Cal looked on silently.She had eaten some bread and cheese, and a few of the grapes, and seemed more energetic and amenable.Now she was peeling slices off a nectarine with a paring knife, passing them out to the children and having some as well.
’Twas a pretty sight, and it warmed my heart.
Cal’s eyes shone brighter, and her cheeks had more color.I was reminded of an earlier time, when I’d brought Oscar to The Angel out of desperation, and I’d seen a lovely young man dressed in women’s underthings who’d primped and preened like the other girls.Later, Cal had told Oscar and me that she felt she was a woman who’d been born with the wrong parts, and she’d prefer us to use ‘she’ and ‘her’ instead of ‘he’ and ‘him’ when we spoke about her.All the people at The Angel respected Cal’s wishes, even young William, who worked in the stables.We hadn’t met anyone yet who was born to the wrong sex through no fault of their own.Then we met Clarence and Irene in Port Essington, and discovered Clarence was different to most other men in that same respect—and lived his life quite happily in trousers and boots.
I knew that there were all sorts of people in the world.Maybe to make up for the fact that I’d met all the wrong people during the first part of my life, I seemed to be meeting all therightpeople now.Falling for Oscar, though overwhelming and alarming at first, had been the gateway to a better circumstance for me.My world was chock full of kind, warm-hearted folks, and what they had or didn’t have between their legs didn’t concern me in the least.
Cal didn’t give us any more information during our picnic, but at least she and the children had a hearty lunch.When Miss June’s girls were done with the cleaning, they came out to join us, and afterward, we went to have a look at the results of their hard work.
The children made sounds of surprise when they saw the swept floors and the extra space that had been created with some ingenuity and hard work.
“It smells funny in here,” Lizzie said, as she stepped inside and gaped at the walls that had been wiped clean, and the floors that had been swept and mopped.
“That’s the cleaning solution,” Mabel said.
Mabel had pale, freckled skin and dark red hair that was piled atop her head in a haphazard way.She was tall and slim, and she had a way of moving that was graceful and efficient.
“Don’t it look nice?Your poor momma ain’t got time to do a big clean like this, so ’tis as well Miss June brought us in.”
She held out her hand to Lizzie.“Wanna see in the cupboards?We cleaned those out and washed all the dishes.Everything’s good now.”
“Yes, please!”Lizzie said.Mabel lifted Lizzie so she could peer into the clean cupboards.
“You did a fine job, girls.Thank you,” Miss June said, placing the leftover food that was shelf stable into one of the cupboards and giving the rest to Sally to put into the larder.
“It looks so good in here, don’t it, Momma?”Peter said, looking to Cal for confirmation.He appeared worried, as if he was concerned she’d take his compliment as a criticism for the way it had been before.
But Cal seemed pleased and nodded, blinking her eyes as if holding back emotion.
“Yes, it does, Peter.”
She sighed and looked around, seeming at ease for the first time since we’d met up again.“Thank you.”
Miss June leaned in and kissed her on her cheek.“You’re very welcome, Cal.I hope Albert will be pleased when he comes back.”
Lizzie and Peter gazed at Cal, as if waiting for her to say something.
Cal’s expression went back to looking tortured, but she nodded.“I’m sure.”
“Anyway,” Miss June said, clapping her hands together, “we’d best be getting back.But I’m going to come check on you all in a few days, in case Albert’s still away.We don’t mind helping out, truly, and you shouldn’t feel beholden to us, Cal.”
“Thank you.I do appreciate it.”
She gazed at her feet in the scuffed black boots that poked from under her skirts.When she looked up again, her expression seemed open and vulnerable, like she might be ready to tell us what was going on.But at that moment, little Sam started whining, and it looked, and smelled, like he needed a diaper change.Lizzie ran to Oscar, hugged him and made him promise to bring ‘Onis’ back so she could ‘pratis her ridin’.”
’Twas sweet to see.Oscar looked taken aback but pleased to be handled so.He glanced at me while the little girl had her arms wrapped around him, and my heart warmed to see him so treasured by a youngster.I couldn’t help grinning.
“Oh, we’ll be back, little missy.Don’t worry about that.We won’t be able to stay in Telegraph Creek forever, but while we’re here, we’ll be sure to visit you often.”
“Peter, c’mere,” I said, as Cal went to tend to Sam, and Lizzie let Oscar go so she could hug Trick and ask her to bring some chocolate the next time we came.
Peter walked o’er to me, and I gazed down at him with solemnity.
“Now I know you’re only ten, but I gotta say, the way you carry yourself and the way you help out your momma makes you seem much older.You’re a good boy, and I want you to keep lookin’ out for your momma, your sister and your baby brother.You help out as much as you can, all right?I don’t care if it’s things like washin’ or doin’ other stuff that some might consider a woman’s work.A real man will help where he’s needed, and it don’t matter how lowly the task.”
“Yes, sir,” Peter said, watching me with respect and maybe a bit of awe.I glanced at Oscar, who was watching me with an odd expression on his face.I turned back to Peter.
“Thank you for letting us come and help out your momma.It ain’t a sign of weakness to accept help.’Tis a show of strength to know when ’tis needed and to accept it gracefully.”
