“It is a pleasure to meet a friend of Sigmund’s. I know so little about his past. There are times I wondered if he even had one,” Helena took the woman’s hand and shook it as she were a friend, eyeing her manservant, “What is wrong with that lady?”
“Depends on who you ask, we aren’t supposed to discuss patient’s files. Hypothetically if we are speaking about a case similar to this, the doctors might say that she suffered auditory and visual hallucinations. Some might say she has a gift, a seer, and her episodes allow her a glimpse into the future. Others might say she looked too long at the fire and something looked back. I guess it all depends on your perspective.”
“Is there any hope she will recover?”
“One can always find hope, that’s one thing nobody can ever take from us, but I’m afraid the hope for Wilhelmina to ever get better is very slim. She’s been here a long time.”
“Do her visions ever change? Does anyone ever take her serious?”
“Oh, her visions change all the time. I can’t answer if anyone takes them seriously. I know no one at this institution would admit to believing her.”
“Was Missy Whitaker recently admitted?”
Lydia smiled wide, “I see what you did there. I just told you we’re not supposed to discuss admitted patients, but since she has never been admitted… I can tell you no, her father investigated the possibility. As far as I know, he never came and got the final signatures from the doctors, so he could put her away.”
“Are you telling me that a person can be admitted to an asylum without ever being diagnosed by the admitting physician?”
“My you are a smart young lady. Yes, if you dig deeper, you would find more than a few residents here who are held against their will, purely because three relatives agreed that they needed to be kept safe.”
“That’s insane! There is nothing to stop unscrupulous people from abusing the system.”
The head nurse took Helena by the arm and started leading her back to the car. “That’s not the end of it, most of the people who are committed are women. What makes matters worse, the male doctors interview the male orderlies, and they don’t do a very outstanding job of screening them. If you tell anyone, I told you this I will deny it. At present, we are investigating three different orderlies for having inappropriate relations with inmates against their will.”
“That’s barbaric, who defends these poor women?”
“That is why I work here, and many of my fellow nurses work here. We know there is little science can currently do for these patients, our legal system is even worse. The best we can do is defend the patients inside these fences and try to keep them safe.”
“What of the doctors?”
“Some of them feel as we do, some don’t. Do yourself a favor, never get so out of line with your community that your family would have you committed to protect the name. That’s what the system has taught me.”
Helena had no words to express her outrage. Back at Bessie, Lane laid against the hood relaxing as they came up. Helena mad at the world, slapped her hand on the metal of Betsy, causing Lane to jump.
“I suggest the three of you head on out it will be getting dark soon. Strange things happen around Santa Clara after the sun goes down,” the headmistress turned to leave.
“Thank you so much for your time Lydia, your assistance is greatly appreciated.”
“You’re welcome, Sigmund. Remember Helena become the strongest you can be so no one can ever take your freedom away from you,” with that Lydia headed back to the main building.
“I never would’ve allowed them to bring your mother here. I would’ve taken the two of you away before that ever happened,” Sigmund said opening the door for Helena.
“Right now, I’m trying very hard not to be ill. I never knew there were places like this in the world,” Helena slumped into the seat of the automobile.
“Lane, I think we’re done here how long till we can leave?” Sigmund asked as he walked towards the back of the vehicle.
“I would like to have thirty minutes more, but I can be ready in five if you need me to be.”
“I think we need you to be,” Lane began preparing for the trip back. Sigmund joined Helena in the back seat, he gave her a small crystal glass in which he poured a shot and a half of brandy.
“I had no idea this adventure would take us down this path. For that, I’m sincerely sorry,” Sigmund said.
“I told you I’m not a baby anymore,” knocking the brandy back without a cough.
Disguised:
What started out as an exercise to take Helena’s thoughts off her stepfather’s failure to return after the fighting, had acquired a mind of its own. Lane worked hard to keep up the pace, fighting to reach home before dark, but it was impossible given the road conditions and the distance.
With two of Sigmund’s glasses of brandy inside her, Helena slept for a good portion of the way. His goal; to help steady her nerve, not to knock her out, but since she had never tasted brandy, it hit her hard. In the fading light, Helena clutched the locket that held Missy’s picture.
Somewhere between cities, Lane needed to stop and refuel. Helena woke, surrounded by the tallest trees she had ever seen. The waxing moon high in the sky gave sufficient light to observe the road that cut through the trees. However, Lane topped off the oil lamps to help illuminate their path.
“Where are we?” she asked.
Lane said, “About halfway home.”
“What is that?” Helena pointed off into the woods at four flickering lights the size of torches or lanterns dancing in the distance.
“Where?” Sigmund asked as Lane sped up his fueling.
“Right over there,” again, Helena pointed off into the woods towards the ocean.
“Lane, I think time has come for us to leave,” Sigmund said.
“Way ahead of you, I’m almost finished,” Lane did a final check of the lids before dropping the kerosene can in the backseat with the two passengers.
“Hey, watch my feet. Will somebody please tell me what’s going on? Those lights might be somebody needing help.”
