"Eight days a week is not enough to show I care..."
-- The Beatles
A Life Ever Changing #3
Then I heard the worst thing any young man, oops, I mean,
"young boy" can hear! She informed my mom that it would be
no problem and that she would take me herself to get the
uniforms. (OH FRIPSY!!!)
She then told my mom that she would drop me off at home
when we were through and was looking forward to meeting
her.
The look on my face must have been one of those Kodak
moments; FEAR! My mind was a whirlwind of activity. She is
going to take me! She is going to do what mom usually does
I am sure of it! She will be paying for my uniforms and
shoes and, oh no, (PLEASE GOD NOT THOSE TO!) I was a
nervous wreck.
Well, Mrs. Brown started to chuckle and said for me to
relax and calm down. Then she asked me to think again about
what I was doing. (HUH?) She started to express things in a
way I never thought of. She said; Ricky, you are starting a
job almost exclusively performed by women. Your appearance
and demeanor will be very important. You will be learning
something new almost every minute you are here. It is very
important that you do well from day one.
And the list went on and on, but then she said the words
that made me decide to really give this more than a shot.
She smiled, looked me in the eyes and said; "I believe it
is the right time for males to show they are more than
providers and rulers. It is time for them to open up their
hearts and give from within themselves. To use their
strength in a gentle way with caring and compassion. My
interview with you has led me to believe you are that type
of person. I believe you can do this and do it very well
indeed. It will not be easy and you will probably want to
just get up and walk out more than once. BUT! If you decide
that this is something you can and would like to do, I will
help you in any way I can. So, what is your decision?"
Holy fripsy! My decision? (I took a little time here) Many
things went whooshing through my mind at light speed. She
stood up and walked around her desk stopping right in front
of me.
"Well," she said, "what have you decided?"
I said, "Let's go shopping!"
Her smile was a reward in itself to me. She nodded and
said; "Let's go."
So, we were off to the uniform shop. A special shop just to
purchase uniforms, oh my. All I had ever heard of special
stores was EXPENSIVE for everything! We stopped at her
secretary's desk and she told her she would be gone for the
rest of the day. Now, boy, did I get some looks! And smiles
and chuckles and, and, and.
"Very nice car," I told her.
Wow, a Caddy! Cloth seats, AC, a radio with a wonder bar!
(For you folks that are to young, a wonder bar was the
first search and scan gizmo invented for a car radio.) V8
engine! Automatic transmission! Very nice car! I was
pleased to say the least to be able to ride in this
vehicle.
We got in and she told me to fasten my seat belt. (Not done
in those days for most people. Optional equipment back then
actually.) We were off and then the nice conversations
started. Oh, sure! She started on what I needed to
purchase. 5 shirts, 5 pairs of slacks, 2 jackets,
(JACKETS?) 2 pairs of shoes and you need to order your name
pin. (PIN?) Then she asked me about underwear of all
things! RED, RED, RED! Did I mention my face, neck well,
fripsy! My whole body was a shade of red!
I think by the expression on her face she was struggling
not to laugh. She looked at me briefly (Thank goodness, she
was driving after all.) and asked me; "Ricky do you prefer
plain white underpants or colors?"
GEEZ!!! I didn't think they even had colors for males! She
then told me briefs would be better they were more
comfortable under slacks. (How would she know?) So I asked
her. (GOTCHYA!) Or so I thought.
She matter of fact told me, "Common sense really, briefs
will not bunch up with all the moving, bending and running
you are going to be doing." Okay, she got me again! (Will I
ever learn?)
Okay, so on we went and the conversation moved to my
siblings. I ended up telling her that I had no real social
life. I had to come straight home from school to take care
of my brother and sister. No after school activities, no
real dates. (Just hang out with my girl on weekend
afternoons.)
I had very few friends because I just did not have any time
for them. Well, actually I had no friends really. That
sucked, but family is much more important isn't it?
Clothes? Ha! One suit for church and special events like
this one. One pair of dress shoes, three pairs of school
pants and 3 button-down shirts also for school. I had 2
pairs of jeans, 1 pair of beat-to-heck sneakers and a few
pullover short sleeve shirts. That was my clothing total.
Mr. Fashion I was not. But, who cares really. This was the
first time I was allowed to do anything outside of taking
care of my siblings, the house and yard.
So we then talked about what I did at home. I did most of
the talking and she just asked questions. So I gave her my
day-to-day schedule. Up at 5:00 am shower and put on my
robe. (I dressed for school after everything else was
done.) Put water on for mom's tea and start making
breakfast. (Mom was showering and getting ready for work
while I did this.) Okay, mom and I had tea and breakfast
while she went over what I had to do that day. Ok, dishes
rinsed and in the sink. Bye mom.
Go and run a bath for my little sister. (She hated showers
she is only 6.) Go get her out of bed and carry her to the
bath. (Easier than trying to wake her up and make her
walk.) Help her out of her night things and soaked diapers
and into the tub. She would wake enough to do the rest by
then.
Okay, then to my brother. He was 10 but more like 3 due to
his handicap. Get him up and sit him on the toilet. (We had
a small bathroom with just a sink and toilet in my mom's
room.) Okay, holler to my sister to get out of the tub and
dry off. Bring my brother to the living room with his toys.
Go back to my sister's room and help her get dressed.
Training pants in case of an accident. (Not often, but it
did happen from time to time.) Most of her dresses buttoned
up the back so she usually needed my help. I then brushed
her hair, fixed it in a ponytail or two. (Her choice.)
Then it was time for breakfast. Ok, after they both had
breakfast it was time to dress my brother. That done we
waited for Mrs. Smith. She would take my sister to school
and watch my brother while I was at school. (I should
mention she was also a licensed teacher for handicapped
children.) Okay, now I got dressed and walked to school.