Minny jerks the cloth around the rim of a glass. “Let me know if you see her talking to Miss Hilly.”
“I will. I been doing a super power prayer for you all day.”
“Look, there Miss Walters. Old bat. And there Miss Skeeter.”
Skeeter has on a long-sleeved black velvet dress, scooped at the neck, setting off her blond hair,Moncler Jackets For Women, her red lipstick. She has come alone and stands in a pocket of emptiness. She scans the room, looking bored, then spots Aibileen and Minny. They all look away at once.
One of the other colored helpers, Clara, moves to their table, picks up a glass. “Aibileen,” she whispers, but keeps her eyes on her polishing. “That the one?”
“One what?”
“One who taking down the stories bout the colored help. What she doing it for? Why she interested? I hear she been coming over to your house ever week.”
Aibileen lowers her chin. “Now look, we got to keep her a secret.”
Minny looks away. No one outside the group knows she’s part of this. They only know about Aibileen.
Clara nods. “Don’t worry, I ain’t telling nobody nothing.”
Skeeter jots a few words on her pad, notes for the newsletter article about the Benefit,http://www.cheapnorthfacedownjacket.com/. She looks around the room, taking in the swags of green, the holly berries, red roses and dried magnolia leaves set as centerpieces on all the tables. Then her eyes land on Elizabeth, a few feet away, ticking through her handbag. She looks exhausted, having had her baby only a month ago. Skeeter watches as Celia Foote approaches Elizabeth. When Elizabeth looks up and sees who she’s been surrounded by, she coughs, draws her hand up to her throat as if she’s shielding herself from some kind of attack.
“Not sure which way to turn, Elizabeth?” asks Skeeter.
“What? Oh, Skeeter, how are you?” Elizabeth offers a quick, wide smile. “I was . ,Website. . feeling so warm in here. I think I need some fresh air.”
Skeeter watches Elizabeth rush away, at Celia Foote rattling after Elizabeth in her awful dress. That’s the real story, Skeeter thinks. Not the flower arrangements or how many pleats are around the rear end of Hilly’s dress. This year, it’s all about The Celia Foote Fashion Catastrophe.
Moments later, dinner is announced and everyone settles into their assigned seats. Celia and Johnny have been seated with a handful of out-of-town couples, friends of friends who aren’t really friends of anyone at all,Jeremy Scott Adidas Wings. Skeeter is seated with a few local couples, not President Hilly or even Secretary Elizabeth this year. The room is full of chatter, praise for the party, praise for the Chateaubriand. After the main course, Hilly stands behind the podium. There is a round of applause and she smiles at the crowd.
“Good evening. I sure do thank y’all for coming tonight. Everybody enjoying their dinner?”
There are nods and rumbles of consent.
“Before we start the announcements, I’d like to go ahead and thank the people who are making tonight such a success.” Without turning her head from the audience, Hilly gestures to her left, where two dozen colored women have lined up, dressed in their white uniforms. A dozen colored men are behind them, in gray-and-white tuxedos.
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