Youthful spirits are often not too long suppressed. The tempter himself had been busy to soothe the pain of Mary Jane’s secret exercises. Back in school again, she felt almost on top and at times in possession of her old gaiety. Anyway, company was coming exciting company!
In the first place, they were from Canada. To the Hillman youngsters, this seemed a faraway foreign country. But the thing that added such spice to the whole thing was that these visitors were the parents of a young man romantically interested in their oldest sister Marguerite. A great feast was being prepared, especially since this visit coincided with Thanksgiving. What could be lovelier save to add no school and a gorgeous crisp shiny day.
Mamma had raised the turkey – all twenty-four pounds – and was busy plucking its feathers. Daddy was clean-shaven and neat in his blue serge suit, almost as shiny (with wear) as his polished shoes which squeaked as he walked briskly along. He and Robbie came in to say good-by for the trip into the city to meet the train. All female hands were needed at home to scrub, polish and bake in preparation.
Mary Jane had been frantically splashing through the milk separator wash up. She hardly thought as she shook the 29 shiny disks that she had strung on their little holder which much resembled a huge safety pin. It had been her custom to slip them into the oven a few minutes to dry, instead of doing them one by one. Mamma had warned her several times that if she ever left them too long, the thin metal coating might melt and they would be ruined.
“A new set costs about five dollars,” she remarked. “You know we can’t afford that.”
“It’s silly not to do it the quickest way. Anyway it’s more sanitary this way. I’ll never forget them,” she would answer rather saucily. It might have been better if Mamma had been more firm, but certainly Mary Jane knew the intent of her mother’s remarks.
Today she popped them into the oven just as Mamma came in with the turkey. How she loved to watch her dress it! Lori had been mixing up the dressing – ready for the giblets when they had been removed and washed and chopped. Pumpkin pies from Lori’s hand too were cooling on the kitchen cabinet. At last the big bird was stuffed and trussed to perfection. Mary Jane opened the oven door for Mamma, and saw them first. Beautiful, silvery droplets were dripping from their sides and a leaden pool was on the oven floor! Oh the agony of that moment! Such idyllic happiness one moment – and now! It was too cruel! No one to blame – only Mary Jane.
Mamma said little. She pitied her stricken little daughter. If she could only have erased that moment of carelessness for her impetuous child, how gladly she would have done so. Her own joyous spirits were sadly dampened.
The thought that caused Mary Jane the most acute pain was the fear that Daddy might spank her in front of the company. You see, Mary Jane was fiercely proud. What she did not know, however, was that her Daddy had a touch of that same pride and might not be too eager for strangers to know of his child’s waywardness. All morning fears ate at her heart as a canker.
In due time the guests arrived. Marguerite was with them and there was much happy visiting. Daddy was in fine form and told some interesting experiences of the “great snow” and others. Mary Jane sat quietly and swallowed her food down so as not to attract attention. She wished she could run and hide. Her heart skipped a beat every time she looked at the clock. “Milk time! Milk time!” it seemed to tick.
But milking time and separator time came and went. And miracle of miracles not a word was said! Daddy had quietly loaded the milk cans in the car and slipped away to the neighbor’s. But would he spank her that night before she went to bed? It was then that she decided it would be best to “throw herself on the mercy of the court” as it were. That is why Daddy saw in the dim headlights of his flivver a forlorn figure waiting to open the gate for him.
“Daddy, I won’t do it again” she sobbed.
He swept her into his big arms. “Daddy understands. I recken you’ve suffered enough.”
Mercy was never sweeter. She almost felt happy that night as she kneeled to pray. Almost – but Mary Jane did not seek clearance from the Higher Court above.