Appalachian Daughter

by Mary Salyers

  Mary Ann quickly hopped off her stool and as they headed for the door, looked over her shoulder. “Bye, Jack. Nice to meet you.” Once outside, Mary Ann said, “Wow! What was that?”

  “I don’t know what it is about him, but I get nervous when he’s around. He only started working this morning. Mr. Carson kept him busy most of the day, and I didn’t see much of him, thank goodness.”

  “Well, I think he’s a good looking guy.” Mary Ann rolled her eyes and grinned.

  Maggie ignored Mary Ann’s comment. “I heard a bunch of town kids are getting up a softball game in the school yard. Want to go down there?”

  On Friday morning, Jack came in to Maggie’s office and sat on the corner of her desk. “How’s Miss Maggie this morning?”

  “I’m fine, Jack. Did you have some work you need me to do?”

  “Well, yes, I do, but I forgot to bring it with me. I came in to see if you would go to the movies with me tonight.”

  Maggie tried to keep the shock off her face and out of her voice. “Thanks, Jack. It’s kind of you to ask, but my family has plans for me when I get home tonight. I’m sorry.” She picked up her stenographer’s pad. “Did you need me to take a letter, or was it something else?”

  Jack sighed. “It’s just some envelopes I need you to address. I’ll go get them.”

  Maggie worried all weekend about what she could do to discourage Jack’s attention. She thought about talking to Aunt Lillian, but didn’t get a good opportunity. She knew she shouldn’t mention Jack to her mother. Corie Mae would make her quit at once. Mary Ann thought she should not worry. So what if Jack flirted with her. He would only be in town a few more weeks. What harm could he cause in such a short time?

  About noon the next Wednesday, Mr. Carson asked Maggie to come into his office and take some dictation. When he had finished dictating four letters, he stood. “Oh, by the way, Maggie. I meant to tell you earlier. I’m going to Nashville tomorrow. I’ll be gone the rest of the week. I’d like you to try to get that stack of filing caught up while I’m gone. You’ve really made lots of headway with that. I don’t know what we would have done without you this summer. You’ve been a God-send.”

  “Thank you, sir. I’ll do my best to get it completed in the next two days.”

  Jack didn’t come into the office at all that day. Mr. Carson said he was doing some research over at the courthouse. Later that night when she mentioned to Mary Ann that Mr. Carson would be gone the rest of the week, Mary Ann raised her eyebrows and gave Maggie her wide-eyed look. “Oh my! That means you and Jack will be all alone.” Maggie sucked in a quick breath and frowned. “Oh, Maggie, don’t worry. He won’t do nothing. I don’t know why you’re so afraid of him. I just wish he’d ask me to go out with him.”

  Maggie dreaded going to work the next morning. When she unlocked the door and went into her office, she saw a dozen red roses in a vase in the middle of her desk. She walked around and sat in her desk chair. Maggie noticed a card clipped to the ribbon. “We appreciate all the work you do for us.” There was no name. Mr. Carson must have put them there before he left town. She smiled. She leaned over and took in the light fragrance. She smiled again.

  Jack came into the office only a few minutes before quitting time. He carried an armload of papers. “Hey, Maggie. Wow! What pretty roses.”

  Maggie smiled. “Yes, they are pretty. I appreciate them very much.”

  “Well, I’m pooped. I had to stand all day searching through files trying to find all the information for Uncle Gilbert. I’m leaving early. See you tomorrow.” And he left.

  Maggie opened the mail that had come that day and placed it on Mr. Carson’s desk, just as he had trained her to do. She saw two checks, which she entered in the ledger, and clipped together with a deposit slip. When she went back to her office and saw the roses, she smiled again. She took her purse from the bottom drawer, turned out the lights and locked the door.

  Maggie worked feverishly the next day filing the documents. She fully expected to get the “to file” bin empty before quitting time. About four o’clock she stood in front of the bank of file cabinets when Jack came in. He had taken off his tie and unbuttoned his shirt collar. He held his coat slung over his shoulder with one finger. His blond hair had slipped down over his left eye, and his smile showed a mouth full of very white teeth. In spite of herself, Maggie was struck by his good looks. She forced a smile. “Hi, Jack. Did you have another busy day over at the courthouse?”

