All Good Women

by Valerie Miner

  ‘Soup’s on.’ Ann opened the window wider and shouted. Garlic and tomato suffused the hot evening air. Moira would have to warn Ann to go slow on the garlic at the big dinner.

  ‘Come on, Moi.’ Teddy opened the front door. ‘Supper’s ready.’

  ‘In a sec.’ She waved the pruners. When Teddy closed the door, Moira stepped back. ‘Well, yes, OK,’ she spoke to herself. She moved the geraniums 4 inches to the left.

  Chapter Seven

  Fall 1941, San Francisco

  AMERICANS SUSPEND OIL EXPORTS TO JAPAN

  PANAMANIAN GOVERNMENT OVERTHROWN

  US SUPREME COURT RULES CALIFORNIA’S

  ‘ANTI-OKIE’ LAWS UNCONSTITUTIONAL

  THE BUS IDLED on a quiet street corner. ‘Hold it please.’ Teddy swooped up her belongings and shouted. ‘This is my stop.’

  ‘Lady, I ain’t got all day.’

  ‘Sorry.’ She smiled, alighting from the bus with newfound grace. The lady secretary walked briskly past a yard of tentative fall flowers. Funny how you get used to mild weather. In Oklahoma the climate was harsh and hard. Here in California a day could turn to gold in January.

  The Fieldings’ house looked cramped and drab this afternoon. It was much smaller than the family place back home, but it was the tiny yard Teddy noticed most. Her eye caught the drainpipe hanging from the roof. Pop had promised to fix that two weeks ago. Not a good sign that he hadn’t got around to it. Teddy held her arms across her chest, hoping that he wasn’t drinking again. She could hear Patsy’s music blaring from the radio, ‘When You Wish Upon A Star’.

  ‘Hi, Teddy.’ Virgil looked up from his marble game with Jack.

  ‘Hi there yourself.’ She nodded fondly. ‘Say, what are you two doing in here? Isn’t this time for your chores in the yard?’

  ‘No.’ Virgil regarded her seriously. ‘Mom told us to take the day off. Pop’s out in the garden. You know he’s …’ Virgil tipped an imaginary bottle.

  ‘I see.’ Teddy swallowed hard. ‘Where’s Jolene?’

  ‘Sick in bed,’ Jack answered. ‘Bad cold.’

  Teddy inhaled sharply. She smelled spaghetti from the kitchen. Nice that Mom was varying the menu a bit. She got tired of Pop’s favourite Lima beans with hamhock and Jolene’s white beans with ketchup. ‘I think I’ll see Mom. Let me know who wins at marbles and I’ll take him on later.’

  Patsy was doing her homework in the dining room, listening now to another song from last year, ‘Oh, Johnny’. Teddy patted her sister’s shoulder and thought how she used to read at this old oak table with its uneven legs. She was quite partial to the faded paisley rug. What would Wanda and the other girls think of this house? Would they be bothered by the noise and the clutter? Until Pop sobered up, she’d never be able to bring them home.

  Mom was standing at the stove, staring out the window to the back yard. Teddy tried to guess her expression. Exasperation? Prayer? Teddy loved her mother’s jet black hair and the high cheekbones and the dark skin that didn’t seem to wrinkle. Sometimes the Cherokee was more visible, and she did look more than one-eighth Indian today. Mom turned and smiled, unflustered. Had she known her daughter was there all along? Mom had a shaman in her, which saw out the side of her head and understood things before they were said.

  ‘Hello, dear.’ Mom held out her arms. ‘So how was work today?’

  ‘Oh, fine, exciting, I mean.’ Teddy wanted her mother to know how much she loved the Emporium. ‘I’ve got a new boss, Mr Whitney. He’s organized and calm and he …’ The exhilaration drained as she looked over her mother’s shoulders to her father sitting in the garden squinting at the bright blue sky.

  ‘But Mom, I could be contributing more.’

  ‘Teresa Fielding, we’ve been around and around on this.’ She wiped a dark hair off her face, back into the knot at her neck.

  Teddy thought of Miss Fargo’s bun and how different the two women were although they were about the same age. Mom’s hair fell loosely at the back of her ears, with long strands wisping down to her shoulders. Her weight settled easily around the breasts and hips. Inadvertently she looked out to her husband.

