Chapter 10

February 20, 1947 (title of chapter as well as current date)

Jackie had a lot to do today and no time to get everything done. She had to wash the breakfast dishes, mend

the clothes that were in her wicker basket, dust the furniture, thaw out the meat for supper, and maybe, just for

her, organize the contents of her closet. There were no more once-a-month Canasta games, no other women

folk could be seen hanging out with her, it was okay; it would have to come to a pass. She would eat her lunch

and maybe, not because anyone told her to, she'd read her quotes in the Bible.

One of Jackie's favorites was,

I am my beloved's, and his desire is toward me.

- Song of Solomon 7:10

Steven did give her a small kiss on the cheek, and she treasured it for the whole morning. He still slept in the

guest room. She was surprised that he didn't make her sleep there, but she wouldn't question the 'why's'. They

would get better, it would be okay, someday she would feel his strong arms wrap around her body again, his

lips on hers, and they would make wonderful love to each other. They would go to St. Louis, they'd see their

children again, and maybe, just maybe, Steven would want to stay there. He didn't need Point Place and it's

archaic traditions.

She was down the last bit of Bluebird* dish soap, she didn't like going to the grocers unless she had to. Steven

stopped giving her an "extra allowance" and she wasn't able to get her hair done as often. Every dismissal was

a new hurt, which was why the kiss on the cheek on that morning, surprised her to core. Steven told her she

was needed home and it was Kitty Forman — Kitty Forman! who gathered and took the eggs to sell at Loudon's,

with Mrs. Kennedy walking with her.

Kitty never came in to say "hello" or waved when Jackie looked out the window of the back door. The whispering

that started in December before they returned to Point Place was still going on in February. The only time she

received a "creepy phone call" was once in a great while, usually when Steven was at work. They didn't last

very long and the muffled voice liked to remind her that "she was a whore."

With the dishes done, she would let them air dry before putting them away, she decided to focus on her sewing.

She could take pride in her work, Steven still trusted her with these homebound tasks. Jackie opened up her

sewing basket and tried threading the needle with beige thread to match the first shirt from Steven's pile. Her

hand's shook and she wasn't quite sure why. She took a deep breath and focused on threading the needle, not

realizing because her husband had many important titles and positions in the community (and to the secret glee

of one Eric Forman) things were a little bit different this year.

She thought of a lunch she could make herself, she hadn't had much of an appetite since her life

was shattered on Christmas Eve, but Jackie did want to keep her strength up. All she

wanted to do was see her children, her precious children that did not ask to be born. She wanted to hug, kiss,

and shelter them, she supposed her and husband did the latter part quite well. Jackie grabbed her small sewing

scissors and cut the thread. She did a good job on that shirt considering her hands were shaking like a leaf.

Jackie heard the mail being dropped in the box and her body instantly froze, she was frightened to even

breathe, no one questioned Mailman McConnell's morals, he and his wife went about their business in the town

as they did before the false rumor about Jackie's affair with him started.

How convenient for him.

She would not get the mail out of the box for an hour, lest she be seen outside "makin' eyes at the Postman".

The telephone rang and there was no choice, but to answer it.

Jackie walked to the kitchen in slow steps as she picked up the phone she noticed her hands trembling again.

"Hello?"

"It's me."

"Hi, Steven."

"I'm just callin' to let you know that you can go shoppin' and get your hair done…in May."

"Wh—"

Then it hit her.

"You've been chosen for Harvest Day. I'll be home a bit later than usual, have supper ready. Goodbye."

It was no surprise, yet it was the biggest surprise. How different from last year, when she was so happy, so

alive, and in love with her husband.

Of course she was chosen, they had to make an example out of the town whore.

Why did he kiss her on the cheek then? It was the first time in months that, that was the only intimate touch

between them and for what?

For what?

Jackie realized she still had the receiver in her hand so she hung up the telephone.

She went back to her mundane work still in a state of shock that this could be happening to her.

After a lunch of toast that she could barely eat, she decided to go upstairs. She stood over her vanity and

picked up her own Bible that was next to her lotions and potions.

Jackie felt the tears come once more, when she opened the book, she noticed that the blue

ribbon marker was moved to section that she did not pick, it was chosen for her.

Proverbs 12:4

A wife of noble character is her husband's crown, but a disgraceful wife is like decay in

his bones.

She let the book fall out of her hands as it bounced off the bed and fell to the floor on their circular sky blue

throw rug. Jackie supposed the whole town was going to have even MORE to talk about where she was

concerned. She ran out of her room, hid in the spacious upstairs linen closet, and sobbed uncontrollably until it

was time to make Steven's supper.

It was over.

But Jackie's love for her husband would never die.

Author's Note: Small detail again. I made up the name of Bluebird dish soap because it

sounded like a brand name from that era.