  “Nah. I guess you could say I played hooky today. ‘When the cat’s away, the mice will play.’” He hung his coat on the coat rack behind the door and came over to the files. “Say, did you really like the roses?”

  “Yes, they’re beautiful. I’ll take them home tonight so my family can see them.”

  “I thought you’d like them. That’s why I got them for you.”

  Maggie held a document in midair and stared at Jack. “I thought your uncle left the roses for me.”

  “No, my cute little secretary, I’m the one.” He moved a little closer to her. “I came by to see if you wanted to give me a proper ‘thank you.’”

  Maggie put the paper into the file and pushed the drawer closed. “I do appreciate them. No one ever gave me roses before. Thank you, very much.” She picked up the next paper to be filed.

  “Oh, I was looking for more thanks than that.” He stood behind her and put his hand on her right shoulder. “I think I deserve a little kiss.” He turned her around to face him, and that’s when Maggie realized he was drunk. She twisted out of his grasp and stepped away from him.

  “Jack, I don’t mean to be rude, but I don’t want to kiss you. Now, if you will take your coat and leave, I can get this filing finished before quitting time.” She moved to the last file cabinet and opened the drawer.

  Jack stuck out his lower lip the way Johnny Ray used to when he did not get his way. “Maggie, you’ve really hurt my feelings. I was trying to be nice to you. Why don’t you like me?” He moved behind her again and put his arms around her waist.

  Maggie tried to break out of his embrace, but he held her tight. She stomped his foot, and he yelled, but didn’t turn her loose. His hands moved up to her breasts. She butted his nose with the back of her head. When he screamed and turned her loose, she pushed him backwards and started for the door, but he made a lunge for her, grabbing the back of her blouse. She jerked to get loose, popping all buttons off, and leaving her blouse in Jack’s grip, ran for the door, down the steps and into the street. Hugging herself to hide her bra, and with tears streaming down her face, she raced as hard as she could to the café straight through to the kitchen where Aunt Lillian stood at the stove stirring a pot of soup.

  “Why, Maggie, what on earth has happened?” Aunt Lillian wrapped a clean towel around her and led her upstairs to the apartment where Maggie explained everything. Ray heard the story when he came to pick Maggie up and immediately went to the sheriff’s office. The sheriff accompanied Ray and Maggie to Mr. Carson’s office where they found the door standing ajar. The office stood empty, but someone had smashed the vase of roses against the wall and scattered the unfiled documents about the room. Maggie wanted to clean up the mess, but the sheriff told her to lock up and leave everything just like it was.

  The next Monday, Mr. Carson came to Maggie’s house and apologized profusely explaining that Jack had left town and he had been unable to contact him. He begged Maggie to come back to work, but Corie Mae would not hear of it. “I was against it from the start. I said nothing good would come of this, and I was right. An office with only men is no place for a young girl to work.”

  Maggie had mixed feelings when she heard Ray tell Mr. Carson, “I agree with my wife. Maggie won’t be coming back to work.” While she could see her mother’s point, especially after what had happened, she had enjoyed her job and was sorry to have to give it up. Finally Mr. Carson persuaded Ray to let Maggie accept a check for the wages she would have received if she had worked the rest of t
he summer. A few weeks later, Ray told Maggie he had checked with the sheriff’s office, and a judge had issued a warrant for Jack’s arrest.

  CHAPTER 10

  Harlan, Kentucky–June 25, 1892...Finally got to go to Harlan. Mama and Papa delighted to meet the 4 grandchildren. Johnny 12, Jimmy10, Helen 6. Little Doug 2 is the prettiest child I ever saw.

  (Diary of Mary Louise Campbell)

  Senior Year 1952-53

  “Hey, Maggie! Hurry! Got some exciting news,” Mary Ann jiggled her hands impatiently as Maggie climbed the school steps where Mary Ann waited. “Gosh, that’s a pretty dress.” She rubbed the fabric of Maggie’s sleeve between her thumb and index finger. “Did your mom make it?”

