by Holly Weiss
Room 58 was her favorite. It had a tiny enameled corner sink, a real clothes closet and a water closet tucked in next to it with a large siphon tank and long pull for flushing.
Checking the room again to make sure she had not missed anything, she noticed cobwebs behind the dresser. When she eased it away from the wall, a paper bag dropped to the floor. Fearing she had come upon something personal the guests wanted to hide, she hastened to put it back. She picked up the stained, yellowed bag and read “From Johnny, 1909.” Sixteen years ago! Fascinated by her find, she quickly cleared out a space in her cleaning bucket, and put the paper bag under the can of Solvo. Satisfied that the room was done, Gracie happily pocketed the two quarters from the tip envelope. That was far more than she had made in a week in her other rooms.
After her shift, she took her copy of Time from her dresser and went back to where she hid her bucket in the cleaning supply closet. Slipping the paper bag carefully inside the magazine, she carried it back to her room. She threw her tips into her yellow jewelry box for safekeeping until she could stash them in the hotel safe.
Gingerly opening the paper bag, she pulled out several oddly assorted pieces of paper and spread them out on her bed. The writing seemed to be from the same hand—small and with funny curlicues. She picked up a paper entitled But then, again and read:
I’ve fallen in love, again.
It seems like we met only—yesterday?
We’ve loved and shared…
We’ve loved and cared…
a lifetime. But then…
We only met the other day!
How could I have fallen in love again?
Our love spans so much time.
We’ve grown and prospered…
We’ve grown and fostered…
a loving life. But then…
We only met the other day!
Will I ever fall in love again?
I know we’ll meet again, some special day.
We’ll fly away…
We’ll always stay
In love, I’m sure, but then…
We only met the other day!
Struck by the poem, Gracie closed her eyes and let it fall onto her lap. Wondering what the next one might be about, she sifted carefully through several and chose one with “Limerick” scribbled in the top right hand corner.
Ticklish Rock
I once wooed a beauty so fine,
Whose lips were the color of wine.
We walked through the wood
To where Ticklish Rock stood.
I was consumed by her beauty divine.
Once in the precarious rock’s shadow,
I behaved like a young boy so callow.
I kissed her on the neck;
‘Twas but a mere peck.
I was a nervous, timid fellow.
The next time at the rock, however,
I seized on a bolder endeavor.
We kissed by the rock
And were joined in wedlock.
To live joyously, happily forever!
Gracie chuckled. Johnny, the mystery poet, had a sense of humor. Did he write the poems or copy them off and put them in the bag? Where was Ticklish Rock? The name gave her shivers. Who was Johnny? A guest? A staffer? Who hid the bag? How long had they known each other? Had they fallen in love during a whirlwind week’s vacation or had their romance bloomed and deepened over many summers here?
She ripped off a piece of paper from her tablet and wrote down “limerick.” When she stuffed it into her uniform pocket, her fingers touched a wad of other such papers, filed away to be dealt with later.
Dying with curiosity over the identity of the poet, Gracie wondered if she should ask around. Mrs. Woods might know who Johnny was, but Gracie didn’t want to bother her. This treasure was her secret. She decided to put the poems back in the bag and save the rest for another day. Drawing out the pleasure might keep her in a happy mood longer. Besides, she felt like she had her own secret lover.
She put the bag in her drawer under her sweater. Then she removed it, wrapped the sweater around it, and laid them both back together.
****
Bessie sashayed down the hall the next evening with a smug smile on her face that disappeared the minute she spied Gracie. Deciding the confrontation could not be put off any longer, Gracie moved her weight back on her right leg, crossed her arms over her chest, and waited.
“Stole my rooms, didya?” Bessie snarled.
“I didn’t steal anything. Mrs. Woods assigned them to me,” Gracie said coolly, fighting the hot flush that crept up her neck.
Bessie banged through the bathroom door in a huff. “I’ll getcha for this, girlie.”
Dizzy with triumph, Gracie walked as calmly as she could back to her room. Once inside, she dropped to the floor, leaned against the door and hugged herself. “I stood up to her!” Rising, she squared her shoulders and rewarded herself with another read through the Ticklish Rock Limerick.
****
“Oh, Otto, I was nearly out of my mind without my car the first two weeks this summer. Why, Magdalena and I had to walk all the way downtown to go to church and the Sweet Shoppe. Then I looked back on myself and said, ‘Time to pull yourself together, Dorothy, and do without some conveniences.’”
“Dorothy, the way you talk gets me every time,” chuckled Otto. “Let’s hope the next time your car gives you trouble I’ll be around to fix it for you.” He grinned when Gracie walked in. “Hey there, blondie, how are you tonight?”
“Well, the staff is piling in,” Dorothy said hurriedly, offering her seat to Gracie. “Isaiah and Samuel prepared a delicious stew and biscuits for tonight. I’ll put a fire under them to bring us some.”
