Corky Hayes delivered a resounding blow to her father, Reginald Hayes, Jr. during dinner at the Alabaster Club, an exclusive club Reggie belonged to since he was twenty-five years old and beginning his career as a litigator.
Reggie had three daughters, Corky being the youngest, just recently away at college in Ann Arbor for her freshman year with an undeclared major and a lot of unruly emotion. Her parents separated after twenty-seven years of marriage and her father now had a liaison with a former cocktail waitress/yoga instructor around thirty years old. “So utterly devoid of imagination, such a pitiful cliché,” Corky screamed at her mother when she got the news that the “cowardly” father could not impart for himself.
Corky’s mother, Judy Gilbert Hayes seemed to take it more in stride than her daughters and had to actually defend her husband after her daughters, full of vitriol and spite, threatened to disown their father as if they, and not Reggie controlled the purse strings.
Eventually the dust settled, Corky went off to college, Judy and Reggie hired lawyers, the two elder daughters, twins, Vicky and Christy moved to California and got jobs in software development and Web design. They either moved on or forgave their errant father but Corky was not to be dissuaded from her froth. She was the lone possessor of gall and spittle, unable to come to terms with divorce, domestic upheaval or philandering. She felt humiliation for her mother, more so because Judy seemed not particularly bothered by Reggie’s abandonment, his new life of unbridled affection and renewed zest with his “playmate,” a term of derision Judy used and Corky approved of hoping her mother might show some spunk after all.
Corky spent much of her freshman year at Michigan hanging out with members of a rock band, ignoring her dorm mates and fellow students. She formed an alliance with an African-American drummer from Detroit who planned to leave Ann Arbor for New York and a career in music. His name was Adderley and his father was a prison guard at a nearby federal penitentiary. Adderley hated his father for his role in the prison system that was harsh to African-Americans, part of a corrupt system that was condoned by the federal government. Together Corky and Adderley read about John Sinclair, an Ann Arbor folk hero who was imprisoned for two joints, later released when John Lennon and Yoko Ono showed up for a benefit concert to free him. Both of them wished they had been a part of the 1960s and ‘70s when radical politics dominated Ann Arbor. Now it was strictly lame; future MBAs and lawyers, they scoffed.
Corky had gone home for the weekend and was to have dinner with her father which is where this story began. Reggie hesitantly told her that he would be bringing his girlfriend Tracy.
“I’d like you two to meet, he said with phony bravado. Tracy used to live in Ann Arbor too.”
“Oh boy. We’re almost sisters,” she snarked at him.
“Don’t be mean, luv, you have to get used to this. Try to make friends.”
“Yeah, well maybe you can get used to a few things yourself.”
“What does that mean, Cork?”
“Nothing. I’ll meet you at the Alabaster Friday night. See you, Dad.” She hung up quickly before he could question her further.
Friday night Corky arrived a little late, she had been hoping Adderley would get there in time but was held up on I-75 in traffic. If he didn’t make it, her plan would go awry. Reggie and Tracy were seated at the bar and her father held out his arms to his daughter, then wrapped both women in a hug. Corky felt like throwing up, mostly because his girlfriend was soaked in Obsession, a perfume that made her retch. She often had sick reactions to perfume but that one was tops on her puke-o-meter and she took this for a definite sign.
“Come on, girls, relax, get to know each other, we’re here to have fun,” said Reggie, loosening his grip on both of them. The hostess announced their table was ready and they made their way through the dining room, Reggie nodding and smiling like a local politician soliciting donations. Corky could feel the tension mounting, mostly from within herself and she fervently hoped Ad would arrive soon. She checked her cell but no message. They were given menus and Corky told her father that they would be joined by her boyfriend, he was on his way, caught in traffic. Could they please wait a bit before ordering?
“Didn’t know you had a boyfriend, kid. Good work. Is he at Michigan too?”
“Well, sort of.”
“Oh that’s so sweet, first college romance,” said Tracy in a syrupy voice that did nothing to alleviate the strain.
Ad finally arrived, peering in from the entryway not quite sure what he was supposed to do. He wasn’t dressed for this place and felt a little awkward. He’d had a band rehearsal which was why he was late and was sweaty and nervous after the drive in traffic in an old van used for hauling band equipment. Corky waved to him and he sauntered to the table with a walk that made her insides liquefy and made everyone else take a second look over their soup course--trying not to be obvious.
“Dad, I’d like you to meet Adderley Carson,” she said. She purposely ignored Tracy, unconcerned whether or not her manners were bad. Tracy, she decided, was awful and that was enough. She could tell by the way she kept her hand on her father’s arm as though she was afraid he would get away. She screamed “gold digger" and Corky had no truck with that sort of thing. She also talked in a sing-songy voice that unnerved her.
Her father, always the perfect host put out his hand and motioned for Adderley to take a seat opposite him. “Nice to meet you, Adderley, are you a student at Michigan?”
“No. I’m a musician.”
“Oh… and what instrument do you play?”
“I’m a drummer, man, I mean Mr. Hayes.”
“Oh, I love drummers,” said Tracy a little hastily and got a rather pointed look from Reggie.
