Dandy Nelson tried not to stare into Big Rupert’s afflicted eye but simply could not help himself. When Rupert realized he was being stared at, the sizable black man squinted his afflicted left eye along with his good right eye. He never broke stride as he escorted Nelson down the street toward the mansion in which Della Owens resided.

“Sure has been a warm but pretty day,” the nervous Nelson commented as Rupert spit through his two gapped front teeth.
Rupert didn’t reply. He just kept walking and for kicks, he forced the wine maker to stare into his afflicted eye.

They passed a few people by and pleasantries were exchanged as they continued to walk briskly through the residential section of Live Oak, Florida.

“Mr. Nelson,” Rupert finally commented, “Ms. Della claims you’s a fairly good wine maker. That be true?”
“I sure like to think so,” Nelson replied with much confidence.
“Shoot,” Rupert retorted. “I think you’s just a takin’ that ole lady’s money.”

Rupert knew better but found joy in watching Dandy squirm. Everyone enjoyed seeing Dandy Nelson squirm. He was a likable character, yet everyone liked to pick on old Dandy. No doubt, he was quite sloppy and anyone could see that as they watched him clumsily stroll alongside Big Rupert. Although he perceived himself as a pillar of the community, Dandy was certainly not revered as one. Sure he was a good-hearted fellow but lacked somewhat morally.

Nonetheless, Ms. Della Owens had requested the presence of Dandy Nelson so Big Rupert was determined to deliver the drunken entrepreneur to the mansion in which she resided. That was his job. Whenever Ms. Owens needed something special done, she would just call on her right hand man, Big Rupert. He never failed in completing any task requested of him.

Big Rupert got the adjective part of his name honestly for he was indeed big. Although he was large, he was also lean. His bald head always glistened beneath Florida’s beaming sun. The large gentleman maintained a well manicured goatee on his face although it wasn’t easily detected due to his extremely dark complexion. Beneath his overalls, Rupert always wore a khaki shirt that bulged out around his huge biceps. During the extreme summer months, he would also wear a ragged straw hat.

“My, this place looks as beautiful as always,” Nelson said genuinely as he looked up at the colonial mansion with its red brick exterior. All the trim was freshly painted white and tile shingles of a terra cotta color gave the roof a somewhat tropical appeal.
“Why wouldn’t it?” Rupert asked defensively. “That is the way the Major and Mrs. Becker always liked it. Ain’t it?”
“Oh yes, yes indeed,” Nelson answered as he removed his round spectacles and wiped the sweat from his face with a soiled handkerchief.“The azaleas is gonna be awful fine this year,” Rupert said with such pride as he gazed over the two acre compound and then smiled at Nelson. Upon catching himself, he forced Dandy Nelson to look back into his deformed eye. He then replaced his pleasant smile with a harsh look.

Nelson quickly broke eye contact and said, “Oh, how I love these azaleas in the spring.”
“Yes, suh,” Rupert simply replied as he opened the wrought iron gate that allowed them to pass through the fence of brick that was lined at the top with decorative wrought iron railing.

The front door of the mansion lay about one-hundred feet from the fence. Dandy and Rupert walked the concrete sidewalk from the gate and after going up three steps, they stood at the front door.

Once again, Rupert forced eye contact with Nelson and then rapped three times on the front door. Silently, the two men stood waiting to be granted their entrance by Ms. Della Owens.

Shortly, Della opened the door and cordially invited the two men inside. Neither of the two men were strangers to the mansion. Duty called Rupert there almost daily as it called Dandy Nelson there at least once a year.

“Can I offer either of you anything to drink?” Della politely asked. “I have milk, tea, orange juice, or wine,” she added with a touch of laughter.
“I’m alright,” Rupert replied. “How about you, suh?” he asked Nelson.
“A glass of water would be nice,” the wine maker confirmed with a smile of a salesman.

Della excused herself and marched off toward the kitchen to comply with Dandy Nelson’s request for water.

As he waited, Dandy observed his surroundings. First, he noticed Rupert standing at attention as if Della Owens was a drill sergeant about to return. Then he beheld the beauty of the antique furniture that had been given to the Major and Mrs. Becker by many military and political acquaintances. There were pieces that had been given to them by former United States presidents, military generals, and prominent senators and representatives. To say the least, their host of friends had been rather influential.

Upon Della’s return, she gracefully handed Dandy the cold water and then turned to Rupert.
“Will you go ahead and get that employee we discussed earlier?” she asked.
“Yes ma’am,” Rupert replied and darted for the door.

As Rupert closed the front door behind him, Della turned and straightened a vase of camellias upon a tea trolley and then smiled hospitably at Dandy Nelson.

