MORE SURPRISES FOR ME

THE NEXT MORNING, I AWOKE, FUZZY HEADED AND KIND OF UNSURE WHERE I WAS. I LAY THERE FOR A MOMENT, AND THEN REALIZED THAT I WAS INDEED, IN THE HOME. MY ROOMMATE PATTY SLEPT ON AND I DIDN'T WANT TO WAKE HER SO I SAT UP QUIETLY AND TUCKED MY LEGS UNDERNEATH ME. MY BED WAS REALLY QUITE COMFORTABLE AND THE MORNING WAS PLEASANT OUTSIDE THE OPENED WINDOW. REACHING DOWN, I FINGERED THE WAFFLE WEAVE OF THE FADED ROSE COLORED BLANKET. IT HAD BEEN TOO HOT TO COVER UP, SO THE BLANKET WAS STILL FOLDED, BUT IT GAVE ME COMFORT JUST BEING ON MY BED. THE SHEETS WERE VERY WHITE AND I RAN MY HAND OVER THEIR CRISPNESS. MY PILLOW HAD THE SAME CRISP FEELING AND WHITENESS ON THE PILLOWCASE AND I PICKED IT UP AND CRADLED MY CHEEK ON IT. FOR A LITTLE WHILE, I EXPERIENCED THE FEELING OF BEING SOMEWHERE NEW AND TRIED TO TAKE IT ALL IN. PATTY HAD A LARGE STUFFED BEAR ON HER BED, AND I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE NICE IF I HAD ONE TOO. BUT I WOULD RATHER HAVE A STUFFED PIG, I HAVE ALWAYS LOVED PIGS FOR SOME REASON. I DECIDED THAT SOMEHOW, I WOULD GET A STUFFED PIG FOR MY BED. ONE THAT WAS PINK. AS I CONTEMPLATED HOW THE PIG WOULD LOOK, I BEGAN TO HEAR NOISES DOWN THE HALL. THEN, MY HEART LEAPED INTO MY THROAT AS A LOUD BELL BEGAN STRIDENTLY RINGING. PATTY JUMPED UP AND SNATCHED HER BEDCLOTHES. SHE THREW THE BEAR ON THE FLOOR AND BEGAN MAKING HER BED. "HURRY JODIE, GET YOU BED MADE! WE ONLY HAVE 10 MINUTES TO GET TO BREAKFAST, AND THE ROOM HAS TO BEEN IN GOOD SHAPE BEFORE WE GO!" SHE MOVED AROUND THE BED WITH JERKING MOVEMENTS, SMOOTHING AND TUCKING WITH EXPERTISE AND THEN PICKED UP HER BEAR AND TUCKED HIM AGAINST THE PERFECTLY ANGLED PILLOW. ALL THIS DONE WHILE I TOOK IN THE FACT THAT I MAY NOT MAKE MY BED THE WAY THAT MATRON EXPECTED. I FELT LIKE CRYING, WHAT IF I GOT IN TROUBLE FOR NOT MAKING A PERFECT BED? PATTY CAME OVER AND BEGAN TO HELP ME. "IT'S EASY" SHE SAID, "DO IT LIKE THIS." SHE THEN SNATCHED MY TOP SHEET OVER THE FLAT SHEET, TUCKED IT IN ALL AROUND AND TURNED DOWN THE TOP. GRABBING THE FOLDED COVER, SHE UNFOLDED IT WITH ONE MOTION OF HER ARMS MAKING IT POP IN THE AIR. SHE THEN DRAPED IT OVER THE BED, COVERED THE PILLOW AND SMOOTHED THE TOP. I DON'T THINK IT TOOK HER EVEN A MINUTE! "NOW YOU CAN DO IT FROM NOW ON" SHE TOLD ME. "AND DON'T FOOL AROUND, THE MATRON LOVES ANY EXCUSE TO PADDLE SOMEBODY". SHE WOULD PADDLE US FOR NOT MAKING THE BED RIGHT? IT DIDN'T BEAR THINKING