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Chapter 22
Thewomenwhowerewashinglookedupwithinterest.Jessiesaidloudly,«Thishere’sMis’Joadan’Rosasharn,cometolive.»TheygreetedMainachorusandMamadeadumpylittlebowatthemandsaid,«Proudtomeetya.»
Jessieledthecommitteeintothetoiletandshowerroom.
«Ibeenhereawready,"Masaid.«Ieventookabath.»
«That’swhatthey’refor,"Jessiesaid.«An’they’sthesamerule.Yougottoleave’emclean.Ever’weekthey’sanewcommitteetoswaboutoncetaday.Maybeyougitonthatcommittee.Yougottobringyourownsoap.»
«Wegottogetsomesoap,"Masaid.«We’reallout.»
Jessie’svoicebecamealmostreverential.«Youeverusedthisherekind?»sheasked,andpointedtothetoilets.
«Yes,ma’am.Rightthismornin’.»
Jessiesighed.«That’sgood.»
EllaSummerssaid,«Jes’lastweek—"
Jessieinterruptedsternly,«Mis’Summers—I’lltell.»
Ellagaveground.«Oh,awright.»
Jessiesaid,«Las’week,whenyouwasChair,youdoneitall.I’llthankyoutokeepoutthisweek.»
«Well,tellwhatthatladydone,"Ellasaid.
«Well,"saidJessie,«itain’tthiscommittee’sbusinesstogoa-babblin’,butIwon’tpassnonames.Ladycomeinlas’week,an’shegotinhere’forethecommitteegottoher,an’shehadherol’man’spantsinthetoilet,an’shesays,’It’stoolow,an’itain’tbigenough.Bustyourbackoverher,’shesays.’Whycouldn’theystickherhigher?’"Thecommitteesmiledsuperiorsmiles.»
