Her Thirties Part 39
The morning went better than I thought it would. I was supposed to help a graduate student draft a thesis proposal, but she begged off claiming illness, leaving me with the entire morning free. I spent it in the library.
I was researching material on the unequal distribution of wealth in the Thirties and got sidetracked while working on the section entitled, “Making Do in Hard times.”
I began digressing and reading accounts of everyday life in Toronto during the Depression. I saw a photo of huge lineups outside the Yonge Street Mission—hundreds of men in long overcoats waiting for a free breakfast—at least, that’s what the banner over the door advertised.
I read the mind-numbing statistics—25% of Torontonians were on relief and no commercial buildings were being erected. Women were paid $12.50 per week in garment-making factories.
There was a picture of women working at the Eaton’s factory being monitored by supervisors using stopwatches. I was about to turn the page when my eye was drawn to the background of the picture. There was a young blonde woman sitting at a sewing machine and she was a dead-ringer for Marilyn.
That’s impossible, I told myself. I looked closer. The girl could have been her identical twin.
I recalled Marilyn’s story about the chestnut seller in the rain—it happened outside Eaton’s. A coincidence? My scalp began to creep.
Nothing about my relationship with Marilyn made sense. The more I got to know her, the more improbable everything became.
The atmosphere in the library began to feel stuffy and oppressive. I needed to leave. I grabbed my papers and stuffed them into a briefcase, and before returning the book, made a photocopy of the picture of the girl.
I emerged into a cool breeze—the sky was overcast and threatened rain. I started to walk out onto St. George Street and happened to glance south—it was then I noticed a Metro Police cruiser stopped at the curb at the head of a line of parked cars.
Abe? The thought crossed my mind, but I dismissed it and made my way back towards campus. I decided to stop by hart House for a sandwich and coffee. As I approached Hart house Circle, I spotted another Metro Police cruiser parked near the main doors.
I began to feel apprehensive and immediately thought of Marilyn. I ordered a coffee and sandwich and when I got to ‘our’ table, I phoned the bookshop.
“Are you missing me?” she teased.
“I am. Is everything all right?”
“It’s good. Why do you ask?”
“Just indulge me for a moment. Take a look outside and tell me what you see.”
“That’s easy. I was just out. I saw sooty clouds and it was quite breezy.”
“Did you notice anything unusual?”
“Not really—just a Direct Energy van and a bunch of parked cars—Oh, and a police cruiser.”
I breathed a sigh of relief.
“I figured that. Abe’s watching both of us now—I wonder if he thinks something’s going down?”
“I hope not—but I doubt anyone would try anything—the cruiser’s been parked at my front door all morning.”
“Good. Then, I won’t worry so much about you.”
“That’s sweet, Scott, but I’ll be fine. When I finish here, I’ll go straight upstairs, eat supper, have a nice hot bath and go directly to bed—so, don’t worry, okay?”
“If you say so, I won’t. I guess I’ll see you tomorrow at eight.”
“Scott?”
“Yeah?”
“Thanks for caring.”
I held the phone to my ear a few moments longer, before flipping the cell shut. I simply luxuriated in her aura.
THE IMAGES BROUGHT THE STORY TO LIFE....LOVELY PIECE
HOPE OTHERS LEARN FROM THIS AS MUCH AS I HAVE
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Thanks, @iskandarawe, but it's bad manners on steemit to ask for follows and upvotes - that could result in your being flagged and down-voted - you don't want that, so please don't do this
This post has received a 2.35 % upvote from @boomerang thanks to: @johnjgeddes
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Hi John. Sorry not been on lately. Taking turn for worse I guess. Thank you my friend so much for the reading you provide me. I am up to date and will continue as long as I can. You are a truly gifted writer and The advice you gave me and your words provided me with much comfort and contentment in my writing. Thank you again
Hey Brian, I was thinking about you. I think you're doing the right thing keeping your mind focussed on positive things - whatever is true, whatever is honourable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. I strive to do that in my thoughts and in my writing. My aim has been not to hang a dismal picture on the wall. Good to hear from you, my friend.