When Willy Claybourne walked into the kitchen, she sifted through the fragrant pile of laundry that was stacked on the kitchen counter. Head down, Eula was concentrating on the ironing, the dark hand skillfully moving the iron across the damp laundry.
“Eula, honey, did you see my white blouse with the scalloped ruffle around the neck?”
The iron kept moving, edging carefully around the last of the dinner napkins. In the silence, Eula’s eyes remained locked on her work.
“I asked you a question.” Willy’s voice was annoyed. “Did you see my white blouse? The one Luke says makes me look like a schoolgirl?”
“No, ma’am.” The iron kept moving. It was so quiet they could hear the slight hiss as the heated iron moved across the moist fabric.
“What’s this no ma’am and not looking at me when I’m talking to you?”
Eula very deliberately set the iron on its stand and raised angry eyes to Willy’s.
“What is all this, Eula? Are you all right?”
“No, ma’am.
“You’re not? What’s the matter with you?”
“It’s not me. It’s Jimmy.”
“Oh, sweet Jesus. Jimmy!” Willy sounded relieved but clearly embarrassed. “Forgive me. Is Jimmy okay? He’s been all right since he was treated at Mound Bayou, isn’t he?”
“His body is healing.” There was a huskiness in her voice. “But his heart and mind are something else.” Tears glistened in Eula’s eyes. “And so are mine.”
“You?”
“Yes, me. I’m aching for him. Jimmy’s always been such a proud man.” Her voice was almost a whisper. “You ever seen your man humiliated?”
“My Luke? Humiliated? You must be kidding. You know him better than that.”
“Yes, I do. But you and Mr. Luke don’t know my man. And that’s probably why you don’t understand.”
“Understand what?” Her voice had risen. “I did everything I could. I got him to the hospital in Mound Bayou that night. What else could I have done?”
“You did.” Eula nodded and unplugged the iron. “And we’re both grateful for that. He was hurt so bad, and he needed help so bad. But it doesn’t end there.”
“End? What in hell is that supposed to mean?”
“Not one thing done about it. Not one word! Not one reprimand! Not one arrest! I think that you and Mr. Claybourne ought to speak out, force the sheriff to arrest the cops who beat Jimmy up! Claybournes own the second biggest plantation in all of Magnolia County, know all the most important people in Shiloh! You play bridge with the sheriff’s wife! Can’t you get some justice for my man who was beaten almost to death?”
“Well there must have been—”
Furious, Eula interrupted. “Must have been what? A reason? There’s no reason, Miss Willy. The only reason is that Jimmy’s skin is black.”
Willy protested. “He must have done something to make them.”
Eula stared at the woman. “Yes, something.” The words were angry. “Something real criminal, like trying to register people to vote.”
Willy’s face was pale as she struggled to reach the distraught woman. “Eula May, I’ve never seen you like this before. Yes, that was a terrible thing that happened to Jimmy. And Luke and I both feel awful about it. You know we went to see the sheriff the very next day. But we don’t go around telling the sheriff what to do. He’s got a town to control and there’s a lot of stuff going on right now, with these organizing meetings that Jimmy seems to be setting up to talk about strikes. Why, that could ruin everything for everybody. Even for you.”
“What does that mean?”
“You know exactly what I mean. You’re planning to go to college in February, and you know I’m planning to ask Luke to help you with expenses. I know you want that.”
Eula untied her apron, slowly folded the ironing board and then turned to face Willy. “There’s wants and wants, Mrs. Claybourne. And what I want most is to be proud of who I am and what I stand for. And right now, where I stand is not in this kitchen.” She moved past Willy and opened the door to the yard.
Willy’s eyes widened. “If you walk out, Eula . . . ”
“I just did.” The door slammed behind her.