Memphis Minny get to singing on the radio how lean meat wont fry, which is about how the love dont last. Time to time, I think I might find myself another man, one from my church. Problem is, much as I love the Lord, churchgoing man never do all that much for me. Kind a man I like aint the kind that stays around when he done spending all you money. I made that mistake twenty years ago. When my husband Clyde left me for that no-count hussy up on Farish Street, one they call Cocoa, I figured I better shut the door for good on that kind a business.
A cat get to screeching outside and bring me back to my cold kitchen. I turn the radio off and the light back on, fish my prayer book out my purse. My prayer book is just a blue notepad I pick up at the Ben Franklin store. I use a pencil so I can erase till I get it right. I been writing my prayers since I was in junior high. When I tell my seventh-grade teacher I aint coming back to school cause I got to help out my mama, Miss Ross just about cried.
Youre the smartest one in the class, Aibileen, she say. And the only way youre going to keep sharp is to read and write every day.
So I started writing my prayers down instead a saying em. But nobodys called me smart since.
I turn the pages a my prayer book to see who I got tonight. A few times this week, I thought about maybe putting Miss Skeeter on my list. Im not real sure why. She always nice when she come over. It makes me nervous, but I cant help but wonder what she was gone ask me in Miss Leefolts kitchen, about do I want to change things. Not to mention her asking me the whereabouts a Constantine, her maid growing up. I know what happen between Constantine and Miss Skeeters mama and aint no way Im on tell her that story.
The thing is though, if I start praying for Miss Skeeter, I know that conversation gone continue the next time I see her. And the next and the next. Cause thats the way prayer do. Its like electricity, it keeps things going. And the bathroom situation, it just aint something I really want to discuss.
I scan down my prayer list. My Mae Mobley got the number one rung, then theys Fanny Lou at church, ailing from the rheumatism. My sisters Inez and Mable in Port Gibson that got eighteen kids between em and six with the flu. When the list be thin, I slip in that old stinky white fella that live behind the feed store, the one lost his mind from drinking the shoe polish. But the list be pretty full tonight.
And look a there who else I done put on this list. Bertrina Bessemer a all people! Everbody know Bertrina and me dont take to each other[19] ever since she call me a nigga fool for marrying Clyde umpteen years ago[20].
Minny, I say last Sunday, why Bertrina ask me to pray for her?
We walking home from the one oclock service. Minny say, Rumor is you got some kind a power prayer, gets better results than just the regular variety.
Say what?
Eudora Green, when she broke her hip, went on your list, up walking in a week. Isaiah fell off the cotton truck, on your prayer list that night, back to work the next day.
Hearing this made me think about how I didnt even get the chance to pray for Treelore. Maybe thats why God took him so fast. He didnt want a have to argue with me.
Snuff Washington, Minny say, Lolly Jackson heck, Lolly go on your list and two days later she pop up from her wheelchair like she touched Jesus. Everbody in Hinds County know about that one.
But that aint me, I say. Thats just prayer.
But Bertrina Minny get to laughing, say, You know Cocoa, the one Clyde run off with?
Phhh. You know I never forget her.
Week after Clyde left you, I heard that Cocoa wake up to her cootchie spoilt like a rotten oyster. Didnt get better for three months. Bertrina, she good friends with Cocoa. She know your prayer works.
My mouth drop open. Why she never tell me this before? You saying people think I got the black magic?
I knew it make you worry if I told you. They just think you got a better connection than most. We all on a party line to God, but you, you setting right in his ear.
My teapot start fussing on the stove, bringing me back to real life. Law, I reckon I just go ahead and put Miss Skeeter on the list, but how come, I dont know. Which reminds me a what I dont want a think about, that Miss Leefolts building me a bathroom cause she think Im diseased. And Miss Skeeter asking dont I want to change things, like changing Jackson, Mississippi, gone be like changing a lightbulb.
Im stringing beans in Miss Leefolts kitchen and the phone rings. Im hoping its Minny to say she found something. I done called everbody I ever waited on and they all told me the same thing: We aint hiring.[21] But what they really mean is: We aint hiring Minny.
Even though Minny already had her last day a work three days ago, Miss Walter call Minny in secret last night, ask her to come in today cause the house feel too empty, what with most the furniture already taken away by Miss Hilly. I still dont know what happen with Minny and Miss Hilly. I reckon I dont really want to know.
Leefolt residence.
Um, hi. This is The lady stop, clear her throat. Hello. May I may I please speak to Elizabeth Leerfolt?
Miss Leefolt aint home right now. May I take a message?
