elizabeth nelson , darrels mother , a rotund chocolate woman with happy face and gray-streaked hair set in a bun , sat in an overstuffed armchair , dark clasped hands resting on her full belly as she chuckled at the antics and comments of the young people around her , especially the mendarrel , his brother-in-law greg , state supreme court judge elwyn curtis , darrels teammate throne , and darrels band mate bobwho divided their attention between conversing with the wives , watching football , and heartily debating politics and sports .