by Douglas Young<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Mimosa Mitchell was an 85-year-old \u201cpillar of the community\u201d and matriarch of one of the most prominent families in Petunia Springs. Indeed, for generations the Mitchells had been a significant presence among the town\u2019s politicians, doctors, bankers, and accountants. Mimosa\u2019s late husband had long enjoyed the largest medical practice in all of Deas County. When he died five years ago, folks remarked how his funeral was likely the best attended in Petunia Springs history.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Mrs. Mitchell was a major local figure in her own right, having taught English at Roswell Ripley High School for 50 years before her husband finally prevailed upon her to retire. She had been the most senior (by far), well known, and feared teacher at the school, legendary for her uncompromising commitment to instill in her students good writing skills and a love of literature. Easily the most demanding instructor in the English department (if not the entire school), primarily due to her zeal to correct every grammatical, punctuation, and spelling error, her classes were studiously avoided by slackers. However, having taught so many of the student body\u2019s parents (and several grandparents) who revered her absolute devotion to helping all her pupils, a large share of her students\u2019 mothers and fathers had made them take her.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Retirement failed to slow down Mimosa very much. Instead, she enjoyed getting to put all the more time into the projects she loved: being a Sunday School teacher, president of her neighborhood homeowners association as well as the local chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy (UDC), and grandmother and great-grandmother. A large lady with a strong voice and stronger opinions, everyone knew when Mrs. Mitchell was present. Her many friends and admirers extolled her as the personification of an outstanding Christian lady who always put the \u201cp\u201d in \u201cproper.\u201d Her detractors sighed she put the \u201cd\u201d in \u201cdomineering\u201d and were grateful she was not a man.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Heavily immersed in the affairs of all her family members, Mimosa devotedly helped her daughter-in-law fight cancer and then mothered her grieving son all the more after his wife\u2019s death. Always happiest when in charge, she had been thoroughly fulfilled looking after her deeply bereaved son in the months following his wife\u2019s passing, even insisting on moving in with him for a while.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 A year into widowhood, Delano began to go out with a few ladies. As a handsome, affluent accountant from perhaps Petunia Springs\u2019 most famous family, not one lady he asked out declined his invitation. While accepting the Bible\u2019s admonition that \u201cIt is not good that the man should be alone,\u201d his mother still sighed as her son began dating and became less emotionally dependent on her.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 But it was Delano\u2019s growing commitment to his girlfriend of now two years, Zillah Prager, that increasingly alarmed Mimosa. Zillah had moved to Petunia Springs a couple of years before and was the popular Ripley High art teacher. Her students adored her for being so warm, ebullient, witty, and full of chutzpah. Each day students looked forward to seeing what loud, elaborate scarf she would wear, and she was the school\u2019s first art instructor to include several forms of modern art in her curriculum. Most controversially, she was also the first to display in her classroom nude paintings by Pierre Auguste Renoir, Paul Gauguin, and Pablo Picasso.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 This last act brought her to Mimosa Mitchell\u2019s attention, prompting her to call the new principal, Barnard Bee, to voice her opposition to \u201cchildren being exposed to such indecency.\u201d But Mimosa was no longer at the school, the principal stood by Miss Prager and, to Mrs. Mitchell\u2019s deep disappointment, she was unable to find other teachers willing to support her publicly in the matter. When she considered trying to organize opposition through her church and the UDC, her son and other members of the family implored her not to, voicing concerns about the impact such a crusade could have on her health.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 To allay his mother\u2019s fear that \u201cinappropriate conduct\u201d could be encouraged by depictions of nudity in art classes, Delano made an unannounced visit to the new art teacher\u2019s classroom one day after school in his role as an elected school board member. To his relief, of the many dozens of paintings, sculptures, photographs, and other works of art displayed, only a few were nude and they struck him as quite tastefully artistic without exuding any hint of pornography.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0To Mr. Mitchell\u2019s delight, the art teacher not only welcomed the school board member, but gave him an enthusiastic tour of her room. He quickly became awed by this tall, very attractive lady of 38 whose cheerfulness and humor stood in such colorful contrast to his much more restrained persona. Delano was so taken with the brunette beauty that he soon found it difficult to focus on her detailed explanations of various art works since he was busy studying how best to ask her out. At the end of the tour, to his joy, she stunned him by asking him out first, something no woman had ever done.