We set there watching Lil Rascals until Miss Leefolt come out, ask aint it past time for me to go. I tuck my bus dime in my pocket. Give Mae Mobley one more hug, whisper, You a smart girl. You a good g irl.
On the ride home, I dont see the big white houses passing outside the window. I dont talk to my maid friends. I see Baby Girl getting spanked cause a me. I see her listening to Miss Leefolt call me dirty, diseased.
The bus speeds up along State Street. We pass over the Woodrow Wilson Bridge and my jaw so tight I could break my teeth off. I feel that bitter seed growing inside a me, the one planted after Treelore died. I want to yell so loud that Baby Girl can hear me that dirty aint a color, disease aint the Negro side a town. I want to stop that moment from coming and it come in ever white childs life when they start to think that colored folks aint as good as whites.
We turn on Farish and I stand up cause my stop be coming. I pray that wasnt her moment. Pray I still got time.
Things is real quiet the next few weeks. Mae Mobleys wearing big-girl panties now. She dont hardly ever have no accidents. After what happen in the garage, Miss Leefolt take a real interest in Mae Mobleys bathroom habits. She even let her watch her on the pot, set the white example. A few times, though, when her mamas gone, I still catch her trying to go in mine. Sometimes she do it fore I can tell her no.
Hey, Miss Clark. Robert Brown, who do Miss Leefolts yard, come up on her back steps. Its nice and cool out. I open the screen door.
How you doing, son? I say and pat him on the arm. I hear you working ever yard on the street.
Yes maam. Got two guys mowing for me. He grin. He a handsome boy, tall with short hair. Went to high school with Treelore. They was good friends, played baseball together. I touch him on the arm, just needing to feel it again.
How your granmama? I ask. I love Louvenia, she is the sweetest person living. She and Robert came to the funeral together. This makes me remember whats coming next week. The worst day a the year.
She stronger than me. He smile. I be by your house on Saturday to mow.
Treelore always did my mowing for me. Now Robert does it without my even asking, never will take any money for it. Thank you, Robert. I appreciate it.
You need anything, you call me, alright, Miss Clark?
Thank you, son.
I hear the doorbell ring and I see Miss Skeeters car out front. Miss Skeeter been coming over to Miss Leefolts ever week this month, to ask me the Miss Myrna questions. She ask about hard water stains and I tell her cream of tartar. She ask how you unscrew a lightbulb that done broke off in the socket and I tell her a raw potato. She ask me what happen with her old maid Constantine and her mama, and I go cold. I thought if I told her a little, a few weeks ago, about Constantine having a daughter, shed leave me alone about it after that. But Miss Skeeter just keep on asking me questions. I could tell she dont understand why a colored woman cant raise no white-skin baby in Mississippi. Be a hard, lonely life, not belonging here nor there.
Ever time Miss Skeeter finish asking me about how to clean the-this or fix the-that or where Constantine, we get to talking about other things too. Thats not something I done a whole lot with my bosses or they friends. I find myself telling her how Treelore never made below a B+ or that the new church deacon get on my nerves cause he lisp. Little bits, but things I ordinarily wouldnt tell a white person.
Today, Im trying to explain to her the difference between dipping and polishing the silver, how only the tacky houses do the dip cause its faster, but it dont look good. Miss Skeeter cock her head to the side, wrinkle her forehead. Aibileen, remember that idea Treelore had?
I nod, feel a prickle. I should a never shared that with a white woman.
Miss Skeeter squint her eyes like she did when she brung up the bathroom thing that time. Ive been thinking about it. Ive been wanting to talk to you
But fore she can finish, Miss Leefolt come in the kitchen and catch Baby Girl playing with my comb in my pocketbook and say maybe Mae Mobley ought to have her bath early today. I tell Miss Skeeter goodbye, go start the tub.
After I spent a year dreading it, November eighth finally come. I spec I sleep about two hours the night before. I wake up at dawn and put a pot a Community coffee on the stovetop. My back hurts when I bend over to get my stockings on. Fore I walk out the door, the phone ring.
Just checking on you. You sleep?
I did alright.
Im on bring you a caramel cake tonight. And I dont want you to do nothing but set in your kitchen and eat the whole thing for supper. I try to smile, but nothing come out. I tell Minny thank you.
Three years ago today, Treelore died. But by Miss Leefolts book its still floor-cleaning day. Thanksgiving[70] coming in two weeks and I got plenty to do to get ready. I scrub my way through the morning, through the twelve oclock news. I miss my stories cause the ladies is in the dining room having a Benefit meeting and I aint allowed to turn on the tee-vee when theys company. And thats fine. My muscles is shivering they so tired. But I dont want a stop moving.