Rembrandt Street - Chapter 7

Silver's Home

The Johnston’s apartment was immediately below the Willobee’s apartment. The two-flat shared the same structure and design, but contained two very different families. Where the Willobee’s were a happy coherent family, the Johnston’s were cold and with lack of tolerance.

When Mr. Willobee knocked on the Johnston’s front door, no one had answered. The truth was that Mrs. Johnston and her mother were out playing bingo and mindless of the activities of the others. Mr. Johnston worked a half shift on Saturdays and the grandfather was in his bed sound asleep after having drunk all morning and part of the afternoon.

Although Silver was only 7, she was responsible to see that her baby sister, Emily, was taken care of and to make sure grandfather didn’t become irritated. Silver had heard the door, but she’d been instructed not to open the door for anyone or talk to strangers. While she was listening to the sound, she stood motionless on the other side almost afraid to breathe. Finally the person knocking left and the apartment grew again quiet and cold.

Silver was glad that her little sister slept as much as she did because it seemed safer for her, but sometimes she worried over the sister because she cried so little. When she was first brought home, she cried more, but she had been told by the older women that babies were expected not to cry. From the early days, they would let the baby cry herself to sleep. Now it seemed to Silver as if the baby had lost the will to be up.

When everyone was gone except her napping grandfather and sister, Silver would wonder from one cold dark room to another as if trying to find a place comfortable to stay or at least a place of rest that would not frighten her.

The Grandmother ran the household. She was the one to place the temperature very low on the thermostat and see that no extra electricity was wasted by leaving lights on. She and her husband had spent their first few married years living through the depression.

Now, she often kept her retired husband confined to the living room, basement, or outside garage. He was treated as if he werean animal, in that she complained he was a no good and a a drainage of her patience. The daughter, Mrs. Johnston, never stepped between the relationship of her folks and often mirrored the relationship in her own marriage.

The men folk appeared to be quieter and more sulky. They were fed well and appreciated for doing the male designated household tasks, but was afforded very little affection from their wives.

In addition to managing the money Mr. & Mrs. Johnston brought home from the bakery and clock factory, the grandmother kept up the house, made the meals and took in seamstress type work,watched over the grandchildren and could talk a mean streak. She had opinions of how things were going whether it be society, neighbors or family matters.

The Grandmother wasn’t often grateful. She was of the old fashioned belief that life was tough and you best earn your place in it. She didn’t think Silver’s parents had done a good enough job at providing for the family. She seemed angry that her daughter or son-in-law hadn’t been able to afford for her a small place in Florida and that it was she who had to raise the grandchildren. The grandchildren irritated her sense of order and were not appreciative of her. She didn’t understand why Silver shied from her or why her daughter and son-in-law seemed to resent her after she’d "helped" them out so much. Often she was heard saying, "I have to do everything myself to get it done right!"

Eventually, Silver found her way back to her bedroom where she spent most of her time and where she could see her little sister. Often when Emily was up, they played quietly together, or Silver would read to her. Silver was advanced in reading and was already in need of glasses possibly due to the eyestrain of reading and poor light, or perhaps due to poor genetics.

Silver knew that when her grandfather woke, he would yell for her and expect that she take care of him. Silver did not tell her mother or grandmother of these extra chores nor would she tell any other soul she might know. She knew better than to upset the others. She spent most of her time pretending to be invisible and avoid arguments.

Silver could hear her sister breathing peacefully. Emily always smiled when she slept. Silver like to think of her dreaming as if playing with angels. Silver’s bed laid in the opposite corner of the crib. Both the mattress and box spring lay directly on the floor and it was often drafty. She was surrounded on both walls by various stuffed animals her father had found for her.  He also protected them from being thrown away by her grandmother. Silver knew how to wash them in the bathtub and fix their broken button noses and eyes.

Silver now moved the tiger, lassie dog, and sock monkey onto her lap so she could sit along the row of her animals and tell them a story. She said, "Once upon a time, there was a big baby bear who lived in the forest and he had a friend who was named turtle, because he was a turtle!" Silver could see that all of her animals were laughing with her. She continued, "Well, one day they were walking and they came to a place on the lake covered tree branches and bark. Baby Bear wondered if Mr. & Mrs Beaver were home, because he wanted to go fishing with his friends.

