The Grapes of Wrath - John Steinbeck [189]
Ma stopped her work and put her hands on her hips. “Now what you talkin’ about? You ain’t done no play-actin’.’’
“Well, some folks here done it, an’ one girl, she dropped her baby— dead—an’ bloody, like it was a judgment.’’
Ma stared at her. “Who tol’ you?’’
“Lady that come by. An’ that little fella in white clothes, he come by an’ he says that ain’t what done it.’’
Ma frowned. “Rosasharn,’’ she said, “you stop pickin’ at yourself. You’re jest a-teasin’ yourself up to cry. I don’ know what’s come at you. Our folks ain’t never did that. They took what come to ’em dry-eyed. I bet it’s that Connie give you all them notions. He was jes’ too big for his overhalls.’’ And she said sternly, “Rosasharn, you’re jest one person, an’ they’s a lot of other folks. You git to your proper place. I knowed people built theirself up with sin till they figgered they was big mean shucks in the sight a the Lord.’’
“But, Ma——’’
“No. Jes’ shut up an’ git to work. You ain’t big enough or mean enough to worry God much. An’ I’m gonna give you the back a my han’ if you don’ stop this pickin’ at yourself.’’ She swept the ashes into the fire hole and brushed the stones on its edge. She saw the committee coming along the road. “Git workin’,’’ she said. “Here’s the ladies comin’. Git a-workin’ now, so’s I can be proud.’’ She didn’t look again, but she was conscious of the approach of the committee.
There could be no doubt that it was the committee; three ladies, washed, dressed in their best clothes: a lean woman with stringy hair and steel-rimmed glasses, a small stout lady with curly gray hair and a small sweet mouth, and a mammoth lady, big of hock and buttock, big of breast, muscled like a dray-horse, powerful and sure. And the committee walked down the road with dignity.
Ma managed to have her back turned when they arrived. They stopped, wheeled, stood in a line. And the great woman boomed, “Mornin’, Mis’ Joad, ain’t it?’’
Ma whirled around as though she had been caught off guard. “Why, yes—yes. How’d you know my name?’’
“We’re the committee,’’ the big woman said. “Ladies’ Committee of Sanitary Unit Number Four. We got your name in the office.’’
Ma flustered, “We ain’t in very good shape yet. I’d be proud to have you ladies come an’ set while I make up some coffee.’’
The plump committee woman said, “Give our names, Jessie. Mention our names to Mis’ Joad. Jessie’s the Chair,’’ she explained.
Jessie said formally, “Mis’ Joad, this here’s Annie Littlefield an’ Ella Summers, an’ I’m Jessie Bullitt.’’
“I’m proud to make your acquaintance,’’ Ma said. “Won’t you set down? They ain’t nothin’ to set on yet,’’ she added. “But I’ll make up some coffee.’’
“Oh, no,’’ said Annie formally. “Don’t put yaself out. We jes’ come to call an’ see how you was, an’ try to make you feel at home.’’
Jessie Bullitt said sternly, “Annie, I’ll thank you to remember I’m Chair.’’
“Oh! Sure, sure. But next week I am.’’
“Well, you wait’ll next week then. We change ever’ week,’’ she explained to Ma.
“Sure you wouldn’ like a little coffee?’’ Ma asked helplessly.
“No, thank you.’’ Jessie took charge. “We gonna show you ’bout the sanitary unit fust, an’ then if you wanta, we’ll sign you up in the Ladies’ Club an’ give you duty. ’Course you don’ have to join.’’
“Does—does it cost much?’’
“Don’t cost nothing but work. An’ when you’re knowed, maybe you can be ’lected to this committee,’’ Annie interrupted. “Jessie, here, is on the committee for the whole camp. She’s a big committee lady.’’
Jessie smiled with pride. “ ’Lected unanimous,’’ she said. “Well, Mis’ Joad, I guess it’s time we tol’ you ’bout how the camp runs.’’
Ma said, “This here’s my girl, Rosasharn.’’
“How do,’’ they said.
“Better come ’long too.’’
The huge Jessie spoke, and her manner was full of dignity and kindness, and her speech was rehearsed.
“You shouldn’ think we’re a-buttin’ into your business, Mis’ Joad. This here camp got a lot of stuff ever’body uses. An’ we got rules we made ourself. Now we’re a-goin’ to the unit. That there, ever’body uses, an’ ever’body got to take care of it.’’