Oh, my goodness.... what was supposed to be a short hiatus due to COVID, turned into what seems like a lifetime since I have been able to post a short story! Life, for me, has somewhat forever changed. I'm sure most people can say the same thing. It's much more difficult to carve out time to write these days. My new writing goal is to write as much as possible but publish at least one short story a month. Here's to keeping myself accountable!
This is a tale of two very strong women, but really it's a tale of where two roads divide. Hattie was a detail-oriented born leader. She loved organizing any kind of get together, but rarely wanted to stay to the end of the actual event. Hazel, a leader in her own way, was the opposite. She didn't have the patience to look at each and every detail of anything; whether it was a party, or the dress her mother insisted she make despite the fact that she saved every penny she earned to wear a store bought frock. She would rather die than leave any social get together. Despite their opposite personalities, they were the best of friends. Actually, they were cousins, but best friends since their births. Births, which happened to be exactly two months apart. They did EVERYTHING together. They worked on their chores together, they attended school together, and when their parents would allow it, they ate and slept over at each other's house. Spending every waking, and sometimes sleeping moment with each other was extremely easy because they lived on the same land. Fortunately for the family, their grandfather planned his life very well, barely stopping until he acquired a huge parcel of land. It wasn't great farmland, but it grew some strong timber and gorgeous flowers. The first product being the more important, at least when it came to the sustainability of their land. Even more fortunate, Hattie, Hazel, and their other uncle's family were able to share that land.
There were other siblings and cousins in the family, but when it came to Hattie and Hazel, the world was solely a party of two, at least in the beginning. Growing up together, they definitely had different identities, but loved sharing EVERYTHING. They shared clothes, school supplies, and even their birthdays. They loved sharing with each other, especially their birthdays. Their moms would splurge and buy the ingredients to make them a cake since they shared their celebrations. It was their very own cake, they only had to share with each other. Other siblings and cousins shared birthdays, but they did so begrudgingly. Hattie and Hazel wouldn't have it any other way.
Even having their own identities, both girls dreamed of traveling and being in business for themselves. It must have been in their blood, after all, their grandfather started his own lumber business, and their dads and uncle started their own transport business for lumber. Business was not just for the male family members, but something in which their moms took part, too. Their moms grew beautiful flowers, and after winning the top prizes in the county fair for many years, started their own flower business. They mostly sold to the bigger cities, but could transport an order easily, since the men transported lumber to those cites, as well.
Hattie dreamed of traveling to the big cities of the world, organizing the best and fanciest parties. Their small town's little library had old issues of magazines that showed her glorious table settings and decorations. Hattie could only dream of using materials that indulgent. She would timidly touch the pages of the magazine as if she were touching the delicate glasses and plates. Once school dismissed for the summer, Hattie would use the very last nub of her chalk to draw plans for her own table settings and decoration. Once the chalk ran out, she resorted to drawing her plans in the dirt, carefully imagining the hues that matched each event.
Hazel, on the other hand, had different traveling aspirations. She wanted to travel the world to see the sights that she had read about so many times. She longed to see the lights of Paris, the London Bridge, and dared she dream, the Great Wall of China. She too, flipped through those old magazines at the library, but instead of eyeing the social issues, she drooled over every issue she could get her hands on about world travel. Neither young girl knew how she would afford to fulfill such dreams, but they had fun dreaming away the evenings after finishing chores, discussing which country they would "dream" to that night. As long as they had their dreams, and those magnificent magazines, they had their happiness. They had EVERYTHING.
It all changed the summer after they graduated. That summer, their parents insisted that they learn the transportation business, so off they went with their uncle to deliver lumber and flowers to the closest city to their little town. It was a long and uncomfortable drive. After they made their deliveries, they swept out the cargo bed and slept under stars before making the same long and uncomfortable trip home. How they both wished they could sleep in the luxurious beds of the hotel they passed when they first rolled into the city. They drifted off to sleep listening to the foreign sounds of the city. Before they started on their journey home the next morning, Hattie and Hazel decided to take a short walk to see as much of the city as they could. Even though this city was much smaller than the cities of their dreams, it was a good start for them. If they hurried, Hattie could gaze into the beautiful windows of the hotel that they had seen. She thought she had seen a fancy table setting in one window as they drove past, but her view had been disrupted and she couldn't get a good look. Hazel was just happy to see new sights and the hustle and bustle of a city, even if it were a smaller one. Hattie nearly pulled Hazel's arm off hurrying her down the blocks of the city to reach the hotel windows. Hazel wished she would slow down so she could see EVERYTHING, but she understood that they needed to get to the hotel and back before their uncle was ready to leave for home.