Turtle said, "I’ll knock on their door." He swam out to the underground door and knocked with his short little paw. Mr. & Mrs Beaver are you home, he yelled as only turtles can with their small beak noses. Mr. Beaver came out of the house and they both floated to the top of the water so they could breath.

Baby bear said, "If you’re not busy we can get something to eat upstream!"

Mr. Beaver said, "I like that idea let me get Mrs. Beaver."

While Turtle and Bear were waiting sly fox came by and said, "Mmm, I think I will eat turtle stew today!" He hid behind the big tree so nobody could see him. After the Beavers joined Baby bear and turtle they swam 20 feet upstream. Turtle went over to the side and waited for his friends who were looking under the water and the sly fox grabbed turtle and held him tight and he raced along the path until he could jump down his hole ..."

Silver stopped her story. Tears started falling down her cheeks. She laid down and fell asleep uncovered and tired on her bed.

Sooner than later, she picked up her head hearing the familiar keys in the back door. She quickly wiped at the dry tears near her eyes and straightened up the animals as if her own private toy soldiers now on duty.

Her Grandmother and mother entered the door holding packages in white paper wrapping. She knew they must have stopped at the butchers. Silver didn’t like to eat meat because her grandfather had told her she was eating cows. Silver’s grandmother looked crossly at her and asked, "What have you been doing all afternoon?"

"Just reading grandmother. Grandpa and Emily are still sleeping."

"What a bunch of no-goods in this family," complained the grandmother. Silver’s mother just nodded in agreement.

"I’ll go check on Emily while you start dinner Mama."

Silver slid into a chair next to the kitchen table. She had been taught not to speak unless spoken too and children are to be seen and not heard. Silver’s Grandmother put on her apron and washed her hands. She appeared to be in a good mood. Silver discovered that Grandmother had won a new hat. When Silver’s mother returned the two women talked about how nice it was to have won the fine gift and how important it was to play the game, since it was a charity for the poor.

As they readied the stew meat and raw vegetables, Silver heard the word stew and cringed thinking of turtle. But she knew her place and didn’t say anything.

There was another startling knock on the front door. Silver’s grandmother quizzed her daughter’s face. "Now who would that be?"

"I don’t know mama, I’ll get it." When Mrs. Johnston got to the door, she looked out and recognized Mr. Willobee from upstairs. She said very courteously, "Why hello Mr. Willowbee. How may I help you?"

"I need to speak to your husband, is he home?"

"Why no, he doesn’t get home until 8 tonight. How can I help you?"

Mr. Willowbee looked stern, but asked politely, "Could you ask him to come up and see me when he gets home?"

"Of course," said Mrs. Johnston. "I hope it isn’t serious."

"Well actually it is serious, but I would rather not bother you with this. Please have him come up." Mr. Willobee then concluded, "I wish you good night Mrs. Johnston." Then he turned around and walked up the front steps to the Willobee apartment.

Mrs. Johnston returned to the kitchen where her mother had been adding water to the seasoned stew meat.

"Who was that Alison?"

"Mother, it was Mr. Willobee from upstairs."

"What did he want?"

"I don’t know, he wouldn’t say. He wanted to speak to Bill. He seemed to think it was serious." Mrs. Johnston looked directly at Silver. She asked demandingly, "Do you know anything about this?" Silver quickly and fearfully shook her head, no. Mrs. Johnston looked meanly into Silver’s eyes and said more sternly, "If this has anything to do with your behavior I will beat your fanny personally!"

Silver forced her eyes not to cry by staring down at the table. Again she was asked and denied knowing why Mr. Willobee would be knocking at the door. She was too afraid to mention that someone had knocked on the door earlier. She now thought it must have been Mr. Willobee. Silver felt guilty thinking maybe he had been upset the previous night when she had been so loud on the piano. Silver didn’t want to think about the previous night. She didn’t want to think at all. Her head blurred and her stomach felt ill.