One week beyond the day of the apartment hunting the phone rang, and on the other end was the lady from Beechmont’s rental office calling to give the results of the application. Helen’s mother being the first one to receive the news called Helen into the kitchen to notify her. Helen was feeling blue because she hadn’t heard anything from the two different rental offices that held her application. ”Yes mam,” Helen said with no enthusiasm. “Beechmont just said ya move in May 1 st,” Helen’s mother informed then tried to hold back her smile. Helen hugged her mother viciously almost breaking her little body. Helen was immature in times of joy probably because these times came very seldom.

 

At work Helen was beginning to have extreme difficulty hiding her enlarging stomach, and now her pregnancy was beginning to show through her cheeks. She was a petite woman, and even when she was five months pregnant a big sweater would conceal that fact. Now at six months it was becoming harder to disguise her pregnancy plus spring was on the upspring, so she would of passed out with a sweater on. She knew she had to tell Mrs. Johnston soon, but she dreaded that fore coming moment. Helen told herself that this was the day that she would look into those snake’s eyes and tell Mrs. Johnston she was pregnant; Helen just hoped that this wouldn’t be the day she was fired.

When Helen reached Mrs. Johnston’s house she rehearsed the way she was going to tell Mrs. Johnston the truth. Mrs. Johnston opens the door wearing her trademark smile. Helen wasted no more time hiding the truth she revealed her secret instantly “Mrs. Johnston I have something to tell you,” Helen paused for a minute to make sure attention was given, “I’m pregnant and might need some time off soon.” Mrs. Johnston’s well kept smile vanished, and she asked curious to know how long this secret been kept, “How many months are you?” Six months on the thirtieth,” Helen stated in fear of Mrs. Johnston’s response. She kept her head on the swivel to avoid Mrs. Johnston’s cold empty pupils.

“Why didn’t you tell me? We’re friends aren’t we, I mean, you could’ve told me. I understand you’ll need time off you deserve it anyway; I’ve been working you two days extra every week,” Mrs. Johnston exclaimed. Helen didn’t believe her ears, so she was forced to look into Mrs. Johnston’s eyes to find assurance. Mrs. Johnston was looking at the blue eyed young lady with pity; she even felt more sympathetic after learning the news. “So you’re okay with everything,” Helen responded still in disbelief. “Yes I’m okay, you will need your job more than ever now,” Mrs. Johnston’s stated insinuating that it was time for Helen to go to work. Helen was happy to work because she felt appreciated by her employer.

The day flew by for Helen; she couldn’t wait to tell her mother the bizarre news. When she got home she almost skipped into the kitchen; there was no attempt to maintain her joy. “What inda world ya so thrill’d bout?” Helen’s mother asked from the kitchen sink. “Mrs. Johnston said she understands my pregnancy, and she thinks I’m going need to rest up,” Helen bragged. Helen’s mother was surprised because the white folks she worked for didn’t believe in giving any time off. “Well ya besta thank that nice woman every day cause I never heard nothing like that befo’,” her mother stated. Helen felt special due to the fact she was envied by many other housekeepers.

 

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