Chapter 13 #3
Lucille, can we talk about this? the man says. We came for a—
They ran out. She turns and starts hissing something I can’t hear at him, but it makes him look away and sag in the shoulders. When she is done with him, she looks around and says, We’re interested in this one.
I look at Miss Pripp. Lord, my heart is leapfrogging out my dress. You sure? Miss Pripp says, giving me a side-eye. Don’t you want you one that’s a little younger and adaptable? The husband is whispering concerned again to the lady. It is clear to me who is running this show.
We’re interested in this one, the lady says again, turning to Miss Pripp. What exactly do we need to do? She is ready to get this show on the road.
Miss Pripp looks unsure. Well, she says, it’d have to be a exception without the proper paperwork. But I’ll go see can we do anything for you. She walks out.
Miss Frances comes up closer to the couple, with a whiny toddler on her hip not near cute as Ella Jane. She says, Meg here’s a real good selection. She’s smart and neat and—why don’t you go ahead and ask her some questions.
The lady frowns. Questions … like what kind of questions?
Ask her something about herself. Go ahead!
The lady looks over at the door like she is running out of time. Alright, well … what’re your hopes and dreams, little girl?
To own a full set of encyclopedias and a library card that lets me carry out.
Behind her, the daddy looks at me. Right in the eyes. His glasses are round and made of thin, gold wire.
The lady says, Wouldn’t hurt to have one around that was smart. Before I can tell her just how damn smart I am, here comes the Big Phony, with a big phony smile on her face.
Excuse me, may I be of help?
I want to kick her I want to scream to get out these folks are mine—
These people here say they’re interested in Meg, Miss Pripp says, following her in, like she can’t hardly believe it.
Miss Garnett does not miss a beat. She says, Come on back to the lounge, where we can talk about this further.
Why, is there a problem? this mama says, and there is some irritation in her voice. We’ve got an awful long drive home this afternoon.
It’s the protocol, I’m afraid, Miss Garnett says. You’ll also need to meet with the inspector, and only then can you move on to the Special Talk.
But here comes Miss Mildred, bringing the inspector with her.
Garnett, it’s getting late, I better be getting on—oh! the inspector says. Didn’t see you folks walk in.
The lady looks at him and smiles in a way different than how she smiled at Miss Garnett. Kind of tilts her head to the side. She says, Hello, sir. I’m delighted to meet you. Now, I’m afraid we don’t have a whole lot of time this afternoon, but we sure would like to adopt this sweet little girl.
The inspector slips a look down at her figure. You better believe I am watching every move. Let’s get you processed, then, he says. I just need to ask you folks a few questions.
Miss Garnett looks at the door like she’d like to drag these folks through it. She steps in front of Miss Mildred. I’m so sorry, but I’m afraid this girl isn’t available for adoption. Perhaps you’d care to look at—
Why not? the lady says.
Because she’s of the age where she’ll be starting the work program in a few months. It’s a wonderful opportunity—
Not until January! I say and stamp my foot.
I’m afraid it’s already been decided, Miss Garnett says. The work program is what’s best for a girl like Meg.
Even so, Garnett, our main purpose here is adoption, Miss Mildred says.
Miss Garnett turns and looks square on at Miss Mildred. And your main purpose is to stay in the back with the nigra. Miss Mildred opens her mouth, but then just shakes her head and walks out.
I feel like the floor is sinking under me. I look at Miss Frances, but she has lost her nerve. The toddler she is holding is crying harder and pulling on that red-and-white scarf.
Now, Miss Garnett is saying, we have several other very nice girls for you to choose from, so why don’t we move down the line.
But before Miss Garnett can do it, Miss Mildred is coming back in with a little red handbook in her wrinkled hand.
She clears her throat and reads, Amended paragraph one: The priority of the Lafayette County Orphan Asylum is to place a girl with an appropriate family.
If she cannot be placed, she may be enrolled in the work program.
Miss Pripp says, Huh, like this is news to her. I feel like I am teetering on a wire.
Well, I reckon I got to agree, Garnett. The girl is eligible, the inspector says.
Good, we’ll take her, the lady says, which is music to my ears. But I do not get too excited, Lord knows it is not done yet.
I’m telling you, you don’t want this one, Miss Garnett says over the toddler, who is really wailing now. She has problems—
Don’t we all, the lady says, and she gives the daddy a look. He keeps rubbing a gold wristwatch, like he is scared to talk.
She’s very difficult, she misbehaves, she drew a filthy picture—Frances, will you PLEASE take that toddler out of here! Miss Frances turns to take her out, glancing one more time back at us.
May I see your credentials, please? the inspector asks.
Unfortunately we didn’t bring those, the lady says. I’m very sorry. We would’ve if we’d known.
Miss Garnett smiles, oh it is icy. I’m afraid we can’t allow any kind of adoption without the proper papers. It’s the protocol.
