Page 62 of Threads of Kindness
“Come look at these cookies,” Sunday said, leading them to the table. “Laura toured the exhibit last week and asked if she could furnish them. I thought it was a wonderful idea and approved the exception to our no-food rule.”
Anita and Gordon leaned in to look. The cookies were shaped like sewing machines and elaborately decorated with black, red, blue, and green icing. The wordSingerwas piped in gold.
“My goodness,” Anita said, studying one. “These look like the Singer Model 15K that sits at the entrance to the exhibit!” She looked at Gordon, her eyes wide.
“They’re miniature works of art,” he said. “I’m amazed by Laura’s skill. This must have taken her a very long time.”
Sunday chuckled. “Laura dropped them off about an hour ago. She said she stayed up very late last night to finish them. She wanted them to be nice for you.”
“I don’t know what to say,” Anita said. “The roses on the table are gorgeous, too.”
“Josh sent them to me for Valentine’s Day. I brought them down from my office to dress up the table.”
“That was extremely thoughtful of you.” Gratitude warmed Anita’s voice.
Gordon took a photo of Anita and the cookie table, followed by close-ups of the individual cookies.
“Laura set a dozen cookies aside in individual cellophane bags for you to take to your shop,” Sunday said. “She wanted you to share them with your crew.”
“Laura’s the best. I know what I’m going to order for the grand opening of the museum itself,” Anita said. “These cookies are just the thing.”
“It’s twenty minutes before noon,” Sunday said. “People will arrive soon. I’ll put your coats away and be right back. We’ll set you up with a lapel microphone so you can get comfortable at the podium.”
Gordon and Anita took one last turn around the exhibit before Sunday returned. She clipped a lavalier mic to the collar of Anita’s dress and showed her how to turn the power on and off.
“I’ll introduce you,” Sunday said. “Even though everyone in town already knows you, it’s the thing to do.”
Anita forced herself to swallow.
“Are you nervous?” Gordon asked.
Anita nodded. “I’ve never done public speaking. I woke up this morning in a panic, thinking,What in the world am I doing?”
“That means you’ll give an excellent speech,” Gordon said. “A touch of stage fright sharpens your focus.”
Anita slanted her eyes to his. “You make speeches in your line of work all the time. Is that how it works for you?”
“Absolutely,” he replied.
“Have you got notes?” Sunday asked.
Gordon reached into the breast pocket of his suit coat and handed Anita a 3x5 card.
“I put bullet points on here,” she said, lifting the card. “Gordon said it’s a good way to remind myself of what I want to say, and it prevents me from reading my speech. That would be boring.”
“Well done, you,” Sunday said, leaning over to peek at the card.
Anita turned her back to the podium and faced Sunday. “I’m going to talk about learning to sew on the very machine that’s at the front of the exhibit,” she said. “My grandmother used that machine in the bridal shop until 1980. I’ll briefly describe themachines the bridal shop acquired over the decades and used through the three generations Archer’s Bridal has been in my family.”
Sunday smiled, encouraging her to go on.
“Rather than talk about the technical aspects of the machines themselves, I’ll explain the impact that owning a sewing machine had on a woman’s daily life. The sewing machine became popular before premade clothes were readily available. Using a sewing machine slashed the time needed to make clothes and household textiles. Women used their newfound free time for housework, studying, relaxing, and even paid employment. That’s what happened to my grandmother. She started her alterations business and grew it into a bridal salon because she owned her own sewing machine.”
Sunday clasped her hands together. “This is going to be a fabulous presentation. People will love hearing that.”
“A sewing machine was a highly coveted item,” Anita continued. “They were often given as engagement gifts instead of diamond rings. It was a status symbol to have one. That’s why these early machines are so exquisitely designed and decorated. My museum will showcase some of the furniture cabinets that housed them, too. The Singer Sewing Machine Company was once the largest cabinetmaker in the country. If you had one of these beautiful machines, you wanted to show it off—in your living room.”
“Brilliant,” Sunday said. “I can’t wait to hear more. But I think it’s time we start.” She took Anita’s elbow and turned her toward the audience.