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 They not only went out but soon became a local item. Folks were endlessly amused that the conservative accountant son of Dr. Josiah and Mimosa Mitchell was courting \u201cthat Yankee art teacher,\u201d all the more so since Miss Mimosa had tried to stop her display of nude art. Just over a year into widowhood, Delano suddenly felt liberated by the prettiest, most affectionate, and least shy lady he had ever dated. Folks who knew him were charmed by how much happier the heretofore sad widower had become. His children were likewise elated that Daddy had not only returned to his former self but even appeared more content than they could ever recall.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The one person distinctly unelated by the blossoming romance was Delano\u2019s mother. Though Mimosa not only accepted that her son would date again and even thought it best for him to remarry as soon as possible for his own health, she expected him to find \u201ca fine Christian lady\u201d for the role of the new Mrs. Mitchell, and Miss Prager was Jewish. Mimosa lamented to more than a few friends and relatives that it was \u201cunfortunate enough\u201d that Zillah was \u201cnot just a Yankee, but a New York<\/em> Yankee.\u201d Yet, as out of her comfort zone as that was, Mimosa could likely have still somehow stomached the match, especially if confident there would be no children introducing Yankee blood into the family.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 But the prospect of her one son marrying a Jewish lady, and a childless one still within child-bearing years, constituted a family crisis in Mimosa\u2019s mind. What if they married, had children, and reared them as Jews? Despite Zillah not showing any particular religious zeal, and the nearest synagogue being several counties away, Mimosa was beside herself at the specter of any \u201ccosmopolitanism\u201d infecting her devout Christian family. Adding to her distress was that all her relatives supported Delano\u2019s growing bond with Zillah. When her two daughters not only approved of their brother\u2019s girlfriend, but were thrilled at the news he would ask her to marry him, Mimosa determined the time for decisive action was at hand.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Though none of Delano\u2019s siblings, children, or any other relatives would join her, Mimosa went ahead and had a frank meeting with her 55-year-old son, laying out all her well-rehearsed concerns about any Mitchell-Prager wedding. Delano was not surprised. Though he loved and revered his mother dearly, he knew her well enough to anticipate her reaction to any impending marriage with Zillah. Despite her always being polite with his girlfriend, it was obvious his mother nursed grave doubts about the advisability of their union. So he listened patiently to her long list of reservations. When it was finally his turn to speak, he simply expressed his appreciation for her concerns for him and thanked her for loving him enough to voice them candidly. But he \u201cvery respectfully\u201d disagreed and still planned to ask for Miss Prager\u2019s hand in marriage.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 That development prompted Mimosa to contemplate playing her last card in a final, desperate effort to dissuade her son from what she firmly believed would prove to be an ill-fated marriage with potentially disastrous consequences for the family\u2019s long-term future. After considerable hesitation, she called the office of long-time family attorney Johnston Pettigrew to request he pay her a call at Mitchell Manor.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Johnston and Delano had been friends since meeting in Mrs. Emmyetta Sawyer\u2019s kindergarten Sunday School class. Mimosa taught Johnston high school English and her husband Josiah had treated him, his father, and Johnston\u2019s sons. Dr. Mitchell turned over all the family\u2019s legal matters to Johnston when their previous attorney retired. So Mrs. Mitchell had known Mr. Pettigrew and his family well for many decades.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Johnston Pettigrew, Jr. was a 55-year-old attorney and thirty-year veteran of his father\u2019s law firm. Like most successful small town lawyers, he had to be adept at all kinds of law to make a good living. Gray-haired, slow-moving, and slightly overweight, he was partial to seersucker suits and was seen by many locals as Petunia Springs\u2019 finest attorney. Universally well regarded, he had been repeatedly asked by the county\u2019s Democratic and Republican Party chapters to run for public office, but always respectfully declined, preferring the predictable rhythms of the courtroom to the controversy and fish bowl existence of an elected public official.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 When Mimosa Mitchell called his law office, she asked if her attorney could please make a house call instead of her having to come downtown.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cOh, are you feeling poorly, Mrs. Mitchell?\u201d came the concerned reply of Arletha Thornberry, the young black secretary and former student of Mimosa. \u201cI sure hope you\u2019re not trying to take a cold. Lord knows a whole lot of folks have come down with something lately. Maybe it\u2019s the pollen.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cNo, dear, but this is a small town and I don\u2019t wish to give any excuse for tongues to wag.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cOh. Yes, ma\u2019am. Well, can I tell Mr. Pettigrew the nature of the meeting?\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cPlease tell him it\u2019s an urgent legal matter and strictly confidential.