Chapter 58

From the Journal of Honey Sutton June 7, 1938

I had lunch with Grace today. I feel better after talking to her. It kills me that anyone would say such awful things about my son. Grace assured me in a calm, soothing manner that no one who matters believes the rumors. They will have died out by the time Hub returns to New Bedford from Alawanda.

I wasn't so sure that would happen if Pearl Disher had anything to do with it. You wouldn't think she would still hold a grudge. It was over two years ago that I reclaimed most of my old customers from her when I revived my hairdressing business after my return from the sanatorium.

Grace wasn't fazed by my fears. She pointed out that help has come from some unlikely sources. "Lawrence Bridgeman talked to me after the board meeting today. He wanted me to understand that he doesn't believe lies told by people whose knowledge of mathematics is on a par with their sense of decency. He knows from counting backwards that Alice was on her cousin's farm when her child was conceived while Hub was in New Bedford. Even if he didn't, it's only Hub's politics that he distrusts, not his morals."

As if fairness from New Bedford's #1 Franco supporter wasn't enough of a shock, Callie Cramp, New Bedford's queen of gossip, is doing everything she can to squash the rumors. She is declaring to everyone who will listen that she knows Hub. He and his family have been under her roof for five years. He's a fine, upstanding young man who would never get a girl in trouble, much less refuse to marry her if he did.

Mrs. Cramp has even persuaded Myrt Dumphry to join her in defending the truth. It helps that Myrt can see clearly that Pearl has an axe to grind against me. Mrs. Cramp, Myrt, and Pearl are the big three of New Bedford tittle-tattle. Grace is sure that together, Mrs. Cramp and Myrt carry enough weight to damp down their colleague's gossip.

Grace Mainwaring to Sally Henry June 7, 1938

… Lorna MacFarlane, Ollie, Marjorie, Jacob and I saw Alice off at the bus stop today. … I am grateful that no one saw me give money to Alice the first time she left New Bedford after handing Jacob over to Ollie and Marjorie to raise. Pearl Disher would have had no trouble turning a gift to help the poor girl start a new life into a bribe to persuade her to leave town. I hate to think of what she'd make of the money I lent her to pay her secretarial school tuition.

I wish that I had done more for Alice when she was expecting. If only I had been able to work up the nerve to ask Toppy to let Alice and her baby stay with us in her house after promising that they could. It would have been a lot to ask, but I should have asked it even if I was reluctant to put more on Toppy's plate while she was going through a divorce.

My other excuses for putting it off seem far less convincing now. I can still see Alice's look of disgust when she realized that I hadn't kept my promise and couldn't welcome her and Jacob into Toppy's home. At least I found her afterwards and tried to persuade her that we should go to Toppy ask her together. I can't help wondering what would have happened if Alice had had enough trust in me and Toppy to give it a try.

From the Journal of Honey Sutton June 8, 1938

It was good of Grace to offer to drive Hub to Alawanda. She assured me that it was no trouble since she needed to pay an inspection visit anyway to see how Ernest Smith is doing running the Alawanda Lumber Company on her and Van's behalf. Of course, Violet piped up that she wanted to go too. I was surprised when Grace replied why not. "She isn't in school right now and it would be exciting for her to see how a lumber mill operates, not to mention educational. Just think of the report she could write this September on how she spent the summer."

Of course, Zack wanted to go with them. Grace at least had the sense to tell him that was up to me and his father. I still wasn't sure. Grace promised that Violet, and Zack, if I let him come along as well, wouldn't be allowed near any of the saws or other equipment unattended. I was still not completely free of misgivings, but I agreed to talk to Max when Grace reminded me that they were her niece and nephew, and she would never put them in danger. Zack had the nerve to look disappointed. Sometimes, I can't help wondering what a boy would be like who doesn't love the idea of going on risky adventures.

Max invited Jim Flett and Pritchard for supper tonight. Father and son were both looking glum and for the same reason. Both were missing their sweethearts, although it's usually anybody's guess whose sweetheart Rebecca is at any given time. Right now, Henry seems to have her favor. I just hope, for his sake, that she sticks with him for a change.

