“I’d like to pay back my laundry debt and help raise your literacy rate.”
She drummed her fingertips atop the desk, pondering.
“I’ll work hard to keep your library, Warden.” I held my breath, waiting for the stale air to collapse between us, suddenly realizing I might again be worrying for more punishment instead.
“If I assign you the job, Lovett, it would only be temporary. I have one hundred and seven inmates, and if you could get me more readers, we could possibly see about making it a permanent position.”
I clasped hopeful hands onto my lap, feeling the prospect shoot up from my feet to my face.
She noted my loud talking hands take on a deeper coloring. “You’ve been cleared by the prison doctors, and they say you aren’t infectious, correct?”
“It’s a gene disorder called methemoglobinemia.”
“There’s still the matter of your appointment with Dr. Kennedy this summer. We’ll have to take care of that.”
That? What wasthatabout? “He’ll find that I’m fit, sure enough, Warden,” I insisted despite my confusion. “In fact, when Doc gave me the drug methylene blue back in Troublesome, I looked just like you.”
“If this is true, why hasn’t prison medical given it to you?”
“I don’t reckon they know about methemoglobinemia like my doc did. And the methylene blue drug makes me awfully ill.”
She waved my words away. “No matter. The state feels you will be a lot better off after the procedure.”
After the procedure? Would I have to suffer more exams?They’d sterilized me and taken enough of me. Stole my womanhood. Left the splinters of shame stitched in my womb.What more could they possibly take?
“I’m healthy, and once I get the cast off, I’ll be more than fit.” I shot her what I hoped was a favorable smile.
She looked uncertain, then opened her drawer and held up a key. “I’m desperate to keep the funding, so you’ll have to do. I’lldismiss you from Laundry, but understand, I’m not releasing you from kitchen duties, Lovett. You’ll be working long hours. Four a.m. till six p.m. while you’re the temporary librarian. I expect you to open the library at nine a.m. and work it in between your kitchen shifts. You’ll close it when you go to the kitchen…”
I listened closely as she rattled off her rules.
“The pay is nine cents a day. Which I’ll put on your commissary accountafterwe deduct what you owe for the damaged clothing.”
Pay.I couldn’t believe my luck. I would finally be able to buy stamps to write Honey.
“Still want the job?” She looked doubtful that I could handle the work, when really, I was thrilled and welcomed the long hours and the escape the job would give.
“Yes, ma’am. The Pack Horse librarians were used to hard work.”
“I remember hearing such. Now, about selecting reading material, Lovett. We must be careful.”
I hoped she wouldn’t ask me to censor books. Anxious, I waited for her to frame my thoughts.
“You’ll need to send out solicitations for reading material. The prison will provide you with a typewriter and paper.”
“I did this for the project. I’ll send letters right away to the Federation of Women’s Club, Boy Scouts, city libraries, and the Parent-Teacher Association for donations.”
She cast an approving glance my way. “Now, back to the materials you’ll need to curate.”
I straightened in my seat.
“Racy excitement books are not allowed. I only care about lowering our illiteracy rate, not raising more trouble into easily excitable women. Understood?”
I hid my disapproval. “I’ll get started on the letters today, Warden.” Bending closer, I held open my darkened palm, waiting for the key, overjoyed to be back working with books—to have purpose again.
The warden dangled the key in front of me, and I know’d she was scared to touch me. I extended my palm a little farther, desperate for this magical gift, a promised escape from Laundry and these dismal walls. “I’ll work hard for you, ma’am.”
Hesitant, she pinched her lips and dropped the library key into my waiting hand.