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cYes, ma\u2019am,\u201d Arletha answered in almost a whisper. \u201cIt\u2019ll be just between y\u2019all.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cThank you, darling.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Because Mr. Pettigrew had known the Mitchells his entire life and was fond of them, he readily agreed to see Mimosa at home. It was the secretive nature of the meeting that provoked some curiosity about his old English teacher. He figured her advanced age might be the real culprit behind her reluctance to drive to the office, and he tried to recall the last time he saw her behind the wheel of a car.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 At the appointed time, Johnston arrived at Mitchell Manor, the large house built in 1878 a few blocks from downtown that Dr. Josiah Mitchell bought and renovated for his wife. The white, three-story Victorian masterpiece featured one of Petunia Springs\u2019 few turrets, painted dark red, along with a large wrap-around porch full of detailed gingerbread touches. The well-manicured front yard aligned precisely with Mimosa Mitchell\u2019s personality. Both were defined by unswervingly straight lines, sharp edges, and with nothing out of place.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 He rang the doorbell before relishing the porch\u2019s long line of hanging baskets bursting with pink begonias and red bougainvilleas, below which sat several white wicker rocking chairs and a round table. He smiled recalling the many times he had visited the grand home and sat on this porch when he and Delano were playmates.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Eulonia Sanders, the Mitchells\u2019 long-time housekeeper and part-time cook, opened the door. From overhearing some recent conversations among the Mitchells, the 68-year-old black lady had an idea what her employer\u2019s meeting with the attorney was about, but didn\u2019t dare ask.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cHello, Mr. Johnston. How de do? Come on in.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cWell, look at you. If it isn\u2019t Eulonia Sanders, just like when I used to come here as a boy. Why, I haven\u2019t seen you in a long<\/em> time. And you haven\u2019t aged at all<\/em>,\u201d he marveled.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cYou sho\u2019 know how to tickle an old lady\u2019s pride, Mr. Johnston,\u201d she chuckled. \u201cI be almost 70 now.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cWell then, as Sir Rod Stewart sings, \u2018You wear it well,\u2019 Eulonia. Mighty well.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cMiss Mimosa, de lawyer\u2019s here.\u201d She laughed and held the door open for him.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cPlease escort him to the study, Eulonia,\u201d came the prompt reply.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Entering the library, Johnston noticed many medical books mixed with classics of British and American literature arranged by author, with nary a book out of order. After shaking hands and exchanging pleasantries, Mrs. Mimosa Mitchell sat erect behind the large desk in front of the largest bookshelf and Mr. Pettigrew settled into the high-backed chair opposite her. Mrs. Sanders offered him a glass of her homemade lemonade which he eagerly sipped.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cMmm. Gracious. That\u2019s powerful good, Miss Eulonia. Yes, ma\u2019am, indeed.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cI remember how much you liked it when you was a boy and used to visit Mr. Delano,\u201d she grinned.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cYou remember well, dear.\u201d He beamed.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cThank you, Eulonia,\u201d Mimosa stated and her housekeeper left the room, being sure to close the door.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cSo how can I be of service, Mrs. Mitchell?\u201d He smiled as he put a large yellow legal pad in his lap and clicked his pen.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cFirst of all, Johnston, I want to express my appreciation for your coming here today,\u201d she pronounced. \u201cI\u2019m much obliged you did.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cGlad to accommodate you, Mrs. Mitchell,\u201d he replied as he waved a hand. \u201cYou, Doc Mitchell, Delano, and all y\u2019all\u2019s fine family have been so dear to me and mine, y\u2019all\u2019ve been wonderful clients for such a long time, and I certainly understand if you\u2019re no longer comfortable driving\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cI can drive very well, thank you, and anywhere I want. I\u2019ve been driving 70 years without receiving one<\/em> ticket. I\u2019ll have you know my driver\u2019s license was renewed last year and, Lord willing, I intend to drive many more years to come.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cOutstanding. Congratulations, Mrs. Mitchell. I think that\u2019s just fine,\u201d Johnston nodded and smiled. \u201cNow how can I be of help, ma\u2019am?\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cI wish to change the terms of my will,\u201d she declared in a lower voice looking straight at him without blinking.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cYes, ma\u2019am. Let me find it here since I brought your file,\u201d he said as he reached into his old black leather bag. \u201cHere it is. All right. Now how would you like to change it?\u201d He bent down to quickly skim over the document.