Audrey Collins' summer job as a waitress at Lake Lorena Resort takes her even farther away from Jim Flett than her teaching post in Northbridge usually does. If he sees her more than once this summer, he will be lucky. He did have the honesty to admit that at least he didn't have to wait for her to return from a war on the other side of the Atlantic.

Grace has all his sympathy there. Jim and Audrey have talked about marriage, but he isn't making enough to support her after she gives up teaching. If they do tie the knot, she may have to keep her summer job.

The mention of summer jobs reminded Max that this afternoon he saw Marcel Castineau riding by on his bicycle wearing his new Western Union uniform. He was obviously going somewhere to deliver a telegram. Max remembered him saying that he probably won't be returning to school in the fall. His older brother also dropped out and went to work in the mines in Timmins during the period when the Silverdome Mining Company was nearly defunct.

Too many French-Canadians in New Bedford and the surrounding towns drop out after the ninth grade and not just because they need to work to support their families. They see no point in going on to high school when their ancestral language, French, isn't taught.

Grace Mainwaring to Vanaver Mainwaring June 10, 1938

… Zack, Violet, and I returned from Alawanda yesterday. Ernest Smith has made sure that everything there is running smoothly and efficiently. Implementing Hub's plan to pay a small portion of wages in stock instead of cash has freed up enough capital to allow for much needed repairs to the lumber camp and replacement of older equipment. The flow of orders has increased slightly since the previous summer. When you return home, it will be to a solid business with considerable possibilities for growth once the economy revives.

When Hub and I arrived, Mr. Smith was very good about our bringing two small children with us on short notice. He was kind enough, once Hub had started for the lumber camp, to show a wide-eyed Zack and Violet how the mill operated from our vantage point on the indoor stairway landing below the manager's office. Before Hub and the latest group of lumberjacks set off for the camp, Violet got to meet Hub's friend Mattie Makelo and thank him for his magnificent wooden carving of an otter that Hub brought back to her as a gift last summer.

Makelo really is an artist with a piece of wood and a puuko-a small Finnish knife. Everyone was very impressed last year by how he captured the sinuous grace and playfulness of real otters. Zack and, especially, Violet were sad when Hub finally had to leave. Hub has always had a soft spot for his little sister, and she looks up to him in a way she doesn't to Henry. I wish things had been that way between Bob and me or even Jack and me when we were all growing up.

On my return to New Bedford with Zack and Violet, I resumed helping Mrs. Cramp find someone to replace me at CRNB. As yet, we have had no success. The three auditions we have held so far have been dreadful. At least one of our would-be announcers hiccoughs worse than I used to when he gets nervous and he's nervous whenever he steps in front of a microphone. Mrs. Cramp has her out-of-town contacts on the lookout but hasn't heard anything promising so far.

I am glad to hear that your new recruits are starting to learn how to be soldiers. Hopefully, Franco and his cronies will be so occupied by their drive for Valencia that your battalion and the rest of the International Brigades will have time to rearm and retrain. I can't say whether it would be better for the Republic to hold the line on the Ebro or launch another offensive, but, hopefully, you and your comrades will be strong and rested enough to endure either. … Ida was overjoyed to hear about Harry and his spirituals. "It's about time that boy started t' remember he has a home in Jesus. He don' wanna go t' hell when he dies like Franco an' Hitler will."

Johann was less excitable. "Now Mama, who goes where when they die is for Gott to decide, not us. We must have faith that He will bring our son home in his own good time."

His voice was firm and reassuring, but he couldn't hide the worry in his eyes. I sympathize with Harry's doubts. However, I believe that God does not only console. I believe that God brings the wicked face to face with the wrongs they have done to their fellow human beings, even if not necessarily in this life. As for the reason why God allows evil in the first place, it is a hard question to answer.

My old pastor, the Reverend Seale, would have said that God doesn't want to interfere with the operation of free will. However, if I know that my neighbor is planning of his own free will to commit a crime, that knowledge doesn't absolve me of the obligation to do what I can to stop him. I find it hard to see why it should be any different for God.

Next Week: Two weddings. Return to Cabbagetown. What Maisie heard.