Page 34 of The Women of Oak Ridge
“Garlyn said he’d be there at seven o’clock sharp.”
“I wish Clive could join us.” A frown marred her face as she gazed out the window to the darkening sky. “Whatever he’s working on must be important, because his supervisor insisted he stay at the plant tonight.”
I remained silent while I changed into the dress I considered my best. I would need to purchase something new at Miller’s department store soon, but I figured I’d wait until after Christmas. Mama hinted in her last letter she’d send a special package for the holiday, and I couldn’t help but wonder if she might’ve sewed some things for me. She’d also written that she, Pa, and Harris were invited to the pastor’s home for the Thanksgiving meal. I was glad to hear it. Pa wasn’t well enough to go hunting for a wild turkey, and Harris was still too young to go on his own.
We left the dormitory a short time later. Delicious aromas and a smiling Garlyn greeted us when we arrived at the cafeteria. While Sissy walked on ahead to join some of our dorm mates in line, I linked arms with Garlyn.
“Happy Thanksgiving, Mae.” He handed me a bar of chocolate, the kind I knew was sold only in the PX. I’d seen some of the SEDs and other military guys munching on the hard-to-get treat from time to time. “It’s not much, but I just wanted you to know... I’m thankful I met you.”
His warm words and earnest expression caused a tingle to run through me. “I’m thankful I met you, too.”
We hadn’t kissed yet, but I’d recently decided I wouldn’t stop him if he tried. I liked Garlyn. A lot. He talked about returningto Scranton after the war, and I had to admit the idea of going with him crossed my mind more than once. But, I chided myself as we joined Sissy and the others, I was getting ahead of things. A chocolate bar was not a proposal of marriage. It was simply a nice gesture to let me know he appreciated our friendship. With the war continuing to rage in Europe and in the Pacific, with no end in sight, we had plenty of time to see where our relationship might take us.
Today, I would simply be grateful for Garlyn’s easy company, a dear friend and roommate in Sissy, and delicious food—all of which reminded me of God’s goodness and faithfulness.
I couldn’t ask for anything more.
Saturday morning found me loading dirty laundry and a container of soap into a large wicker basket. I would rather skip this particular task, being that this was my only day off for a while. Yet if I didn’t attend to my growing pile of laundry today, I’d regret it later.
I’d lingered in bed long after the sun rose in a clear sky. There was no point rushing. Long lines at each of the four laundry and ironing rooms formed every hour of the day, every day of the week. From time to time I used Sissy’s handheld washboard to rinse underthings or a blouse, but today required use of an electric washing machine, especially since I’d volunteered to do Sissy’s laundry as well.
I tossed a bath towel on top of the pile and thought of poor Mama. She did laundry on an old wringer-style washer—for our family as well as dozens of other people in town—working backbreaking hours, six days a week. Wouldn’t it be something if I could save enough money and buy her an electric washer? Although the main reason I’d come to Tennessee was to do mypart to help win the war, I also wanted to help my family. Mama said the money I sent home every week had already eased some of the worry Pa carried.
I plopped down on my bed and glanced at Sissy where she stood in front of our small wall mirror. “Where are you and Clive going today?”
She continued to dab on bright red lipstick from the cardboard container it came in these days. All metals went to the war effort, forcing beauty product manufacturers to find alternative materials to use for lipsticks, powders, and other items deemed necessary to the girls in the dorm. I’d brightened my lips with Sissy’s makeup a couple times when I had plans with Garlyn, but mostly I used petroleum jelly. It was inexpensive and easily obtained at the market.
“There’s a Judy Garland movie showing at the theater in Knoxville,” she said. “It isn’t playin’ in Oak Ridge, and Clive knows how much I love her movies.”
“That sounds nice.” I struggled to evoke cheerfulness. Although a trip to the larger town twenty miles away would be fun, her companion was the problem.
She reached for the thin gold chain and heart-shaped locket she always wore. The small case contained a cloudy miniature of her parents on their wedding day. It had once belonged to her grandmother and passed to Sissy when the woman went on to glory. I often thought it would be nice to have a sentimental family keepsake, but neither Pa, Mama, nor their families had ever had money for extravagances. Every dime earned went to more important things, like food and shelter.
Once the necklace was in place, she met my gaze in the mirror, a serious look in her blue eyes. “Clive says there’s something important he wants to talk to me about.”
We stared at one another through the reflection.
“I think he might be planning to propose,” she whispered.
My heart sank. “What will you tell him if he does?”
She turned and gave a slight shrug. “I don’t know, Mae. I thought I was in love with Clive and wanted to marry him. Lately, though...” Her voice trailed.
I didn’t want to hurt Sissy. She was a dear girl, although a bit naive. If she had doubts about Clive, maybe now was the time to voice my own reservations about the odd fellow.
“Sissy, if you’re having second thoughts about Clive, just cancel. You don’t have to go today. You’re under no obligation to continue seeing him.”
She gave a half-hearted nod. “I know. I do like him. Love him, I think. He’s smart and knows so many interesting things about the world. But I... I’m not sure I can... trust him.”
Her faltering words alarmed me. “What do you mean? Has he tried to make you do things you shouldn’t?”
“I don’t mean that.” Her cheeks turned pink. “He’s always a perfect gentleman when we’re together. It’s probably nothin’. I promised him I wouldn’t mention it to anyone.”
Concern swirled through me. “You can tell me, Sissy. I give you my word I won’t say anything to anyone else. Not even Garlyn.”
She hesitated a long moment before she sat on the edge of her bed and faced me. “A few weeks ago, he took me to the trailer where he lives.”
At my widening eyes, she hurried to say, “Nothin’ improper happened. He had a bottle of bootleg rum he’d snuck onto the Reservation, and we drank some. A little later, he walked down to the men’s restroom. While he was gone, I poked around, just looking at this or that.”