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 After a pause, Mimosa continued. \u201cDelano is to be removed from all my inheritances.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Johnston\u2019s smile disappeared as he blinked and stared at the will. He blinked again and slowly raised his head to look at Mrs. Mitchell whose gaze had not left him.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cYou want to strike your son\u2019s name from the will? Am I understanding you correctly, ma\u2019am?\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Johnston shifted in his seat and blinked several times before looking at the desk and then the bookshelf closest to the door. With the sun shining through the windows, he thought he saw what might be the shadows of a pair of feet under the door, but quickly turned away and took a good, full swallow of lemonade.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cNow, Mrs. Mitchell, having been an attorney for 30 years and drawn up more wills than I can remember, I must say this strikes me as highly unusual, even unprecedented. Are you sure you really want to do this?\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019ve made my decision,\u201d Mimosa declared while raising her head and betraying the slightest evidence of a frown.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 After some hesitation, Johnston met her gaze and at last spoke.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Blinking her eyes and now definitely frowning, Mimosa raised her voice.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cAnd exactly what business is that of yours?\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cWell, Delano and I\u2019ve been friends for \u2019bout near half a century, and I just have a right hard time believing this is what you\u2019re really fixing to do\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cAre you my attorney or not?\u201d She asked with nostrils starting to flare.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cYes\u2019m. I am as long as you want me to be,\u201d he answered slowly while nodding his head.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cThen I suggest you change your client\u2019s will according to your client\u2019s preference.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cWell,\u201d he stated slowly and sighed.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cWell, what? Are you going to do what I am paying<\/em> you to do \u2013 and I daresay at probably the highest rate in Petunia Springs \u2013 or aren\u2019t you?\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cNot without an explanation,\u201d Johnston said as he placed his right hand on the desk and looked at her. This time he did not avert her gaze but held it as her eyes narrowed.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cSince when have attorneys insisted on their clients justifying a change of will?\u201d She asked with her head slightly cocked.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cWell \u2026 I guess since you want to cut your own son and my life-long friend and brother Baptist deacon out of it,\u201d he answered and nodded slowly.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 There was a long pause as Mrs. Mitchell realized her attorney was not backing down. She started to say something but hesitated, looked out the window, and turned back to Mr. Pettigrew.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cVery well. If you insist on knowing, Delano is about to embark on a course of action I have every reason to believe will imperil not just his future but the well being of the entire family.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Furrowing his brow and squinting, Johnston looked at her.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cWith all due respect, Mrs. Mitchell, exactly what?\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cYou actually believe it\u2019s any of your business as to the private affairs of my family?\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cIf you want me to cut your only son out of the will \u2026 then yes, ma\u2019am. I\u2019m sorry but I\u2019m \u2019fraid I do.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Shaking her head, she now leaned forward holding her hands.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cPerhaps you should have gone into the ministry, Johnston. I wasn\u2019t aware lawyers insisted on morally approving their clients\u2019 entirely legal requests.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cHave you discussed this with the family?\u201d He scratched his head.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cAgain, as if that is any of your business, counselor.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cMa\u2019am, I\u2019m right sorry for any unpleasantness, but I\u2019m just gon\u2019 have to know some more information \u2019bout this thing before I can proceed in good conscience.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cA member of the legal<\/em> profession pronouncing about matters of conscience<\/em>,\u201d she almost spat.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m real sorry, Mrs. Mitchell. I appreciate how uncomfortable this thing must be for you and I can assure you it\u2019s not pleasant for me either\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cReally?\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cYes, ma\u2019am. But for me to go forward on this matter–\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cVery well,\u201d she interrupted while shaking her head with a pronounced sigh. \u201cCan I still presume to enjoy attorney-client privilege?\u201d She raised her eyebrows.