Beverly, Right Here

Beverly’s hand hurts from writing Iola’s name on the raffle tickets. The last time her hand hurt so much was in the third grade when she punched Tinsley Amos in the nose for doing “everything right.” As punishment, Beverly had to write “I regret my actions” 200 times. After she admitted she didn’t regret her actions, she had to write “I am properly sorry” 500 times. However, writing Iola’s name more than 80 times made her happy.

Iola teaches Elmer and Beverly how to dance together, and Elmer asks if he can put his arm around her waist. Beverly and Elmer make a box with their feet, and Elmer keeps counting to four. Beverly puts her head on his chest and hears his heart.

Iola wins the turkey and hums a Christmas song on the way home. She thinks about how she and Beverly met and the moments that lead to now. She “needed” Beverly, and Beverly “needed” her. Beverly claims otherwise, but Iola and Elmer hush her.

The turkey won’t fit in the trailer, and Elmer, unable to carry it any longer, drops it. The turkey bounces down the steps and into the grass. The trio laughs, and Maureen threatens to call the cops—it’s 11:47 pm, and “decent” folks are trying to sleep.

Elmer, Iola, and Beverly bring the turkey to Mr. C’s, where Doris and Charles carry on their strike. They let the trio store the turkey in the refrigerator, and they decide to have a Christmas dinner at five o’clock in the evening. Doris will help Iola cook the turkey, and Mr. Denby must supply the fruitcake. He cedes to Doris’s demands, so she and Charles get raises and sick days. He promises to do everything properly with paperwork—though having to close the restaurant for another day anguishes him.

Beverly dreams she’s lying beside Buddy’s grave. An angel without blue wings arrives, and the angel keeps closing and opening their mouth. Beverly wants the message, but the angel only smiles.

In the morning, Tommy, Iola’s son, questions his mom’s choices and wants Beverly to leave. If she’s not gone in a week, he’ll seize Iola’s car. Beverly reproaches him, and Tommy wonders who she really is. Beverly thinks about everything she is, but she doesn’t articulate all the things that make up her identity. Tommy calls her a “nobody,” and Iola says Tommy’s dad would be disappointed in him. Beverly says she should go. Iola knew Beverly would leave but having her around was fun.

At Muskie Market, Iola and Beverly grocery shop for the Christmas feast. They get potatoes, green beans, and ingredients for ambrosia. Iola explains what ambrosia is, and Beverly promises to visit Iola.

Back at Mr. C’s, Beverly returns Mr. Denby’s family Christmas photo before a person wearing a ski mask and carrying a Wiffle bat announces he’s conducting “a stickup.” The person threatens to “bash” heads if he doesn’t get the money in the safe. Beverly recognizes the person—it’s Jerome. Mr. Denby calls the robbery unfair, but nobody stops Jerome. If anybody calls the police, Jerome says he’ll return and break their bones.

After Jerome leaves the kitchen, Beverly and Charles chase him; Beverly goes out the front door, and Charles out the back. Beverly sees Freddie in the driver’s seat of Jerome’s truck. She knocks on the window and tells Freddie that she was probably supposed to wait with the car in the back of the restaurant. Beverly goes behind the restaurant and sees Charles sitting on top of Jerome in the sand. She realizes she wants to see Elmer. She walks to Zoom City but decides first to go in the phone booth.

In the phone booth, Beverly calls Raymie. She asks if Raymie remembers when Louisiana vanished. Beverly apologizes for leaving without telling Raymie. She wrote Raymie a letter, but she hasn’t mailed it yet. Crying, Beverly asks Raymie to get her. Beverly tells Raymie where she is.

Outside Zoom City, Beverly sees Robbie and his mom. Beverly apologizes for not coming back and helping him build another sandcastle. She invites Robbie, his mom, and Mrs. Deely to the Christmas feast. At Mr. C’s, surrounded by so many people, Beverly’s heart lifts, and her insides flutter. The seagull wants to join the feast, but Doris orders it to stay outside.