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School was out and she had passed every subject—some with
A
plus and some by the skin of her teeth。 The days270
were long and hot。 Finally she was able to work hard at music
again。 She began to write down pieces for the violin and
piano。 She wrote songs。 Always music was in her mind。 She
listened to Mister Singer's radio and wandered around the
house thinking about the programs she had heard。
。What ails Mick？' Portia asked。 'What kind of cat is it got her
tongue？ She walk around and don't say a word。 She not even
greedy like she used to be。 She getting to be a regular lady
these days。'
It was as though in some way she was waiting—but what she
waited for she did not know。 The sun burned down glaring
and white…hot in the streets。 During the day she either worked
hard at music or messed with kids。 And waited。 Sometimes
she would look all around her quick and this panic would
come in her。 Then in late June there was a sudden happening
so important that it changed everything。
That night they were all out on the porch。 The twilight was
blurred and soft。 Supper was almost ready and the smell of
cabbage floated to them from the open hall。 All of them were
together except Hazel； who had not come home from work；
and Etta； who still lay sick in bed。 Their Dad leaned back in a
chair with his sock…feet on the banisters。 Bill was on the steps
with the kids。 Their Mama sat on the swing fanning herself
with the newspaper。 Across the street a girl new in the
neighborhood skated up and down the sidewalk on one roller
skate。 The lights on the block were just beginning to be turned
on； and far away a man was calling someone。
Then Hazel come home。 Her high heels clopped up the steps
and she leaned back lazily on the banisters。 In the half…dark
her fat； soft hands were very white as she felt the back of her
braided hair。 'I sure do wish Etta was able to work；' she said。 'I
found out about this job today。'
'What kind of a job？' asked their Dad。 'Anything I could do； or
just for girls？'
'Just for a girl。 A clerk down at Woolworth's is going to get
married next week。'
〃The ten…cent store' Mick said。
'You interested？'
The question took her by surprise。 She had just been
271
thinking about a sack of wintergreen candy she had bought
there the day before。 She felt hot and tense。 She rubbed her
bangs up from her forehead and counted the first few stars。
Their Dad flipped his cigarette down to the sidewalk。 。No；' he
said。 'We don't want Mick to take on too much responsibility
at her age。 Let her get her growth out。 Her growth through
with； anyway。'
'I agree with you；' Hazel said。 'I really do think it would be a
mistake for Mick to have to work regular。 I don't think it
would be right。'
Bill put Ralph down from his lap and shuffled his feet on the
steps。 'Nobody ought to work until they're around sixteen。
Mick should have two more years and finish at Vocational—if
we can make it。'
'Even if we have to give up the house and move down in mill
town；' their Mama said。 'I rather keep Mick at home for a
while。'
For a minute she had been scared they would try to corner her
into taking the job。 She would have said she would run away
from home。 But the way they took the attitude they did
touched her。 She felt excited。 They were all talking about her
—and in a kindly way。 She was ashamed for the first scared
feeling that had come to her。 Of a sudden she loved all of the
family and a tightness came in her throat。
'About how much money is in it？' she asked。
Ten dollars。'
Ten dollars a week？'
'Sure；' Hazel said。 'Did you think it would be only ten a
month？'
'Portia don't make but about that much。'
'Oh； colored people' Hazel said。
Mick rubbed the top of her head with her fist That's a whole
lot of money。 A good deal。'
'It's not to be grinned at；' Bill said。 〃That's what I make。'
Mick's tongue was dry。 She moved it around in her mouth to
gather up spit enough to talk。 Ten dollars a week would buy
about fifteen fried chickens。 Or five pairs of shoes or five
dresses。 Or installments on a radio。' She thought about a
piano； but she did not mention that aloud。272
'It would tide us over；' their Mama said。 *But at the same time
I rather keep Mick at home for a while。 Now；
when Etta'
'Wait！' She felt hot and reckless。 'I want to take the job。 I can
hold it down。 I know I can。' 'Listen to little Mick；' Bill said。
Their Dad picked his teeth with a matchstick and took his feet
down from the banisters。 'Now； let's not rush into anything。 I