  “No. Bought it with money I made this summer.” Maggie grinned and the girls moved along with the crowd into the hallway. “Now, what’s this big news?”

  “Oh, wait until you see him.”

  “See who? What are you talking about?”

  “The new coach. He’s sooooo good looking.”

  Maggie stopped and stared at Mary Ann with squinted eyes and a worried frown. “We have a new coach? What happened to Mr. Moore?”

  “I guess he went to a bigger school over near Nashville. Least that’s what I heard. But this new guy–oh Lordy, he’s the best looking man I’ve seen in a long time.”

  Maggie slowly walked down the hallway, head down, shoulders drooping. “I’ve had it with good looking men. I can’t believe Coach Moore would leave our senior year–especially after our good season..”

  “Hello girls.” Eddie Jones, classmate since first grade, opened the locker next to Maggie and Mary Ann.

  “Hi, Eddie. You going to have the locker next to ours?” Maggie and Mary Ann began stacking their books into the locker they shared.

  “Looks that way. Hey Maggie, what’s with the sad face?”

  “Mary Ann just told me Coach Moore has gone to another school.”

  “Yeah, it’s true. I met the new coach at football practice last week.”

  Mary Ann tapped Eddie on the shoulder. “I saw him getting out of his car a few minutes ago. He looks like a movie star.”

  Eddie slammed his locker door. “Let’s just hope he knows a lot about football and basketball.” Eddie tucked his notebook under his arm. “I’m going to English first period. Where’re you all headed?”

  “We have English, too.” Mary Ann started toward the restroom. “Save me a seat. I’ll be there in a minute.”

  Eddie and Maggie walked into the classroom where classmates greeted one another in a hullabaloo of excited voices. When the bell rang, Miss Margaret closed the door and welcomed the senior class. Maggie opened her notebook and sighed. Losing Coach Moore doesn’t seem like a very good start to this year.

  * * *

  Later at lunch, Maggie and Mary Ann sat at a table with several girls on the basketball team. When the new coach walked into the room, Mary Ann waved. “Coach Matthews.” Everyone in the cafeteria turned to watch. Maggie focused on the slender, well-muscled man as he walked toward their table, gleaming white teeth dominating his smile. He was good looking, Maggie had to admit. His brown eyes and curly black hair reminded her of JD.

  Mary Ann made a sweeping motion with her arm toward everyone at the table. “We’re all on the basketball team.”

  “Well, I’m glad to meet all you all. I understand you had an undefeated season last year. I’m expecting another good year.”

  “We can’t wait until time to start basketball practice.” Mary Ann batted her eyes as she looked up at the coach who stood behind her chair. “This is Maggie Martin. She holds the record for the highest number of points scored in one season in the history of the school.” Mr. Matthews smiled at Maggie and nodded. “I’m Mary Ann Collins, a forward.” She then introduced all the other girls and told their playing positions.

  “I’m mighty glad to know I have such a good looking team. Enjoy your lunch.” He beamed his white teeth again and walked away.

  Mary Ann sighed loudly and placed her hands on her chest. “I think my heart’s going to jump out of my body.”

  “You sound like a love-sick puppy. He’s the coach, for goodness sakes!” Ulla Dean scolded.

  Maggie shook her head. She had never seen Mary Ann so goo-goo-eyed over a member of the opposite sex–even worse than last summer when she met Jack Carson. Later back at their locker, Maggie asked Eddie what he thought of the new coach.

  “Don’t know. It takes a little bit to get used to someone new. But from what I’ve seen so far, I reckon he’s okay.” Eddie waved and walked away. “See you later.”

  * * *

  Maggie had agreed to work at the café on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday evenings and all day on Saturday. “Just until basketball season starts,” Maggie had explained to Mrs. Jenkins, who agreed that they could negotiate new hours when the time came. Maggie had asked Jeannie and Stuart to take over the chores of milking and feeding the livestock when she stayed in town. At first her mother protested, but when Maggie began giving each of them two dollars each week from her tips, Cora Mae quit complaining.

  The following Saturday, Mr. Matthews showed up at the café for lunch. Maggie directed him to a booth and handed him a menu. “Welcome to City Cafe, Mr. Matthews.”

