Chapters (38)
- one
- two
- three
- four
- five
- six
- seven
- eight
- nine
- ten
- eleven
- twelve
- thirteen
- fourteen
- fifteen
- sixteen
- seventeen
- eighteen
- nineteen
- twenty
- twenty-one
- twenty-two
- twenty-three
- twenty-four
- twenty-five
- twenty-six
- twenty-seven
- twenty-eight
- twenty-nine
- thirty
- thirty-one
- thirty-two
- thirty-three
- thirty-four
- thirty-five
- thirty-six
- thirty-seven
- epilogue
“You’re not running off with some boy, Violet,” she answered as she brushed by with a load of towels for the kitchen. “Your father and I think you’re spending too much time with That Johnny.”
“That Johnny is a nice guy, Mama. He’s going to college this fall. I want to be with him as often as I can.”
“Violet, I’ve been knowing Johnny since he started bringing his frog collections over here at the age of seven. I know he’s nice. Give me a hand with this laundry, please.” She handed over the stack of dishcloths and headed back up to her room. “You can see him tomorrow night. Betty really needs you.”
Violet sighed in defeat. Mama ruled the Glenn household with raised eyebrows and exasperated sighs, controlling her husband and daughter with field marshal precision. There was no arguing with her. She’d be stuck with Chet and his snot-nosed sister CeeCee for hours tonight instead of exploring mysteries with Johnny on the plush leather back seat. Violet put the towels away and trudged to the telephone in the hall.
“Number, please?” she recognized Mabel Tilley’s soft voice. Violet grew up thinking Mabel connected every phone call in the world until she and Mama visited New York City when she was nine. She’d picked up the telephone in the hotel and heard a nasal, clipped “Operator” that shook her so hard she’d hung up.
“375,” she responded, hoping Johnny’s mother didn’t answer. Mrs. Perkins didn’t think her precious son should be talking to Violet or any other girl in Anniston, Alabama, preferring to imagine him selecting from the wealthy and cultured coed crop at the university in September.
“Hello?” Johnny sounded out of breath.
“Hi, it’s me. I have to cancel tonight. I’m sorry. Babysitting duty.”
“Again?”
She could feel and share his disappointment from head to toe.
“I’m so sorry, Johnny. I have tomorrow night free.”
“I don’t, Violet. I have practice all day and then I’m supposed to take Kimmie back to Tuscaloosa.”
Kimmie was Johnny’s older sister, who was studying Home Economics and stationed at the University of Alabama to steer her brother toward marriage prospects Mrs. Perkins might approve. Violet remembered the shiny black DeSoto had been offered partly in exchange for Johnny’s transportation services.
“Maybe we can see each other Sunday,” she offered.
“Maybe.” Feigned indifference.
Violet rolled her eyes and twirled the phone cord. “I’ll call you after church.”
“Okay. I think I’ll see what Jennie Holcomb’s doing tonight.”
“Go right ahead, Johnny.” She chuckled at the thought. “Jennie would be thrilled to ride in your daddy’s car. Maybe she’ll,” she checked to see if Mama was lurking and eavesdropping, “stuff her bra for you.”