All the girls whip their heads around. I stand up and wave timidly.
“Meet Wilda Woodcock, everybody,” Lilith says. “Sallie and I were Alpha Delts with her a hundred years ago.” She laughs at her comment before continuing. “And her daughter, Ellie Woodcock—whom you all know by now—is Annie Laurie’s roommate. We can’t break those two up. So we have to show Ellie as much love as we do Annie Laurie.”
I am amazed by Lilith’s confidence. The way she tilts her head back and grins in a way that implies secret knowledge of anyone and everyone who’s fit to be an Alpha Delt. But her comments have embarrassed me to death. I wasn’t planning on mentioning Ellie. For goodness sakes, I would never assume she would get an automatic bid simply because I’m a Rush Advisor.
Before sitting down, I grab a lull in the conversation. “I’m really excited about getting to know you girls, and I want to help out in any way I can. Watching the love you have for one another has been really sweet. It reminds me of my pledge class and how close we all were.”
Most of the girls are smiling at me.
“I don’t want to take up much time, so I’ll end by saying: I come from a loyal Ole Miss family and this campus is one of our favorite places on earth. My husband and I met at Ole Miss, both of our sons went here, and now Ellie.” Before sitting down, in a bashful voice, I add, “And I hope you like her when you get to know her.”
“Hi, Mrs. Woodcock.” I look around and see Katherine Johnson, a sweet girl from Ellie’s high school track team who graduated the previous year.
“Well, hey, Katherine,” I say with a wave.
She smiles and waves back. “I can’t wait for everyone to meet Ellie. I’ve been telling them how great she is ever since I heard she was coming to Ole Miss.”
I blow her a kiss. It’s not the right time to make a big deal about it, but I vow to find her after the meeting and whisper my thanks.
Ellie’s future sorority life had taken over our summer at one point. Our dining room table was turned into an assembly line. Putting together what must have been one hundred Rush packets with her résumé, transcript, two color pictures, and a thank-you note—all in a glossy white binder—took hours and hours of our time. We had to secure recs for each of the thirteen sororities and on top of that, we had to find even more alums willing to write reference letters.
“Listen up,” Lilith blurts, even though it had appeared Lizzie had regained control of the meeting. “September fifth is the official cutoff date, but we’re bound to get in a few more recs after that. Let’s make sure we only consider girls who are truly Alpha Delt material. Trust me, I’ve seen recs from girls we’d rather not pledge. Also, we need to make darn sure all the PNMs we plan to Rush can afford Alpha Delta Beta.”
She’s right about that. Sorority life is not cheap. It costs somewhere around five thousand dollars per year and that doesn’t include all the Rush outfits, pictures, T-shirts, parties, etc. Fraternities are even higher. As crazy as it gets inside those Houses, someone has to pay the liability. Haynes nearly passed out when he got Jackson’s first Sigma Nu bill.
After several more announcements and admonishments from Lizzie and other officers, the meeting finally adjourns at five o’clock. “Pick up your trash,” Lizzie yells as a last minute reminder. But it’s too late. The girls have already filed out of the room and left most of it behind. Bless Miss Pearl’s heart. I’m sure it’s her problem now.
After finding Katherine to thank her for what she’s doing for Ellie, meeting Gwen, and giving Sallie a big hug, I head over to Martin. Lilith, whom I last saw talking with Selma James, the Alpha Delt president, made six o’clock reservations for all four of us at City Grocery. It can’t come soon enough, as my stomach won’t let me think of anything else besides dinner. After Lilith’s mortifying performance in the Rush meeting, though, I can’t help wondering how anyone can stomach her.
THIRTEEN
CALI
Later in the afternoon, once most of the parents have left and the hustle from move-in day has died down, I look up from arranging my clothes in the smallest closet in the universe to see a girl with a long blond ponytail in my doorway, wearing the friendliest smile I’ve seen all day. We had passed each other in the hall earlier so I recognize her right away. She has a spray of freckles across her nose, and I’m struck by how much we favor. Although my hair is red, we both have blue eyes, freckles, and similar turned-up noses.
“Hi there,” she says. “I’m Ellie. I live next door.” She points in the direction of her room.
I stand up and step toward her. “I’m Cali. Come on in.”
She steps inside and glances around. “Your room looks so nice. I love your comforter.” She walks over to my bed, runs her hand across the top. “Pink and gray are my favorite colors, too.” I see her eyes stop at Jasmine’s unmade bed and unpacked boxes. “Where’s your roommate?”
“She left with her boyfriend to walk around campus. I don’t think she’s in a big hurry to get her stuff unpacked.” I can’t help the nervous giggle that follows. It’s not that I care much that Jasmine is waiting to get settled, but I had hoped to see our room finished, like, before the sun goes down.
Ellie plops down on our futon. “I couldn’t wait to get unpacked.” I love that she seems to feel comfortable in my room.
“Where are you from?” I ask, sitting down next to her.
“Memphis. How ’bout you?”
“Blue Mountain.”
Her brows knit together. “I’m not sure I know where that is. Is it in Mississippi?”
I nod. “It’s a teeny-tiny town. Like, forty-five minutes north. Not many people know where it is.”
Something about Ellie is nice and genuine and I feel comfortable around her already. I have a strong sense we will be instant friends.
“Are you as excited to be here as I am?” I ask. “I’ve been, like, counting down the days all summer.”