Once Hattie saw the window display, she could see that the dining room of the hotel was dressed for an event. She couldn't resist, she had to go in if only for a second to take in the beauty of that room. A room that would welcome the fanciest of people. She pleaded with Hazel to just take a step inside with her. Hazel, always up for an adventure grabbed her arm and escorted her through the doorway. The room was breathtaking. Beautiful white and baby pink roses decorated the tables, along with crisp white linen and sparkling glasses. It was as if the entire room was glowing with perfection. Just as Hattie was taking in a new breath to admire the rose scent of the room, she realized Hazel was in the middle of a conversation with a handsome gentleman. Hattie smiled at the stranger as she heard Hazel thanking him and saying good-bye. Hazel once again grabbed her arm and escorted her though the doorway, this time, though, she didn't let go until they had reached the end of the block and turned the corner.
"What was that about?" Hattie asked.
"His name is Nelson and I think he is the most exquisite person I've ever met!" Hazel exploded as she let out her breath.
"What was he doing there? Does he work at the hotel?" Hattie was quite curious, but not for the reasons Hazel wanted.
"Of course, he does. He's the assistant manager." Hazel informed her in her most formal voice. "Didn't you hear anything he said?"
Hattie was amazed that she hadn't heard the conversation, but was more interested in gushing over the decorations than what she had missed. Both girls were talking, but neither listened to what the other was saying. By the time they reached their uncle, they were both in a frenzy of exclamations and hand gestures. Their uncle, a tad frustrated with all of the noise and commotion, signaled that it was time to go and wanted to do so in silence. Hattie and Hazel didn't mind the silent hours that it took to get home, for they both were too busy day dreaming about their new experience to notice any of the bumps in the road or tiny space in which they had to squeeze.
For the rest of the summer, Hattie and Hazel accompanied their uncle to the city to make their family's deliveries. Every time they went, they stopped by the hotel; Hattie to see how the dining room was decorated, and Hazel to visit Nelson. The girls weren't the only ones who enjoyed the delivery trips. Nelson had become very fond of Hazel. Towards the end of the summer he insisted that the girls and their uncle come to the hotel for dinner, it would be his treat. Hazel begged her uncle for permission, but he wanted nothing to do with a hotel "fancy" dinner. After hearing days of both girls pleading their cases, Hazel's mother convinced her father to take the delivery to the city and the girls to dinner. Hazel wrote to Nelson as soon as she knew when they would be making the next delivery. Both girls spent every free moment pouring over which dresses to wear. They searched through all of their female cousins' closets to find the perfect ensembles. They didn't want anyone in the city to look at them and know they lived in the country.
The day of the delivery finally arrived. Because there was no room for big suitcases, Hattie and Hazel dressed in their formal wear as their mothers carefully adorned each girl with family jewelry. They felt very special, and uncontrollably excited. They were relieved that Hazel's father was the one making the delivery so they could talk about their expectations of the evening on the long journey. The trip, of course, felt like it took twice as long, but they made it without incident and there they sat at the fanciest table they had ever seen. Hattie was in heaven. Not only could she study the dining room set up for formal dining, she took in every new person she saw, noting what both the women and men were wearing, from their hats down to the cleanest, most formal shoes she'd ever seen. She made sure to tuck her own feet under the table where they couldn't be seen. Her mud spattered shoes would have been a dead give away for a country girl, for sure. Hazel, on the other hand was quite disappointed with the dinner conversation. Primarily because she wasn't a big part of it. Her dad took the opportunity to ask Nelson question after question about his family and his aspirations in life. It became very apparent that her mother had given her father questions that needed to be asked. Hazel became even more discouraged when they had finished the dessert course and she knew her time with Nelson was coming to an end. Much to her surprise, as they stood up, Nelson asked her father if they could take a walk, just Hazel and him. He suggested that Hazel's father and Hattie sip on after dinner drinks and keep an eye on them. Nelson assured Hazel's father that they would never walk out of sight. Much to both girls' surprise, her father agreed, as long as they indeed stayed in sight and remained several inches apart.
