The Ballad of the Sad Cafe

In the center of a small, rural Southern town, there once was a café that used to be a store. Miss Amelia, who now lives in the rooms above, inherited the building from her father. She first turned it into a store with a still outside of town that provided the townspeople with liquor. She also practiced basic medicine. Miss Amelia was strong and independent, not caring what anyone thought of her.

The narrative flashes back to the year Miss Amelia turned 30. A small man with a severely curved spine approaches the store and, through tears, introduces himself as Lymon Willis—Miss Amelia’s cousin. The townspeople watch as Miss Amelia listens. She has no family and enjoys her solitude. They are surprised when she offers Cousin Lymon some liquor for free.

After midnight, Miss Amelia invites him inside, giving him her leftover dinner. Afterward, Miss Amelia invites Cousin Lymon upstairs to her rooms, where few townspeople have ever been. The next day, Miss Amelia opens the store. Soon, the townspeople begin speculating wildly, with some saying Miss Amelia murdered Cousin Lymon in the middle of the night. On Saturday, Miss Amelia does not open the store; the townspeople grow anxious. Finally, after night falls, Miss Amelia invites them in.

The townspeople are relieved when Cousin Lymon walks down the stairs. Miss Amelia stays in her office, but Cousin Lymon walks around, interacting with the townspeople. He fits in well. The townspeople notice that he carries Miss Amelia’s father’s snuffbox, which he fills with sugar and cocoa powder to suck on. At 10 o’clock, Miss Amelia comes out of her office. All of the townspeople are there for her liquor; she usually sells it to them and forces them out, as no one is allowed to drink in the store. This night, however, she allows the townspeople to drink inside and even opens some crackers for them. It is the beginning of the café. The townspeople now have a place to congregate and socialize, giving more meaning to their difficult lives. As Miss Amelia watches Cousin Lymon interact with them all, she looks lonely.

Four years pass, and in that time, Miss Amelia transforms the store into a real café, with seating for the townspeople. It becomes a popular spot. Cousin Lymon enjoys socializing there, feeling as though he is important. Miss Amelia tends to his every need, carrying him around and caring for him when his health suffers, as it often does. She gives him gifts constantly; he soon owns everything in her rooms above the café. He also influences her to be more social. The townspeople are amazed: Miss Amelia has never treated anyone like this before. They reflect on the illogical nature of love and the different experiences of the lover and the beloved.

Miss Amelia’s first marriage, to Marvin Macy, only lasted 10 days. Marvin was an orphan from a local family and was seen by many as an evil boy. He was violent and mean, often terrorizing others and causing trouble. However, when he fell in love with Miss Amelia, he changed to win her over. He acted decently and convinced Miss Amelia to marry him. Many hoped that he would have a similar influence on her rough ways.

On the night they married, Miss Amelia stomped down the stairs and stayed away from him. Over the next few days, she ignored him entirely. He gave her gifts, but she sold them at the store. Marvin got drunk, and Miss Amelia beat him when he came home. Finally, she kicked him out of her house. Marvin left town, vowing to one day have revenge. Soon, he was imprisoned a few towns over.

Six years after Cousin Lymon first arrived in town, his room above the café is furnished while Miss Amelia’s is bare, and he commands Miss Amelia’s attention every second of the day. She happily obliges and supports him. One Saturday night in August, Henry Macy, Marvin’s brother, tells Amelia that he received a letter from his brother: Marvin is out of prison on parole. Miss Amelia tells Henry that Marvin will never be welcome on her property.

Fall approaches. Miss Amelia and Cousin Lymon spend all of their time together. When the first chill of the season arrives, Miss Amelia decides to throw a barbecue and slaughters a pig. She goes to a nearby town for some errands. While she is gone, a truck drops off a man in front of the café. It is Marvin Macy. Cousin Lymon is instantly spellbound by him. As people gather around the pit behind the café for the barbecue, Marvin joins them, though he sits apart. Miss Amelia returns and sees Cousin Lymon trying to impress Marvin. Marvin wants nothing to do with Cousin Lymon and hits him. The townspeople wait silently for Miss Amelia to attack Marvin, but she does nothing.

Marvin Macy’s return brings on a dramatic shift in Miss Amelia’s life. Cousin Lymon follows Marvin everywhere he goes, obsessed with him. He talks about Marvin with awe. Miss Amelia is no longer her confident self. To keep Cousin Lymon happy, she allows Marvin into the café. 

Winter comes, and snow falls. The café remains popular, with people taking pride in it and dressing up for the occasion. Miss Amelia begins acting even less like herself, offering to travel with Cousin Lymon and wearing a red dress. She tries to get rid of Marvin Macy, even attempting to poison him, all to no avail. Cousin Lymon waits for Marvin every morning, but Marvin still wants nothing to do with him. When he hits Cousin Lymon, Miss Amelia never acts out against him.

One night, Cousin Lymon announces that Marvin will stay with them for a while. Miss Amelia allows it, but when the snow melts, she hangs a homemade punching bag in her yard and begins using it every day. Cousin Lymon instigates conflict between them. Marvin mocks her, saying she cannot be rid of him. Every night, the townspeople anticipate the two raising their fists to each other.

The tension rises until a fight is inevitable. On Groundhog Day, Miss Amelia takes down her punching bag, and Marvin Macy greases his arms and legs. The townspeople realize what is coming. As Marvin and Miss Amelia rest, Cousin Lymon goes out to find a groundhog; he claims to have found one that saw its shadow, signifying bad weather to come.

At seven o’clock, the town gathers in the café. Miss Amelia meets Marvin Macy in the center of the room, cleared of its furniture. With no warning, they both throw punches. The fight is gruesome and lasts for over half an hour before Miss Amelia finally gains an advantage. She forces Marvin to the floor, but as she grabs his throat, Cousin Lymon flies out of the crowd and jumps on her back, wrapping his arms around her neck. This alters the course of the fight, allowing Marvin to win. Miss Amelia retreats into her office, and the townspeople leave without a word.

That night, Miss Amelia does not leave her office. Marvin Macy and Cousin Lymon destroy the café and then leave together. Miss Amelia’s life is in ruins. She becomes reclusive, closing the café and staying in her room. Over time, her hair turns gray and she loses her muscles. No one knows how to help her. The townspeople suffer without the café.

Three miles from the town, on the Forks Falls highway, a chain gang works. As they do, a voice begins singing a song, soon joined by others. As the day wanes, so do the voices, until there is silence again.