The Call from Eternity

“Okay. Sit in the parlor while I get it.” When Toni expressed unease about her aunt waiting on her, Aunt Aggie hushed her and ordered her more sternly to sit in the parlor.

Toni shrugged and walked into the living room. She smiled at Aunt Aggie calling this her “parlor.” She didn’t think anyone from her generation would use that term, although it sounded so natural rolling off her aunt’s tongue. She sat in one of the light-green, high-backed, Queen Anne chairs. It had a delicate lace shawl draped across the back and a small footstool that Toni knew to never put her feet on because it was only for show. She looked around the room and memories flooded her mind. Nothing had changed here in all the years she was growing up. This was the formal room they weren’t allowed to play in. But if they were really careful, they could walk through the room with their hands behind their backs and look.

Reminiscing, Toni folded her arms behind her back and strolled around the room. On the long cherrywood table against the wall sat the gold-framed photos she always remembered being there. One was the oval wedding picture of Aunt Aggie and Uncle Oliver, who died when Toni was young. She skipped a few pictures of people she didn’t know, but she thought they were relatives on Uncle Ollie’s side. Then she stopped at her favorite of Aunt Aggie and Toni’s grandma in front of the big oak tree in the backyard. Sitting right next to this “sisters” picture was a similar one of Toni and her sister, Tricia, in front of the same tree.

Toni remembered she had just turned fourteen, so Tricia would have been about twelve. Grandma had brought them over to celebrate Aunt Aggie’s birthday. She’d let them help bake and frost a cake to bring along, and Tricia had made a birthday card out of cut construction paper and glue. Toni had made sure to hide the card until Mama left for work. She knew her mother would say something mean or even throw it away if she saw it. Toni shook her head as if she was erasing the memory of that woman and chose instead to think about Grandma and Aunt Aggie posing the young sisters by the same oak tree in the exact position of their own photo. That memory made her smile.

Then there were photos of Aunt Aggie’s only child, Caroline, who was much older than Toni. Caroline was married with two boys in middle or high school; she couldn’t remember which. Her wedding and family pictures were the last and most recent ones placed on the table.

Toni stepped back and looked over the whole table, noticing the various butterfly decorations and statues placed among the photos. Aunt Aggie always loved butterflies and used to tell her they meant something about her faith, but Toni couldn’t remember exactly what right now. Then she looked up at the wall, at the large, framed painting of a flower. Or was it a butterfly? The lighting and color intrigued her. Then she gasped, because the matting was exactly the color of sage she had painted her office. She’d never noticed how gorgeous this painting was and couldn’t help but think that it tickled her fancy. This was the kind of picture she wanted to find for her office. She was smiling at it when Aunt Aggie walked in carrying two tall glasses of iced tea, the ice cubes clinking as she walked.

“Here, dear,” Aggie said as she handed one glass to Toni. “You’re looking at that picture like you’ve never seen it before.”

“I spent the morning looking at wall art for my office. I guess I’m noticing things more.”

“Did you find anything you like?”

“Not really. These are exactly the colors I am looking for. Where did you get it?”

“Oh, I’ve had it forever. If you like it, dear, you should take it.”

“I couldn’t do that,” Toni exclaimed, but in her heart, she was screaming, Yes!

“You should. And I will tell you what I think about when I look at it.” Aggie paused when she heard the doorbell. “That must be your sister.”

Toni looked in amazement at this picture Aunt Aggie had just given to her. She really liked it. Then she heard her sister’s voice apologizing for her tardiness and walked toward the door to greet her.

After Aunt Aggie hugged Tricia, Toni took her turn. Then Tricia continued her explanation. “I can’t believe how late I slept. I woke up at eight, when Matt left to play basketball with his friends.” She stopped when Toni hit her arm and looked up to see the disappointed look on Aunt Aggie’s face. She blushed a little, rolled her eyes, and continued. “I fell right back to sleep and didn’t wake up again until almost noon.”

Tricia continued rambling about oversleeping and rushing to get ready as they followed Aunt Aggie into the dining room. They all stopped short, and the girls’ jaws dropped, when they saw the table set beautifully with all the good china and fancy folded cloth napkins.

“Now I really feel bad about being late,” Tricia exclaimed. “This looks gorgeous. Why so fancy, Antie?” It was what Tricia always called her. She said it was a cross between auntie and Aggie.

“I thought it would be fun,” Aunt Aggie responded, sounding like a small child playing tea party. “Sit,” she instructed the young women. “I’ll get the salad, and then we can pray and eat.” Toni and Tricia tried to offer their help, but Aggie hushed them and pointed for them to sit. She walked back and forth, fetching the salad, a bowl of fresh fruit, and some homemade bread. Finally, she took her seat at the head of the table.