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Buster got home from his long haul run a day early and wanted her to get her hiney home pronto, but I stayed late because Cal Orvelle was singing country songs up on that little stage they have at Sadie’s.”
    “Cal Orvelle!” said Hadley, “I didn’t even know he was still kicking.”
    “Yeah,” said Lou Edna, “not too high, but high enough. You know he’s still a silver-haired fox, Hadley. I was surprised. I really was. I mean, I was like you. Cal Orvell has been around the block a time or two or three or four. But he looked good up on that stage. He really did.
    “Old Cal always did not how to dress. Remember, we called him ‘Knock ’em Dead, Cal.”
    “I remember,” said Hadley. “He is the only man who loved rhinestones more than you.”
    “He still does,” said Lou Edna. “Cal’s passionate about ’em. If I was the ball at Time Square, then Cal is like the explodin’ fireworks of Hong Kong. I felt kinda tawdry, Hadley, compared to Cal.
    “He had one of his shiniest outfits on. He sure did. And with that silver hair, up on that stage with his favorite guitar, Bessie Lee, well, I’m here to tell you, girlfriend, he ain’t lost one ounce of sex appeal, that ole boy ain’t.
    “I really didn’t know what to expect when I first heard Cal was gonna headline at Sadie’s. I’d heard the liquor and the years and the women had done a number on him. That his vocal chords, and everything else about him, wasn’t what it used to be. But I’m here to tell you, he’s still got it.”
    “But ain’t he older than Adam, Lou Edna?” Hadley asked.
    “Probably,” Lou Edna said, “by a coupla’ hundrit years, but I don’t care. I wouldn’t mind wakin’ up to that sexy face anyday!”
    Hadley laughed.
    “You know, though, if it ain’t the strangest thing,” Lou Edna said. “Ora Lavelle gave me a ring last night, late. I’d only been home, oh, I don’t know, 30 minutes or so. She said she went home to an empty house. She said she called Buster, and he told her he was right on schedule. That he was still about a day and a half out, but that he missed her like heck, ’n’ when he got home, they was gonna make whoopee till the cows came home. Ora Lavelle said Buster’s like that when he’s been away from her for a spell. She don’t know what she likes better, the lovin’ reunion or Buster’s big paycheck.
    “She asked Buster if he’d tried to get hold of her ’cause she was out with me. She said Buster acted kinda shocked. He claimed he never called her, but I don’t know. Maybe he did it to make sure Ora wasn’t misbehavin’ while he was out on the road. But I don’t know why he’d do that. Ora Lavelle ain’t never been nothin’ but a saint while Buster’s on the road. You’d think that she was a cloistered nun or something. About twice a year, she’ll agree to go out with me. To Sadie’s or some place like that, you know. But always with other women.
    “She might let her brother take her to Piney Woods for a barbecue, but as far as I ever heard tell of. Ora Lavelle only does that if Purcell brings Gladelle and them two little girls.
    “You know, I heard that Gladelle was finally gonna go and get her some affordable dentures!
    “Ora Lavelle says she likes Gladelle good enough. Can’t fault her none on how she keeps them pretty little girls clean and neat. But Ora Lavelle says it is a cryin’ shame Gladelle ain’t got her no teeth, after all these years. She was a fine lookin’ gal ’fore she got pyorrhea. That rhymes with diarrhea, don’t it?
    “Anyway, Ora Lavelle says it is a real burden to have to go to Piney Woods or church suppers with Purcell and his family.
    “Gladelle likes to sit right across from Ora Lavelle whenever they set table together, you know. Not to the side, which I guess wouldn’t be so bad, but right straight acros’t from poor Ora.
    “Ora Lavelle says that Gladelle is a chatterbox. She says she’s always been one to talk, which wasn’t so