Where your people from? I ask her.
Im from Sugar Ditch. Her voice drops down a little. Sugar Ditch is as low as you can go in Mississippi, maybe the whole United States. Its up in Tunica County, almost to Memphis. I saw pictures in the paper one time, showing those tenant shacks. Even the white kids looked like they hadnt had a meal for a week.
Miss Celia tries to smile, says, This is my first time hiring a maid.
Well you sure need one. Now, Minny
I was real glad to get the recommendation from Missus Walters. She told me all about you. Said your cooking is the best in town.
That makes zero sense to me. After what I did to Miss Hilly, right in front of Miss Walters to see? She say anything else about me?
But Miss Celias already walking up a big curving staircase. I follow her upstairs, to a long hall with sun coming through the windows. Even though there are two yellow bedrooms for girls and a blue one and a green one for boys, its clear there arent any children living here. Just dust.
Weve got five bedrooms and five bathrooms over here in the main house. She points out the window and I see a big blue swimming pool, and behind that, another house. My heart thumps hard.
And then theres the poolhouse out yonder, she sighs.
Id take any job I can get at this point, but a big house like this should pay plenty. And I dont mind being busy. I aint afraid to work. When you gone have you some chilluns, start filling up all these beds? I try to smile, look friendly.
Oh, were gonna have some kids. She clears her throat, fidgets. I mean, kids is the only thing worth living for. She looks down at her feet. A second passes before she heads back to the stairs. I follow behind, noticing how she holds the stair rail tight on the way down, like shes afraid she might fall.
Its back in the dining room that Miss Celia starts shaking her head. Its an awful lot to do, she says. All the bedrooms and the floors
Yes maam, its big, I say, thinking if she saw my house with a cot in the hall and one toilet for six behinds, shed probably run. But I got lots a energy.
and then theres all this silver to clean.
She opens up a silver closet the size of my living room. She fixes a candle thats turned funny on the candelabra and I can see why shes looking so doubtful.
After the town got word of Miss Hillys lies, three ladies in a row hung up on me the minute I said my name[26]. I ready myself for the blow. Say it, lady. Say what you thinking about me and your silver. I feel like crying thinking about how this job would suit me fine and what Miss Hillys done to keep me from getting it. I fix my eyes on the window, hoping and praying this isnt where the interview ends.
I know, those windows are awful high. I never tried to clean them before.
I let my breath go. Windows are a heck of a lot better subject for me than silver. I aint afraid a no windows. I clean Miss Walters top to bottom ever four weeks.
Did she have just the one floor or a double decker?
Well, one but theys a lot to it. Old houses got a lot a nooks and crannies, you know.
Finally, we go back in the kitchen. We both stare down at the breakfast table, but neither one of us sits. Im getting so jittery wondering what shes thinking, my head starts to sweat.
You got a big, pretty house, I say. All the way out here in the country. Lot a work to be done.
She starts fiddling with her wedding ring. I guess Missus Walters was a lot easier than this would be. I mean, its just us now, but when we get to having kids
You, uh, got some other maids you considering?
She sighs. A bunch have come out here. I just havent found the right one yet. She bites on her fingernails, shifts her eyes away.
I wait for her to say Im not the right one either, but we just stand there breathing in that flour. Finally, I play my last card, whisper it because its all I got left.
You know, I only left Miss Walters cause she going up to the rest home. She didnt fire me.
But she just stares down at her bare feet, black-soled because her floors havent been scrubbed since she moved in this big old dirty house. And its clear, this lady doesnt want me.
Well, she says, I appreciate you driving all this way. Can I at least give you some money for the gas?
I pick up my pocketbook and thrust it up under my armpit. She gives me a cheery smile I could wipe off with one swat. Damn that Hilly Holbrook.
No maam, no, you cannot.
I knew it was gonna be a chore finding someone, but I stand there listening to her acting all sorry but I just think, Get it over with, lady, so I can tell Leroy we got to move all the way to the North Pole next to Santy Claus where nobodys heard Hillys lies about me.
and if I were you I wouldnt want to clean this big house either.
I look at her square on. Now thats just excusing herself a little too much, pretending Minny aint getting the job cause Minny dont want the job.
When you hear me say I dont want a clean this house?
Its alright, five maids have already told me its too much work.
I look down at my hundred-and-sixty-five-pound, five-foot-zero self practically busting out of my uniform. Too much for me?