As Hattie sat sipping her coffee, she could feel something change. She knew it wasn't going to be her and Hazel against the world anymore. She had never considered what life would be like without her best friend. Neither girl had ever talked about getting married and having families. She hated the thought of living like her parents. She loved her parents and was thankful for EVERYTHING they provided, but from an early age, she knew that was not the life she wanted. That was one of the big reasons her and Hattie weren't close to their other cousins. She and Hazel were looked at as different, not normal, because of their high aspirations in life. In fact, they had grown up being made fun of, not just from the siblings and cousins, but anyone at school who happened to overhear their lofty life goals. Not to mention, that was not what girls did in life. Girls were expected to get married and have children. For Hattie, it was expected that her husband continue the family business, since Hattie only had sisters, older sisters who had moved away. Many cousins had moved away to start their families, much to their parents', aunts', and uncles' despair.
Hattie watched Hazel and Nelson with burning eyes, eyes that wanted to tear up, but Hattie desperately would not allow her tears to ruin Hazel's special evening. Just when Hattie returned from the ladies' room, Hazel and Nelson returned to the table. Hazel was in noticeably better spirits, especially when her father agreed to return for breakfast before leaving the next morning. There were many things Nelson mentioned he wanted to discuss with Hazel's father. Hattie knew the rest of the evening would be spent listening to what Nelson might discuss at breakfast. She dreaded that subject more than any other. However, Hattie swallowed her pride and was the first to bring up the Nelson subject when they were free of any other's company.
"What do you think Nelson wants to discuss with your father, Hazel?"
"I know exactly what he will ask." Hazel grabbed Hattie's arm, trembling. "He wants me to move to the city. And Hattie, he wants you to move with me!"
Hattie's head started swirling with excitement. She had assumed Nelson wanted to marry her, but this was an unexpected turn for the better.
"But where would we live? What would we do for money?" Hattie questioned Hazel as quickly as she could.
"Nelson has it all worked out! We can rent a room at the hotel while we work there." Hazel's smile widened as she explained the plan that Nelson had set before her.
They woke as the sun peaked slightly over the horizon and everyone was ready for their breakfast appointment before the sun rose much further. Hattie was amazed at how differently the dining room looked for breakfast. Still elegant, but only a couple of daisies adorned each clothed table. Nelson was already in the room, waiting to greet them. He insisted on taking Hazel's father into a different room for their discussion. Hattie thought about why Hazel couldn't be in the room to talk about her own future, and for that matter why shouldn't she be allowed into the conversation, too? It was, after all, her future as well. Both men returned looking stoic, however, as soon as Nelson looked at Hazel, his face emoted EVERYTHING the girls needed to know.
Hattie and Hazel felt like they were riding on clouds as they traveled home. Nothing had been decided, but Hazel's father left Nelson with a promise to discuss the details with Hazel's mother and Hattie's parents. Hazel's father had used the words, "appreciate the opportunity and hope to work with you soon." To both girls, this meant that Hazel's father was in agreement for this arrangement. It would be good business to accept Nelson's offer; both girls live and work at the hotel, in the kitchen. The family's flower business would be used whenever they could deliver to the hotel. While living in the city, Nelson and Hazel could continue to get to know each other in the hopes that they would be engaged. Of course, every meeting between Hazel and Nelson would include Hattie, and at no time would they meet without a respected chaperone. The gloom and sadness that Hattie had felt at the table just the night before quickly faded away as she imagined all of the new possibilities. The girls felt like this would be the springboard they needed to start a life of travel. If they could learn the hotel business, they would certainly be able to work at any hotel around the world.
