Necessary Lies Read Online Free PDF Page B

to walk in. I was going to have to develop a stronger backbone—and maybe keep it from Robert for a bit. He would never allow me in those neighborhoods.
    “How do you feel about what happened in Greensboro?”
    I was confused for a moment, thinking of WC, which is what we called my Greensboro college. Then I thought I understood. “Oh. Do you mean the protests at the Woolworth’s lunch counter?”
    She nodded. “What did you think of that?”
    I hedged. I certainly knew what I thought, but I didn’t know if it was the “right” answer or if it could cost me the job. Still, I couldn’t lie about my feelings.
    “I think they were very brave,” I said of the Negro students who dared to sit at the lunch counter reserved for whites. I thought of the “colored” and “white” drinking fountains I’d passed in the hallway on my way to Mrs. Werkman’s office—or whoever’s office we were in. “I think all people should be treated with the same respect and have the same rights.”
    She smiled. “An idealist,” she said.
    “If that’s the definition of an idealist, then I guess I am one,” I said.
    “I’m afraid this job could turn you into more of a realist and that would be a shame,” she said, “but I agree with you. With your ideals, though, it may be too soon for the minds of the South. You’re going to see what centuries of inequality have done to your Negro clients, and your white clients won’t be much better off. The challenge we have is relating to people who have very different backgrounds from our own, regardless of race. It’s difficult because so many of them, you’ll find, are of very low intellect.”
    “I’d like the challenge,” I said, and I meant it.
    “Keep your ideals in your mind and your heart,” she said. “And remember that with all of your clients, there but for the grace of God…”
    “I have the job?” I asked.
    “Yes, Miss Mackie, you do. Salary is $185 a month. Can you start two weeks from Monday?”
    I was stuck on the hundred and eighty-five dollars. Better than I’d expected. Then the “two weeks from Monday” sank in and I gave an apologetic shake of my head. “My wedding is that Saturday.”
    “Ah yes.” She turned to look at the calendar. “And then a honeymoon, I suppose?”
    “Just for a week. I could start the Monday after.”
    “That will have to do, then,” she said. “You’ll actually be taking my place in the field. Our director’s retiring and I’m moving into his position.”
    “Congratulations.” I smiled.
    “Thank you, I think.” She laughed. “I’ll miss the field, but I hope I’ll be able to make some positive changes in the department. So”—she glanced at the calendar again—“we’ll begin that Monday. You’ll go on home visits with me and get to know some of your clients. We’ll only be able to do that for a couple of weeks, though, because we’re terribly short staffed, as you’ll soon find out. Dress is professional but casual. I prefer slacks for fieldwork and made the department loosen the dress code a few years ago for that reason, so you may wear them if you like. You’ll want to purchase a briefcase something like this.” She lifted a briefcase from the floor. Worn brown leather with a sloping top and brass clasp, very much like the one my father used to carry. I loved the idea of having my own.
    “Okay,” I said.
    Then she gave me a look of warning. “You’ll have a large caseload to balance,” she said. “I have sixty cases at the moment, but I won’t dump them all on you at once.”
    “Where?” I asked. “What part of Raleigh?”
    “Not Raleigh at all,” she said. “Grace County. All rural families.”
    Grace County. “Oh,” I said. I hadn’t expected that.
    “Is that a problem?”
    “No, just a surprise. I’ve never really been to Grace County, except to pass through on the way to the beach.” It was a lie, but I didn’t want to talk about one more thing that might make me