Page 62 of Homebound
“Yes? Are they? Who?”
Gemma laughed at her eager listeners. “Some of them are big overall, so draw your own conclusions.”
Under the chorus of protests against cutting this discussion short, Gemma made her way to the other three helpers to get started on the morning routine. The tasks were essentially the same but their timing varied from the other floors. For instance, the women went outside in the afternoon, which meant the main cleaning was done by the second floor helpers in the morning, right when the aliens visited the courtyard. This overlap was problematic for Gemma who intended to catch Ruby for a quick word.
But she was nothing if not motivated.
“Here, let me. I’ll take them down for you,” Gemma volunteered as she took a stack of cups from arthritic hands of an old helper named Emato. She knew Emato had little desire to go up and down the stairs due to his arthritis. He was also lazy. He would let her do his job if he could get away with it. In ways, he was like Arlo only a lot more passive and a whole lot less intelligent.
“Thanks, Gemma.” Emato gladly released the cups. “I’ll sweep your area for you.”
“Thanks, Emato. You’re so sweet.” He wouldn't sweep for her. He hardly swept for himself.
Cluttering down to the kitchens with a stack of dirty aluminum mugs, Gemma made a small detour to see if Marigold had anyone at her counter. It was empty.
“Marigold!” Gemma called in a loud whisper. “Marigold!”
“Who is this?” The dragon lady emerged from behind the closet doors. “Oh, it’s you. What now?”
“You know Ruby? Ruby Beatty?”
“I know everyone,” she informed Gemma with no small amount of pride.
“Great. Will you give Rusy a message from me?”
Marigold’s face blanched. “What the hell? Don’t involve me.”
“I need to get a message out to her.”
Marigold looked around in fear and following her lead, Gemma did the same. Far away near the entrance door, she caught a glimpse of OO walking in. There was no time to lose.
“When she comes down for her bucket, just tell her I’ll meet her here at nine sharp.”
“I ain’t gonna do it. Not my drama.”
“No drama.”
OO was nearing and he would soon be able to see Gemma standing there.
“Thank you, you’re a sweetheart.”
She ran off holding the mugs as still as possible to avoid rattling them and attracting attention.
“Wait! Listen here, helper McKinley, listen to me!” Marigold hissed to Gemma’s retreating back but she didn’t stop.
Time flowed like molasses. Finally, a few minutes before nine o’clock, Gemma announced the need to go get a new set of brushes so that the women could reach the cobwebs under the ceiling.
“They won’t give you new ones. You’re wasting your time,” another helper wrinkled her forehead at Gemma implying that she should know better than to try.
“They’ve been a bit more agreeable later.” She breezed by and went downstairs at her unsanctioned time.
Ruby was already there.
“Gemma!” Her homely face lit up at seeing Gemma and Gemma’s heart warmed.
They hugged, both surprisingly ecstatic to see each other.
Marigold was watching them with equal parts interest and malice like Gemma and Ruby were minor villains in a saga, doomed to get their comeuppance soon. She was unabashedly hanging on to their every word.