“Well, let’s order up, kids. Anything you want. Go all out. This is a celebration. I’ve got some news but I’ll wait until we’ve had some wine and a bite to eat--get to know each other a little. Adderley, I wasn‘t expecting you, but you‘re more than welcome. My daughter knows a good man I think, ha, ha, ha, she‘s been around one all of her life.” Both women, if they weren’t wary of each other, would have rolled their eyes at Reggie’s inane remark that fell flat and quickly drifted out of range.
“I’ve got some news, too, Dad. You want me to go first?” She was anxious to get it out of the way.
“Wait until I’ve ordered the wine, honey. Here’s Johnny, the finest wine steward in town, what do you recommend tonight, Johnny?”
Corky felt sorry for her dad, she knew when he was nervous he always made dumb comments and played the part of a TV talk-show host. Reggie ordered a fine white Bordeaux for the first course, more expensive than usual, another sign of his uneasiness.
“So go ahead, Cork, what’s up?” said Reggie after the wine had been tasted and approved.
“Well Dad, I’ve decided to drop out of school and go with Ad to New York. We’re thinking of getting married but first we need to get settled in New York and Ad needs to get into a new band.” She knew she was being unfair hurling this scenario at the wrong time, in the wrong place but that was her plan. She suspected his news was going to flay her and she wanted to get the jump on him. There he was, smugly sitting with his child-like concubine planning a phony dinner to check on his youngest daughter’s disposition before he announced his own engagement, this Corky knew without having been told.
“So you see Dad, you won’t have to pay my tuition; I know how high it is and you’ll be able to use the money for a new place to live.” This she said without obvious sarcasm but Corky was a master of the subtle dig.
Reggie, choking on his lobster bisque, aware of his surroundings, unable to put forth his own views, was forced to treat Adderley with babyish care, a minority for God’s sake, feigning a respect he had no appetite for, clutching the hand of his fiancee under the table while clearing his throat and forcing himself to calm his nerves before speaking. He motioned the waiter for a martini and a glass of water. Then with the utmost dignity he said in a slow hissing voice, “You are like hell moving to New York, quitting school, getting married, getting a job, joining the circus or any other half-assed, hair-brained ideas that you have in your foolish, immature mind” while the water was set in front of him followed by the trout in wine and shallots he so heartily recommended just minutes before.
Adderley, who was unable to hear very well after the rehearsal in which the band played as loud as their heros, The MC5, the loudest band ever, had ordered the prime rib and was oblivious to the anger that was sputtering from Corky’s father. He did not catch the venom with which Corky had let loose her revenge. He was starving and did not usually have the opportunity to feast like this and was three times at the salad bar before the main course was served. In any case, he did not care what this middle-aged white guy with his cheerleader at his side had to say. He planned to enjoy this meal and poured himself a glass of wine since no one seemed to offer it or wanted any. Reggie stabbed at his trout fuming, had it taken away and another martini delivered. Corky, having grown up eating in this dining room was munching a spinach salad and watching Tracy trying unsuccessfully to crack open her lobster tail. When the juice splashed on her dress, purchased that afternoon at full price, she tossed it aside and tried to regain Reggie’s attention and concern, embarrassed at the wet spot just above her left breast. Adderley cleaned his plate, ordered a slice of flourless chocolate cake, an espresso and then a Black Russian. An eerie silence descended on Table Six and the waiter hovered around not quite sure what approach to take. No one seemed to appreciate the fine food except the black kid who devoured the salad bar, the waiter thought to himself. He hoped the uneaten food wasn’t going to affect his tip too much.
Finally the meal was over and the two couples exited the dining room, Reggie’s bonhomie slightly the worse for wear, Corky smirking in a way that nearly drove him insane with fury while breaking his heart to pieces, she his favorite daughter. He wanted to take her away and have a sensible talk but his hands were tied: to Tracy.
Tracy knew he was angry so she tried to make light of his annoying daughter’s announcement and her ridiculous boyfriend, stuffing his face unaware of the implications Corky’s snotty attitude had on Reggie. Nothing more was said until they reached the parking lot. The two men shook hands, Corky kissed her father on the cheek and they parted. When Tracy tried to put her arm around Reggie, he was distracted and moved just a touch away from her: it was only for an instant but she registered the rebuff fully. She also noted their engagement had been left unannounced.
That was the beginning of the end for Reggie and Tracy. Little things began to bug her, they built up to a big pain in her side and eventually she decided he had too much baggage for her, too many daughters who could be problematic. She married her high-school boyfriend after he divorced his present wife.
Corky did not go to New York. She broke up with Adderley shortly after the dinner. He did move to New York. She’d heard he had an audition for a well-known heavy metal band whose drummer overdosed but meanwhile was playing in a punk band on the lower east side that had gotten a few good reviews. Corky graduated in four years with a useless degree in anthropology just to annoy her father and was going for her master’s. She never intended to drop out of school, marry or move to New York. She knew how to go for her father’s jugular and though she loved him dearly, felt he had it coming.
Reggie dated a bevy of silly women and finally made an attempt to get back with Judy but Judy wasn’t interested and instead married her psychiatrist. Corky couldn’t stand him but he knew how to watch his back. His own daughter was something of a pill.
All of the people in this story are fictitious except for John Sinclair and the MC5. You can read more about them by clicking on the links below.
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