“I’m so glad she’s putting us up.”
“We lucked out. She’s in Philadelphia this week, covering the call to desegregate Girard College forThe Philadelphia Tribune.”
Sophia didn’t envy those students fighting for integration, not after the school year she’d had among the first at Forest. The violation in the girls’ locker room, malicious rumors, monkey chants, derogatory name-calling:Look, it’s Uncle Ben and Aunt Jemimahad stained her.
Jutta cracked her window, and a sweet-smelling breeze rolled in. “That’s a relief. I had reached out to an old boyfriend who lives in East Falls. He said we could crash on his sofa, but I had been worrying about it being awkward. Since I technically broke up with him.”
“So, you’re a heartbreaker,” Sophia teased.
“Not hardly. But he was way too needy. Stay away from possessive men.” Jutta laughed and then told Sophia about the new guy she was dating, and her job at the Ox and Fox Tavern, where she worked as a hostess and sometimes as a waitress. “It’s not bad, my boss is fair, and it pays the bills.” She reached for a cigarette.
While she fumbled with the lighter, Sophia asked the question that had been nibbling at her since she’d received the tin canister. “The letters from my father. Did Jelka ever write him back?”
Exhaling the smoke, Jutta responded, “No.”
“Why not?”
“She never spent the money either. I’m sure it’s all there in the envelope that she saved for you.” Jutta tipped the ash from her cigarette in the metal ashtray.
“When she got to America, why didn’t she try to find him? I don’t understand why she wouldn’t spend the money. Didn’t she need it?” Sophia turned toward her.
“It was because she was ashamed that she gave you away to the orphanage. You were her pride and joy and the light of your father’s world.” Jutta’s eyes glazed over. “He used to come to our little cottage every weekend and would barely let you out of his sight. Jelkathought he’d hate her for giving you away, even though she was trying to keep you safe.”
Sophia looked out the window at the passing cars as Jutta’s words sank in. Jelka had given her up to keep her safe. Her mother had thought she was doing the right thing. Even though her life on the farm had been miserable, and Ma Deary didn’t have a mothering bone in her body, she had grown up with her brothers relatively secure, however unloved.
Jutta replaced one eight-track with another and then tapped the steering wheel. “I love this song. Do you know it? ‘A Fool in Love’?”
“Of course.” Happy for a change in mood, Sophia stretched her arms in front of her and mimicked the swinging dance she’d seen Tina Turner’s backup singers do on the showHollywood a Go Go.
“Look at you. You’ve got it.” Jutta bobbed her head and rotated her shoulders.
When they reached the Delaware line, Jutta offered her a sandwich. “It’s calledStramme Lotte,which is basically ham with a fried egg on top.”
Sophia took a bite. “It’s good.”
After they finished the food, Sophia shared the sugar cookies that she had packed from the cafeteria at school. The folded map was slung against Sophia’s lap, and once the road split and they merged onto I-495, Jelka stopped at the filling station to top off the gas.
They passed the Philadelphia Airport, and as they drove over a bridge, Sophia caught a glimpse of a tall skyscraper with the letters “PSFS.” The city streamed through Sophia’s car window like a picture show, vibrant and loud. Jutta turned the car down Dickenson Street, and they passed by a park square with young brown-skinned teens on the court, playing basketball. A stray cat meandered around the corner, and Sophia spotted the sign for Ringgold Street.
“That’s it,” and Jutta made the right turn.
At the nose of the one-way street, Jutta parked the car behind ablue Chevy. Before she turned off the engine, the driver’s-side door of the Chevy opened, and out stepped a woman in a belted polka-dot dress. Sophia blinked several times. “Oh my goodness.” She brought her hands to her mouth.
“Who is that?” Jutta asked.
“Mrs. Gathers, the woman I was telling you about.” Sophia scrambled from the front seat.
They all met on the curb, and after a quick introduction, Sophia threw her arms around Mrs. Gathers and squeezed. “I thought you were meeting us at the hotel.”
“My first interview ended early, and it was only ten minutes from here. I’m so glad I thought to ask you for the address.”
“Me too. I’m really scared.” Sophia looked down the block at the tidy row houses. “What if he turns me away?”
Mrs. Gathers looked Sophia in the eyes. “You’ve worked extremely hard to get to this moment. Trust yourself.”
“I’ll be right there with you.” Jutta took Sophia’s hand.
Sophia was thick with feelings as she looked from Mrs. Gathers to Jutta. Just nine months ago, she’d been stuck on the farm with no future, and then Mrs. Brown had helped her get into Forest, and now Mrs. Gathers and Jutta were here supporting her through this major life event.
