Free Miss Julia Stands Her Ground by Ann B. Ross Page B

going in to check on him, Lillian was bringing up trays of soup and whatever else she thought he needed. And Hazel Marie sat by his bed all afternoon, dozing in a chair when he napped.
    An hour or so before dinner, I tiptoed up the stairs again to see how he was doing. As soon as I looked in, Hazel Marie came out into the hall, pulling the door closed behind her.
    â€œHe’s asleep,” she whispered. “I think he’s a little better now. But he still has a fever, and he hasn’t eaten anything. I forgot to tell you, Miss Julia, but I was supposed to go over to Tina Doland’s house tonight. I called her and told her I couldn’t come, but Tina said she really wants me to be there. She has something special planned.”
    I pursed my mouth, thinking of Tina Doland, who was an activemember of First Baptist, and was forever coming up with something for other people to do. “Go, if you want to. I’ll watch Little Lloyd. Just remember that she probably wants to rope you into something that her church is pushing.”
    â€œI know.” Hazel Marie nodded. “But she’s asked a lot of people we know, and she said to tell you that you’re invited, too. I didn’t think you’d want to go, though.”
    â€œNo, I don’t. But, Hazel Marie, I thought you were making time for us to have a talk.”
    â€œWell, I thought so, too, but you know how Tina is. She just said that if I couldn’t leave Lloyd, they’d bring the party here. I didn’t know how to get out of it, so do you mind? She’ll bring the snacks and everything, and we don’t have to do a thing but get Sam out of the house, because men aren’t invited.” Hazel Marie gave me a worried look, then went on. “You might enjoy it, Miss Julia. If you’re in the right frame of mind.”
    â€œWhat kind of frame of mind?”
    Hazel Marie squinched up her face while her eyes moved in every direction but mine. “Uh, well, it’s kind of a new kind of get-together. Like, well, a Tupperware party. You’ve been to those, haven’t you?”
    â€œOnce,” I said. “Which was enough. Frankly, I’ve never thought it appropriate to invite people to your home and expect them to buy something so you’ll get something free.”
    â€œOh, we won’t get anything free. Tina might, because she’s the official hostess, but we won’t. I’m sorry, Miss Julia. I should’ve asked you first, but I think I’m stuck now. I just didn’t know what to tell her.”
    â€œThis is your home, too, and you don’t need to ask me about every little thing. Besides, I know Tina can be a steamroller when she wants to be. But I’m going to excuse myself and let you handle it. I’ll sit up here with Little Lloyd, and you can enjoy the party.” I started to turn away, disappointed that my talk with her was being deferred yet again.
    At least Little Lloyd was on the mend, so that was one less thing to worry about.
    I reached the head of the stairs and stopped. “Hazel Marie, I know you’ll feel obligated to buy something tonight, but you ought to check with Lillian first. She may not want any more plastic bowls.”
    â€œOh, it’s not that kind of party. I just used that as an example.”
    â€œIn that case, I might slip down and join you for a while. What kind of party is it?”
    Hazel Marie’s eyes darted around. “Um, well, they call it, well, it’s called a passion party.” She took in a deep breath, and gave me an earnest look. “But it’ll be in real good taste.”
    â€œA Passion party?” I frowned, wondering what Mel Gibson and his cohorts had dreamed up now. “Why, Hazel Marie, we’ve barely gotten past Thanksgiving, and Tina’s celebrating Easter? That’s the most sacred time of the year, and I just don’t think we ought to commercialize that.”
    Hazel