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cOh, absolutely. Yes, ma\u2019am. That goes without question.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cWell, what a considerable comfort. I was beginning to wonder.\u201d She took a sip of lemonade, paused, and began to speak. \u201cIn complete, stubborn, and utterly irrational defiance of my many well-founded concerns, my son insists on marrying a woman completely unsuited for this family. There. Are you now satisfied? Can we finally get to the business at hand and change my will?\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cOh,\u201d Johnston intoned slowly before leaning back in his chair. \u201cSo you\u2019ve got problems with Miss Zillah? That\u2019s what this is all about?\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cNo, Miss Prager would pose a massive problem for this entire family and at least one Mitchell is prepared to stand up and meet the problem head on.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cNow Mrs. Mitchell,\u201d he began with one elbow on the desk and hand raised, \u201cI know Miss Zillah can be a little loud and Yankeefied, but I declare I truly b\u2019lieve she\u2019ll grow on you, and I just can\u2019t figure how you\u2019d ever want to do anything so drastic that would surely hurt your son something terrible and is just liable to tear the whole family apart. Noam, I just can\u2019t b\u2019lieve you\u2019ve really thought this thing all the way through. No, ma\u2019am. It\u2019s my considered opinion that you need to set a spell and think real hard and \u2026 maybe pray on this thing before\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cJohnston Pettigrew, the very idea of you talking to me in such a patronizing manner. You were always a good student and such a well-behaved and well-mannered boy growing up.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cWell, I thank you, ma\u2019am. I was reared in a good Christian home.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cYes, you were. But apparently your long years in the law have dulled your sense of etiquette.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cWith respect, ma\u2019am\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cOh, of course,\u201d she stated sarcastically.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 After a pause and a sigh, he began again. \u201cMrs. Mitchell, I\u2019ve seen Delano with Miss Zillah on several occasions over the last couple of years. I even had dinner with \u2019em at her place to discuss a school board legal matter, and I do declare I b\u2019lieve he\u2019s the happiest I\u2019ve ever seen him. Now absolutely no offense to Miss Marigold. What a fine Christian lady and mother and a dear personal friend and I\u2019m sure a wonderful daughter-in-law she was.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cShe was a beautiful blessing to this whole family, thank you.\u201d \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cNow I think you really did miss your calling to go into the clergy. My spiritual life is absolutely none of your affair \u2013 or that of any other lawyer. Really, Johnston. I find this most unprofessional and frankly insulting.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m sorry, Mrs. Mitchell, I promise I mean you absolutely no disrespect, ma\u2019am. If I could just please say my piece. The fact is I\u2019m just not comfortable proceeding any further down this path and, as your attorney, I strongly caution you against this course of action. Please trust me, ma\u2019am. Now I really am giving you my best legal advice here. When families get into inheritance disputes, the only thing guaranteed is some mighty hurt feelings, and all around too. And I\u2019m just as serious as cancer \u2019bout this, Mimo \u2013 Mrs. Mitchell.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cAnd I would like to think that, as a brother in Christ and a veteran deacon at First Baptist, you might have some appreciation for the unfortunate situation I find my family facing. You know very well this is a devout Christian family, Mr. Pettigrew\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cAmen.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cThank you, and Miss Prager is not.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Slowly leaning his head back with his mouth slightly open, he at last spoke, \u201cAnd she\u2019s a Jew.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cWell, cheers for your remarkable appreciation of the obvious. I\u2019m glad we finally agree on something. Hallelujah. And now that you know far more that you\u2019re entitled to, are you going to \u2013 at last \u2013 do what I am paying<\/em> you for here?\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Gradually leaning forward and placing his pen on the desk, Johnston clasped his hands, took a deep breath, and began to speak. \u201cI\u2019m \u2019fraid not,\u201d he intoned slowly. \u201cNo, ma\u2019am, I b\u2019lieve I\u2019m gon\u2019 to have to recuse myself on this matter, Mrs. Mitchell, on account of I b\u2019lieve it would be highly harmful to the interests of you and your entire family for us to proceed down such a path.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 With eyes narrowed and a loud sigh, Mimosa glared at him.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cSince when has your law firm ever<\/em> turned down business? A couple years back you had no problem defending a murderer<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Johnston shifted in his seat and raised his right hand again.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cWell, but with all due respect, ma\u2019am, now I was court-appointed to do so, and a man\u2019s life was at stake.