Read Online Leftovers: A Novel by Arthur Wooten - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Arthur Wooten
Ads: Link
dwindled.
Shortly before Vivian married Paul and after decades of pushing and pulling a heavy iron back and forth over Irene’s wrinkled belongings, Maid 2 was forced to retire due to rheumatoid arthritis. Irene tried to bribe her to come back against her doctor’s orders, and she wanted to, but sadly the bones in her right shoulder were so fused it’s as if the joint had been soldered together making it one solid piece of stone.
The next year, Maid 1 was waxing the kitchen floor and complained of a sore back. Irene reluctantly allowed her one day off to rest and the situation became worse. The next day an ambulance arrived at the house and took her to Bon Secours Hospital in the neighboring town of Lawrence where she had every test done imaginable. The following day and before any of the results had a chance to come back, she died. An autopsy revealed that her spine was riddled with cancer. Vivian had often thought she was the most stoic of all the maids. But not to feel, or maybe to hide the symptoms of a growing cancer like that, was quite remarkable.
Less than a year later, a 4 foot 11 inch Maid 3 was tipping the scales at 220 pounds. Although Irene ate like a bird and preferred a diet primarily consisting of vegetables and grilled fish, Maid 3 had a passion for fried foods. Anything and everything that she could fry, she did. On one occasion Vivian walked in on her deep-frying batter dipped bacon. So it was no surprise that on one Saturday night while devouring a second helping of southern fried chicken plus a dozen fried hush puppies and downing it all with two large glasses of buttermilk, her heart exploded killing her instantly where she was most comfortable, in the kitchen. It was just Maid 4 and Irene left.
Irene put the estate, which William had built for her, up for sale. It boasted seven bedrooms with seven attached baths, two formal livings rooms, one formal dining room, one casual one off of the solarium for breakfast and lunch, a library, a billiards room, a sewing room, four maid’s rooms, two maid’s baths, a professional kitchen and eight fireplaces. It also had five acres of land, a guest cottage, a tennis court and an Olympic size swimming pool. In 1952 when the average cost of a house was $9,050 the Lawson’s mansion sold for a whopping $849,250.
The row house Irene purchased on Beacon Hill was situated on Pinckney Street. The gaslit cobblestone lane proudly displayed one exquisite brick house followed by another, each adorned with brass knockers and intricate ironwork.
Irene’s house was rumored to be haunted by its former tenants: Louisa May Alcott, Henry David Thoreau and Henry James. And, although not part of the famous literary scene, now Irene Lawson was bound to add her own peculiar ghost to the list. The four bedroom, four bath house that Irene and Maid 4 moved into was practical, except for its narrow footprint. Space had to go up, rather than out and the amount of stairs proved challenging for both women.
Once Irene moved into the city she realized how plebian it was to be living up in Abbot. Now she had the opportunity to go to the theater, opera, concerts and museums whenever she wished. Not that she necessarily had an interest in the arts, Irene just wanted to be seen. She dove into the social scene head first starting off with joining the very exclusive Banam Club. A combination private restaurant and meeting ground for the very elite, the stately property was situated on Beacon Street facing Boston Common, just three walking blocks from Irene’s house.
• • •
As Vivian passed through Everett and approached Chelsea just outside of Boston, she encountered a sea of potholes on the highway. Trying to dodge the pockmarks, she narrowly missed hitting another automobile but managed to catch the back tire of the Buick in a giant crater. Instantly the car’s muffler was ripped off and went flying off the edge of the highway. Frightened to stop on the shoulder, Vivian
Shortly before Vivian married Paul and after decades of pushing and pulling a heavy iron back and forth over Irene’s wrinkled belongings, Maid 2 was forced to retire due to rheumatoid arthritis. Irene tried to bribe her to come back against her doctor’s orders, and she wanted to, but sadly the bones in her right shoulder were so fused it’s as if the joint had been soldered together making it one solid piece of stone.
The next year, Maid 1 was waxing the kitchen floor and complained of a sore back. Irene reluctantly allowed her one day off to rest and the situation became worse. The next day an ambulance arrived at the house and took her to Bon Secours Hospital in the neighboring town of Lawrence where she had every test done imaginable. The following day and before any of the results had a chance to come back, she died. An autopsy revealed that her spine was riddled with cancer. Vivian had often thought she was the most stoic of all the maids. But not to feel, or maybe to hide the symptoms of a growing cancer like that, was quite remarkable.
Less than a year later, a 4 foot 11 inch Maid 3 was tipping the scales at 220 pounds. Although Irene ate like a bird and preferred a diet primarily consisting of vegetables and grilled fish, Maid 3 had a passion for fried foods. Anything and everything that she could fry, she did. On one occasion Vivian walked in on her deep-frying batter dipped bacon. So it was no surprise that on one Saturday night while devouring a second helping of southern fried chicken plus a dozen fried hush puppies and downing it all with two large glasses of buttermilk, her heart exploded killing her instantly where she was most comfortable, in the kitchen. It was just Maid 4 and Irene left.
Irene put the estate, which William had built for her, up for sale. It boasted seven bedrooms with seven attached baths, two formal livings rooms, one formal dining room, one casual one off of the solarium for breakfast and lunch, a library, a billiards room, a sewing room, four maid’s rooms, two maid’s baths, a professional kitchen and eight fireplaces. It also had five acres of land, a guest cottage, a tennis court and an Olympic size swimming pool. In 1952 when the average cost of a house was $9,050 the Lawson’s mansion sold for a whopping $849,250.
The row house Irene purchased on Beacon Hill was situated on Pinckney Street. The gaslit cobblestone lane proudly displayed one exquisite brick house followed by another, each adorned with brass knockers and intricate ironwork.
Irene’s house was rumored to be haunted by its former tenants: Louisa May Alcott, Henry David Thoreau and Henry James. And, although not part of the famous literary scene, now Irene Lawson was bound to add her own peculiar ghost to the list. The four bedroom, four bath house that Irene and Maid 4 moved into was practical, except for its narrow footprint. Space had to go up, rather than out and the amount of stairs proved challenging for both women.
Once Irene moved into the city she realized how plebian it was to be living up in Abbot. Now she had the opportunity to go to the theater, opera, concerts and museums whenever she wished. Not that she necessarily had an interest in the arts, Irene just wanted to be seen. She dove into the social scene head first starting off with joining the very exclusive Banam Club. A combination private restaurant and meeting ground for the very elite, the stately property was situated on Beacon Street facing Boston Common, just three walking blocks from Irene’s house.
• • •
As Vivian passed through Everett and approached Chelsea just outside of Boston, she encountered a sea of potholes on the highway. Trying to dodge the pockmarks, she narrowly missed hitting another automobile but managed to catch the back tire of the Buick in a giant crater. Instantly the car’s muffler was ripped off and went flying off the edge of the highway. Frightened to stop on the shoulder, Vivian
Similar Books
