Page 15 of Under the Tulip Tree
Mammy sent me a look that told me she’d take a switch to me too if I didn’t behave.
The kitchen was full of wonderful aromas, and mystomach reminded us all I hadn’t eaten anything since early that morning. Mammy brought me to the big house before the sun came up, since Miz Sadie had approved of me the day before. I had yet to play with Miss Charlotte, what with all the instructions I was given of things to do and not do, say and not say, and the fitting of two dresses and cotton pantalets.
House slaves came and went while I stood as still as I could. Finally Aunt Liza heaved a satisfied sigh. She lifted the dress over my head, leaving me bare from the waist up. I giggled seeing the new snowy-white pantalets against my dark skin, the funny undergarment feeling as strange as it looked.
“I’ll have this hem done in no time, so don’t go nowhere.” The woman made her way to a chair in the corner to sew the garment while I hopped down from the stool she’d stood me on. Mammy had finished the potatoes and was now busy washing a stack of pots and pans.
“I’m hungry.” I eyed two large apple pies cooling on the counter. I hoped I would get more sweets now that I was Miss Charlotte’s companion. Mammy sometimes brought us treats when there was a big shindig at the plantation, but I had to share them with Saul and the little ones.
Mammy dried her hands on her apron. “You can have a slice of bread and some milk. That should keep you till you eat your supper with Miss Charlotte. She takes her meals in the nursery before we serve the grown folks. Master Burton used to, but he nearly grown now, so he joins them in the dining room.”
While I looked forward to eating with Miss Charlotte, I dearly wanted a piece of pie now.
Mammy settled me at the worktable with my meal and returned to her task. I was glad she’d poured me a large mug of milk since I usually only got a small cup in the quarter. The old mammy there always gave the babies more than us older kids.
Aunt Liza finished sewing at the same time I swallowed my last gulp of milk. She hustled over and settled the dress on me, tugging here and there until she was satisfied. She fastened the row of buttons down the front, then stood back to examine me.
“Well, now, don’t you look purty.” Her brief smile vanished as fast as it had appeared, and she leaned toward me. “Don’t you let this dress get soiled, you hear?”
Mammy came over and knelt in front of me. Her eyes were shiny, and I wondered why she’d get all teary over a dress. She fussed and fiddled with my hair, the itchy collar, and finally deemed me presentable.
“You be a good girl, Frankie.” She gave me a stern look. “Do everything they tells you, even if you don’t like it.”
I nodded. Then I twirled, letting the skirt fly out around me. Mammy laughed, and even Aunt Liza grinned.
“Come on, chile.” Liza took me by the hand and led me out of the kitchen, a separate building from the big house, through a door I’d never entered. “Miz Sadie be in the parlor.”
My inspection by the mistress of the plantation yesterday had taken place in the kitchen, so my excitement nearlybubbled over as I moved through the big house, eyes wide, and my whole self full of wonderment. I vaguely remembered seeing the grand rooms and pretty furnishings at Christmastime when Mammy and us chillens were brought in to receive sweets and new clothes. Master and Mistress were good to give all their people something nice to celebrate the day the Lord was born, or so Mammy said. But today I wasn’t here for only a few treasured minutes. I would be allowed to walk freely through the grand house with Miss Charlotte, playing in areas I’d only heard about from Mammy.
Aunt Liza led me into a room with pale-blue walls and soft carpet. Pretty furnishings and doodads filled the space, but I remembered not to touch anything. A large painting of an old man stared down at me from above the fireplace mantel as we came forward. I wanted to stick my tongue out at him, but I knew Aunt Liza would box my ears.
“Here she is, Miz Sadie.” Aunt Liza nudged me forward to stand in front of our mistress.
Miz Sadie sat on a bright-red cushioned bench. She seemed wider than she had yesterday, but maybe that was because she was sitting down, with her voluminous skirt spread around her. Her puffy face still reminded me of a hoot owl, but I did admire her yellow hair and blue eyes, mainly because they were so different from our folks down in the quarter.
“My goodness, she looks like a different child.”
“Yes’m,” Aunt Liza said, a hint of pleasure in her voice.
I stood silent while they discussed the virtues of the dress, with Aunt Liza showing off the neat stitches she’d recentlyapplied to the hem. Unfortunately, the shoes Miss Charlotte had outgrown did not fit despite her being two years older than me. Miz Sadie frowned at this information, declaring it improper for me to traipse about the house barefoot. Aunt Liza assured her they would locate a pair of shoes for me posthaste.
“Have you instructed her on proper behavior?” Miz Sadie studied me with narrowed eyes, and I felt like one of Saul’s worms on a tobacco plant.
Aunt Liza commenced telling the tale of my instruction, declaring me quick to learn and obedient to all I was asked to do. It surprised me to hear her brag on me, since she’d told Mammy I was ill-mannered.
The minutes dragged on while the two women conversed. I tried to remain as still as I could, but the scratchy lace aimed to vex me something awful. Aunt Liza seemed to forget about me and changed the conversation to supper plans, wondering if Miz Sadie would prefer roasted chicken or spiced beef.
In the middle of this homey conversation, Master Hall arrived with Master Burton and Miss Charlotte. Miss Charlotte, the spitting image of her mama, wore a dress similar to the one I had on, and I wondered if she had itching issues too. She sent me a small smile when our eyes met.
“There’s my darling.” Miz Sadie motioned Charlotte to her while Burton remained next to his father. Although I’d seen him from time to time crossing the yard or when he went riding, viewing his lanky frame and fine clothes up close told me he was no longer a little boy. Mammy said he was fouryears older than Charlotte, but he looked near grown standing next to his pappy.
Miz Sadie petted Charlotte, telling her what a special girl she was and how I would help her with her clothes and her hair and play games with her.
My legs grew tired from standing so still. A raw spot where the lace met my skin began to hurt, but worst of all I had a growing need to visit the outhouse.
I tried to get Aunt Liza’s attention, but she ignored me and kept her gaze on Master Hall as he spoke about the draft in the fireplace that needed attention. When I angled my head ever so slightly in order to catch her eye, she slowly moved her hand behind my back and gave me a sharp pinch between my shoulder blades.
I jerked, though I didn’t make a sound.
