Claudia’s Story – Part 7
After meeting with the six women at Cole Park who were very much interested in working at the base, Claudia volunteered to visit the pastor of the First United Methodist Church. She had called the church secretary earlier in the week and set up an appointment Thursday morning at ten-thirty. Not wanting to take advantage of Mallory’s friendship, she brought her boys with her. Michael and Mark enjoyed the ride in the red wagon. Was an adventure. They pretended to be pirates aboard a ship lost at sea. Unbeknown to the gulls floating above them, the birds in this imaginary tale led the way to shore and to safety.
“You’ve got to be kidding!” Claudia exclaimed upon arrival and seeing the number of steps leading to the church entrance. “Disembark, mateys! Help your captain haul this old-battered ship to shore before we take in any more water!”
“Aww, Mommy!” Michael sounded insulted but Claudia noticed a smile.
Claudia helped Mark from the wagon. Michael grabbed the front and with Claudia at the back; the two carried the red wagon up the fourteen steps to the front door. Mark trailed behind, stomping on each step. The church constructed of light-colored brick and white stone sat serenely against the cloudless sky. The church steeple rose in a sharp spiral and ended with a cross at its tip. Claudia parked the wagon on the landing near the front double doors. Taking her sons’ hands, she opened the door. The church lobby was wide and spacious and brightly lit. Stained-glass windows framed all four walls. The stone floor was shiny and almost transparent. So still and quiet, Claudia wondered if anyone was in the building. Seeing an arrow pointing to the church offices, she and the boys followed it. At the door marked ‘Pastor Eric Booth,’ Claudia knocked.
A woman in her 40s opened the door and held it out widely. “No need to knock. Please, come in. You must be Mrs. Woods.”
“Yes,” Claudia stammered. “Claudia Woods. These are my boys. Is it okay that I brought them? I should have asked before.”
“Of course. Children are always welcome. I’m Mrs. Dunlap, the pastor’s secretary. Would your boys care for a lollipop? I’m afraid I only have grape or cherry.” Mrs. Dunlap took a candy jar from the edge of her desk and held it behind her back awaiting Claudia’s consent. The boys danced about excitedly. When Claudia nodded her head, Mrs. Dunlap held out the jar for the boys to make a selection. “Now,” she said returning the jar to its place and taking a seat behind the desk. “Please, have a seat.”
Claudia helped remove the cellophane from the boys’ candy then sat in the high-back leather chair situated in front of the desk. Michael pressed against her legs as she lifted Mark to her lap.
“I’m sorry to say but Pastor Booth is unable to meet with you today. Had an emergency hospital call from one of our members.” Claudia’s crestfallen-look triggered Mrs. Dunlap’s sympathy. “Pastor Booth told me a bit about why you were coming today. If you would possibly tell me more, I’ll see how I may help.”
Between the boys’ slurpy candy crunches and time spent retrieving a Kleenex from her purse to wipe Mark’s face, Claudia told Mrs. Dunlap about the childcare need. Mrs. Dunlap listened intently and enthusiastically. “That sounds like a wonderful plan. But I can tell you now that we have very few extra rooms to use for your purposes. Maybe once or twice a week but not seven days a week. But don’t give up. I’ll share this with Pastor Booth, and I hope all goes well for you.”
“Thank you. May I leave a few pamphlets from the Naval Air Base?”
“Yes, please do.” Mrs. Dunlap placed the offered stack on her desk.
“Would you mind directing me to the ladies’ room?” Claudia held up Mark’s hands. “Sticky hands.”
Mrs. Dunlap laughed. “Yes, of course. Upstairs and the first door on the right.”
Claudia placed Mark on his feet and nodded at Michael whose lips were stained bright purple. “Thank you for meeting with us today.”
“And thanks for the candy!” Michael added. “Yeah, thanks!” Mark chimed in.
Easily finding the ladies’ restroom, Claudia washed the boys’ faces and hands. “Let’s go home, boys. Maybe our ship has been repaired.”
Both boys laughed. Their mom was quite the comedienne. As the three walked toward the stairs, a door opened to one of the rooms. Claudia assumed it to be a classroom. As a child, Claudia attended a Baptist Church and was familiar with rooms set aside for Bible study. All churches must have them, she decided. Two women who looked to be in their late sixties entered the hall.
“Excuse me, Miss. I think you dropped something,” one said.
Claudia turned as the boys preceded to the stairs. “Stop!” Claudia called after them. The boys as if lassoed by an invisible rope abruptly halted.
“This must be yours,” the woman repeated holding out a N.A.S. pamphlet.
“Yes, thank you. It is. Must have fallen from my purse.”
The second woman, whose eyebrows were painted one-eighth inch higher than her natural brow line and cheeks rouged in bright red, asked, “Are you the young woman organizing childcare for working mothers?”
