[Critique Group 1] a dirty contribution

[Kevin Brown]

A Dirty Contribution 
by Kevin Brown 
809 words 

A faint pleasantly thrumming current was underlying the atmosphere at this year's autumn family gathering. Fearful of upsetting its tenuous balance, no one dared to speak of it out loud. Although, everyone sensed its positive influence on the collective mood. Absent were the derisively whispered remarks about old silent aunt Sally's always bland watery potato salad. Her oversized yellow plastic bowl was the first to be proudly set on the table. it just kept getting pushed further and further to a back corner of irrelevance when other dishes were added to the pot luck spread. 
Cousin Lily and cousin Bee placed their pots of smokey collard greens next to each other as if tacitly agreeing to a sisterly peace treaty based on geometry to their ongoing fiercely contested cooking competition. Everyone oohed and aahed over the mouthwatering fried chicken, succulent neck bones and spicy ox tails which were always the culinary highlights of the traditional family meal. Each arriving member of the family was greeted with a warm hug or handshake and an occasional sloppy kiss on the cheek. Every fashion statement, no matter how outdated, outlandish or provocative was met with sincere enthusiasm and appreciation. 
Reggie's girlfriend Ella, the micro-mini skirt wearing, self appointed home interior expert was effusive in her praise of the new gaudy decor. The plastic seat covered plaid davenport, wicker framed tables and tropical print draperies were all applauded as innovative and bold. Thanks to mail order convenience and monthly payment plans. Only the children made mention of the neighbor Vira's stark pumpkin colored cable knit sweater, matching shoes and lipstick ensemble. Cousin Lily's twin four-year-old girls believed it to be the height of compliment to tell Vira that she was pretty--just like their favorite cartoon character, Daniel Tiger, who also happened to be orange. When one of the younger men politely stepped outside for a breath of fresh air or a smoke, there were exchanges of knowing smiles and dismissive shrugs of tolerance. It was grudgingly accepted that this year's hostess, aunt May, didn't approve of the consumption of alcohol in her home. As the evening progressed, there were twin preoccupations on the remaining sober minds. A slowly growing giddy relief at the consistent happy tidings along with a cliched attitude of the other shoe dropping in anticipation. It finally happened. It was just as festivities were beginning to wind down. Those who typically made early departures were composing their exit line excuses. Someone, many believed it was little Bobby, gave name to the unspoken thing in the room. Uncle Lenny was uncharacteristically wearing clean clothes, sporting a fresh haircut and had even contributed a dessert of pound cake. "It wasn't really nothin," uncle Lenny shyly blushed. "I always had nice clothes, just didn't have a whole lotta fancy places to go." He stood up to display his tan corduroy pants, tan sweater and scuffed high-top red basketball shoes. Lenny bowed his head and blushed even harder after a few people profusely complimented him on the delicious pound cake. "Well, I was real smart about that cake too!" he proudly enthused. "It didn't cost me nothin'! I just put it on a clean plate and covered it with plastic wrap after gettin' rid of that torn up box it had in the trash bin!" The stunned silence was almost palpable. Then came the chaos--immediate, familiar and dramatic which had almost become a tradition of family gatherings. 
Aunt May threw her hands in the air, rocked back and forth wailing a loud prayer of supplication. "Sweet Jesus, Lord in Heaven, please protect us from all the wicked ways of the Devil and his demons!" Cousin Lily turned in circles while frantically gathering her three children screaming at little Bobby, "spit out that dirty ol' cake right now!" Aunt Sally didn't mean to knock dishes to the floor. It wasn't her fault the yellow salad bowl was at the hard to reach back corner of the table. A couple of the red eyed young men, sitting unnoticed in the corners, grinned while surreptitiously slipping pint bottles from their pockets to take quick defiant sips behind the curtain of family tumult. They were the only family members not too preoccupied by havoc to witness uncle Lenny dejectedly hurrying out the side door. He had a fried chicken leg in his right hand and what remained of the pound cake balanced in his left. After a  few steps down the road in the tepid air of a west Tennessee late evening, Lenny's shoulders straightened from a slump. He lifted his head high to a regal baring of self pride. Savoring a big bite of chicken, he shouted a declaration, "That's why I never went to their ol' boring family dinners. I sure did bring them some excitement this time. I don't even care if they thought my delicious cake was a dirty contribution!" 
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