“Please, Mr. Nelson, have a seat,” Della suggested as Dandy sat down with his worn straw hat in hand.
“So how much wine will you be a needing, Ms. Owens?” Nelson promptly asked.
“Oh, probably twelve or fourteen gallons,” she replied. “I would like six gallons of grape wine, six gallons of blackberry wine, and let’s go ahead and do a couple of gallons of blueberry.”
“Very well,” Dandy replied. “I shall have you some blueberry wine real soon.”
“Now you know I do not prefer it too sweet,” Della reminded him.
“Yes ma’am,” Dandy replied with a smile. “I do not think the Major and Mrs. Becker liked their wine all that sweet either, did they?”
“No they did not,” Della Owens softly answered. “It’s hard to believe they are gone,” she admitted.

Dandy Nelson looked up at the portrait of Major and Mrs. William Becker above the fireplace. The painting brought back pleasurable memories for him as well as many others who were presented the opportunity to visit the mansion. Gently, the wine maker smiled.

“You know,” he began, “the Major liked me.”
“Of course he did,” Della agreed.
“I used to do quite a bit of fishing up around Suwannee Springs and occasionally the Major would go with me,” Nelson explained.

Thoughtfully, Della Owens smiled and nodded her head as she listened attentively as Nelson spoke. She was aware the Major would occasionally accompany Dandy Nelson fishing but did not give any indication of such awareness. She allowed the wine maker to share his memorable times with Major William Becker. Della Owens was also aware of the reason Major Becker would accompany Nelson fishing on occasions.

Ms. Owens was aware that Dandy Nelson had been shunned by many because of his shortcomings. However, she was aware as was the Major that Dandy Nelson had anonymously given many elderly citizens and orphaned children memorable Christmases. He was definitely not a man of ample means but deemed it something he should do for he too was an orphan. Major Becker had a special feeling for Dandy Nelson specifically for that reason.

After patiently listening to Dandy give account of his and the Major’s former fishing excursions, Della reached into her purse and extracted some money.

“I think I will need to pay you, Mr. Nelson,” she said.“Oh don’t worry about that until I deliver the wine,” Dandy candidly replied. “Besides, I am liable to run off with your money,” he added in good humor.
“I know better than that,” Della kindly replied. “Whenever you get it ready you can just drop it off. But please, take the money now because I may be gone when you come with the wine. If I’m not home,” she added, “just leave it on the back door. It will be fine there.”
“Yes ma’am,” Nelson replied with a congenial smile. “Ms. Owens, have a good evening,” he candidly remarked as he stood to walk toward the door.

Just as Dandy Nelson reached to open the door, Big Rupert knocked his usual three times. Della nodded for Dandy to open the door and he did. On the front porch stood Rupert and an employee from one of the Becker sawmills. He was a young man of probably twenty two years of age.

“Good day, Mr. Nelson,” Della commented as she motioned for Rupert to escort the problem employee inside.
“You wanna see me?” the belligerent talking young man blurted.
“Sit down,” Della compassionately said.
“I’ll stand,” the young man quickly replied.

Very quickly Big Rupert grasped his hand around the back of the young man’s neck and forced him into a straight chair as Della looked on.

“You will do what Ms. Owens says you will do, boy,” Rupert demanded in a gruff voice.

The problem employee saw the fire in Rupert’s eyes. He had also heard the horror stories of how Rupert dealt with trouble makers. Therefore, he remained quiet.

“The only reason I am going to allow you to continue employment with this outfit is because of your grandfather,” Della stressed. “I do not like you, but I have always liked and respected your family.”
“Yes, ma’am,” the young man stressed in a muffled tone.
“Now then,” Della said with a warming smile, “let us start anew, young man. Why aren’t you willing to deliver a full day’s work as do the other employees?”

The young man was quiet for a moment as he studied Della’s graceful expression. He then looked up at Big Rupert, who was towering over him. At that point, the young employee deemed it to be in his best interest to speak
.
“I be figurin’ a lot, you know,” he began. “It seem to me like seein’ how de Major be dead, we ain’t a gotta work so hard for them white folk no more.”
“Let me tell you one thing, young man,” Della said in an uncivil tone as she stood and pointed her index finger at the employee. “Major and Mrs. Becker have done more for our people than anyone else in North Florida and furthermore, you still work for him. Do I make myself clear?”

Again, the young man felt the overshadowing of Big Rupert and succumbed to giving a simple answer.

“Yes, ma’am,” he said, “perfectly clear.”

Della studied the employee momentarily before signaling Rupert to take him away. The look she cast upon him was not comprised of spite or pity, but rather disgust and disappointment.

Upon Rupert escorting the young employee away, Della walked into the kitchen and retrieved from the cabinet the remnants of Nelson’s production from the year prior. She poured a tall glass of grape wine and returned to the living room where the piano sat. With much care, she gently rubbed the ornate woodwork that protected the keys of ivory. Finally she walked upstairs. There, she would sit on the balcony outside of her quarters for the remainder of the day.