When she reached the Johnston’s residence her eyes grew monstrous. The three story house possessed
multiple balconies Helen began to think of the story of Romeo and Juliet. After Helen rung the door bell she heard a voice but seen no one then she noticed it was coming from a little box on the wall. “I came here for the housekeeping position,” Helen said in the most proper voice she had. Within a minute a white woman open the door with a welcoming smile and invited Helen in.

The woman offered Helen something to drink Helen declined properly wearing a smile. The two women sat
down in the incredibly large living room with a chandelier above them. Mrs. Johnston began to question Helen; she was pleased with Helen’s maturity, so she began a tour of the house explaining Helen’s objectives. Her duties were to wash clothes, fix beds, wash dishes, and scrub all four bathroom floors. “The job should approximately take about eight hours a day and be done Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. The pay will be $75 a week,” Mrs. Johnston informed. Not daring to negotiate Helen quickly accepted; she wanted to click her heels, she had her first job.

Helen was told to report to work on Monday where the job search began it ended, and Helen returned home. When
she got home no one was there but her two brothers Clarence and Johnny. To her they were like annoying pest always evading her space. Even though they were young she felt they still acted young for their age Clarence was her eldest brother at fifteen, Johnny was thirteen. “What it is ugly? Find a job yet,” Clarence teased then Johnny laughed. “Matter of fact I did,” Helen replied.

Johnny changed the direction of his laughter to his brother; he truly didn’t care whom he laughed at, as long it wasn’t himself. “You better have,” Clarence said knowing his picking lost its punch. He then punched Johnny in his chest for laughing then they began to rumble in the living room. Helen went into her room and noticed that the rug rats had been in her room earlier, but she was in no mood to argue with her brothers.

 

Helen’s mother got in at the normal time a little past ten p.m. Helen waited up for her to inform her that her daughter was now gainfully employed. Her mother was tired like she usually was on Friday nights after cooking and cleaning for the white folks. Helen ran to the door with a childish grin and said, “Momma I got a job as a housekeeper.” Her mother was amazed her daughter finally got off her lazy butt and got a job on the first day she searched in fact. “You ain’t pulling my leg, is cha?” Her mother questioned with disbelief of Helen’s testimony. “Naw mama I got it with these white folks called the Johnston’s. It pays $75 a week for only three days a week,” Helen stated excited. It seemed as if things were starting to iron themselves out.

Helen’s mother began to protest against the Johnston’s, “I heard about them white folks. People told me they say one thing than do the other. Them three days goin’ be five soon for the same pay.” Helen’s excitement died down, and she began to worry about what her mother had just told her. “Well it’s still a good paying job when ya start?” Her mother stated to kill the worry off her daughter’s face. “Monday,” Helen replied. “Well I reckon I can take ya and pick ya up from work,” Helen’s mother said smiling upon her.

“Thanks mama!” Helen said as she hugged her mother than gave her a goodnight kiss. Before going to bed she had to go to the bathroom to throw up. She wondered to herself how she was going to make it being pregnant and working for the Johnston’s. Finally telling herself that only time could tell she thenfell fast asleep.

On that Monday, Helen was feeling a little nauseous and didn’t sleep well the night before. It was about six a.m. when she welcomed the new day. Today she would start her first job ever; it would be the first time she ever got paid for doing household chores that she always did. Helen had experience with every objective that Mrs. Johnston wanted her to do, and that took some of the anxiety out of today. The thought of cleaning for white folks made her wonder about life was this the general purpose of hers. She respected her mother, but by no means did she envy her occupation.

When Helen exited her room Clarence and Johnny were leaving for school. Breakfast was on the table, grits
and eggs with a slice of toast prepared by her mother. Papa was coming along slowly but surely; he was beginning to prepare for his first grandchild. He had already left for the garden to pick ripe vegetables. As Helen ate her mother warmed up the car. On the way to the Johnston’s, Helen daydreamed and tried to figure out the day before it happened.

 

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