She blinks at me a second. You youll do it?
Why you think I drove all the way out here to kingdom come, just to burn gas? I clamp my mouth shut. Dont go ruirning this now, she offering you a jay-o-bee. Miss Celia, I be happy to work for you.
She laughs and the crazy woman goes to hug me, but I step back a little, let her know thats not the kind of thing I do.
Hang on now, we got to talk about some things first. You got to tell me what days you want me here and and that kind a thing. Like how much you paying.
I guess whenever you feel like coming, she says.
For Miss Walters I work Sunday through Friday[27].
Miss Celia chews some more on her pink pinky-nail. You cant come here on weekends.
Alright. I need the days, but maybe later on shell let me do some party serving or whatnot. Monday through Friday then. Now, what time you want me here in the morning?
What time do you want to come in?
Ive never had this choice before. I feel my eyes narrow up. How bout eight. Thats when Miss Walters used to get me in.
Alright, eights real good. Then she stands there like shes waiting for my next checker move.
Now you supposed to tell me what time I got to leave.
What time? asks Celia.
I roll my eyes at her. Miss Celia, you supposed to tell me that. Thats the way it works.
She swallows, like shes trying real hard to get this down. I just want to get through this before she changes her mind about me.
How bout four oclock? I say. I work eight to four and I gets some time for lunch or what-have-you.
Thats just fine.
Now we got to talk bout pay, I say and my toes start wriggling in my shoes. It must not be much if five maids already said no.
Neither one of us says anything.
Now come on, Miss Celia. What your husband say you can pay?
She looks off at the Veg-O-Matic I bet she cant even use and says, Johnny doesnt know.
Alright then. Ask him tonight what he wants to pay.
No, Johnny doesnt know Im bringing in help.
My chin drops down to my chest. What you mean he dont know?
I am not telling Johnny. Her blue eyes are big, like shes scared to death of him.
And whats Mister Johnny gone do if he come home and find a colored woman up in his kitchen?
Im sorry, I just cant
Ill tell you what hes gone do, hes gone get that pistol and shoot Minny dead right here on this no-wax floor.
Miss Celia shakes her head. Im not telling him.
Then I got to go, I say. Shit. I knew it. I knew she was crazy when I walked in the door
Its not that Id be fibbing to him. I just need a maid
A course you need a maid. Last one done got shot in the head.
He never comes home during the day. Just do the heavy cleaning and teach me how to fix supper and itll only take a few months
My nose prickles from something burning. I see a waft of smoke coming from the oven. And then what, you gone fire me after them few months?
Then Ill tell him, she say but shes frowning at the thought. Please, I want him to think I can do it on my own. I want him to think Im worth the trouble.
Miss Celia I shake my head, not believing Im already arguing with this lady and I havent worked here two minutes. I think you done burned up your cake.
She grabs a rag and rushes to the oven and jerks the cake out. Oww! Dawgon it!
I set my pocketbook down, sidle her out of the way. You cant use no wet towel on a hot pan.
I grab a dry rag and take that black cake out the door, set it down on the concrete step.
Miss Celia stares down at her burned hand. Missus Walters said you were a real good cook.
That old woman eat two butterbeans and say she full[28]. I couldnt get her to eat nothing.
How much was she paying you?
Dollar an hour, I say, feeling kind of ashamed. Five years and not even minimum wage.
Then Ill pay you two.
And I feel all the breath slip out of me.
When Mister Johnny get out the house in the morning? I ask, cleaning up the butterstick melting right on the counter, not even a plate under it.
Six. He cant stand to do-dad around here very long. Then he heads back from his real estate office about five.
I do some figuring and even with the fewer hours itd be more pay. But I cant get paid if I get shot dead. Ill leave at three then. Give myself two hours coming and going so I can stay out a his way.
Good. She nods. Its best to be safe.
Good. She nods. Its best to be safe.
On the back step, Miss Celia dumps the cake in a paper sack. Ill have to bury this in the waste bin so he wont know Ive burned up another one.
I take the bag out of her hands. Mister Johnny aint seeing nothing. Ill throw it out at my house.
Oh, thank you. Miss Celia shakes her head like thats the nicest thing anyones ever done for her. She holds her hands in tight little fists under her chin. I walk out to my car.
I sit in the sagging seat of the Ford Leroys still paying his boss twelve dollars every week for. Relief hits me. I have finally gotten myself a job. I dont have to move to the North Pole. Wont Santy Claus be disappointed.
Sit down on your behind[29], Minny, because Im about to tell you the rules for working in a White Ladys house.
I was fourteen years old to the day. I sat at the little wooden table in my mamas kitchen eyeing that caramel cake on the cooling rack, waiting to be iced. Birthdays were the only day of the year I was allowed to eat as much as I wanted.