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cWell, with all due respect, counselor, I\u2019m firmly convinced the well-being of my family is at stake.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cAnd I respect that, Mrs. Mitchell.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cWell, this jury has plenty of reasonable doubt, and if you expect me to pay you for this charming little visit\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cNoam, now there\u2019s not gon\u2019 be any charge.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cWell, thank the Good Lord for small favors.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cBut I do strongly<\/em> suggest that before you go any further with this thing that you please talk about it with Delano and \u2026 have you considered broaching this with the Rev. Hasty?\u201d He implored.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cThe Rev. Hasty is not the final word on matters religious or family, thank you very much, and I am in no way bound by his counsel any more than I am yours.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cThen I figure you may have already talked with him and he respectfully has a different view of the matter,\u201d Johnston replied and immediately regretted having done so.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cAnd I frankly just don\u2019t give a hoot or holler what you figure. Mr. Pettigrew, I believe your business here is done. While you\u2019re getting up to leave would you at least be so kind as to recommend the services of another attorney?\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cYes\u2019m, though I don\u2019t reckon I know any local ones who\u2019d do what you want either. \u2019Course, if you insist, I guess I could have my gal call you with a list of some out-of-towners who don\u2019t know y\u2019all\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cThat will be fine. Thank you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Carefully putting the pen back in his shirt pocket and inserting the legal pad into his old leather bag, he gradually got up. What he had looked forward to as a delightful return to a beautiful house he had always enjoyed visiting as a boy but had not been inside for many years, as well as a chance to visit with one of Petunia Springs\u2019 last grand dames, had quickly devolved into easily the most dispiriting disappointment of the whole week. Indeed, he noted how much more pleasant it had been visiting the downtown jail that morning to meet the fellow who robbed the local Piggly Wiggly the week before.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Johnston hesitated before turning to leave, feeling compelled to try to end the meeting on a high note. He finally spoke with the faintest trace of a smile.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cYou know, Mrs. Mitchell, I really do b\u2019lieve if you could just sit down for a good, home-cooked meal with Miss Zillah, that might make a world of difference. If you could just try some of that lady\u2019s homemade lox and bagels and knishes\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cGood day, Mr. Pettigrew. Eulonia, please show Mr. Pettigrew to the door.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" by Douglas Young \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Mimosa Mitchell was an 85-year-old \u201cpillar of the community\u201d and matriarch of one of the most prominent families in Petunia Springs. Indeed, for generations the Mitchells had been a significant presence among the town\u2019s politicians, doctors, bankers, and accountants. Mimosa\u2019s late husband had long enjoyed the largest medical practice in all […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1644,77],"tags":[1565,1645,1123],"class_list":["post-14801","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-egophobia-76","category-english","tag-douglas-young","tag-egophobia-76","tag-english"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p6DakB-3QJ","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/egophobia.ro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14801","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/egophobia.ro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/egophobia.ro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/egophobia.ro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/egophobia.ro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=14801"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/egophobia.ro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14801\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":14802,"href":"https:\/\/egophobia.ro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14801\/revisions\/14802"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/egophobia.ro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=14801"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/egophobia.ro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=14801"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/egophobia.ro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=14801"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\n\u201cAmen and God rest her sweet soul. I\u2019ll just say this. Based on every time I\u2019ve seen Delano and Zillah, both of \u2019em just seem as peachy and proud of the other as can be. My daughter Adora loved her art class and Miss Prager really is a lovely lady. She\u2019s educated, cultured, and just as sweet as she can be. I would kind of like to think she might just be the answer to your prayers for some fine lady to come look after your boy\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n