ABOUT. PATTY CONTINUED STRAIGHTENING UP THE ROOM, PLACING SHOES NEATLY UNDER THE BED, HANGING UP TOSSED CLOTHING AND PERFECTING THE DRESSER TOP. SHE NEATLY ARRANGED HER BRUSH, COMB AND OTHER ITEMS. THEN, BEFORE I KNEW IT, SHE GRABBED HER SHORTS AND TOP AND DRESSED QUICKLY. "C'MON, HURRY! WE WANT TO SIT DOWN NEAR MRS. THOMPSON!" SHE TOLD ME. IT DIDN'T TAKE ME LONG TO GET READY, I DIDN'T HAVE MUCH OF A CHOICE OF CLOTHES TO WEAR, AND SO I DRESSED QUICKLY. I LOOKED IN MY PAPER BAG AND FOUND A BRUSH, RUNNING IT THROUGH MY HAIR, ALL THE WHILE WONDERING WHO MRS. THOMPSON WAS AND WHY PATTY WANTED TO SIT NEAR HER. I FOLLOWED PATTY OUT THE DOOR AND DOWN THE HALL, GREETING THE OTHER GIRLS ALONG THE WAY. MOST OF THEM WERE STILL SCATTERING AROUND THEIR ROOMS STRAIGHTENING UP AND DIDN'T HAVE MUCH TO SAY TO US. WE ARRIVED FIRST IN THE DINING ROOM. "WE GONNA SIT RIGHT HERE" SAID PATTY, POINTING TO THE TWO CHAIRS AT THE END OF THE TABLE, ACROSS FROM EACH OTHER. FINE WITH ME, AND I BEGAN TO GO TO MY CHAIR, WHEN I HEARD A STRIDENT VOICE, "PATTY! JODIE! COME IN THE KITCHEN! YOU CAN HELP SERVE THIS MORNING!" IT WAS THE MATRON. "SHOOT!" SAID PATTY. "NOW SOMEONE ELSE IS GONNA GET OUR CHAIRS! WELL, C'MON, LET'S DON'T KEEP HER WAITING". I FOLLOWED PATTY BETWEEN A PAIR OF SWINGING DOUBLE DOORS AND INTO A LARGE, OLD FASHIONED KITCHEN. THERE WAS A HUGE 8 BURNER STOVE, AND EACH BURNER WAS ROARING WITH FLAMES UNDER POTS AND SKILLETS BIGGER THAN ANY I HAD SEEN BEFORE. THE OVEN WAS ON TOO, AND THE HEAT WAS BLASTING. THE REFRIGERATOR WAS ALSO HUGE, MUCH TALLER THAN ME AND QUITE WIDE. WHEN ONE OF THE GIRLS THAT HAD KITCHEN DUTY OPENED THE REFRIGERATOR, I WAS AMAZED AT THE AMOUNT OF FOOD INSIDE. THE BOXES WERE INSTITUTIONAL SIZED, EGGS, BACON, SAUSAGE, BUTTER AND SO MUCH MORE. ALONG THE WALL NEXT TO THE STOVE WAS A LONG BAR AND IT HAD UTINSILS HANGING FROM IT. THE SPOON HANDLES WERE AT LEAST 12 INCHES LONG, I SUPPOSED SO THAT YOU COULD STIR IN THOSE GIANT POTS AND NOT GET BURNED. THE SINK WAS STEEL AND HAD 3 BASINS. YOU COULD HAVE TAKEN A BATH IN ANY ONE OF THEM. A LARGE CUPBOARD STOOD AT THE FAR END OF THE KITCHEN TO HOLD DINNERWEAR AND IN THE MIDDLE OF THE KITCHEN STOOD A BUTCHER BLOCK ISLAND AT LEAST 8 FT LONG. A WOMAN STOOD THERE AT THE ISLAND SNAPPING ORDERS AND KEEPING THE GIRLS HOPPING. EVEN THOUGH SHE HAD THEM MOVING WITH EFFICIENCY, SHE HAD A PLEASANT MANNER. WAS THIS MRS. THOMPSON? I GOT MY NERVE TOGETHER AND APPROACHED HER. "WHAT CAN