No Crystal Stair Read Online Free PDF Page B

Julia Belle knew almost nothing about her mother’s background, just bits and pieces here and there. Mama’s mother had died when Mama was a teenager. “I started to work in the same house where my Ma had been a cook. After that I worked in a lot of big houses.” Cleaning. Dusting. Placing the fork in the right place! For other people.
    Mama had learned all the proper etiquette. But she’d learned something else, too. Something that caused the bitter line around her mouth and drew from her another admonition. “No, siree! You can’t take a job at the tearoom. You’ll have to make do with that old dress of Sophie’s. You ain’t working in no white man’s kitchen. I been there. Would still be there if I hadn’t had the good luck and the good sense to marry your father!”
    That was another thing. “Be careful who you marry. Someone who’ll keep you from contact. White men ain’t got no respect for colored women.”
    Mama hadn’t liked Will Carter when Julia Belle brought him to the house that first day. “He’s coal-black, Julia Belle! And did you say he’s a dining-car waiter?”
    â€œJust part-time, Mama. To pay for medical school.”
    â€œOh.” Mama had smiled. “Going to be a doctor eh?” Will Carter had immediately become quality. “Doctoring’s a good calling for a back man, Julia Belle.” Mama’s blue eyes had brightened with a knowing look. “Like I told you, the white man don’t care how close he gets when you’re serving him. But he don’t like to serve you. He’ll take the black man’s money as long as he don’t have to touch him. He don’t want to doctor, beautify or bury you. He gonna leave that to black folks.”Mama had laughed. “So, honey, you just marry yourself a doctor or a funeral director. He ain’t gonna be on no salary and he ain’t relying on no white man for his money. He’s independent.”

    Independent. Not beholden. Julia Belle thought of her brother, Jimmy. He was a doctor in the little Georgia town and he didn’t allow his wife to go to the grocery store. “Don’t want her to have to deal with those white clerks.” Protecting her from contact.
    Julia Belle chuckled to herself. It was highly probable that the middle-class Negro woman was the most protected woman in the country.
    She sighed. Ann Elizabeth was completely unaware of how vulnerable she was. She had always been protected and had always lived in a completely segregated environment. Except for shopping downtown. But even there, although they were banned from the tearooms and restrooms, they were treated with respect because they were spending money earned by Dr. William Carter.
    It’s more than linen and crystal. Ann Elizabeth. It’s much more. It’s security, protection, even a little respect. If you marry Dan... If . Oh, she was being ridiculous. Of course Ann Elizabeth was going to marry Dan.
    And such a wedding we’ll have Julia Belle thought. Even grander that the one Ada Simpson had for her daughter. Ada will be green with envy.
    Julia Belle felt a little irritated. All this dillydallying! She wanted to get cracking with lists and invitations and... goodness! The dresses will have to be ordered and no telling how long that’ll take. She must have another talk with Ann Elizabeth as soon as possible. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if they could make the announcement at her debut?
    Dan Trent. The catch of the season. She could just see the jealousy in Sally Richard’s face. Sally had been trying for months to match Dan with her Jennie Lou.
    If only Ann Elizabeth wouldn’t fool around! Oh, she was just being coquettish. And she had so many things on her mind.
Graduation. Rehearsals for that play. Well, she’d talk with her soon—next week—and they’d start making plans.
    Julia Belle’s thoughts reverted