Corrina's Proposition

Corrina thought about Manny and their upcoming marriage constantly throughout the day. It helped to pass the time as she cleaned the huge mansions. It was hard work, but the pay was good. Even though she was glad that Molly was back in school, she missed her company.

Mrs. Singleton paid well and sometimes even paid a little extra if she was pleased and in an exceptionally good mood. Before she knew it, she heard Mrs. Singleton coming through the door. She glanced at her watch and realized that she had been working almost eight hours nonstop. Mrs. Singleton was head of wardrobe at Warner Brothers Studios. Corrina knew that she made a hefty salary just by the extras she left lying around. She was an older woman with a commanding presence and silver hair that was always perfect. She was a friendly woman, however and Corrina liked that.

"Hello, Corrina" Mrs. Singleton said smiling. She looked around. "You've done a good job! I can tell you've been working hard today!"

"Thank you ma'am" she replied.

"Look Corrina" Mrs. Singleton said. She patted her silver hair and pushed her glasses up on her nose. "I've sang your praises to several people today. Would you be interested in more work?"

Corrina thought about the cost of the wedding. She didn't have much money and she didn't want Manny to pay for it, plus she still wanted to help her sister and brother in law since she was living with them.

"Yes, I might be able to work a couple more houses in my schedule" she replied.

"Excellent! I'll call my niece. She needs help and she can't seem to find a satisfactory girl who will stay any length of time."

Corrina looked at her watch. "Well I'll only be here about thirty more minutes and my time will be up."

"I won't be that long" Mrs. Singleton replied.

Corrina returned to the kitchen where she had been cleaning out the refrigerator. In about ten minutes Mrs. Singleton sought her out.

"I couldn't reach her on the phone, but as luck would have it she called me. She's only about five minutes away. She's on her way to pick her boys up and wanted to know if I'd come by tomorrow for her son's birthday. I asked her to stop by here for a minute to meet you." Mrs. Singleton smiled looking around the kitchen. "As I said, you do excellent work and you're trustworthy. I don't have to worry about my things disappearing around you Corrina."

"I have no desire to take your things, Mrs. Singleton" Corrina replied .

"Oh I know that" she said pushing her glasses back on her nose. "I was just giving you a complement."

Corrina didn't reply and then the doorbell rang.

"I'll get it" Mrs. Singleton replied. "Hurry and finish up here and meet me in the den."

Corrina sighed and looked at her watch. Most likely this little meeting would take longer than the fifteen minutes she had left here to work. Well, if it was worth her while, maybe that would make up for it. Better yet, maybe Mrs. Singleton would pay her for her time.

"She's a wonderful girl." Corrina heard Mrs. Singleton say. She looked in the mirror before she walked in and removed her apron and folded it. She gathered her things and planned to walk out the door as soon as this little meeting was over.

She walked into the den and was shocked to see Mrs. Singleton talking to Jenny Davis! Corrina tried to keep a neutral expression on her face.

"Corrina, this is my niece, Jenny" Mrs. Singleton said.

"Katrina! I didn't know you were the one working here. I suppose you had to do what you had to do after Manny fired you!" Jenny said smugly.

Corrina looked at her and tried not to give her the satisfaction of reacting. There was no way in hell she was going to work for this woman. No amount of money would be worth it!

"You know Corrina?" Mrs. Singleton asked looking puzzled.

"Why yes." Jenny replied removing her glove. "She was keeping my friend's daughter for a while."

Mrs. Singleton looked at Corrina. "Well, Jenny everyone is not patient with children like you are. I think this line of work is much more suitable for Corrina."

Jenny looked at Corrina. "You think that's true, Corrina?"

Corrina wanted to smack that smug look off of her face. "Everyone has their calling, I believe" she replied. "I understand that you may need some help, however I don't believe I will be able to work you into my schedule."

Mrs. Singleton raised an eyebrow. "But I thought you said-"

"Silly me" Corrina said interrupting her. "I almost forgot that Mrs. Eldridge asked me to increase my days from two to four per week. I don't want to take more work on if I cannot do a satisfactory job."

"I understand. That's commendable, Corrina" Mrs. Singleton replied. "That's what I like about you. It's not about the money."

Corrina gritted her teeth. Of course she would think that it wasn't about the money. She had plenty to spend! She wasn't living day to day like normal people.

"Well, I can certainly understand that." Jenny said eying her. She didn't believe her for a minute. This uppity negro never liked her and she could tell. She was glad Manny fired her!

"Well if you will excuse me, Mrs. Singleton" Corrina replied. "It's time for me to leave."

"Of course, Corrina" Mrs. Singleton said. "Let me get your fee."

She walked out the room and Jenny eyed Corrina curiously.

Corrina decided to wait by the door. She didn't want to talk to Jenny and she was sure that the feeling was mutual.

"Katrina, wait a minute." Jenny said following her. "I'd like to have a word with you."

"Yes?" Corrina said her voice dripping sugar.

"Look, Manny and I are growing quite close these days" she lied. "I know of a way that you could make a hundred dollars fairly quick. I have a few questions that only someone…someone who has had intimate contact with the family will be able to answer. I am sure that one hundred dollars is well worth the information I need I need someone who is discreet...who can keep this little conversation to themselves."

