe?”

“Miserable,” she says, not bothering to turn her head.

“I got something to cheer you up, doll.” She feels a hand on her thigh.

“Tell you what. Sit there real quiet and let me do some thinking, then maybe you and me can have some fun.”

“Deal, honey.”

“I got things chasing around inside so fast I can’t quite get ahold of ’em, but I think if I concentrate, I can make sense of it.”

“Have at it, sexy.”

* * *

Katydid is afraid of the dark. She begs to keep her bedroom light on while she sleeps, but her mother says they can’t afford it.

When her mother starts leaving Katydid alone nights while she works, the girl goes through the house and flips every switch. One time her mother comes home before dawn, her eye bruised and swollen. She goes on about how she’s working her ass off to keep the two of them afloat, and here’s Katydid jacking up the utility bill. It’s the hardest her mother ever hits her.

Kate takes a swig of beer and chuckles. “We were quite a pair with her black eye and my bloody nose,” she says to no one in particular.

Kate recalls how sorry her mother was the next morning and kept saying sometimes people can’t help the things they do. “Mama even made me an extra slice of toast before the school bus come.”

Katydid’s mother stays home a couple nights, and the girl hopes her mom will go back to working days. But one evening about bedtime, she takes off.

Katydid throws the covers over her head and tries to go to sleep in the dark, but is too afraid. When she jumps up and flips the wall switch, the light doesn’t come on. She feels her way into her mother’s room, but that light doesn’t work either. Katydid discovers that all through the house, nothing works, not even the TV. Finally she goes into the kitchen and is relieved when the lights come on.

She drags her pillow and a blanket and sleeps under the table with the kitchen bright as day. She awakes at sunrise, turns everything off and returns to her bedroom before her mother comes home.

“Kids can get used to anything,” Kate says into her glass of beer. “So it got to where sleeping on that linoleum floor didn’t much bother me, and the refrigerator hum was a lullaby.”

One evening, Katydid notices her mother heading down into the basement before leaving. After that, nothing works except in the kitchen. Katydid realizes her mother is doing something to the electricity everywhere but the kitchen.

Kate looks up at Joe. “Guess Mama cared more about the milk going sour then me being afraid,” she says softly

The bartender pulls a draft and turns away.

“Anyways, I started wondering why would a mama leave a little kid alone in the dark all night? I laid awake under the kitchen table stewing till I remembered how Mama told me things makes people do things they can’t help. After that, whenever Mama did something I couldn’t understand, I told myself she couldn’t help it, that was just the way she was.

“Mama died when I was 16; fifteen years ago today. I cried and cried, but under all them tears, I felt relieved ’cause I wouldn’t have to keep convincing myself she loved me every time she acted like she didn’t. She was safe in the ground, and her love was safe in my mind. I wish I could see her one more time and tell her how sorry I am I felt relieved when she died.”

Kate turns and sees for the first time that the man next to her is the guy in the black tee shirt. His back is toward her as he talks to a woman sitting on his other side. Kate’s silent until he turns to her.

“You done thinking, babe? I kept my end of the deal. Let’s go back to my place.” The fellow strokes Kate’s thigh. “You know you want to.”

Kate closes her eyes, sees tomorrow’s hot, noisy day at the factory and sways under the man’s touch. Then a picture of her daughter lying alone in bed, scared, pierces her thoughts. She hears a voice say: You don’t have to turn your back on Jenny like your mama turned her back on you. She looks up and sees Joe standing in front of her.

“Don’t say that, Joe, ’cause if I can help it, that means so could Mama. Are you saying Mama didn’t have to treat me like she done?”

“I asked if you want another drink,” Joe says.

The room begins spinning. Kate removes the hand from her leg and stands. “Fresh air,” she says. The man twists toward the other woman.

Kate staggers out of the bar, takes a few deep breaths to clear her head, then heads for home, the thump of music from the tavern fading behind her until she hears only the scrape of her footsteps.

* * *

Kate finds her daughter on the couch. The room is dark except for the glow of Jenny’s phone and the television, which is on with the volume down. Kate plops down beside her daughter and flops her arm around her. “Honey, you shouldn’t be up, but I’m glad you are. We can have a nice chit-chat.” Kate grins. “Remember when you were little you called it a chitty-chatty?”

Jenny grabs the tv remote and turns up the volume then taps on her phone.

“What’d you do tonight?” Kate strokes her daughter’s head. “Honey?” Kate turns off the television.

Jenny ducks away from her mother’s touch.

“How’d you like to sleep in my bed tonight like when you was little? We can leave the light on.”

“Ewww... you’re drunk again. I went to the Walmart if you must know.”

Kate sighs. “Please, Sweetums.” She tries to pull her daughter to her. “Don’t you know what day this is?”

“Goddammit, leave me alone.”

Kate’s fingers twitch. “You shouldn’t speak at your mother like that.”

“Dad thinks I should move in with him before I end up like you.”

Kate raises her clenched fist as her daughter’s words arc like a shower of sparks in her mind. Then she wills her hand to relax and watches the color return to her knuckles.

Copyright © 2024 by David Henson