Something Old - Dianne L. Christner [91]
Eventually after much maneuvering and gentle urgings, Katy managed to get the contrite woman to her bedroom. She combed out Minnie’s hair, plaited it and replaced her covering. While Minnie settled under the bed quilt, Katy read a few scriptures from a Bible on a nearby nightstand. She patted Minnie’s back until the old eyes closed. Even afterward, Katy lingered outside of the bedroom door until she heard
Minnie’s snoring. Then she leaned against the wall a moment to collect herself, wondering how so much damage could happen in such a small fraction of time.
Next she returned to set Ann’s kitchen to rights. Katy set the dirty dishes on the counter and removed the white tablecloth, running water over the tomato spots, then dabbing vinegar on the stain. She draped it over the washing machine and returned to the kitchen to wash the dishes.
When she had the kitchen finished, she went to listen outside Minnie’s bedroom door. But she only heard silence through the walls. Sensing that Minnie could get in more trouble than Addison at seven years of age could even dream of, she slowly turned the doorknob and eased it open.
Her heart leapt in her chest. Katy cried, “Stop!”
Minnie’s hand paused. Orange-handled scissors interlocked a long shank of thin white hair. Hair that had hardly ever been cut. Minnie blinked. Then Katy saw a rebellious glint enter the old eyes. Was this some sort of showdown? It was becoming obvious where Jake got his rebellion.
Katy was afraid to step into the room. If Minnie jerked, she might snip off her hair. She willed her voice to calm. “Your hair is so lovely. If you give me the scissors, I’ll brush it for you again.”
“No! That hurts. I’m cutting it so it doesn’t hurt.” The woman lifted the shank of hair and dropped her gaze to it, pressing the scissors handles closed. With a gasp, Katy watched twelve inches of growth slip to the floor.
Katy flew into the room and wrestled the scissors out of Minnie’s hand, all the while being sure to keep it away from her face. When Minnie saw she had lost, she curled into a ball on the bed, making a noise that sounded like an angry cat. And Katy had a moment to take inventory. Minnie’s wet covering was squashed on top of the pillow. Not only was a large chunk of Minnie’s hair gone, but now Katy noticed that part of the cape on Minnie’s gown was shredded.
Katy pressed her eyes together in agony and regret. Had she been too rough when she’d brushed Minnie’s hair, giving her charge the idea to cut it off? Then remembering she couldn’t give Minnie a scrap of time unwatched, she flashed her eyes open again. But Minnie was still curled on the bed making unearthly sounds. Katy rubbed her sweaty palms on her skirt, wondering how to rectify the situation.
Suddenly Minnie sat up. “My dress is ruined.”
A flash of anger shot through Katy, but she quickly reminded herself that it wasn’t Minnie’s fault that the cape was shredded. It was the disease. And Katy’s own neglect. First, she needed to get rid of the scissors. A glance at the door told her Minnie’s lock had been removed, but she still didn’t trust her alone. Katy backed toward the closet, stood on her tiptoes, and shoved the scissors on a high shelf that the shorter woman wouldn’t be able to reach. While she was by the closet, she saw a clean dress and removed it from its hanger. Draping it over her arm, she started toward the bed. “Let’s put this on before Ann comes home.”
Minnie swung her legs over the side of the bed. “Where is Ann?”
“She went to town.”
“How? Did she go with her daddy?”
Katy realized Minnie thought her daughter was a child again. Taking advantage of the older woman’s contemplative state, she unfastened her dress and managed to remove it