bubbles washed over her crowded teeth. She glanced behind her then looked down at her matching shirt and pants, where pastel bears decorated the fabric. âOh, these bears. Itâs my uniform. Iâm an LPN at the childrenâs hospital in Baltimore. Iâm hoping itâll turn into a full-time job. But right now, Iâm just a substitute.â
The geyser Dot produced pronouncing the word substitute kept me distracted until Rose said, âWell, this ainât the childrenâs hospital. So climb back in your four-wheeled fuse-box and keep right on trucking.â
âSeven-twelve, Rose!â my mother called, coming up behind us. She had developed a shorthand for the scripture she most often quoted to RoseâMatthew 7:12: âDo unto others as you would like done unto you.â Or, as my sister liked to translate, cut the crap and be nice.
âI just came from the hospital where I work sometimes,â Dot informed my mother after they introduced themselves. âSorry I didnât change, but I worried Iâd be late.â
âAre you sure you want this lady bringing hospital germs into our house?â Rose asked my mother. âShe could be carting along an army of bacteria for diseases likeââ My sister looked at me. âSylvie, name some weird diseases that might be contagious.â
Normally, I would not have gone along with Roseâs behavior, but my desire to show off my smarts trumped all else. âElephantiasis. Progeria. Hypertrichosis,â I rattled off. âDiptheria. Shigellosis. Leptospirosis.â
My mother gave us a look and said more plainly, âQuit. Being. Rude.â
âRubella,â I let slip.
âSylvie!â
âSorry.â
She took a breath, then turned back to Dot, who stepped into the house, carrying her laundry basket. Inside, I saw her wrinkled clothing, deodorant, a worn toothbrush, and a bloated copy of The Thorn Birds . âYou can change in the bathroom down the hall,â my mother told her, âthen Iâll show you around and go over the rules.â
Dot set her basket on one of the wingback chairs. âActually, if you donât mind, I have to wash a few things. So Iâll keep these clothes on until my nightie is clean.â
âNightie?â my mother repeated.
Dot smiled, her mouth foaming a little too. âOh, donât get the wrong idea, Mrs. Mason. Itâs not one of those lacy Frederickâs of Hollywood getups I used to break out for my husband. Itâs just a flannel nightgown any old lady would wear to bed. Thing is, my cat hopped up on the bed this morning and peed on it. I guess when she saw me filling her auto-feeder she realized I was skipping out for a few days. Got her revenge ahead of time. Anyway, I figured Iâd wash it here.â
âI see,â my mother said, glancing at her slim watch and probably wondering if she had enough time to call the service and inquire about another nanny.
My father came clomping up the basement stairs then, carting the suitcase full of equipment and his tote filled with notepads where he recorded observations for lectures. In the hours before their trips, he grew serious and preoccupiedâthis time was no different. âThe flight leaves in a few hours,â he told my mother. âWe better get going.â
Not long after, the two of them were waving and honking from the Datsun as they pulled out of the driveway. No sooner had they disappeared down Butter Lane than Dot asked, âSo whatâs on the docket, girls? Are you hungry?â
Rose didnât answer, but I shook my head.
âGood. Because I had some Burger King on the way over so Iâm stuffed. You can help me get started on my laundry. Oh, and I assume thereâs a bathtub in the house.â
âIn my parentsâ room,â I told her, âand one in the bathroom Rose and I share.â
âGreat. I need to soak these weary