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Real quiet, I open the napkin drawer, more concerned about Miss Leefolt seeing me than what they saying. This talk aint news to me. Everwhere in town they got a colored bathroom, and most the houses do too. But I look over and Miss Skeeters watching me and I freeze, thinking Im about to get in trouble.
I bid one heart, Miss Walter say.
I dont know, Miss Leefolt say, frowning at her cards. With Raleigh starting his own business and tax season not for six months things are real tight for us right now.
Miss Hilly talk slow, like she spreading icing on a cake. You just tell Raleigh every penny he spends on that bathroom hell get back when yall sell this house. She nod like she agreeing with herself. All these houses theyre building without maids quarters? Its just plain dangerous. Everybody knows they carry different kinds of diseases than we do. I double.
I pick up a stack a napkins. I dont know why, but all a sudden I want a hear what Miss Leefolt gone say to this. She my boss. I guess everbody wonder what they boss think a them.
It would be nice, Miss Leefolt say, taking a little puff a her cigarette, not having her use the one in the house. I bid three spades.
Thats exactly why Ive designed the Home Help Sanitation Initiative, Miss Hilly say. As a disease-preventative measure.
Im surprised by how tight my throat get. Its a shame[8] I learned to keep down a long time ago.
Miss Skeeter look real confused. The Home the what?
A bill that requires every white home to have a separate bathroom for the colored help. Ive even notified the surgeon general of Mississippi to see if hell endorse the idea. I pass.
Miss Skeeter, she frowning at Miss Hilly. She set her cards down faceup and say real matter-a-fact, Maybe we ought to just build you a bathroom outside, Hilly.
And Law, do that room get quiet.
Miss Hilly say, I dont think you ought to be joking around about the colored situation. Not if you want to stay on as editor of the League, Skeeter Phelan.
Miss Skeeter kind a laugh, but I can tell she dont think its funny. What, youd kick me out? For disagreeing with you?
Miss Hilly raise a eyebrow. I will do whatever I have to do to protect our town. Your lead, Mama.
I go in the kitchen and dont come out again till I hear the door close after Miss Hillys behind.
When I know Miss Hilly gone, I put Mae Mobley in her playpen, drag the garbage bin out to the street cause the trucks coming by today. At the top a the driveway, Miss Hilly and her crazy mama near bout back over me in they car, then yell out all friendly how sorry they is. I walk in the house, glad I aint got two new broken legs.
When I go in the kitchen, Miss Skeeters in there. She leaning against the counter, got a serious look on her face, even more serious than usual. Hey, Miss Skeeter. I get you something?
She glance out at the drive where Miss Leefolts talking to Miss Hilly through her car window. No, Im just waiting.
I dry a tray with a towel. When I sneak a look over, shes still got her worried eyes on that window. She dont look like other ladies, being she so tall. She got real high cheekbones. Blue eyes that turn down, giving her a shy way about her. Its quiet, except for the little radio on the counter, playing the gospel station. I wish shed go on out a here.
Is that Preacher Greens sermon youre playing on the radio? she ask.
Yes maam, it is.
Miss Skeeter kind a smile. That reminds me so much of my maid growing up.
Oh I knew Constantine, I say.
Miss Skeeter move her eyes from the window to me. She raised me, did you know that?
I nod, wishing I hadnt said nothing[9]. I know too much about that situation.
Ive been trying to get an address for her family in Chicago, she say, but nobody can tell me anything.
I dont have it either, maam.
Miss Skeeter move her eyes back to the window, on Miss Hillys Buick. She shake her head, just a little. Aibileen, that talk in there Hillys talk, I mean
I pick up a coffee cup, start drying it real good with my cloth.
Do you ever wish you could change things? she asks.
And I cant help myself. I look at her head-on. Cause thats one a the stupidest questions I ever heard. She got a confused, disgusted look on her face, like she done salted her coffee instead a sugared it.
I turn back to my washing, so she dont see me rolling my eyes. Oh no, maam, everthings fine.
But that talk in there, about the bathroom and smack on that word, Miss Leefolt walk in the kitchen.
Oh, there you are, Skeeter. She look at us both kind a funny. Im sorry, did I interrupt something? We both stand there, wondering what she might a heard.
I have to run, Miss Skeeter says. See you tomorrow, Elizabeth. She open the back door, say, Thanks, Aibileen, for lunch, and she gone.
I go in the dining room, start clearing the bridge table. And just like I knew she would, Miss Leefolt come in behind me wearing her upset smile. Her necks sticking out like she fixing to ask me something. She dont like me talking to her friends when she aint around, never has. Always wanting to know what we saying. I go right on past her into the kitchen. I put Baby Girl in her high chair and start cleaning the oven.