Gracie sat down across from Otto, barely met his eyes, and asked, “So, um, how is the garage business?”
****
It was Gracie’s turn to wipe down the tables after the staff cleared their dishes. Dorothy stayed behind and asked, “Well, how did it go, dear?”
“How did what go?”
“You and Otto. I left on purpose so you could talk. I believe he likes you. He would make a nice man for you to go around with.”
“Oh.” Gracie’s cheeks tingled. “I don’t know if I am ready for that.”
“Of course you’re not ready. You haven’t bought that dress you’ve been talking about yet. I’m motoring into Wilkes-Barre next Thursday to attend to some personal business. That’s your day off, isn’t it?” Gracie nodded. “I would be happy for your company and could show you some nice consignment shops where you could buy a pretty dress at an affordable price.”
“Dorothy, it sounds wonderful. Thank you.”
“You’ll need something special to wear for the staff talent show anyway.”
“Talent show?”
“Oh, me, it’s the most popular concert of the season. All us staffers get together and strut our stuff for the guests. I’m beside myself at some of the antics. Maybe you could sing a song. I’ve heard you in the lounge. You have a nice voice.”
Gracie beamed at the compliment. She hustled to her room, estimating the tips she could make in the next two weeks so she could add them to her current tally.
Later that night, her head was buried in the women’s section of the Sears Catalogue doing research on fashionable dresses when Mrs. Woods walked into the library.
“Gracie, I am glad I found you. How are you enjoying your new rooms?”
“Oh, honestly, I love them, Mrs. Woods. I appreciate the new assignment. The tips are much better.”
“Good, I was hoping that would be so. I have had good reports about your work. Tell me, has Bessie mentioned anything untoward about the reassignment?”
“Oh, she might have been a bit upset, but I handled it.” Gracie shrugged nonchalantly. Mrs. Woods gave her a knowing smile and disappeared into the hallway.
****
“I like a touch of rouge high up on my cheeks, then I dust powder all over my face to take away the shine. For
special occasions, I put on a bit of lipstick,” Dorothy explained as they motored toward Wilkes-Barre Thursday morning.
“I like your makeup, Dorothy,” said Gracie, tightly clutching her purse with the dress money in it, “but Bessie puts so much on it seems fake.”
“That’s because she uses makeup to excess.”
“That’s for certain. I mean, about makeup and other things. She’s been at me ever since I came to the Crestmont.”
“Now you listen to me, Gracie. Don’t let her bother you. Please forgive me, Lord, for saying it, but Bessie is an imperious little so-and-so. Pay her no mind and keep your distance, my dear.”
Fishing around in her purse she said, “Dorothy, do you have a piece of paper?”
“Whatever for?”
“I need to write down ‘imperious’ so I can check the definition later.”
“It means Bessie deems herself so high and mighty you are better off ignoring her. How are you doing with making friends?”
“Well, Olivia and I get along well, and this was so nice of you to ask me to come along on this trip.”
“I mean men, Gracie. You’re twenty-two, aren’t you? It’s time for you to find someone to go around with. What about Otto? He’s only a couple of years older than you and very attractive if you ask this old lady.”
“Well, he is nice to me.”
“Then there’s PT. Of course, you might think he is a bit old for you, but he is a man of quality. Certainly not a man of many words,” she chuckled, “but he has a good heart. I’ve tried to get to know him, but he doesn’t talk much about his home life. Did you know he studied piano seriously in Philadelphia?”
“No, he mostly asks me questions and doesn’t tell me much about himself.”
Dorothy dropped her off in front of a store called Minnie’s. “Minnie is a little snippy, but you can get good quality at a bargain price in there. See that lunch shop next door? I’ll go do my banking and meet you in there in about an hour, then we can catch up with ourselves and eat. Their toasted sandwiches are divine.”
The dress Gracie spotted was of a navy rayon fabric that swished when she walked. It sported a narrow v-neck with green ties that could be knotted or left open, and a matching green braid enhancing the dropped waist. Styled in the new boyish tubular fashion, it was three inches shorter than what Mother would have approved of.
I’ll have to make up a name for this beauty.
“You do have better shoes to go with that, I hope.” Minnie said.
Gracie held in her reaction, fixed her eyes on Minnie, and countered, “Do you have some St. Louis heels in stock? I don’t see anything interesting here in your display.”
Pursing her lips, the woman raised her index finger, walked to the back of the store, and produced two styles of the precious heels that were all the rage. Gracie chose the taller of the two styles, the three-inchers that narrowed to the size of a dime at the bottom, with a smart strap and a gold buckle. Although used, they were in good condition and a perfect match to the navy of the dress. She envisioned the next performance dress she would buy—a flowing creamy-colored fabric with navy trim to match the lucky St. Louis heels. She would call it her buttercream swish and maybe throw in some navy fishnet stockings for pizzazz.
