The twang in her "tawk" and the wiggle in her walk gets her a lot of looks. She comes by the name "Mo Tee Suh" because that's what she asks the gentlemen customers in her Mama's diner. Some sweet day she'll be a movie star though, if only in her dreams. “Mo Tee Suh” The Continuing Series by Scarlet   ~Page 2 of 2~ WEBMASTER NOTE: This is a continuing series that is best read sequentially. To insure your reading pleasure you should read these poems in the order they’re listed, from first to last. The series begins on the previous page which can be accessed from the link at the bottom of this page.  “Mo Tee Suh” The Series - Page 2  Click on the button next to any title in the  list below to be linked to that poem   MO TEE SUH AND WHAT’S HIS NAME?   MO TEE SUH AND THE MOVIE DATE   MO TEE SUH AND THE DATE CRASHER   MO TEE SUH’S MAMA IS THINKIN’ AND ASKIN’   MO TEE SUH AND T.C.’S THREAT   MO TEE SUH’S TIME TO FESS UP?   MO TEE SUH’S LETTER   MO TEE SUH’S MAMA REACTS   BACK TO NORMAL AT MO TEE SUH’S   MO TEE SUH — ALONE IN THE DINER   MO TEE SUH — GUTS AND BLOOD   MO TEE SUH SNAPS BACK TO REALITY   MO TEE SUH AND ONE-SHOE MAMA   MO TEE SUH IS MAKING PLANS   MO TEE SUH AND THE DODGING DANCE   MO TEE SUH’S MAMA MAKES THINGS VERY CLEAR   MO TEE SUH AND WHAT’S HIS NAME? Mo Tee Suh had it all planned out “Mama, I’ll close up tonight” Mama gave her a grateful look “Girl, that would suit me, alright” “Just go on home and rest yoself” “You’ve put in a big ol’ day” “I know you wanna soak your feet” “Jest listen to what I say” Mo Tee Suh cleaned up the diner Mama had left pretty fast She got her dress from the back room Tonight, she would have a blast She locked all of the diner’s doors And, turned out all the lights No one was gonna know about Her plans this Saturday night Just as she reached the corner light He drove up in his red car “Excuse me, Miss, do I know you?” “You look like a movie star!” She blushed as she got in his car The night was finally here The date she had dreamed about With the man she held so dear Funny, she thought, as she looked out “This sure is a gall-darn shame” “Never been out with a feller” “Without first knowin’ his name!”   MO TEE SUH AND THE MOVIE DATE Mo Tee Suh found herself nervous More so than she’d ever been This handsome man from the diner Was not exactly a friend Yet there she was in his bright red car Happy to be by his side With clueless Mama back at home Not knowing about this ride They decided on the picture show No one would know them in there They grabbed some sodas and popcorn She suddenly felt a stare She headed into the movie Looking for seats in the dark Was she wrong to have made this date? Was this just a stupid lark? She watched him during the movie He certainly did seem nice Everything was going just fine Until she dumped out her ice The movie ended the lights came on “Let’s go get something to eat” Mo Tee Suh never heard his words T.C. was in the next seat   MO TEE SUH AND THE DATE CRASHER He nodded as he mouthed her name While he ruined her perfect bliss “T.C., you keep your big mouth shut!” “Mama can’t know about this!” ”Never knew you to tell a lie” “Secrets will come out ya know?” “T.C. this here is my business” “Don’t feel like you gotta crow!” Getting caught in the theatre Was not part of her plan She just wanted some quiet time With this handsome no name man Mr. No Name was rather stunned Found the lobby a safe place “What do you want to keep quiet?” She got close to T.C.’s face T.C. put his hands in the air “Ten bucks? Twenty? What is it?” “I just came to see a movie!” And, he left lickety split Mo Tee Suh knew this wasn’t good Mr. No Name came back in “Time to take you home, don’t you think?” She nodded and tried to grin As he turned down Mo Tee Suh’s street He said that he’d be in touch But, is there a chance that he will? Mo Tee Suh thought – not so much   MO TEE SUH’S MAMA IS THINKIN’ AND ASKIN’ “Bout time you straggled on in here” “Mama! I’m sorry I’m late” “Enough of that chit-chattin’, girl” “Tell me 'bout that so called DATE” “Oh, it wuz wundahful, Mama” “I was totally surprised” “I didn’t know about his plan” “He was there before my eyes” Mama didn’t think much of him But, for once she held her tongue She did think about his neck, though That it might need to be rung “We danced and danced the night away” “I felt like I was on air!” Mama nodded and tried to smile Truthfully, she didn’t care “There IS somethin’ I wanna know” Mo Tee Suh stared at the floor “Does this character have a name?” Then, T.C. walked