That night, the family had a dinner of their own. Hazel's father reported the details of the new business opportunity, and the opportunities for Hattie and Hazel. Hazel's mother was happy, but they could tell she was a bit disappointed, having hoped that her only daughter would now be engaged. Hattie's parents were disappointed as well, but for very different reasons. They worried about the lumber and transportation business, and who would run it when they were too tired to continue. They had dreamed of both girls marrying men who would want to work in the lumber industry, ultimately taking over their business. Hazel had only one brother, and they only had one male cousin to continue the family business with her brother. Hattie's eyes burned once again with the thought that her parents may not approve of these new opportunities. Her life would be ruined if they didn't agree. Would Hazel move on without her? She wouldn't, would she? Nelson's plan of courting Hazel was contingent upon Hattie being their respected chaperone, wasn't it? Neither girl slept that night. They couldn't sleep until they knew what their fates would be. Hattie's parents promised that they would have an answer the following night.
Hattie stared into her parents' eyes that next night, willing them to say yes with all of her might. She sat across from them at the supper table, waiting, holding Hazel's hand underneath the table, both girls squeezing as tightly as they could. They watched Hattie's father form the words yes, Hattie could go with Hazel. Even as those wonderful words echoed through the room, Hattie was forced back to reality when she heard that she would have to return as soon as Hazel was married. She didn't want to care, she wanted to be grateful just to get away, only if it were for a short time. She tried to tell herself that she would find other opportunities that would allow her to stay in the city for as long as she wanted, but she couldn't help feeling discouragement seep into her pep talks. Hazel switched from squeezing Hattie's hand to squeezing her entire body. Hazel was overcome with joy and delight at the possibilities that stood in front of her. Nelson too liked the idea of traveling. His aspirations were of traveling to New York, more than Hazel's dreams of seeing the wonders of the world, but Hazel didn't mind a short stop in New York. That would be the perfect place to learn how to be "worldly," and then on to conquer the rest of the world.
That night Hazel promised Hattie that she would help find a way to keep Hattie from having to move home once she was married. Hazel assured Hattie that Nelson had friends who would most certainly be interested in courting her. Hattie balked at the thought. She didn't want to have to rely on a man to make it possible for her to stay. She was smart and she could definitely take care of herself. For the first time, Hattie found herself thinking of a life without Hazel. Through her exhausted stream of silent tears, she confidently formed a new version of her life, a life in the city, living on her own. She wasn't sad anymore. Her sadness sharply turned to anger and resentment.
The next morning brought about a lightened mood for Hattie. She quietly and obediently helped Hazel and her aunt prepare for their move. Hazel offered to return the favor and accompany her back to Hattie's house to pack, but Hattie turned down the offer.
"It's okay, Hazel. Spend time with your mother." Hattie welcomed the chance to go home and pack alone.
Moving day had come. Both families planned to make the long trip. One family would haul the lumber delivery and the other would haul the girl's things. Hazel and her mother spent the long hours speaking about wedding ideas. Hattie and her parents rode in silence.
Hattie breathed a fresh breath of independence. She convinced herself that she was going to stay in the city even after Hazel was married, no matter what. She had time to convince her parents. Hazel, on the other hand looked for every opportunity to see Nelson. She dragged Hattie downstairs every moment they weren't working or sleeping. Work consisted of washing dishes, cutting produce for the chefs, and when the dining and event rooms were empty of patrons, cleaning the rooms from top to bottom. Hazel drifted from one task to the next mindlessly. She never paid close attention to anything she did. She wanted to finish her tasks as quickly as possible so she could get back to Nelson. Hattie, on the other hand, wanted to learn EVERYTHING. She agreed to extra work in exchange for working with the event decorators. She knew how to cut and arrange flowers, so it wasn't difficult talking them into letting her help. Working extra also allowed for her to be excused from Chaperoning Hazel and Nelson. The courting couple resorted to dinners at the hotel where managers and other patrons could watch Nelson's every move. It wasn't too long before Hazel's parents were sitting in the beautifully decorated dining room, including extra roses for the special moment when Nelson asked Hazel's parents for her hand in matrimony. Hattie's aunt blushed as Nelson handed her a bouquet of red roses before handing an assortment of flowers to Hazel. The room spun as Hattie couldn't imagine what her own parents would say when her aunt and uncle returned home with the news of Hazel's engagement. Hattie would simply tell her parents no. No, she would not move back home. Between her kitchen work and apprenticeship with the decorator, she made enough wages to rent a room in the city. She had, just that day, looked at advertisements in the newspaper office.
