Between Madison and Palmetto Read Free

After a moment, he said, “You’ll see.” He looked around at the crowded party. In the corner of the living room Hattie, her back to the wall, laughed into the face of her current boyfriend. Ms. Dell sat across the room, rocking a sleeping Li‘l Jay on her lap while she talked to a woman in a green Sunday hat. A bluesy song was playing softly now.
    â€œWe’ll all see,” Bo said.

3
    Y ears pass,“ Ms. Dell said slowly. It had been a week since the New Year’s party, and still confetti littered the corners of the kitchen and living room. Ms. Dell sat opposite Margaret at the huge kitchen table. Behind her, Hattie was busy at the stove, warming up soup for their lunch. In a few minutes Hattie, looking older than twenty-one in Ms. Dell’s apron, would be setting a steaming bowl of it in front of Margaret, warming up every single part of her against the chill. Outside, snow had laid a thick white cape over every inch of Madison Street. Li‘l Jay napped in the bedroom off of the kitchen—Hattie’s room. ”Here it is more than a year since Maizon went away and came back from that boarding school.“
    Hattie looked over her shoulder at Margaret. “You two are growing up before everybody’s eyes. Where is Maizon, anyway?”
    Margaret shrugged. “I don’t know and I don’t care.” She hadn’t seen much of Maizon since the New Year’s party. Tomorrow would be the first day of school since Christmas break. Maybe she’d see Maizon on the bus. The smell of Hattie’s spicy chicken soup filled the kitchen. Margaret couldn’t believe how hungry she was.
    â€œUh-oh,” Hattie said under her breath.
    â€œShe’s probably with Caroline or something.”
    â€œHow come Caroline didn’t come to the party?” Ms. Dell asked.
    â€œThey were away visiting her grandparents in Vermont. I guess she’s back now and Maizon’s being buddy-buddy with her.”
    Hattie smiled. “Sounds like a little bit of jealousy to me.”
    â€œI don’t care about it. She can hang out with whoever she wants.” Margaret cut her eyes at Hattie. Hunger made her crabby.
    â€œSometimes,” Ms. Dell continued, “it seems as though not a moment has moved, but then you look up and you’re already old or you already have a houseful of kids or you look down and see your feet are miles and miles away from the rest of you—and you realize you’ve grown up.”
    Without thinking, Margaret looked down. Already her breasts had begun to build tiny mountains on her chest. Mama had bought her three bras, each one a little bit stretchier than the last. She smoothed her hands over her chest. The bulky sweaters she wore almost hid this growing she had absolutely no control over. But her jeans didn’t hide the extra meat rounding out her behind and thighs. Hattie laughed. Margaret raised her head slowly, knowing already that Hattie would be looking at her and smiling. This wasn’t the first time she had been caught checking out this new unfamiliar body of hers. Margaret felt her face growing hot.
    â€œYou’ll get used to it, Margaret,” Hattie said, setting a bowl of soup down in front of her.
    â€œI’d rather it just went away.”
    â€œBut it doesn‘t—” Hattie began.
    â€œI know, Hattie,” Margaret said, cutting her off. “That doesn’t make me stop wishing.” She took a spoonful of soup before continuing. “Every morning I wake up, it seems everything is bigger than it was the day before. I hate all this growing!”
    â€œSo many girls wish they had breasts.” Ms. Dell laughed. “Girls walking around all flat chested, stuffing their bras with tissue, doing exercises and praying. You should count yourself lucky.”
    â€œHow fat am I gonna get?”
    â€œIt’s not fat,” Hattie said softly, touching Margaret’s forehead.