Page 21 of Cocky Origins: May and Jerald Cocker

“Of course!” I answer, also loudly before I whisper, “What gives?”

She whispers back, “Gertie took a wild guess that there was no way Mrs. Kearns would let you come to the fair, so we invented a scheme!”

I jump off the bed and run to put a better dress on.

Lily follows me, grabbing my arm. “No, silly, you’ll give it away if you look too good!”

“Perhaps you’re right,” I frown, “But I want to look good for…” I tilt my head rather than say his name aloud.

Lily announces, “Tommy doesn’t care how you look! Forget about that, and let’s go!” She whispers, “And this is very becoming on you. Besides, May, don’t underestimate the power of a girl’s smile. It’s her greatest asset!”

Lily throws me a pair of stockings that were laid out by the window to dry out so Father didn’t have to look at them in the bathroom.

I sigh, “Those have a run.”

She points to one of her own. “I got this today. Pulled it with a broken fingernail, can you imagine!?”

“That’s how I got mine! Last night I borrowed a pair of Mother’s. I gave them back when she demanded them out of spite. These will have to do.”

“You can’t go around with bare legs.”

“No, I should think not.”

Lily grins, “But wouldn’t that be fun?”

I pull the seams into place so they line my calves perfectly. “At least the run is up high. If I’m lucky that’s where it’ll stay.”

“I wouldn’t worry too much about it. He seems to like this the most.” She wiggles her finger in front of my face, and raises her voice again. “Would you hurry, already? I don’t want to spend a moment away from Mother!”

“I’m coming!” Grabbing my handbag from my vanity dresser, I smooth my curls in the mirror. “Ready!”

We walk out like there’s a wind at our backs, and run smack into Matthew with his ear to the door. He falls backward, caught.

And so are we!

“Little devil!” I whisper-hiss.

Lily digs into her handbag and hands him a whole quarter! “Shhh.”

He nods like extortion was his plan all along, pocketing the valuable coin along with the odd number of jacks and marbles he carries with him everywhere. I hope we didn’t just lead him to believe that lying pays.

Oh goodness — who am I to talk?!

She and I hurry down the stairs, finding Mother in the kitchen, preparing pot roast and potatoes for dinner enough for ten people. Some will be stored in casserole dishes to carry to the neighbors.

Father never grumbles about feeding more than our household with the meager wages he brings home — not after she said if he complained one more time she would get a job to pay for their meals!

That sure took the bite out of his bark. And the bark itself, now that I think about it.

Hoping he’ll test her promise, she buys the good meat now.

Lily kisses her cheek. “Thank you for loaning me May, Mrs. Kearns. There’s nobody I trust with my little brother more than her. I think it must be from all the time she spends helping babysit the kids you keep here.”

“That’s a dear, Lily, you give your mother my best. I do hope this time she’s able to stay… healthy.”

“Yes, ma’am, me too.”

We rush out, but not before I hear, “May!”

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