in the door   MO TEE SUH AND T.C.’S THREAT Mo Tee Suh couldn’t help but stare Because T.C. knew it all But, would he tell it to Mama? Mo Tee Suh began her stall ”Uh, Mama what was your question?” ”Did you just turn deaf on me?” “You know what it was that I asked!” “Hey, y’all could I get some tea?” Mama turned around to see him “I’ll take your ‘Special’ plate too” “T.C.! Good grief! Where’d you come from?” “My folks are from the bayou” “Too many smart people today” “Let me git in that kitchen” Mo Tee Suh glared at T.C. “I’m cool. So, quit-yer-bitt-chin” “You cannot tell Mama, you heah?” “So, what’s the deal with you two?” “Goin’ out to the movies” “And, dancin’ on New Year’s too?” “How do you know about New Yeah’s” “I know a lot about you” “Better see about my breakfast” “Or, tell handsome toodle-oo!”   MO TEE SUH’S TIME TO FESS UP? “So, when’s the big date gonna be?” “Been waitin’ on you to say” “Young feller like that would be good” “So, when’s the big T.C. Day?!” Mama laughed as she stopped talking Mo Tee Suh wanted to cry “You lis’nin to me over there?” “When’s T.C. gonna come by?” “Mama, I ain’t gonna date him” Mo Tee Suh tried to be firm Mama’s look shot from the kitchen Mo Tee Suh tried not to squirm “Whut did you jest say to me, girl?” “What I said was that I ain’t…” “You ain’t? You ain’t? Best you rethink” Mo Tee Suh tried not to faint She gathered herself up and walked Time to fess up with Mama She made it through the kitchen door “Girl, I don’t want no drama” “I’ve known T.C.’s folks all my life” “You cain’t find no one better” “Oh yeah... the mailman jest came by” “And, he brung ya this letter”   MO TEE SUH’S LETTER Mo Tee Suh picked up the letter There was no return address “Who could be writing me?” she thought “It must be a bill, I guess” She walked back into the diner And opened the envelope His words flew off the page at her “I know you think I’m a dope” Pages filled with heart-wrenching thoughts Brought tears down Mo Tee Suh’s face He went on to offer some news “But, I did find a new place” Mama was peeking from the door Wondrin’ who wrote the letter She thought about making pot pies To help her girl feel better “You’re always in my heart, Margrit” “So, don’t you go feelin’ sad” “I’m gonna make you really proud” The last of the words from Dad   MO TEE SUH’S MAMA REACTS Mo Tee Suh saw her a-comin’ But, didn’t want to hear it ”That letter was from Jessie Earl!” “I’m tellin’ ya he ain’t worth…” “Nobody makes you cry like him” “He sez send him money, right? ”That man is good for nuthin’, girl” “He’s writin’ ya just for spite” Mo Tee Suh didn’t even look up There was no stoppin’ Mama She needed to have her “rage” time Known for her touch of drama “He flies in and out of your life..” “Like a yo-yo on a stick” “Don’t you send him a single cent!” “Woo-eee, that man makes me sick” Then, Mama got kinda quiet Mo Tee Suh noticed a smile “Jessie Earl sure could make me laugh” “But, it he ever comes back here.. I’ll…”   BACK TO NORMAL AT MO TEE SUH’S Things were back to almost normal “Would ya like some mo tee suh?” “Mama made fried chicken today” ”Or, livah if you prafur” The diner was full and buzzing Mo Tee Suh was in her stride It was best that she was busy And, had put her woes aside “Well, just look at you, dear Margret” She lifted her head to see The handsome one who stole her heart She felt a little weak kneed “I know it’s been quite a long time” “In fact, I’ve been out of town” Mo Tee didn’t admit it But, did feel a bit let down “It’s time we had a little talk” She found the nearest chair Why would he say a thing like that? Did he ever really care?   MO TEE SUH — ALONE IN THE DINER “I’m off to widow Johnson’s house” “Poor ol’ soul’s about half dead” “Takin’ her some of my chili” “That oughta make her see red” Mo Tee Suh knew quick what this meant Mama leavin’ the diner She’d have a day all to herself Not a whole lot that’s finer “She’d trip over a cordless phone” “And, could depress the Devil” “So ugly she could haunt a house” “Wears weights to keep her level!” “But, I can’t help feelin’ sorry” “Mama knew her Mama too” “Now, don’t go gittin’ no ideas” “I still got one eye on you” Mama left the diner quickly Her girl found a booth up front Looking through a few magazines Then, suddenly heard a grunt She took a look out the front window “Oh no, please gimme a break” Was Widow Johnson’s boy, Peanut Tougher than a two-dollar steak   MO TEE SUH — GUTS AND BLOOD “Peanut, you best be movin’ on!” Mo Tee Suh yelled out real loud She didn’t want him to come in “Go on! Make yo Mama proud!” “Look at goody two shoes Mahhh-grit” “Tellin’me whut I should do” “Bold talk from behind that winder!” “Git out here and let me see you!” Mo Tee Suh was smarter than that She never moved a muscle Staring out at the tough mean man Fearing there’d be a tussle I ain’t comin’ out there, Peanut!” “I got better things to do!” With that he picked up a huge rock Through the front window it flew Mo Tee Suh fell and hit her head Peanut laughed and walked away Blood trickled onto Mama’s floor Hey, where is she anyway?   