  Teddy knew Mom wouldn’t complain. But she saw the anxiety in those competent hands, in the scratching of her middle nail on her thumb. Teddy watched her suck in her bottom lip. She held her back so tight she thought it might vibrate.

  ‘So he’s been at it since morning?’ Teddy asked.

  ‘Yes, you know he was planning some repairs today. He went down to the hardware store and they turned him down for credit.’

  Teddy shook her head. ‘I thought he wasn’t going to buy any more till he had money.’

  She turned back towards her husband. ‘It’s hard for him to sit still.’

  Teddy shoved the bag of sugar and flour to the back of the counter, hoping Mom wouldn’t notice it until she left tonight. ‘Why couldn’t he have fixed the drain pipe? That wouldn’t have cost a nickel. Why couldn’t he have used his head?’

  ‘Teddy, what’s got into you, judging your father?’ Mom started cleaning the kitchen sink.

  ‘Sorry, Mom, but it’s so hard on you, all his drinking.’

  ‘It’s not like he can’t stop when he wants to.’ She scrubbed the white caulking between the blue tiles. ‘Your father stays dry for weeks, sometimes months, at a time. Lots of men drink themselves to death. Look at your Uncle Leo.’

  Teddy wanted to say, ‘and he’s just going to drink you to death.’ Instead, she considered her mother’s tired eyes. Mom wouldn’t cry. When she felt helpless, she simply grew quieter. ‘How’re you doing?’

  ‘A little weary, I guess. Amanda and Patsy have been helping out. But Jolene’s sick.’

  ‘So I heard.’ Teddy nodded. She walked to the breadbox and cut a slice for herself.

  ‘There’s lard.’

  ‘No thanks.’ Teddy knew they had been running low on lard and with Pop off work they wouldn’t be buying more for a while.

  ‘Well, tell me about the store, the house, the other girls.’ Mom leaned against the sink.

  ‘Not much to tell.’ Teddy sighed, unsatisfied with the bread, but unable to cut herself another slice. She looked out the window and, seeing Pop on the log, she looked back at the spotless sink. ‘Mr Whitney praised my work twice this week.’

  ‘You’re not exactly bursting with joy.’ Mom shook her head and held out her hand.

  Teddy squeezed the hand and laughed. ‘No, not yet, I guess I’m kind of nervous about having another boss.’ How could she explain the new, unfounded fears to her mother who had always wanted to go to business college, who was contending with a drunken husband, an empty purse, ten children and a run on lard. ‘Say, you need any help with supper?’

  ‘No.’ Her mother frowned at Teddy’s abruptness.

  ‘Then I may just say hi to Jolene.’

  ‘That makes sense, hon.’

  Sense, thought Teddy, how many times a day did her mother resort to the one unshakeable standard: common sense? It was sensible for Teddy to go to Tracey for it would pay off later. It wasn’t sensible to worry about Pop, because what could you do?

  Jolene was propped against two pillows reading True Confessions. She waved to Teddy.

  ‘Hear you’ve been featherbedding.’ Teddy grinned at her younger sister. How like Mom she was with her dark features.” And like Pop in her flashing temper and quick wit. Teddy, in contrast, had inherited Pop’s pale English blondness and Mom’s even, laconic personality. Jolene was her favorite sister, although she was jealous of her inheritance.

  ‘Not likely around here. Trying to nap in this house is like trying to sleep in the middle of Powell Street. Listen, if I was really featherbedding, I’d go to a park. Cheers.’ She lifted a glass of water. ‘What’s the big news in the world of fashion?’

  ‘You know, I haven’t looked at the clot
hes for weeks. I just go straight on to the office.’

  ‘And I was counting on you for the fall season.’

  Teddy grinned and shrugged. ‘Say, where’s my sister-in-law?’

  ‘Took the baby to visit her mother tonight. Knows when to duck outta this house.’

  ‘Soup’s on,’ Mom’s voice.

  ‘Want me to bring you something?’

  ‘No thanks.’ Jolene pulled herself up. ‘Been lying down all day. Think I’ll just sit quietly at the table.’

  ‘Everyone’s bound to be quiet tonight,’ Teddy sighed.

  During grace, Pop sat silently, both hands on the edge of the table. The back door slammed; Hank stuck his head in the room.

  ‘Sorry we’re late, Mom. Arthur and I’ll be right in, soon’s we wash our hands.’