“One of them, yes. How did you know?”
“I’m Marjorie Harrison. Ellen Dunlap, our pastor’s secretary, is my daughter. She told me you were meeting with Pastor Booth today.”
“Did he help you, dear? He’s a lovely man,” the first woman said.
“Well, I’m not sure. He wasn’t in.”
The first woman’s face lit up like she’d just witnessed the lighting of a Christmas tree on town square. “Why don’t you join us? I’m Constance Wright, chair for our women’s auxiliary service group. Marjorie and I were getting more coffee. It’s time for dessert. Please, come in.”
The boys stopped their horseplay when they heard the word ‘dessert’ and trotted up closer to Claudia. Claudia took them by the hand and followed Constance Wright and Marjorie Harrison into the room of twenty or so women. The ladies’ conversations and laughter receded as the newcomers followed Constance to the front.
Constance stood behind a podium and announced, “Ladies, may I introduce to you…oh, I didn’t get your name.”
“Claudia Woods.”
“Yes, Claudia Woods. Mrs. Woods is organizing childcare for mothers who want to work at the naval base.”
One seventy-five-year-old bespectacled woman, whose purple sweater was buttoned askew over a green floral dress, sat on the front row. Frowning she blurted out, “We can’t have our women fighting on the front lines! It’s not proper. Women have always stayed at home rearing their children while the men go off to war!”
“But what if childcare could be provided for those women who want to serve their country by working here at the base? Or need extra money to pay the bills while their husbands are serving overseas? There are numerous civilian service jobs women can do to relinquish men to more urgent matters. A secretary or a transcriber or a plane mechanic or a mail sorter…to name only a few. These women won’t be fighting overseas…they’ll be right here in Corpus!” Claudia answered excitedly without giving Constance a chance to hem-haw in response.
The woman in the purple sweater opened her mouth in rebuttal but her neighbor elbowed her lightly. Finally, the woman folded her hands in her lap as her glasses slid down the bridge of her nose.
A woman sitting in the back of the room stood. “What do you need?”
Constance stood to one side giving Claudia the floor. Claudia eased behind the podium. Mark hung on to one side of her skirt. Michael turned to look out the window at the surroundings below.
“First of all, we need a space for the children.”
“How many?” one woman on the third row asked.
“Well, I’m not sure. There are six children among those women who’ve recently shown interest. But there may be more once the word spreads.”
“Why don’t you know for sure?” the lady in purple asked.
Claudia smiled. “The women can’t apply for a job until childcare has been secured. They’re immediately turned away without it.”
The woman in the back stood again. “My name is Minnie Morse. I would be happy to offer my house as a place for your childcare. I have five bedrooms. Way too big for just me and my husband. Would you be interested?”
Claudia was shocked. Words escaped her. This offer was too good to be true.
Constance responded cheerfully, “Thank you, Minnie. What a generous offer! Let’s have dessert and let Claudia and Minnie talk privately.”
The women who had been seated, stood and mingled around the dessert table. Their voices low….no doubt discussing what just took place.
“Would you two like a piece of cake?” Constance addressed Michael and Mark whose eyes were already trained on the white linen-covered table at the back of the room.
“A small piece,” Claudia answered for them.
Constance led the boys toward the dessert table. Claudia turned when she heard her name.
“May I formally introduce myself? I am Minnie Morse. My husband Vernon is a retired physician who specialized in pediatrics. We love children. Would you like to come see if our house is suitable for your cause?”
“Your offer is beyond my deepest imagination! But shouldn’t we at least ask Dr. Morse if he’s onboard with an invasion of children into his home?”
Minnie patted Claudia’s arm and winked. “He will be. I promise.”
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So, who doesn’t enjoy a lollipop? This simple hard candy on a stick comes in various flavors and is available in all sizes. But do you know the history of the lollipop? Here’s a fun fact:
A book called Food for Thought: Extraordinary Little Chronicles of the World claims modern lollipops were invented by George Smith from New Haven, Connecticut. Smith started making these sweet candies in 1908. He named them after a popular racehorse at the time…Lolly Pop….and trademarked the lollipop name in 1931.
Music, literature, and film industries often use lollipops as a symbol of youth and joy. The Chordettes first appeared on American Band Stand in 1957 and sang their catchy tune, “Lollipop.” Roald Dahl used lollipops as a symbol of childhood in his book, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. The Lollipop Guild were quirky little characters found in The Wizard of Oz. Even television’s Kojak often held a lollipop in his mouth to contrast his tough detective image with an unexpected sweetness.
Do you have a favorite flavor? Orange, grape, or cherry?
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The final segment of Claudia’s story will be posted Wednesday, November 6th