I could be sick right here on this floor. The lady whispers something strong to her husband. He looks embarrassed but he fishes a silver case from his coat pocket and hands a paper card to the inspector.
Perhaps you’d be willing to make an exception for us, the lady says. I need nothing short of a damn miracle printed on that card.
The inspector holds it back a distance to see it.
His eyebrows rise up. I’ll say. I think you’ll agree with me, Garnett.
He passes the card to her. Then he takes the man’s hand and shakes it.
You’re a Yale man aren’t you, Tom? I believe I read that in the paper.
The man nods. And if I recall, Garnett, Dr. Pittman is too, isn’t he?
The inspector turns back to the man. He’s a bit older, but maybe you know Dr. Welty Pittman?
The man nods and stands up straighter. Not well, but I believe my brother Nick knows the doctor, they were class of ’13 together— The lady gives him a hard poke with her elbow that shuts the man up quick.
Miss Garnett flattens her hand on her belly like she might have the stomach bug again. I am afraid to breathe too loud or it could break the spell.
Well, the inspector says, I’d say you’ve found yourself a family, young lady, and he claps a hand down on my shoulder.
I feel woozy and press a hand to the wall. I feel like I may be in somebody else’s dream.
Garnett, it’s very Christian of you to be so concerned about the girl’s future.
Through the crack of her teeth, Miss Garnett says, Thank you, Richard.
Now, I just need you to answer a few questions for me, please. You’re members of a church, I’m sure, and he makes a check on his clipboard. Should we go ahead and assign Welty as the child’s physician?
Miss Garnett jerks her neck around. No—that’s not required, you don’t need to put a doctor—
Might as well put him down, the inspector says. He hands the man the clipboard. You just fill in the rest here.
This is only a trial period. You have two months to return her, Miss Garnett says to the lady. If she misbehaves, you can bring her right on back here—
But we don’t see that happen very often, the inspector says.
A thing in my chest is turning somersaults.
I do not care who these strangers are, just get me the hell out of here.
Even if it is picking a field, it is worth it for Miss Garnett’s face alone.
Her smile is furious and she’s trying to look like she’s still the one in charge.
I think of all those big things I planned to say, but I cannot seem to catch my breath.
While they are signing things, the lady asks do I have any belongings to collect.
Just a few things from here. Poor girl showed up with nothing but the dress on her back, Miss Mildred says.
Miss Mildred walks me to the outhouse and I use that nasty thing for the last time in my life and on the way back, I dash in the office and grab my portrait collection to remember these ladies’ faces by so I can steer clear of them should I ever see them on the street.
I stick them down in my underpants for safekeeping.
Then Miss Mildred is hugging me into her smelly armpit, saying, May the Lord bless you and keep you. To be honest, I can’t believe you made it out of here, Meg.
I tell her, You and me both, lady.
Miss Frances hands me a paper sack with my day dress and petticoat. She manages to pat me on the arm without actually touching me, probably afraid she will get fired for her part in all this. Good luck, Meg, she whispers. Birdie’ll be so happy to hear about this.
And like a dream the three of us are walking into the little front vestibule.
I look over at that sign of rules that do not make a lick of sense.
I sure wish you were here to see this, Ava, I whisper to myself.
And Birdie too. I turn and see the leftover girls walking quiet up the stairs.
Behind us, Miss Mildred says, Ain’t he gone be happy to hear the news about Meg?
And Miss Garnett spits out the word Who?
Dr. Welty. Since he’s the one brought the poor girl here, half starved to death.
We step out onto the front porch and I see a side of that front door I have not seen since the day I arrived.
I draw in a new breath. The air feels lighter out here, cleaner, bigger!
The man, my new daddy, opens the back door of a black automobile and I get in.
The seats are smooth and cool in the shade.
He opens the front passenger door for his wife, and she slides into the front seat. Thank God that’s over, she says.
Then he starts the noisy motor, and I feel the rattling under me.
As we pull off, I get up on my knees and look out the back window.
Miss Garnett is standing on the front steps, her cold eyes glued on us.
Careful, so my new mama and daddy do not see it, I raise my middle finger up tall and hard at her just as I had planned.
I smile and Miss Garnett jerks ever so slight, like I got the last slap in the face.
Then I watch it all slip away, the old Orphan, Miss Mildred, the Fatass, the Big Phony.
Who knew the Asskisser would side up with ole Nutmeg after all.
But as the blue house gets smaller, I start to lose my breath.
I will be right back. I wrote that on the wall somewhere in case she showed up for me.
But mamas do not come back, not ever, Meg.
Ava is gone, and Birdie is gone. They are all gone.
As we turn to leave Oxford, I can just see the clock hands on the top of the courthouse up and over the oak trees, until that is gone too.