  Teddy watched her mother’s shoulders loosen.

  Mom stood. ‘I’ll get their suppers from the oven.’

  Pop was shaking his head. ‘Can’t they respect the family meal hour?’

  ‘Probably got held up on the bus,’ Teddy tried.

  ‘Don’t they know how long your mother worked on this supper …’

  Jolene interrupted, ‘Yeah, she went out and shot every last piece of spaghetti. Slippery critters.’

  Teddy cracked her knuckles.

  ‘Don’t sass your father, Miss,’ Mom called from the kitchen.

  ‘Hi there.’ Hank sat with a thud. ‘So how’s everyone?’ Avoiding his father’s glance, he addressed Virgil. ‘You get around to sweeping out the garage?’

  Virgil nodded proudly.

  Teddy wondered at the kindness in Hank’s ways. He really was the perfect older brother, at least he had been since he decided to stay off the streets. She missed the old times with Hank and Arthur, the three of them. She had felt like one of the boys: the long, tall Fieldings going out bowling or for a beer.

  ‘And Jolene,’ Hank continued, ‘you on your last legs or what?’

  ‘Don’t count your luck.’ She grinned. ‘I’ll be up and around tomorrow.’

  Mom brought in two plates of baked spaghetti for her eldest sons.

  Teddy noticed her father scrutinizing the size of their helpings.

  She was sure Mom had given Pop as much, but lately he had been extra touchy about such things. As desperately as they needed the pay checks, the boys’ income was a delicate affair.

  ‘Teddy,’ Arthur asked, ‘how’s the big downtown world?’

  Teddy blushed. ‘Fine, I’ve taken to strolling Market Street and that’s fun.’

  ‘Fun!’ exploded her father.

  ‘Oh, leave her alone, Pop,’ said Jolene.

  Teddy noticed Jolene was wearing her ‘calm down’ expression rather than her ‘you jerk’ expression and her father surveyed the table for something else to criticize.

  ‘Helen,’ he said, ‘you’re eating like a bird!’

  ‘Now leave me, Dick. I’ve been nibbling as I cooked.’

  ‘So what’d you do today?’ Virgil asked Hank and Arthur.

  Arthur chewed thoughtfully. ‘We almost got our heads knocked off tearing down a building. Crane swiped by Hank, inch away.’

  ‘But Arthur saved my life.’ Hank spoke through a mouthful of spaghetti. ‘I ducked and, well, here we are, all together again.’

  Mom shook her head. ‘That work’s so dangerous.’

  ‘Don’t worry.’ Arthur pushed forward his empty plate. ‘Looks like we won’t be there much longer.’

  ‘What do you mean?’ Pop demanded.

  ‘They’re laying people off at the end of the week.’

  ‘Christ!’ Pop threw his napkin on the floor and stood up. ‘Whole country has gone to hell.’

  ‘Dick,’ Mom coaxed. ‘Sit down and finish your supper. Remember what the doctor said about your health.’

  ‘Health! None of us will have any health left if they keep draining blood from this family. Shoulda stayed in Oklahoma.’

  ‘No, Pop, it’s worse back there,’ Teddy said. ‘The depression’s hard on everybody.’

  ‘Everybody, don’t tell me that.’ His face reddened as he sat down. ‘What this country needs is a good war and that’s likely soon enough. That’ll get us moving again.’

  ‘Pop!’ Jolene shouted and then lowered her voice. ‘Don’t even think like that. People get shot, people die in wars.’

  ‘People die of starvation, too, missy. Don’t speak where you don’t know. War gets a nation moving, manufacturing, organizing. Happening already. It’s either war or you all will have to learn is German.’ He sat back with his arms across his chest.

  Teddy considered the cold spaghetti on her plate. She could no more eat it than eat the table. She hated Pop when he was like this. Hated him drawing them into fights. Over the years she had tried so many solutions — talking to Pop about the drinking, asking the doctor, praying, trying to ignore it. Nothing worked.

  ‘So are we still going to Playland for Virgil’s birthday?’ Mom’s voice was so light you could almost see through it, thought Teddy.

  Virgil grinned. ‘Yes, when are we going?’

  ‘You think we have enough money for that kind of falderal when we’re all being laid off? Sometimes you don’t think, Helen.’