  “Let’s see. You’re Maggie, right?”

  Maggie nodded. “I’ll get you a glass of ice water while you look over the menu.” When Maggie set the glass in front of him, Mr. Matthews covered her hand with his and held on.

  “So, you’re the basketball star?”

  “I do my best, Coach.” Maggie tugged gently on her hand, but he held fast.

  “If we’re going to make a good team, you and I must get to know each other really well.”

  Maggie jerked her hand loose. “I’ll try my best on the basketball court, and I think that’s all that’s needed.” Maggie marched into the kitchen and asked Carolyn, the other waitress, to take Mr. Matthews’ order.

  The next week, when Maggie met Mr. Matthews in the hallway at school, she avoided his eyes, though she said “Good Morning, Coach” when he spoke to her. Mary Ann, on the other hand, turned to walk down the hallway with him, chatting about how good she thought the football team had shaped up. Maggie suggested to Mary Ann that she was being too forward, but Mary Ann sniffed, threw back her head, and did not speak to Maggie the rest of the day. Over the next few weeks, Mary Ann spent less and less time with Maggie, but used every opportunity to flirt with Coach Matthews.

  We’ve been best friends since first grade. I can’t believe she would break up our friendship. But Maggie had little time to fret over the rift between them. With putting in so many hours at the café and working in the school office one hour each day, she felt pushed to get all her assignments prepared. Since Mary Ann no longer dogged her steps, Maggie noticed she often walked to class with Eddie. One day he asked Maggie if she had seen his car.

  “No. I didn’t know you had a car.”

  “I bought it with money I made last summer working on construction for Mr. Williams. I’d like to give you a ride sometime.”

  “Sure. I’d like that. Maybe next week when we’re out of school for the Teachers’ Institute.”

  As they reached the history classroom, Mary Ann came rushing up. “Hi, Eddie. Hi Maggie. You all ready for this quiz?” Mary Ann didn’t wait for an answer, but chose a seat two rows away from Maggie. At least she spoke.

 

  * * *

  After school one day in late fall, Maggie gathered her books and prepared to walk to the café.

  “Maggie, you got a minute?” Miss Erickson called from her desk as Maggie passed by the door.

  “Sure, Miss Erickson.” Maggie came into the room and sat at a desk in the front row.

  Miss Erickson smiled. “I’ve been wondering, Maggie, if you‘ve given thought to the kind of job you’d like to have after graduation.”

  Maggie stared at the floor as she considered her answer. She looked up then and smiled
. “I really enjoyed working for Mr. Carson last summer. I think I’d like to work in a law office.”

  “I’m glad you said that because I think you would do well as a legal secretary. However, if you really want to get a job in a larger law firm, you need to learn more about the workings of an attorney’s office. Maybe you and I could work together after school on a legal secretarial course.”

  “But Miss Erickson, won’t that make you late going home?”

  “Don’t worry about that, Maggie. I have a good friend who teaches the legal secretarial courses at Knox Business College. I’ll contact her to send us some materials. We’ll start as soon as I hear from her.”

  “Thank you, Miss Erickson. I don’t know what to say. I certainly don’t expect you to go to this trouble for me.”

  “Miss Erickson smiled. “Maggie, I’ve never had a student who worked as hard and achieved as much as you. It pleases me to think I may have a small part in preparing you for a good job when you graduate. All the thanks I need is for you to do your very best.” After only a week of study, Maggie realized that the way Mr. Carson had operated his law office was a far cry from the practices she was learning.

  * * *

  One day when they met at their locker, Mary Ann handed Maggie a post card she had received from Coach Matthews when he went to Knoxville for the teachers institute. It simply said “This is a good conference. See you next week. Love, Ken Matthews.”

  “Did you see how he signed it?” Mary Ann took the card from Maggie and hugged it to her chest. “Isn’t that really great?”

  “You don’t want to know my opinion.” Maggie took her American history book from the locker. Mary Ann pursed her lips, grabbed her notebook, and marched down the hall ahead of Maggie. A few days later, Ulla Dean told Maggie she had seen Mary Ann riding in Coach Matthews’ car on Saturday.