Chapter 6
It Wasn't Fair
Part Two
Towards the end of Summer
Forman Residence #1
Kitty wanted to take one of her jam jars and throw it at Jackie's head. Here they were giving Jackie and
Steven "A goodbye, good luck in St. Louis" dinner and she had to flaunt yet another new dress from
Halverson's. It was navy blue with a pointed white collar and cuffs. Jackie said it was the spectator look. She
even wore the matching pumps.
How wonderful was it that Steven was to be interim Mayor and how good it would look to his new employees
at the Goodson's location in St. Louis. How their house (sight unseen to Jackie) in was big and
opulent, pure white, with the Roman columns, like some of the estate houses in the South. Jackie used words
like lush to describe the backyard where their children could roam and play, manicured when talking about
her garden, palatial when describing the grand parlor where they could hold soirees for all of the important
folk in St. Louis.
They invited Eric and Laurie as well. Laurie was grateful that she didn't have to cook another meal for her
ungrateful brother. Who didn't seem to be interested in the dinner conversation. All Red wanted to do was sit
in the living room and put the radio on, have a drink, and listen to a baseball game* on the radio. It was only
Laurie that noticed the raised eyebrows between the men at certain points in the conversation.
"Would anyone like any more potatoes?" Kitty asked, wanting to crack, but knowing how important it was to
keep her happy façade going.
"I couldn't eat another bite. Thank you, Mrs. Forman." Steven said.
"What's for dessert?" Jackie asked
"Crumb cake."
"I grate actual cinnamon sticks and make my own powder."
"Good for you, Jackie," Kitty really did want to throw a jam jar at her head.
"I'll make sure you get a big piece, Daddy." Laurie said knowing that she may not like the order of things, but
she wasn't dumb like some of the women in the dining room.
"Thank you, Laurie." And now Kitty wanted to find another jam jar to throw at another head. It was her job
to take care of Red, not Laurie's.
The men made their exits so they could have an after dinner brandy before indulging in putting the radio on
for a ball game.
Kitchen talk
Jackie kept her mouth shut when Kitty put her to work washing the dishes. She was a guest in their home,
she shouldn't have to deal with dry skin because Kitty bought the cheap brand of dish soap.
"Do you have any dishwashing gloves?" Jackie asked with her best smile.
"No, I don't. That's an unnecessary expense." Kitty lied, she did have 2 pair of yellow dishwashing gloves,
but she kept them in the cabinet underneath the sink and she used them when she cleaned the bathroom.
She wasn't about to waste a pair on Jackie that would only be used once and then thrown away.
"I hope nothing happens to my ring." Jackie sighed.
Yes, I know that you have a 24-K weddin' band and a fancy diamond, but you need to shut up, before I shut your
mouth up myself.
Laurie found a quiet corner and worked on filling up the coffee pot. Neither or Jackie nor her mother had
any clue, any clue at all. There had to be an answer somewhere, but right now she couldn't keep the men,
especially her father, waiting.
Living Room
The men folk were enjoying their brandies as Red sat in his easy chair and Eric and Steven sat on the sofa.
"Do you have the directions I gave you, Steven?"
"Yes, Sir."
Red felt he should be the one to address Steven by 'Sir', he was the town Mayor after all.
"Good. Don't let Michael and the Foreign Kid take any wrong turns."
Red turned the radio on.
"The crops are comin' in mighty fine!" Red cupped his hand in Eric's knee.
Eric hated people touching him, but put up with Red, because he was his father.
"It's been a good summer." The wedding ring was off, Red having no idea that Eric sold them to Steven. Red
was encouraging Eric to find a new wife; Laurie would need to go back to the farm before the next Harvest,
but assured Eric that could Kitty could help out with the "women's work".
Jackie came in with the tray of Kitty's rather cinnamon less crumb cake as Laurie followed after her with the
coffee pot. Kitty held the tray with the serving plates, cups, and forks on it.