I DO TO HELP?" I ASKED. SHE TURNED AND STOPPED WHAT SHE WAS DOING. I FELT AT EASE IMMEDIATLY. MRS. THOMPSON HAD THE MOST LOVING BLUE EYES. HER CHEEKS WERE FLUSHED WITH THE HEAT OF THE KITCHEN, BUT WITH A DUSTING OF FLOUR ON HER FACE SHE LOOKED SO SWEET. SHE HAD CURLY GREY HAIR, ALMOST WHITE AND A KIND SMILE. SHE WAS STOUT AND A BIT SHORTER THAN ME, WITH STRONG FOREARMS THAT LOOKED LIKE SHE KNEW HER WAY AROUND THE KITCHEN. SHE WAS WEARING A WHITE BLOUSE AND A BLACK SKIRT, AND SHE TOO, HAD SERVICEABLE BLACK LACED SHOES. THE WHITE APRON WAS TIED ABOUT HER AMPLE MIDDLE, AND SUDDENLY I GOT THE IMPRESSION THAT THIS IS WHAT MRS. CLAUSE MUST LOOK LIKE. SHE LOOKED ME UP AND DOWN, AND SAID, "OH, YER THE NEW GIRL. I HEARD ABOUT YOU." WHAT HAD SHE HEARD? WAS IT BAD? SHE DIDN'T LOOK MAD, JUST CURIOUS. "UH, YES MA'AM, I AM NEW HERE. I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO BUT IF YOU WILL TELL ME, I WILL GET RIGHT TO IT". THE MATRON WALKED OVER AND SAID, "SET THE TABLE IF YOU KNOW HOW. SET EACH PLACE THAT HAS A CHAIR." WELL! "YOU OLD WITCH!" I THOUGHT TO MYSELF. OF COURSE I COULD SET A TABLE. MY MOTHER TAUGHT ME WHEN I WAS YOUNG. SHE ALWAYS LIKED A WELL SET TABLE AND EXPECTED OF ME. BUT, I KEPT MY THOUGHTS TO MYSELF, AS THE WARNING THAT PATTY GAVE ME ABOUT HOW THE MATRON LIKED TO PADDLE THE GIRLS STAYED FOREMOST IN MY HEAD. I TOOK A LARGE STACK OF PLATES TO THE DINING ROOM AND BEGAN TO SET THE TABLE. SOME OF THE OTHER GIRLS JOINED ME WITH GLASSES AND SILVERWEAR. THE TABLE HAD A WHITE TABLECLOTH ON IT AND WHEN IT WAS SET, IT WAS VERY PRETTY. PATTY CAME IN WITH A LARGE BOWL OF SCRAMBLED EGGS, AND OTHER GIRLS BROUGHT HOMEMADE BISCUITS,(HENCE THE FLOUR ON MRS. THOMPSON'S FACE) GRITS, SAUSAGE, MILK AND JELLY. PATTY QUICKLY HEADED FOR THE EMPTY CHAIRS AT THE FAR END OF THE TABLE AWAY FROM THE END WHERE THE MATRON WOULD SIT. I FOLLOWED HER EXAMPLE AS OTHER GIRLS WHO HAD BEEN VACUMING AND DOING OTHER CHORES CAME TO SIT DOWN. LASTLY, THE GIRLS WHO HAD BEEN COOKING CAME IN, FOLLOWED BY THE MATRON AND TO MY DELIGHT, MRS. THOMPSON, WHO SAT AT THE END WHERE I WAS. I WAITED FOR THE PRAYER TO BEGIN. ONCE AGAIN, THE MATRON PRAYED FOR ANYTHING SHE COULD THINK OF. ALL I COULD THINK OF WAS MY RUMBLING STOMACH AND THE FACT THAT THE FOOD WAS GOING TO GET COLD. "AMEN!" SAID THE MATRON. "THANK GOD" I THOUGHT. IT WON'T SURPRISE YOU TO KNOW THAT THE MATRON FILLED HER PLATE FIRST AND THEN PASSED EACH DISH TO THE LEFT. I JUST HAD