There was nowhere to hide from the old people in the house; Christmas was a hectic time. Granny’s three sisters—BeeBee, Bobbie, and Didi—were here and her brother, Burr. Phil and Ruth, Papa’s brother and sister-in-law who lived about three miles away, had already arrived.  

Ruth had come to show everyone how to do everything. She was a brute of a woman, a bible thumper who never had a nice thing to say about anyone, except her son, Teddy. He was twenty-eight and had made a career out of being a college student. Papa said he was as useless as a dull knife.  

Ruth was tall and wide. She had fat that hung from her chin and wiggled when she talked. I tried not to stare at it, but it drew me in. Uncle Phil was the type of man who was kind to children and animals. He looked like a smaller, younger, gentler version of Papa. How he could stand living with that loud, big woman puzzled me. Papa said he was spineless and hen-pecked. I loved Uncle Phil.  

All the women were in the kitchen cooking, drinking coffee, and gossiping. They all wore red or green knit pantsuits, except for Ruth. She wore a green tent-dress and a huge crocheted wreath pin on her enormous chest. Between the smells of the turkey, pies, talcum powder, and Avon perfume, it was enough to send me outside.

The men took over the living room. The TV blared football three times louder than it should because of Uncle Burr’s hearing problem. Bored, worthless cousin Ted sat in the corner reading a ten-year-old Life magazine.  

My bedroom was being used by Bobbie and Didi. It smelled of perfume, Ben-Gay, and boiled eggs. There were big nylon housecoats on my bed, hair nets and bobby pins on my dresser, and prescription medicine bottles on my nightstand. Thank God they would be leaving tomorrow.  

BeeBee had the guest room, and Uncle Burr slept on a rollaway bed in the living room. No one dared to ask my sister, Suzanne, to give up her room. She was locked in it, enjoying the new stereo she’d gotten for Christmas. 

I grabbed a jacket from my closet and went outside. The only person I wanted to see was Aunt Nola. Papa and Uncle Phil’s sister would be here soon. Every year she would fly into Raleigh from Chicago, rent a car, and drive here for Christmas. After a short visit, she would continue on to Wilmington to visit her son.  

Aunt Nola didn’t know how much I admired her. She was so different from anyone I had ever known. I’d heard so many stories about her, and I’d made up so many in my head over the years that I didn’t know what was true and what wasn’t.  

However, I did know that as a young woman, she left town with a man who traveled around giving airplane rides. She left in his plane and never came back. Her life was full of exciting adventures. She once managed a nightclub in Miami. She had even been a singer in New Orleans. All this I knew from hearing Granny and Ruth speak in hushed voices, hands over their mouths, appalled.  

I have a picture of Aunt Nola stuck in the corner of my dresser mirror. I found it in a box of Granny’s old photographs. It was of a young and beautiful Aunt Nola, wearing a tightly fitted dress with tiny buttons up the whole front. The dress outlined her shapely figure. Her hair was long, blonde, and curly like mine. She had one elbow propped on a high bar. Her smile was lovely.  

I would look at the picture and smile into the mirror, look back at the picture, then look into the mirror. Yes, there is a resemblance, I told myself. I look like Aunt Nola. I wanted to look like Aunt Nola. I became tongue tied trying to talk to her, the way I did with most important people.  

I decided that this year would be different. This year I would talk to her. I would ask her questions about Chicago. I would get to know her better. This year she would realize how much I admired and loved her. Maybe we could become friends. Maybe she would invite me to visit her in Chicago!  

I bought her a gift. I saw it in the dime store and had to get it. It was a small wooden plaque with pictures of roses, across which was written, “Aunts are special people.”  

I wrapped it and hid it in my underwear drawer. I couldn’t wait to give it to her! 

I sat on the front porch and looked down the long driveway until my nose got cold and runny. The scene inside was still loud and hot and smelly.  

“Caroline, help Aunt Didi with the table,” Granny yelled as I walked in, unsuccessfully trying to remain unnoticed.  

Aunt Didi came hobbling into the dining room with a stack of plates that looked heavier than her. Granny was right behind her, hands held out, like she was ready to catch Didi if she fell, which looked like it could easily happen.  

“Didi, don’t try to carry all that, you’re going to hurt your back. Let me help you,” Granny pleaded.  

"I got it. I got it. I’m okay,” Didi barked.  

Granny looked over to me with that aggravated look she sometimes got. I two-stepped over to Didi. “Here, I’ll unload you,” I said. I took the plates and put them on the table.  

“Nola’s here,” Uncle Phil announced. “It’s got to be her with that nice car.” He and Papa stood and went out the door to meet her in the driveway.  

Ruth looked out the big front window. “Yep, that would be her,” she said, staring at Granny and sticking her nose in the air.  

How dare she make fun of Aunt Nola, I thought. Big ol’ fat cow.  

“Stop it, Ruth,” Granny whispered.  

I watched Phil and Papa give Nola their brotherly hugs and walk her in. She was a breath of fresh air in this old farmhouse. The aunts and Granny ran and hugged her. Ruth gave cousin Ted a frown so that he stood and gave Aunt Nola a hug. too.  

“Merry Christmas, Aunt Nola!” I said.  

“Now, which one are you. Caroline, right?”  

“Yes!” I smiled.  

“Well, aren’t you getting all grown up.”  

“I’m almost thirteen,” I said.  

“Come, sit down”, Granny said.  

"I'd rather not,” Aunt Nola replied. “I’ve been sitting all day. It feels good to stretch my legs.”  

“I hope you’re hungry,” Ruth chimed in.  

"Yes, I am. I've been fasting all day for this." Nola smiled.  

What was that word? Classy, that’s it. That’s how Aunt Nola looked. Classy. She wore a black fitted pantsuit with gold buttons, and a soft cream colored blouse. Her pocketbook and shoes matched, both black and shiny. Her soft, white hair was done in a short curly bob. Her makeup was subdued, making her look fresh. Gold chains were around her neck and wrists. She smelled so good, not like the sickening talcum powder but a soft, clean scent.  

She ventured into the kitchen with the aunts, looking for a cup of coffee.