rather Mick take her time and think this out。 We can get along
somehow without her working。 I mean
to increase my watch work by sixty per cent soon as'
'I forgot；' Hazel said。 'I think there's a Christmas bonus every
year。'
Mick frowned。 〃But I wouldn't be working then。 I'd be in
school。 I just want to work during vacation and then go back
to school。' 'Sure；' Hazel said quickly。
〃But tomorrow I'll go down with you and take the job if I can
get it'
It was as though a great worry and tightness left the family。 In
the dark they began to laugh and talk。 Their Dad did a trick for
George with a matchstick and a handkerchief。 Then he gave
the kid fifty cents to go down to the corner store for Coca…
Colas to be drunk after supper。 The smell of cabbage was
stronger in the hall and pork chops were frying。 Portia called。
The boarders already waited at the table。 Mick had supper in
the dining…room。 The cabbage leaves were limp and yellow on
her plate and she couldn't eat。 When she reached for the bread
she knocked a pitcher of iced tea over the table。
Then later she waited on the front porch by herself for Mister
Singer to come home。 In a desperate way she wanted to see
him。 The excitement of the hour before had died down and she
was sick to the stomach。 She was going to work in a ten…cent
store and she did not want to work there。 It was like she had
been trapped into something。 The job wouldn't be just for the
summer—but for a long time； as long as she could see ahead。
Once they were used to the money coming in it would be
impossible to do without again。 That was the way things were。
She stood in the dark and held tight to the banisters。 A long
time passed and Mister Singer still did not come。 At eleven
o'clock she
went out to see if she could find him。 But suddenly she got
frightened in the dark and ran back home。
Then in the morning she bathed and dressed very careful。
Hazel and Etta loaned her the clothes to wear and primped her
to look nice。 She wore Hazel's green silk dress and a green hat
and high…heeled pumps with silk stockings。 They fixed her
face with rouge and lipstick and plucked her eyebrows。 She
looked at least sixteen years old when they were finished。
It was too late to back down now。 She was really grown and
ready to earn her keep。 Yet if she would go to her Dad and tell
him how she felt he would tell her to wait a year。 And Hazel
and Etta and Bill and their Mama； even now； would say that
she didn't have to go。 But she couldn't do it。 She couldn't lose
face like that。 She went up to see Mister Singer。 The words
came all in a rush：
'Listen—I believe I got this job。 What do you think？ Do you
think it's a good idea？ Do you think it's O。K。 to drop out of
school and work now？ You think it's good？'
At first he did not understand。 His gray eyes half…closed and
he stood with his hands deep down in his pockets。 There was
the old feeling that they waited to tell each other things that
had never been told before。 The thing she had to say now was
not much。 But what he had to tell her would be right—and if
he said the job sounded O。K。 then she would feel better about
it。 She repeated the words slowly and waited。
'You think it's good？'
Mister Singer considered。 Then he nodded yes。
She got the job。 The manager took her and Hazel back to a
little office and talked with them。 Afterward she couldn't
remember how the manager looked or anything that had been
said。 But she was hired； and on the way out of the place she
bought ten cents' worth of Chocolate and a little modeling clay
set for George。 On June the fifth she was to start work。 She
stood for a long while before the window of Mister Singer's
jewelry store。 Then she hung around on the corner。TT4
CARSON Me CULLERS
15
_l HE time had come for Singer to go to Antonapoulos again。
The journey was a long one。 For； although the distance
between them was something less than two hundred miles； the
train meandered to points far out of the way and stopped for
long hours at certain stations during the night。 Singer would
leave the town in the afternoon and travel all through the night
and until the early morning of the next day。 As usual； he was
ready far in advance。 He planned to have a full week with his
friend this visit。 His clothes had been sent to the cleaner's； his
hat blocked； and his bags were in readiness。 The gifts he
would carry were wrapped in colored tissue paper—and in
addition there was a deluxe basket of fruits done up in
cellophane and a crate