"Let me help you," Red said. "What happened to the bigger tray with the wheels on it?"
He got a good deal on at Halverson's, so why was it missing?
"Michael took it to sell apples for the kids and is chargin' Fez. .25 a day for the Harvest Day Picnic fund." Eric
said
"I'll overlook him not askin' permission then." Red replied as each woman prepared a slice of crumb cake and
coffee in Kitty's plain white cups for each man before washing their brandy glasses. Kitty was going to give
Jackie the honor of washing those, and even though Kitty didn't want to the girls would have small talk over
a game of Gin Rummy in the kitchen as to let the men enjoy their baseball game in peace.
Next Day
Moving Day
Michael and Fez were helping Steven load the truck; they were going to be driving behind them to St. Louis.
A black 1945 Chevrolet pick up. Jackie couldn't wait to see her children, it was a month later than expected,
but there were many late night council sessions that the women folk were not privy to. Steven gave her an
extra envelope with her monthly allowance so she could buy a new summer hat, the crops were growing, the
rain was steady, and it solidified his decisions. Jackie enjoyed the drive.
A man does the best he can to support his family.
"Steven, why did you not want to bring our furniture?" Jackie asked, putting on her lipstick.
"I was goin' to wait until we got to St. Louis, but it's been decided, we're goin' to sublet the house. The men
are telling the women folk durin' dinner tonight, so I suppose it's okay to tell you now since we just crossed
the city limits."
Steven beeped the horn on his 1943 Packard to indicate that Michael watch what he was doing. He could
see out of his rear view mirror. He shouldn't be eating doughnuts while he was driving.
"Sorry about that, doll. Where was I? We're sublettin' the house, we'll return back for The Harvest and some
changes were made to the Ritual itself."
"What's that?" She asked quietly, she had time to think of a plan; being out of Point Place would be easier to
achieve that.
"We need men to work in the factories, be called to serve if needed, and to work the fields."
Forman, Jr. brought up a good point at that meeting, just because they just got over World War II doesn't
mean another war wouldn't be on the horizon. The men were not and could not be expendable commodities
anymore.
Jackie's tube of lipstick fell out of her hands, as she thought of the poem they taught her in elementary
school.
To ensure a good harvest we need more than rain.
We need to sacrifice a townsperson, not in vain
"You mentioned changes, darling?"
Maybe an income statute was added. It was long overdue. Steven was an assistant supervisor at the
factory; they had a reputation to maintain. They apparently were going to have 2 houses. Steven was the
interim Mayor. He was going to train the workers at Goodson's St. Louis location, And, and! There was rumor
that her great, great, grandfather was the first of the Harvest Ritual, everything that was first was
celebrated! Or should be. It just couldn't be happening. They weren't leaving Point Place permanently?
Why didn't her husband tell her?
Why did he have her believe that they were going to be gone for good?
Why, Steven?
Didn't he realize that it could happen next Harvest Day, or the one after that, or the one after that, or maybe
it would never happen. Why take the risk? She was Mrs. Steven Hyde! She had frilly petticoats,
monogrammed white gloves, they had a garden AND a farm.
"Yes. The poem had to be amended."
We need to sacrifice a towns woman, not in vein
"Of course. That makes sense, but," she felt that panic rise in her throat, "but, Steven, it's not fair."
Steven Hyde chose not to reply, he preferred silence as he drove while a light smattering of summer rain
dotted his windshield.
The crops would be good this year indeed.
…but it's NOT fair!
*Author's Note: A small fact. The Milwaukee Brewers were established in 1969, and I didn't know if I
wanted to make Red a fan of the Chicago Cubs, so I'm leaving that for the reader to decide. And yes,
Eric is progressing into a darkness that will only have 1 conclusion. All of the men are quite dark, but
it is Eric, who is the worst. But Jackie is about to learn some truths about Steven. Stay tuned. Thanks
to all who have read and reviewed. I appreciate it.
