Free Apron Strings by Mary Morony

breeze felt like wind as it whipped through my hair. Knowing how forbidden this would be if my mother knew heightened every sensation. I gazed up into the bright blue sky as I leaned against my father’s strong sure arm, arching my back and pointing one foot as I had seen an aerialist do at the circus. As we came in the front door, my mother shooed us away like flies. “Run along, children. Your daddy’s tired. I’m sure your dinner is about ready.”
    Sighing, he hung his jacket over the dining room armchair.
    “Go on now, do what your mother says,” he said, patting one of us on the backside.
    My mother called into the kitchen. “Ethel, Mr. Joe is home,” as the two of them disappeared into the living room.
    Ethel, wiping her hands on her apron, ushered us upstairs where she stripped us down and started our baths. More often than not, she would bathe all three of us at the same time. All lined up in the claw foot tub, wewaited our turn to get scrubbed, rinsed, dried and dressed before returning to the kitchen to eat our dinner. After dinner, we trooped into the living room to kiss our parents goodnight.
    Stuart managed almost every night to get home just before dinner was on the table. I felt sorry for her because she had to eat in the dining room with Daddy and our mother. She’d slip out as soon as she could, sometimes in tears, go up to her room and close the world out. Sometimes Daddy would go up afterward and they’d talk, but I never knew what about. I think she would have happily stayed downstairs if my mother weren’t around. They couldn’t say a word to each other that the other one wouldn’t jump on. It seemed the more Stuart grew up, the less she had to say to any of us.
    Not that it took much in those days, but it seemed like everytime Daddy went up to talk with Stuart afterwards my mother and he would get into a big fight. Doors slammed and sometimes I could hear glass and china smash against the wall. One morning we came down for breakfast and Ethel was cleaning plaster out of the sink and her big black skillet was covered in paint and plaster chips. “The shouting and cursing was flat out terrible last night.” I said. She didn’t say anything but stopped what she was doing and bent down and hugged me tight.
    “I didn’t hear anything.” Helen mumbled with her mouth full of thumb.
    Ethel let me go and patted Helen on the head. “Honey, go on and sit down. Ethel gonna make you some hot chocolate with marshmellows. How ‘bout that?”
    “I had to put my pillow over my head and pray that they wouldn’t kill each other last night.” I said. “I just hate it when they do that.”
    “I know, darlin’.” Ethel said shaking her head, “I know.”

Chapter 5
    “H ave any plans today?” Daddy asked my mother as they sat at the breakfast table reading the newspaper. I was playing at being a waitress and clearing the table.
    “No, I hear it’s going to be hot, so I thought I’d stay home and enjoy that new air conditioner. Why? Do you have something in mind?” She folded her paper and placed it neatly by her plate. “Sallee, tell Ethel we’d like some more coffee, please. Oh, excuse me, I meant to say, Miss, may we have some more coffee?” She looked at Daddy to confirm.
    He shook his head. “None for me, but I’d like the check, please.” He winked at me.
    As I left the dining room with their plates, I heard Daddy say, “I thought we could take the children for a picnic up to Crabtree Falls. I remember how much you used to love hiking there. It ought to be much cooler in the mountains.”
    I put the plates down by the sink with a loud clatter. “Ethel, Mama wants some more coffee!” I shouted, turning on my heels as quickly as I was able. I was half way out the door when Ethel’s head shot up from her task. “Mind them dishes!” she said. “Where you goin’ so licktey split? Ain’t you gon’ to carry your mama her coffee? You can pour it like a real waitress do, from the