TO WAIT UNTIL THE FILLED DISHES GOT TO ME IN ORDER TO GET MY FOOD. WHEN THE BISCUITS CAME DOWN THE TABLE, I OFFERED ONE TO MRS. THOMPSON FIRST. "OH YOU SWEET THING!" SHE SAID. "YOU GO ON AND GET ONE AND THEN I WILL", AND SMILED AT ME. I FELT LIKE THE SUN HAD COME OUT IN THAT DINING ROOM AND WAS SETTING ON ME. WHAT A DIFFERENCE THERE WAS IN THE TWO LADIES. THAT OLD FAT HOG MATRON TOOK EVERYTHING FIRST, AND THEN THERE WAS MRS. THOMPSON WHO WAS WILLING TO WAIT UNTIL I HAD GOTTEN MY FOOD. I KNEW THEN WHY PATTY WANTED TO BE AS FAR AWAY FROM THE MATRON AS POSSIBLE, AND AS CLOSE TO MRS. THOMPSON AS SHE COULD. I ACTUALLY BEGAN TO RELAX THEN, AND FELT I HAD A FRIEND IN MRS. THOMPSON. ONE BY ONE, THE DISHES WERE PASSED AND I REMEMBERED PATTYS ADVICE NOT TO FILL UP TOO MUCH. THE BISCUITS WERE SO FLUFFY AND GOOD, THE BUTTER RUNNING FROM THE TOP OF THEM. I SHYLY ASKED MRS. THOMPSON IF SHE MADE THEM, AND SHE REPLIED THAT SHE HAD. I TOLD HER THEY WERE THE BEST BISCUITS I HAD EVER HAD, (I HOPED MY GRANDMOTHER WOULD FORGIVE ME FOR THAT TALE) AND MRS. THOMPSON BEAMED. "WELL, I'LL SHOW YOU HOW TO MAKE THEM. DO YOU LIKE TO COOK?" I TOLD HER THAT I DID. SHE PATTED MY HAND AND TOLD ME THAT SHE WAS GLAD THAT I WAS THERE. MY HEART MELTED. FROM THAT MOMENT ON, I SWORE TO MYSELF THAT I WOULD NEVER DO ANYTHING TO DISSAPOINT MRS. THOMPSON.
AFTER BREAKFAST AND CLEANING THE KITCHEN, THE MATRON SENT FOR ME. MY BLOOD TURNED TO ICE AS I WONDERED WHAT SHE WANTED. I WENT TO HER ROOM. IT WAS STARK AND DREARY WITH DARK FURNITURE, AND VERY LITTLE COLOR. IT WAS A LARGE ROOM, AND I DID NOTICE THAT SHE HAD HER OWN TV. AND THEN I SAW IT. HANGING ON THE WALL BY A LEATHER CORD WAS A PADDLE. IT WAS RATHER LARGE, OBLONG AND HAD A HANDLE ABOUT 8 INCHES LONG. NOTICING THAT I WAS STARING AT THE PADDLE, SHE TOLD ME TO GO AND GET MY THINGS BECAUSE SHE WANTED TO SEE WHAT KIND OF CLOTHES I HAD BROUGHT WITH ME. I HURRIED OUT OF THE ROOM,GOT MY PAPER BAG AND TOOK IT TO THE LAUNDRY ROOM. THE MATRON CAME IN AND DUMPED MY BAG ON THE TABLE. HOW ASHAMED I WAS AS SHE PAWED THROUGH MY MEAGER BELONGINGS. MY UNDERPANTS HAD HOLES IN THEM, AND MY FEW OTHER CLOTHES NEEDED MENDING. SHE HELD UP THE SKIRT AND TOP THAT I HAD WORN THE DAY BEFORE AND LOOKED AT ME. "ALL OF THIS TRASH HAS TO GO. NONE OF THIS STUFF IS FIT TO WEAR. TODAY, YOU WILL GO TO THE CLOTHING ROOM AND FIND THINGS THAT FIT YOU AND LOOK DECENT", SHE TOLD ME AND THREW MY CLOTHES BACK INTO THE BAG. I WANTED TO