Lane had the car moving down the dark road at an unsafe speed, but the hazards on the road didn’t scare him as much as the hazards in the woods.
Once clear Sigmund took his hand off his pistol and tried to explain, “The world is not how many people believe it is. Most believe humans are the most dominant creatures on the earth. Some things feed off humans, I’m not sure what those lights are, better not to find out the hard way.”
“What do you mean feed?”
“Like how you feed off T-bones,” Lane joked over his shoulder not taking his eyes off the road.
“Like monsters? What did you think those were?”
“More like things we don’t understand. In England, we called them will-o’-the-wisp. I don’t know what they are. I was taught not to follow them, people become lost in the woods, and people end up dead.”
“Those were fairies,” Lane again over his shoulder, “Mean bastards will steal everything worth anything off your body. Even the gold out your teeth.”
“How did the two of you ever learn about these things?” Helena asked.
“I learned about them from my grandma, she grew up in the swamps outside of Houston, she had all kinds of stories,” he said.
Sigmund said, “I had to read books. Most students in London must learn about the magical creatures from books. We never got to witness them,” scanning the night sky, “I’m glad the moon is not full.”
Not knowing what he meant by that, Helena suddenly became happy it wasn’t a full moon as well.
“It will be too late to continue when we reach home,” Helena made a statement, not a suggestion.
“Bessie needs a good rest and to cool off, a bath wouldn’t hurt her either.”
“I agree, any plans for our course of action tomorrow?” Sigmund asked.
“Are we going t
o continue?” Helena asked.
“I don’t see why not, we haven’t found the young woman yet, have we?”
“Let me sleep on it then. Right now, it might be the brandy, but I think I need more sleep before I make that decision. I’m learning rash decisions can be very deadly.”
“I wish more people would learn that,” Sigmund replied.
“Amen!” came from the front seat.
Rest of the trip transpired without incident, they made it to the estate before midnight, Bessie’s boiler glowing red from Lane pushing the car to its upper limits. Sigmund was prepared to carry an unconscious Helena to her bedroom, but she woke as soon as the car came to a stop.
Ready for bed, Helena realized she needed to take care of a few things or at least get a few things started before she went to bed. She appeared more than a little shocked when she opened her door to the bedroom and found Wai Han kneeling at the foot of her bed waiting for her return.
Surprised at the sight, Helena said, “Wai Han, what are you doing? You should be asleep.”
“Miss Gertie and I waited,” Wai Han motioned to the sleeping Gertie on the fainting sofa, “She sleep.”
“You should be asleep too.”
“I must thank you again for saving me. How I can repay you?”
“Oh honey, right now I’m just exhausted. Aren’t you tired?”
A little embarrassed, “Night my work time. Get nightmares when I sleep.”
“Then I do need something, do you think you can ask the men of the house and see if you can find some men’s clothes that will fit me?”
“I will do my best Mistress.”
“Please call me Helena,” she turned and started taking off her road worn riding clothes, “I’ll bathe in the morning.”
June in San Francisco can be warm enough to sleep on top of the covers. She made it down to her three-quarter union suit before she flopped on the bed and fell asleep.
She woke up as the sun filtered through the gossamer shears hanging over her window. She opened her eyes and knew it was too early, the house still quiet. At the foot of her bed knelt Wai Han, a small paper package wrapped with string in front of her.
“Wai Han, did you stay up all night long?” Helena asked.
“You asked me to find clothing. When I couldn’t find your size, I borrowed from gardener and fixed for you. Then I washed. When I come back up, you asleep, I been waiting to make sure that clothes would fit,” Wai Han said.
“My word, I’m sure they will be fine. Now, this is an order, and I want you to follow it. I want you to lay down on my bed, and I want you to sleep, and I don’t want you to get up until you’re well rested. I don’t want you to argue with me about how it’s not proper. I’m going to clean up and wear your clothes. Before you complain, I’m sure they will fit wonderfully.”
Wai Han did as directed, removing her uniform before climbing into bed. Helena went over and grabbed her comforter and tucked her in, “Now go to sleep.”
“Gertie, I want you to help me get ready for today, and then you to stay up here and take the day off. You and Wai Han can both sleep in my bed and relax. I will let the house know that you’re both up here and not to be disturbed.”
Gertie struggled out of the sofa when Helena called her name, “Yes Miss,” she answered right away.
“And the same goes for you, from now on I want you to call me Helena.”
Gertie still had to help Helena dress for the day since she had no idea where her things where stored. Gertie had taken care of her for so long, Helena became slightly ashamed of herself, for being so helpless.
Before she headed downstairs, she grabbed the Professor’s goggle gift. Every good detective needed a magnifying glass.
“Miss Helena?” stopped Helena in her tracks as a weak voice peeped out from under the covers pulled up just under her eyes.
“Yes, Wai Han?”
“If you go downtown, please let Miss Tsang Mei Yan at girl’s school know I all right? In alley near Montgomery and Jackson.”
“If I am in the area, I will try to find it and let her know you are all right.”
“Thank you, Miss... Helena.”