Corrina raised an eyebrow. "What type of information?"

She opened her purse and pulled out her wallet. She pulled out five twenty dollar bills. "I am sure this is much more than my aunt is paying you. Now tell me, who is the woman Manny has been seeing besides me?"

She waved the money back and forth in front of Corrina's face like a fan.

Corrina almost burst out laughing. "Woman? I though you and Manny had gown quite close. What makes you think there's another woman?"

Jenny gritted her teeth. "Look, do you want the money or not? I know there's another woman and I need some answers."

Corrina looked at the money. As much as she could use it, there was no way she was going to take it.

"Well if there is another woman, he must have bought her in after he fired me." Corrina replied. She looked up as Mrs. Singleton walked in the room and handed her pay to her.

"Thank you." She replied smiling.

She turned to Jenny. "Good day"

She walked out of the house and snickered to herself.

That stuck up bitch wasn't going to get anything out of her. She walked around to the side of the house where she had parked the car and got in and quickly pulled off.

Jenny watched from the window as Corrina sped down the driveway. She immediately recognized Manny's car and wondered what she was doing driving it. Her eyes narrowed. She didn't know what was going on, but she was going to make it her business to find out!

Corrina arrived at her sisters just in time for the kids to come home from school. Percy of course, wasn't in school and Jevena had taken him over a neighbors house since Frank had to be to work early.

She stopped and picked up Percy and then headed to the house. She arrived just as the girls got home. She quickly gave them a snack and let them play in the front yard after they had changed from their school clothes. She then started straightening up before her sister came home.

Jevena walked into the house about thirty minutes later and found Corrina dusting the furniture.

"I'm glad you're dusting and not cooking" she quipped looking around.

"Well hello to you too!" Corrina replied throwing the dust rag at her.

Jevena laughed. "I'd already made a meatloaf. I should have left you a note to put it in the oven."

She quickly retrieved the loaf and popped it in the oven. She then went and changed her clothes. She returned and found Corrina folding laundry and looking out the door checking on the kids.

"So...are you going over to Manny's?" Jevena asked.

"Yeah, in a bit" Corrina replied. "I don't have to rush over there. Al has everything under control."

"And there's no rush since Manny doesn't get home until after five" Jevena finished for her.

Corrina didn't reply.

"Look." she said walking over to her. "When is this wedding going to be?"

"I'm not sure. We haven't set the date." Corrina replied.

Jevena came close. "You not giving up your cookies, are you Corrina?"

"Jevena!" Corrina snapped.

"Well? Are you?" Jevena said looking at her. "Because if you are, you need to go ahead and marry him before you end up with a baby in your belly."

"I haven't slept with him, Jevena" Corrina replied patiently.

"You know they say that white men have different tastes than colored men.."

Corrina busied herself with the laundry and didn't look at her sister. She thought about Manny licking his fingers.

"What do you mean by that?" Corrina replied after a moment. "He's a man...men are men."

"Not all men are alike...I mean...you know...some are different. Some do different things...things you may not be used to."

"Different in what way?" Corrina asked looking up. "And how do you know so much about what white men like."

"You must remember, I work around white folks all day...white women especially. They do talk. In fact they love to talk about what freaks their husbands can be."

Corrina sighed. "Jevena, I don't know what you're talking about."

"Exactly." she said. "I mean Manny seems nice enough...but white men...well, I hear they like other things...not so normal things...I just don't want you to be...you know surprised."

Corrina looked at her sister and laughed. "God, Jevena. You'd think I was marrying a martian or something. He's just a man. What could he possibly want that other men don't want...and we both know what men want!"

"Well he may be tame...but then again you never know. Just be prepared. I mean...you got to let him know what's kosher and what's not if you know what I mean."

Corrina laughed again. "Jevena, this conversation is ridiculous! What in the world did those women down at the store tell you? Did their men want to bring other women in their beds or something crazy like that? Did they want to beat them with leather whips or want them to walk on them in high heeled boots or something? God, what are you talking about?"

Jevena looked surprised. "So...you have heard!"

Corrina rolled her eyes. She wondered where her sister got her information.

"I have cleaned that entire house, Jevena. There wasn't a leather boot or whip in sight. Don't worry." she said laughing.

"Fine!" Jevena snapped clearly offended. "I was just concerned."

"Thank you for your concern, but I'm a big girl" Corrina replied.

Jevena walked over to her. "Laugh at me if you want to, but I just don't want you to be hurt again. That mess with Edward B really upset me. I just want you to be happy. I still don't know how this marriage of yours is going to work out!"

Corrina could see that her sister was serious.

"Jevena, don't worry about me. Manny and I'll be fine. He's a nice man."

"Alright, Corrina. Just remember what I said" Jevena replied.

"Well, I'm going over there now. I'll let you know if he gives me high heeled boots as a gift!"

Jevena stuck out her tongue and pushed Corrina towards the door.

"Go on then. I'll see you later."

Jevena stood in the doorway and watched her sister as she pulled out into traffic. Even though she knew that her sister was no fool, she couldn't help but be concerned. She hoped that both she and Manny could weather the storm that was sure to come.