****
“Oh, honestly, Dorothy, it was great!” Gracie gushed as the waitress brought them menus. “I talked her down on the price of the dress so I could buy snazzy shoes, too. You were brilliant to send me to a consignment shop. I could never have afforded to buy new.”
Dorothy plopped her ample behind into the chair and fanned herself with the menu. “Many well-to-do women wear a dress to one or two functions and then toss it aside, simply because they don’t want to be seen in it again. It allows those of us with a flair for fashion and frugality an opportunity to be stylish.”
Gracie peeked inside her shopping bag and announced, “I’ll name it the green braid slink.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Oh, you’ll think I’m silly, but I give my clothes names. Then they are like my friends.”
“I see. Well, that certainly is a unique concept, dear.”
After examining the menu, Gracie settled for a bowl of chicken soup because the toasted sandwiches cost dear.
When the waitress brought them their food, Dorothy said, “You’ve never said a word about your family. Tell me about them.”
“Oh, there’s not much to say. I have a sister, Lily.” She hesitated and then changed the subject. “Dorothy, I found something written about Ticklish Rock. Do you know where it is?”
“All right, we’ll talk about Ticklish Rock then. Gracie, I was married for twenty years and have been a widow for eight. Now, what would I know about a place like Ticklish Rock? I heard it’s a funny shaped rock further west from Eagles Mere in the Allegheny Mountains where lovers like to go. Planning to go there with someone I don’t know about?” Dorothy probed.
“There’s no one to go there with.”
“Well, you just wait. A pretty girl like you will certainly find opportunities to wear that—what did you call it—‘green braid dress’?”
“Slink, green braid slink.” Gracie bit her lower lip and gave Dorothy a sly smile. “Now, maybe you could show me where I can buy cosmetics.”
****
Gracie was dying to see Eagles Mere Lake up close as long as she didn’t have to go in the water. She remembered how beautiful the lake looked when Mrs. Woods had pointed it out on her first night here. Tonight seemed the perfect time. The guests were still lingering with the Woods after dinner, and the staff that wasn’t cleaning up the kitchen congregated in their hangout above the garage. Some private time was a pretty safe bet, so Gracie escaped onto the front porch to cool off. Even the mountain breeze couldn’t remove the late July stickiness from the air.
The water below swirled with pink, cobalt and green, enticing her down the porch steps toward the lake. Gracie stopped short when she saw Isaiah and Olivia on the dock. He lovingly removed his wife’s shoes. Then Olivia removed her garters and pushed down her stockings, allowing him to pull them the rest of the way off. Daintily dipping her tiny feet into the water, she nestled into his chest, talking softly.
Gracie visualized herself with George, taking a respite at the water’s edge, and then scolded herself for allowing him into her fantasies. She yearned for her own man and her own serene lake time. Not wanting to disturb Olivia and Isaiah’s togetherness, she retreated quietly back up the steps and went to her room. Maybe if she came back at dawn she would have time alone.
Feeling lonely, she gently pulled out the collection of poems written by Johnny, the man she fondly called the “Paperbag Poet.” This evening’s poem read:
I long for the gentle caress of your hand;
In your touch, I find peace.
I await the soft touch of your lips;
In your smile, I find happiness.
I yearn for the music of your voice;
In your laughter, I find joy.
God blesses me with your love;
In your faith, I find strength.
I would hold your heart in my hands;
But I am not strong enough.
But in your hands, my Love,
my heart is secure.
It took her breath away. That’s what Olivia and Isaiah had and what she desperately wanted. She was tired of feeling dead inside.
****
In addition to Thursday, Gracie had every other Sunday morning off so she could go to church. She really missed church. Gracie didn’t want to forget God, but more importantly, she didn’t want God to forget her. Because the service at the Crestmont Inn was so well attended by the guests, the Woods encouraged staffers to find a church in the town of Eagles Mere. Dorothy and Magdalena attended the Episcopal Church. Dorothy had invited her to join them, but Gracie made it a point to steer clear of Magdalena’s stern, domineering nature.
Curious to see how she would feel about the Presb
yterian Church, she set out to go. Her apprehension over venturing into the town had kept her away up to now. She felt guilty about that. She headed down the hill to the entrance of the Crestmont drive and was delighted to see the black cat. Shadow seemed to be waiting for her. The cat led her through the big pillars and then guided her down the road toward the center of town.
Two sweethearts, fingers intertwined, stood on the side of the road, gazing in mutual admiration at the footbridge near the bottom of the lake. Gracie averted her eyes, fastening them on Shadow, who padded steadily along.
No sooner had they turned onto Eagles Mere Avenue, when a large black poodle bounded over, prancing in excited circles around Gracie.
“Annie, bad dog, get back here!” A young man with dark hair scrambled after the dog, shot Gracie an apologetic glance, and playfully patted the dog’s rump until she went back across the street. His mother, father and younger brother waved to Gracie without missing a step in their brisk walk. The older boy attached a leash to the dog and hurried to catch up to his family.