Oh, she say, like she got all excited over nothing.
May I ask who calling?
This is Celia Foote. My husband gave me this number here and I dont know Elizabeth, but well, he said she knows all about the Childrens Benefit and the Ladies League. I know this name, but I cant quite place it. This woman talk like she from so deep in the country she got corn growing in her shoes. Her voice is sweet though, high-pitch. Still, she dont sound like the ladies round here do.
I give her your message, I say. Whats your number?
Im kind of new here and, well, thats not true, Ive been here a pretty good stretch, gosh, over a year now. I just dont really know anybody. I dont get out too much.
She clear her throat again and Im wondering why she telling me all this. Im the maid, she aint gone win no friends talking to me.
I was thinking maybe I could help out with the Childrens Benefit from home, she say.
I remember then who she is. She the one Miss Hilly and Miss Leefolt always talking trash on cause she marry Miss Hillys old boyfriend.
I give her the message. What you say your number is again?
Oh, but Im fixing to scoot off to the grocery store. Oh, maybe I should sit and wait.
She dont reach you, she leave a message with your help.
I dont have any help. In fact, I was planning on asking her about that too, if she could pass along the name of somebody good.
You looking for help?
Im in a stitch trying to find somebody to come all the way out to Madison County.
Well, what do you know.[22] I know somebody real good. She known for her cooking and she look after you kids too. She even got her own car to drive out to you house.
Oh, well Id still like to talk to Elizabeth about it. Did I already tell you my number?
No maam, I sigh. Go head. Miss Leefolt never gone recommend Minny, not with all a Miss Hillys lies.
She say, Its Missus Johnny Foote and its Emerson two-sixty-six-oh-nine.
Just in case I say, And her name is Minny, she at Lakewood eight-four-four-three-two. You got that?
Baby Girl tug on my dress, say, Tum-my hurt, and she rubbing her belly.
I get an idea. I say, Hold on, whats that Miss Leefolt? Uh-huh, I tell her. I put the phone back to my mouth and say, Miss Celia, Miss Leefolt just walk in and she say she aint feeling good but for you to go on and call Minny. She say she call you if she be needing help with the Benefit.
Oh! Tell her I said thank you. And I sure do hope she gets to feeling better. And to call me up anytime.
Thats Minny Jackson at Lakewood eight-four-four-three-two. Hang on, whats that? I get a cookie and give it to Mae Mobley, feel nothing but delight at the devil in me. I am lying and I dont even care.
I tell Miss Celia Foote, She say dont tell nobody bout her tip on Minny, cause all her friends want a hire her and they be real upset if they find out she give her to somebody else.
I wont tell her secret if she wont tell mine. I dont want my husband to know Im hiring a maid.
Well, if that aint perfect then I dont know what is.
Soon as we hang up, I dial Minny quick as I can. But just as I do, Miss Leefolt walk in the door.
This a real predicament, see. I gave this Miss Celia woman Minnys number at home, but Minny working today cause Miss Walter lonely. So when she call, Leroy gone give her Miss Walter number cause he a fool. If Miss Walter answer the phone when Miss Celia call, then the whole jig is up. Miss Walter gone tell this woman everthing Miss Hilly been spreading around. I got to get to Minny or Leroy before all this happen.
Miss Leefolt head back to her bedroom and, just like I figured, the first thing she do is tie up the phone. First she call Miss Hilly. Then she call the hairdresser. Then she call the store about a wedding present, talking, talking, talking. Soon as she hang up, she come out and ask what they having for supper this week. I pull out the notebook and go down the list. No, she dont want pork chops. She trying to get her husband to reduce. She want skillet steak and green salad. And how many calories do I spec them meringue thingies have? And dont give no more cookies to Mae Mobley cause she too fat and and and
Law! For a woman who aint said nothing to me but do this and use that bathroom, all a sudden she talking to me like Im her best friend. Mae Mobleys dancing a hot-foot jig trying to get her mama to notice her. And just when Miss Leefolt about to bend down to pay her some attention, whoops! Miss Leefolt run out the door cause she forgot she got a errand to run and a blooming hour done passed already.
I cant make my fingers go round that dial fast enough.
Minny! I got a job lined up. But you got to get to the phone
She already call. Minnys voice is flat. Leroy give her the number.
So Miss Walter answer it, I say.
Deaf as doo-doo and all a sudden its like a miracle from God, she hear the phone ringing. Im going in and out a the kitchen, not paying attention, but at the end I hear my name. Then Leroy call and I know thats what it was. Minny sound wore out, and she the kind that dont ever get tired.