GRAB MY THINGS AND GET THEM BACK, BUT I WAS SO AFRAID OF HER. SHE THEN LOOKED OUT INTO THE HALL AND CALLED FOR LETICIA. "TAKE JODIE TO THE CLOTHING ROOM RIGHT NOW!" SHE BARKED. LETICIA GAVE ME A LOOK OF PITY AND TURNED TO WALK DOWN THE HALL AND OUT THE DOOR. I FOLLOWED, TEARS OF RAGE BURNING AND WANTING TO BEAT THE HELL OUT OF THAT MATRON. WHEN WE GOT OUTSIDE, LETICIA WALKED WITH ME TO A BUILDING NOT TOO FAR AWAY. SHE OPENED THE DOOR AND WE WENT INSIDE. I STOOD THERE AND LOOKED WITH SURPRISE AT ALL THE SEWING MACHINES, FABRIC AND OTHER ITEMS TO MAKE CLOTHING WITH. ANOTHER OLDER LADY CAME TO ASK WHY WE WERE THERE AND LETICIA TOLD HER WHAT THE MATRON HAD DONE. "THAT OLD BIDDY!" SAID THE WOMAN. "I DON'T KNOW WHY THEY KEEP HER ON HERE!" KINDLY TAKING ME BY THE HAND, SHE LET ME OVER TO A PILE OF CLOTHING, NEAR A HUGE CLOSET FILLED WITH STILL MORE CLOTHING. SHE TOLD ME TO GO THROUGH EVERYTHING AND IF I FOUND SOMETHING I LIKED THEN TRY IT ON. I COULDN'T MOVE. I BEGAN TO SNIFF AND THEN THE WATERWORKS STARTED. THIS DEAR WOMAN TOOK ME IN HER ARMS AND TOLD ME THAT EVERYTHING WOULD BE ALRIGHT. SHE LET ME CRY FOR A BIT, AND THEN ASKED WHY I WAS SO UPSET. I TOLD HER THAT I DIDN'T THINK ANYTHING WOULD FIT A BIG GIRL LIKE ME. "WHY, WHAT DO YOU MEAN?"SHE ASKED. "YOU ARE NOT SUCH A BIG GIRL. YOU ARE TALL, YOU HAVE BIG BONES, BUT YOU ARE LOVELY. THERE IS LOTS HERE TO FIT YOU!" I COULDN'T BELIEVE WHAT I HAD JUST HEARD. DID SHE SAY I WAS LOVELY? ME? I LOOKED AT HER WITH WONDER. THEN SHE SAID, "AND GUESS WHAT! WE DON'T HAVE ANY SHOES IN YOUR SIZE, SO YOU WILL GET TO GO INTO ATLANTA TO FIND SOME! I WILL GO WITH YOU AND WE WILL HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY!" THIS NEWS BROUGHT MORE TEARS, AS, MY FACE BURNING WITH SHAME, I EXPLAINED THAT I HAD NO MONEY TO BUY SHOES. "OH YOU SILLY THING, YOU DON'T HAVE TO PAY FOR THEM! IT WILL ALL BE TAKEN CARE OF!" AT THIS NEW, MY TEARS DRIED UP. I TOLD HER THAT I COULDN'T BELIEVE THAT THERE WERE SO MANY SEWING MACHINES IN THE ROOM. SHE ASKED IF I LIKED TO SEW, AND I TOLD HER THAT I TRULY DID. I HAD BEEN SEWING FOR YEARS AND I LOVED IT. SHE TOLD ME THAT I COULD COME EVERYDAY AND HELP HER MAKE CLOTHES IF I WANTED. IF I WANTED? DOES A PIG WANT CORN? I JUMPED UP AND HUGGED HER, THANKING HER PROFUSELY. THERE WAS A COUPLE OF WEEKS UNTIL SCHOOL STARTED, SO I WAS SO GLAD TO HAVE SOMETHING TO DO UNTIL THEN, AND ALSO GET AWAY FROM THE MATRON! TOMORROW, I WILL CONTINUE. LOVE, NANASEE