  Jolene struck her fist on the table. ‘Sometimes she’s the only one who does think around here.’ She stalked back to the bedroom.

  Pop looked at his plate and flushed. ‘I don’t have to take this,’ he shouted. ‘Not from my own children.’ He stomped into the kitchen and then outside, slamming the back door.

  ‘One of those days?’ Hank turned to his mother.

  She nodded. ‘But he’s really a good father. He’s just had a hard time.’

  Hank and Arthur exchanged a skeptical glance. Teddy reached over for her mother’s shoulder. ‘You’ve had a hard time yourself.’

  ‘Yes.’ Mom pursed her lips. ‘Now dessert. Can you dish up, Amanda? I’ll just take a quiet cup of coffee in the kitchen.’

  Amanda nodded. ‘Yeah Mom, you have a nice rest.’

  Teddy stared at her spaghetti and imagined an intestinal haemorrhage. She decided to wait ten minutes and then go into the kitchen. This would be the only time they’d have alone tonight, while the kids were doing their homework and Arthur and Hank were bathing.

  As Teddy carried her coffee into the dark kitchen, her mother turned, catching the dining room light on her face. No sign of tears, no, Mom never cried, just grew more still. ‘How’re you doing?’ Teddy tried.

  ‘Fine,’ Mom allowed. ‘Come.’ She patted the chair. ‘Tell me more about your day.’

  Teddy described her new typewriter and watched her mother’s face soften.

  ‘Teddy, I’m so proud of you.’

  ‘Proud?’

  ‘Yes, you’re moving again, like we moved out here. It’s going to be scary, but you’ll be fine.’

  Hmmm, Teddy thought, just as the family had been fine after moving to California? How could you keep your hopes when so many other plans had failed? Then Teddy surprised herself. ‘You could leave him, you know.’

  ‘What?’ Her mother sat straighter.

  ‘You don’t have to stay around. We’d all take care of you. Hank and Arthur and I would bring in enough. It’s not like he adds to the family any more. He makes you upset and …’ Teddy bowed her head, regretting the words but unable to stop them. ‘I heard about him hitting you the other night. Good thing Hank and Arthur were out. We can’t stand for that, Mom, we really can’t.’

  Her mother’s eyes were fierce and hard. ‘Now you don’t want to be talking that way. Pop is a good man, just down on his luck.’

  ‘He’s a drunk, Mom.’

  ‘I don’t want to hear this, you slandering your own father. He drinks when he’s down. He’ll change with the times.’

>   Unaccountably enraged with her mother, Teddy wanted to shake her. One thing her parents shared was their stubbornness. She just looked down at her lap and felt the tears welling.

  ‘Now, there.’ Mom put her arm around Teddy. ‘You mean well, I know you don’t want to hurt your father. I know you want what’s best.’

  Teddy sat there, breathing in her mother’s familiar smell and tasting her own familiar surrender.

  Wanda felt guilty eating the last of Teddy’s apple pie, but Moira and Ann were digging in. Teddy had told them to finish it. Sometimes Wanda was bored by her endless compunctions.

  ‘So, it looks like I may escape from Gilbert and Sullivan,’ Moira said. ‘They’re auditioning for Man and Superman next week and I think I have a chance at a small part.’

  ‘Terrific,’ said Wanda, who wondered how Moira had time for work, Randy and her amateur theatre productions, but the girl didn’t seem to need much sleep.

  ‘We’ll see.’

  ‘Your parents will be pleased.’ Ann sat back.

  ‘Daddy, maybe.’ Moira shrugged.

  ‘But surely your mother will be impressed by Shaw,’ Ann insisted.

  ‘Mother will be impressed with a pay check!’ she laughed.

  ‘Oh, come on, she must see you have talent.’ Wanda encouraged her.

  ‘Listen, when I told Mother I was serious about acting, she hit the roof and she hasn’t come down since. Did I ever tell you about that evening?’

  ‘No,’ said Ann, lighting up a cigarette. ‘Tell us. We haven’t talked about families in a long time.’

  ‘Well.’ Moira drained her coffee cup, drew herself into the roles and began.

  ‘Mother’s first remark was “Do you know how many advantages you have, young lady?”

  ‘I stared at the stew congealing on my plate.

  ‘“What kind of life is the stage?” she insisted.

  ‘“I was thinking of the movies.” I couldn’t restrain a smile.