In a Roundabout Way

Darcy poured another cup of her mother’s strong, hot coffee and sat down across from her, at the kitchen table.

“So, Mom, you know everybody in Levi, Oklahoma. Why are you wondering whether to send flowers to January Gritts’ funeral? Are we related to him?”

Flora Tucker sipped her coffee and narrowed her eyes. “We might be. I’m not really sure about that. Maybe we’re shirttail kin in a roundabout sort of way.”

Darcy shook her head and sighed. “What in the world is shirttail kin?”

“It’s this way. Mr. Gritts’ mother was April Leonard and she was once married to your uncle Pat Centerton. But, before she married Pat, she was married to Leonard Backwater.”

“But, if Mr. Backwater was January’s father, why isn’t he January Backwater instead of Gritts?”

“Oh, honey, I didn’t say Mr. Backwater was January’s father, now, did I? No, he was born before April married Leonard.”

Darcy rubbed her head. It was beginning to hurt. “Do I want to know who April was first married to, who was Pat’s father?”

Flora raised her eyebrows. “Probably not.”

“It must have been somebody with the last name of Gritts. Do I know anybody by that name? I can’t think of anyone right now.”

Flora swirled her coffee in her cup. “I doubt that you know January’s father. I don’t.”

Darcy finished her cup of coffee and sat still, trying to digest all this information. Finally, she said, “I think we kind of got off track here, Mom. The first question was why you should send flowers to January’s funeral. By the way, why did he die? Was he killed in an accident, or sick for a long time, or what?”

“Well, maybe you might say an accident. You see, he was down by the river, according to Myrtle Jones who I ran into in the grocery store yesterday. He was looking for that jar full of money that was supposed to be hidden somewhere along the river in one of those caves, money from a bank robbery way back in the thirties. He went into a cave which, according to the map, was where the money was buried and there was an unfortunate cave-in.”

Darcy shook her head. “That was unfortunate indeed and very sad. Do you think Myrtle really knew? How did she find out? You know how gossip makes the rounds in this town.”

Flora nodded. “I agree there are far too many gossipers but Myrtle knew all about it. She had heard it from Verabell Canewood and Verabell is the widow of Thomas Potter, who was mayor, you remember, for a good many years. Well, Thomas was a cousin, once or twice removed and he…”

“No, stop.” Darcy closed her eyes.”I don’t really want to know. I’m sure he was a dear, truthful relative and one to be proud of but, yes, Mom. Please do send those flowers. I think I need to go lie down for a while.”