MO TEE SUH SNAPS BACK TO REALITY “All I said was ‘We need to talk’” “So, where did you drift off to?” Mo Tee Suh realized her daydream Mo Tee Suh realized she’d drifted Mo Tee Suh jumped back to this world Seeing her dream wasn’t true “I... I thought I saw Peanut out there” “Who are you talking about?” “He’s jest a mean ol’ pain in the…” “Comes around to check me out” “Well, I think we still need to talk” She turned to his handsome face “You don’t want to see me no more” “’Cause I work in this ol’ place” “I do believe if that were true” “I wouldn’t be here right now” “You jest sayin’ all them nice things” “Jest so I won’t have no cow” He thought of when they had first met He didn’t understand a word Knowing she couldn’t have a cow “My dear, that’s really absurd” “I want to talk to your Mama” “And, tell her I care for you” Mo Tee Suh started to swoon some While Mama took off her shoe   MO TEE SUH AND ONE-SHOE MAMA Mo Tee Suh saw Mama coming She had one shoe in her hand “Mama! Ain’t no need tah git riled!” “Girl!’ Let me talk to this man” He stood up like gentlemen do Helped Mama sit in her chair She eyed him untrustingly Mo Tee Suh played with her hair “Ok, let’s have it. Whut you want?” Mama wasn’t playing games “You want to go out with my girl?” “And, you ain’t even swapped names?” “Oh, I know that her name’s Margrit” “Don’t you talk sass with me, sport” “I’ll knock you intah that kitchen!” “File me a police report” “Ma’am, I really care about her” “And, I want to do what’s right” “I’m hoping for your permission” “To take her out Saturday night” “Nice that you got gentlemanly” “But, I ain’t touched in the head” ”You take my daughter ennywheres” “You gonna wish you wuz dead!”   MO TEE SUH IS MAKING PLANS Mama stood up by the table Glared into Mo Tee Suh’s eyes Then, walked back into the kitchen Mo Tee Suh was not surprised “I’ll go and talk to her again” The handsome man smiled and said “Hale no! You ain’t gonna do that” “Or, do you wish you wuz dead? “I’m sure I can reason with her” Mo Tee Suh started to laugh “Cain’t no one reason with Mama” “Without gittin’ cut in half!” “If thar’s one thing that I do know” “No man will be right fer me” “You’re dancin’ on her last nerve now” “Best we change to a new key” Confused he simply sat back down Dancing with keys did seem odd But, he knew she knew her Mama It was best that he just nod “I think I got a fool proof plan” “That’s as simple as can be” “But, before I git into all that” “Would you tell yo name to me?”   MO TEE SUH AND THE DODGING DANCE It’s not a difficult question Why has it taken so long? Has he a hidden agenda? Or, did he do something wrong? Mo Tee Suh was tired of waiting And, hated she had to ask But, it did seem that he was hiding Behind a strange see through mask “I don’t feel names are important” He started the “dodging” dance “I need tah know whut tah call ya” She said with a passing glance Steam was rising from the kitchen None of the burners were on The steam came from riled up Mama About to take this guy on “Perhaps we can take this outside” ”It seems quite stuffy in here” There does seem to be a dark cloud Closing fast; holding a spear   MO TEE SUH’S MAMA MAKES THINGS VERY CLEAR “Don’t look at me with that sad face” ”You know that slime had to go” “Don’t go gittin’ your feathers ruffled” “Best you find another show” Mama was telling Mo Tee Suh Why this ending had to be “Man who keeps secrets is a snake” “This is a good day! You’ll see” “He’s jest too big fer his britches” “Lucky I spotted him quick” “You coulda gave ‘way yo sweetness” “Mercy, that jest makes me sick” “You can’t be piddlin’ around now” “We got this diner to run” ”Mebbe you should call ol’ T.C.” “And, go out and have some fun” Mama’s words weren’t really helping “Sumthin’ else ‘bout him, you hear? “Like a booger ya cain’t thump off!” “Am I makin’ mahsef clear?”   To be continued . . . . . . .   Mo Tee Suh - Page 1 Scarlet’s Main Poetry Page Essays by Scarlet Website Home Page