Dressed as a man looking more like a young teenager, Helena ran down the back-servant stairs. She hadn’t been on this staircase for at least ten years. “When did I change?” she asked herself as she opened the back door to the kitchen. Inside she saw all the estate’s help getting ready for the day.
“Hey, you scalawag, how did you get down those stairs?” the rotund cook called at Helena pointing with a chef’s knife.
“Miss Andrea, it is me, Helena. Did you forget me so soon?” the heavyset black woman did a double take as she looked at the much-changed Helena before she rushed towards her locking her in a most inappropriate embrace. Nearly smothering her against her gigantic bosom.
“Child, I haven’t seen you forever, my you have changed. Sit down let me get some food in your stomach, you need to put on some weight.”
Miss Andrea did her best to pick Helena up and sit her down with the other workers at the servant’s table, but in the end, Helena got herself there without breaking any pottery, dishes, or glasses.
“Why you dressed like a boy?” Miss Andrea asked.
“I’m going looking for someone, and I don’t think a young lady would find it easy to move on the scene like a man,” Helena looked down at herself for a moment before continuing, “or a boy.”
“Well your get-up is really good at first glance, but you’re missing two things.”
Helena did a quick check of her costume, and she thought it looked near-perfect, “I don’t see what I could’ve missed.”
“You’ve never been around boys much have you?” she took two of her sausage size fingers and rubbed them on the side of the black oily cast-iron skillet. She then walked over and smeared the black and grease on Helena’s nose and right cheek. “You don’t wash that off just rub it in like it’s been there for a couple of days. The other thing is you need to do something to hide these,” Miss Andrea reached down and grabbed both of Helena’s orange size breasts. Giving them a little shake for emphasis. “Boys don’t have a bosom, but I think I got something that can help. Let me finish cooking your breakfast, and I’ll give a look and see what I can find.”
Helena sat and had the most fun she could remember having in a very long time. Lane and Sigmund were fun enough to be around, but they always tried to be so proper. She couldn’t remember half of staff’s names, but she vowed during breakfast that needed to change. She didn’t notice Miss Andrea leaving the kitchen, she was having so much fun.
She came back in with a long thin cloth. “You come back here in my room, and I’ll help you hide them things, so no one will ever find them.”
Helena finished eating and jumped up to follow Miss Andrea into the back room.
“Take your shirt off, now this called binding. Slave women used to do this back before the war, so they wouldn’t look so appealing to their masters. Back then you had to be careful dropping something, someone might try to take you from behind,” Miss Andrea made quick work of wrapping the cloth around Helena’s chest hiding her breasts from view.
“Has it always been so bad to be a woman?”
Miss Andrea had to think for a moment before answering the question, “Honey, it’s not all bad. It’s just the way it is. When you don’t have rights, and men can do pretty much what they want to do... I think that’s the way it’s always been, but it’s different for you, your white and has money. You only need to be afraid if you’re caught alone, and you can’t defend yourself.”
“Are all men such monsters?”
“No, not all men. Just most of them. Now put your shirt back on, don’t want any of those fellas out there to get the wrong idea.”
Breakfast finished, and her breasts bound, it was still too early to expect Lane and Sigmund to be down. Besides, if they went to the city now, nothing would be
open. Better to go exploring her own property. She knew exactly what she wanted to go check out, the stables.
She knew all the horses well, when it was warm she would go riding at least once a week, often as many as four times a week. She loved to ride, especially loved to jump, but she had to be out of the view of the house before she jumped anything. This morning she had another goal in mind. On the long drive yesterday, she became fascinated by the way Lane not only drove the automobile, but the way he kept Bessie running for such an extended period of time. Many people thought Lane, a little slow in the head, but she realized yesterday that he had an exceptional talent that many people would never be able to master. He had a natural gift with mechanical creations, Helena wouldn’t be surprised if he could operate many contraptions with limited or no instruction.
Helena had always been intrigued by the inner workings of mechanical devices, but she had none of that gift she felt Lane had. She opened the door to Bessie’s double stable, the morning sunlight glistened off the clean car. “Lane must’ve stayed up last night and wash the car after we went to bed. I wonder how much work goes on around me while I sleep my life away?” The revelations thrust upon her yesterday had changed her. She could feel the way she thought about many things in life evolving. She walked along the side of the vehicle letting her fingertips softly caress the mahogany that formed the frame. The Professor not only made terrific mechanical instruments, but he also made them beautiful. Near the rear the vehicle she examined the now empty shelf that Lane had stored the food and kerosene. She inspected how it worked and thought about how it might be improved. Standing at the back of the car and thinking how amazing this apparatus honestly was. She looked up, and there stood Lane, a spanner in hand ready to do some damage.
“Step away from the vehicle, and no one needs to get hurt,” Lane growled at the front of the vehicle.
“Lane, it’s me, Helena,” she stood still.
Taking a step back, not letting his guard down, he spoke again, “Step into the light so I can get a better look at you. No sudden moves or I’ll hit you a good one.”
Pretty Waiter Girls Page 4
