Heart Does Not Bend

Prolegomenon What Is Said over the Dead Lioness's Body Could Not Be Said to Her Alive Everyone is sitting at Grand-aunt Ruth's breakfast table in Kingston Uncle Peppie and Aunt Val; Uncle Mikey; Glory, my mother and the executor of my grandmother's estate; the grand-aunts, Ruth and Joyce; cousins Icie, Ivan and Vittorio; and my daughter, Ciboney, and her eleven-month-old baby. Uncle Freddie is the only one missing. The muttering around the table gives way to the crackling of the papers in Glory's hand. Except for the three youngest, we are nervous. Ciboney, just fifteen, looks bored, but the hint of malice around her mouth makes me wonder what she is thinking. Vittorio, handsome at nineteen, idly plays with his brick-coloured, shoulder-length dreadlocks. Aunt Val has an arm protectively around Uncle Peppie's shoulder. Uncle Mikey crosses and uncrosses his legs. Grand-aunt Ruth wipes sweat from her face with an old washrag, and Aunt Joyce fans herself profusely with a rattan fan she brought back from America. Cousin Icie and Cousin Ivan sit like tin soldiers. My thoughts are a muddle, and my heart is thumping so hard that I am convinced everyone can hear it. "Okay, we all here?" Glory asks. "Uh-hum," we respond as one. "Well ah think we should just get it over wid," Glory says as she straightens the papers once more. "'I, Maria Maud Galloway, of sound mind and body, make this my Last Will and Testament.'" "'I hereby revoke all my former wills and other testamentary dispositions of every nature and kind whatsoever hereto before made by me.'" Glory pauses, inhales heavily and says, "Dis is not Mama's first will. Dis is about de tenth. De lawyer dem love her." "'I nominate, constitute and appoint my daughter, Glory May Galloway, to be the sole executor of this my will.'" She pauses again. "Ah skipping some of de legal talk." "'To my grandson, Vittorio Oliver Galloway, I bequeath the properties known as 100 Pear Avenue, in the Municipality of Metropolitan Toronto, Canada, and the fifty-five acres of land in the township of Muskoka free and clear of all liens and encumbrances whatsoever, for his own use absolutely.'" "'To my grandson, Vittorio Oliver Galloway, I also bequeath the property at 3 Wigton Street, in the City of Kingston, Jamaica, free and clear of all liens and encumbrances whatsoever, for his own use absolutely.'" A loud gasp escapes from Uncle Peppie; Aunt Val strokes his shoulder. Glory sighs. Uncle Mikey uncrosses his legs and plants his feet firmly on the ground, his face an ugly mask. Uncle Peppie slumps further into his chair. "Lawd God Almighty!" Aunt Joyce shouts. "Calm down. Quiet, Joyce, mek we hear de rest of de will," Grand-aunt Ruth commands. Glory's mouth is clamped tight as she reads the rest of the will silently. "Go on, Glory," Grand-aunt Ruth says, gently resting her hand on Glory's arm. Glory takes a sip of her coffee, as if to help loosen her mouth. "'To transfer my hope chest to my great-granddaughter, Ciboney Galloway, for her own use absolutely. "'To transfer all other household items on the properties to my grandson, Vittorio Oliver Galloway. "'To transfer all moneys from my bank account in the Municipality of Metropolitan Toronto and in the City of Kingston, Jamaica, to my grandson, Vittorio Oliver Galloway.'" [read more]