Hazel looked beautiful in her simple, but elegant wedding dress. Hattie's aunt had planned to sew a dress full of beads, lace, and other decorative ornaments, but Nelson bought Hazel a store-bought gown as a wedding present. Hazel didn't care what she wore. She wanted to be married and on to planning their move to New York. Hattie pulled at her own dress. It was the same dress she had worn for both of her older sisters' weddings. For once in her life, she didn't care about the details. She knew the time was growing ever closer to when she would have to break her parents' hearts. That moment she would have to tell them no, she would not move home.
The wedding came off without a hitch. No one fainted, nothing was missing, and everyone had a good time. As her mother got ready for bed, she turned to Hattie.
"Tomorrow, we will pack you up. I'm sure you're excited to be back at home." her mother said as she brushed out her long gray hair.
"I think I will stay." Hattie said as she mustered a small squeaky voice. Her mother spun around in an instant with a blank look on her face. At first, Hattie didn't think her mother had heard her. How would she have the courage to repeat what she had just said? A small smile appeared on her mother's face as she turned around to get into bed.
"Why, of course, you'll move back home. That was always the plan. Now turn out the light so we can get our sleep." Her mother used the most nonchalant voice Hattie had ever heard. It was almost as if her mother had expected this deception and planned accordingly.
The next morning Hattie woke early, gathered her things, and moved to a room she had rented a few days before her parents had come. She left a note of thanks and explanation for her parents to read. Hattie conveniently left out her new address in her letter and made sure not to mention her plans to either Hazel or Nelson. She couldn't bear to move home in defeat. She knew she had let her parents down, but it was for her own sake. Her parents would have to return to their family's home in embarrassment and humiliation. Someday she hoped her parents would understand and forgive her, but at that moment she didn't care. She had to take care of herself and make her own dreams come true.
Months had gone by, and Hattie still hadn't heard from her parents. Once in a while Nelson would have a reason to come into the kitchen while Hattie was working, or he would consult with the decorator while Hattie was there. Nelson was a forgiving man and would always give her a smile and ask how she was doing. Hazel wasn't as forgiving. It was weeks after they had returned from their honeymoon before Hazel talked to her best friend. It was easy for Hazel to avoid Hattie since Hazel had quit working as soon as she was married. Even though the friends had made up, nothing was ever the same between them. Hazel couldn't shake the gnawing feeling of betrayal. Betrayal because Hattie didn't confide in her and had kept the most secret of secrets from her. As seasons passed, Hazel was able to move passed her feelings of betrayal, and by the couple's one-year anniversary, the two friends met up regularly. Hattie never asked about her parents, though, and Hazel never reported back after visiting their childhood home.
One afternoon, just as Hattie was finishing work, Hazel ran through the door of the kitchen clutching a very formal looking piece of paper. At first, Hattie couldn't understand what she was saying. Her voice was so high-pitched, and her speech was faster than Hattie had ever heard.
"Hazel, you're going to have to slow down if you ever intend on me understanding you!" Hattie said in a most forceful tone.
"It's happened! It's happened!" was the only words Hattie could make out. Hazel handed Hattie the letter. As Hattie quickly skimmed the sentences on the page, she felt her face turn warmer and warmer. The letter was a contract with a hotel in New York.
"Hazel, did Nelson get a job managing a hotel in New York?"
Hazel violently nodded her head up and down. Hattie was familiar with this uncomfortable warm feeling. It was similar to how she felt when she sat in that very hotel sipping coffee with her uncle, watching her best friend fall in love with Nelson. Her life was once again going to change, and she would be left without her best friend.
