Page 80 of The Women of Oak Ridge
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE:MAE
MY PARENTS WOULD BEashamed of me.
That thought kept me awake at night after I agreed to hide Clive’s stolen documents. Every time I glanced at Sissy’s headboard, a wave of guilt rolled over me. Mama would be so disappointed if she knew what I’d done. Pa, too, although I suspected he would have more sympathy for the predicament I found myself in. The thing is, they were the reason I’d done it. If I wasn’t so afraid of losing my job and the salary that helped my family, I would march across the muddy field to Castle on the Hill, find the office of the man in charge of the Reservation, and tell him everything. Even if it came down to my word against Clive’s, I’d rather go to jail than be part of his traitorous work.
But I knew I wouldn’t tell anyone. Couldn’t, in fact. Too much was at stake. If Pa was ever to be free of the enormous debt he owed the coal company, he needed my help.
My guilty conscience, however, hung over me like a dark,ominous cloud. Garlyn had noticed something was wrong when he came to pick me up for the concert at Grove Hall. Although I’d tried to brush it off as simply being tired, I found his worried gaze on me throughout the night. Would he understand my reasoning for helping Clive, I wondered?
Although I usually enjoyed Christmas carols, I hadn’t been able to appreciate the beautiful music or Garlyn’s company. Too many worries kept me on edge. By the end of the evening, I’d come to a decision. Until I returned the secret documents to Clive, I would keep my distance from everyone, including Garlyn. If he or someone else noticed I was acting suspiciously or in a way that wasn’t typical, I could find myself in a heap of trouble. Then once I handed the sealed envelope to Clive the day after Christmas, I would wash my hands of the entire mess and get on with my life.
My resolve was tested, however, when Garlyn walked me to the front entrance of the dormitory after the concert. He’d hinted he would like to hear Handel’sMessiahat Chapel on the Hill, hope shining in his eyes. As much as I’d hated to do it, I’d lied and said I was busy with an activity in the dorm that night. Disappointment stole the hope from his eyes, but I didn’t change my mind. I’d make it up to him once I was free of the hold Clive had on me.
Mrs. Kepple was in the lobby of the dorm when I arrived home after work.
“Maebelle, would you please come to my office? I have something to discuss with you.”
My stomach dropped to the floor. Had she heard about the fire? Did she know I had stolen documents hidden in my room? What if she’d discovered them already? Was there an MP waiting in her office to arrest me?
My knees felt like jelly as I followed her to the small room behind the reception desk. To my relief, there was no one else there.
“This package arrived for Sissy,” she said. A brown paper-wrapped parcel sat on the corner of the desk. “It appears to be from her family. I was going to return it, but I decided you may want to do that yourself, being that you know more about her sudden departure than I do.”
I accepted the package and noted the return address was from Georgia.
Why would Sissy’s family send a package to her if she’d gone home, as Clive claimed?
“You should also be aware that I will assign you another roommate in the new year. We can’t hold the space for Sissy any longer. People arrive on the Reservation every week. There’s even talk of adding additional beds to some of the larger rooms to accommodate more women.” I’m sure my face revealed displeasure, because Mrs. Kepple offered a look of compassion. “I know you’re disappointed. From what I saw, you and Sissy got along well.” She lowered her voice. “Someone indicated Sissy was having issues with the young man she was seeing, which is unfortunate if that’s the reason she left. With so many eligible men in Oak Ridge, a pretty girl like Sissy would have her pick.”
I could guess who thesomeonewas who’d spread gossip about Sissy. Prudence Thorpe was often in Mrs. Kepple’s company, no doubt wagging her tongue about this gal or that guy.
“Thank you for the package, Mrs. Kepple. I’ll write to Sissy’s mother and see about getting Sissy’s belongings returned to her.”
I left the office and made my way upstairs. In my room, with the door closed and locked, I set the package on Sissy’s bed. My gaze darted to the headboard. I was grateful to find the screw was in the same position as I’d left it.
I stared at the parcel. It appeared to have been opened and resealed by military censors. I couldn’t imagine why Sissy’s mother would send something to her. Sissy left for home weeks ago.Perhaps the mail was slow. If the package was posted at the time of Sissy’s leaving, it may have crossed paths with her as she traveled home. With the ongoing war, it wasn’t unheard of for mailed items to get lost or delayed. There’s also the fact that Oak Ridge remained a secret to the outside world. Some postmen may not even know it exists.
I lifted the package. It wasn’t heavy. I bit my lip, the dilemma of whether to open it or not tugging me both directions. If I didn’t open it and simply returned it, I may never know why Sissy’s family sent it in the first place. There could be a letter inside that would help me understand the reason it was here and Sissy wasn’t.
Decision made, I tore the brown paper from it. A tin can for saltine crackers was inside. Puzzled, I opened the can and found several small items wrapped in red cloth, tied with string. One by one, I took them out. Judging by the shapes and sizes, I guessed one could be socks or nylons. Another was probably cosmetics of some type.
Clearly these were Christmas gifts.
I looked in the tin can and found a folded note.
December 12, 1944
Dearest Sissy,
How we miss your smiling face. Pa says Christmas won’t be the same without you. I hope you’re well. We had a letter from Joe. He didn’t say where he is, but Pa heard on the radio the Army was making its way into Germany. I pray our boy is safe.
Merry Christmas, my Sissy. I look forward to the day when we are all together again.
Love, Mama
I stared at the date at the top of the note. “December twelfth.”
My muddled brain calculated how long it had been since Sissy disappeared to the day her mother wrote the letter. Plenty of time had passed for her to arrive back home in Georgia and be reunited with her family. Why then had Mrs. Galloway written the note, indicating her daughter was still in Oak Ridge? Why mail gifts when she could give them to Sissy on Christmas morning herself?
