Getting the Important Things Right by Padgett Gerler

Author:Padgett Gerler [Gerler, Padgett]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2012-02-11T05:00:00+00:00

Thirty

I had done exactly what he had asked me to do. I had gotten a job. I would be our sole support. He had no right to criticize me. Why didn’t I tell him that? Why? Why? I just don’t know. I would avoid confrontation at all cost. I was a master at avoiding confrontation. Grab the barbs and sweep them under the rug.

So I went to the bedroom, kicked my shoes into the corner of the closet, took off my suit and hung it in its plastic cover, and headed for the shower. When the water reached that mmmmm temperature, I stepped in and let it wash the day down the drain. When I was thoroughly relaxed, I dried myself with my favorite fluffy yellow towel, brushed the onion from my breath, pulled my nightgown over my head, and set the alarm clock for six a.m. It was still light out when I crawled into bed. I was asleep as soon as I shut my eyes.

I didn’t hear Garth come to bed, but he was beside me when the alarm sounded the following morning. I pressed the button on the clock and tried to remember why I had set the alarm in the first place. I lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, trying to get my bearings. Then I remembered that I had set the clock because I was a working woman and I needed to get out of bed and go to the office.

I headed for the bathroom to get ready. Since I had taken my shower the night before, I had only to fix my hair and put on a little make-up. I washed my face, stuck some hot rollers in my hair, and headed for the combo room for some breakfast.

I had not eaten since my hotdog at two o’clock the afternoon before, and I was ravenous. I didn’t have a taste for soggy corn flakes—I sure could have used some Lucky Charms with pink milk—so I stuck a couple of slices of bread in the toaster. I took a jar of strawberry preserves and a jar of peanut butter from the cupboard and poured myself a big glass of milk. When my toast popped up, I slathered one piece with peanut butter and the other with the preserves. I opened the front door and picked the newspaper off the welcome mat. I took it to the table but didn’t even remove its rubber band. Instead, I ate in silence, most of the time with my eyes closed.

The day before I had filled out an application for employment. Someone reviewed it and said I was worthy of advancing to the next level. I had shone at the next level and was asked to report to work yesterday. I told my Ma’am, and she had pumped her fist. I told Percy, and he lifted me, twirled me, congratulated me, hugged me, made me proud of myself. How did he always know how to say the right thing? Certainly no one had taught him.

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