A few days before Hazel's big move, she once again returned to Hattie's kitchen, only this time it wasn't out of excitement. Hazel was holding another paper. It was a telegram from their uncle. Hattie had a difficult time deciphering what was on the page. It was about her parents. There had been an accident on one of their deliveries. Hattie was needed at home immediately. Nelson offered to help move her home. Hattie knew she couldn't say no this time.
Hattie felt defeated. She was angry. Angry with her parents for dying, angry with her parents for not writing back to her, angry at herself for telling them no and disappointing them. Hattie was also angry with Hazel. Angry that Hazel would continue their dreams of traveling and seeing the world without her. Angry that her dreams were shattered in EVERY way. Just because Hazel had married, she didn't have to help the family. That made no sense to Hattie, and she was angry.
Nelson and Hazel helped their cousin home, but as soon as the funeral was over, they left for New York. It was clear that Hattie would have to stay and take over for her mother in the family's flower business. She would also have to help make deliveries again. The last thing she said to Hazel was that if she knew this was how life was going to turn out, maybe she would have taken Hazel up on finding a husband for her. Hattie wished she had been joking, but both cousins knew she wasn't. Hazel didn't know how to respond to her cousin's anger, so she left without saying another word to Hattie.
Hattie and Hazel didn't speak again for years. Hazel started many a letter, only to end up crumpling it up and tossing it in the waste bin. Hattie bottled up her anger and sadness. She did what she could to help her aunt with the flower business, but it became clear very quickly that her aunt needed to retire. Her back was too old to bend to tend to the flowers, her fingers were too full of arthritis to hold any gardening tool, and her memory couldn't retain what tasks she accomplished from one day to the next. Hattie had ideas to grow the business but couldn't implement them on her own. Hattie was ready to end their flower business when much to her surprise, one of her nephews, who had learned how to grow flowers from her aunt stepped in to help.
"When did you learn all of this, Lars?" Hattie asked her nephew.
"Aunt Gertie taught me. Ma worked the numbers in the lumber yard and Pop, of course, worked with the lumber. Gertie watched after me and taught me EVERYTHING she knew while she did it." Hattie's nephew answered.
Hattie's brain started turning. It had been years since she allowed herself to dream of anything. It was as if a light had gone on in her head that reinflated her soul. Hattie spent the next few weeks researching, writing letters, and planning her new business.
Just as things looked up for Hattie, things for Hazel started to look grim. Life for Hazel wasn't as glamorous as she had planned. New York was not what she had expected, and neither was Nelson's new management job. Hazel had planned on Nelson spending his days managing the hotel and his evenings escorting her to the best social events of the time. Her reality was the opposite. Nelson was the newest manager, so he spent his evenings working and his days sleeping. Hazel wasn't used to doing anything without Hattie or Nelson, so she felt trapped and alone in their tiny apartment. Her dreams of sight-seeing around the world were fading away as Nelson started to talk about children.
"You never mentioned anything about wanting a child," Hazel insisted as Nelson got ready for work.
"I always assumed, at some point, we would just have one," Nelson laughed back.
"We were going to travel around the world, see the lights of Paris, walk the Great Wall of China, sail the waters underneath the London Bridge. What about our dreams?" Hazel followed Nelson until he walked out into the apartment building's hallway.
"We'll talk about this later," Nelson said as he kissed his wife goodbye.
Hazel fell onto their sofa sobbing. She knew what Nelson meant when he said they'd talk about it later. That meant never. This was not the life she had dreamed about. Worst of all, she lost her best friend. Hazel's tears burned her hot face. Every year that passed made Hazel feel like that was going to be the year her life would change. Nelson would be able to work during the days and they would go to the parties she longed to attend. Every year ended up like the last. No parties, no traveling, no Nelson, and no Hattie. She felt defeated. She felt angry. Angry at Nelson for always working and never spending time doing the things she wanted to do. Angry at Hattie for being resentful of her life and not writing. Angry at herself for not helping the family out when Hattie's parents died, and angry at herself for not being able to face Hattie after that mistake. Hazel didn't know what to do, so she did nothing.
Two strong women, separated by a divide in the road. Separated by EVERYTHING.
