The Dollhouse

CHAPTER TWENTY

New York City, 1952

The next couple of weeks passed peacefully, as Darby found a groove that allowed her to juggle her classes and hours of homework but still visit the club. She studied with Maureen and the twins on Monday and Tuesday evenings, and headed downtown after dinner on Wednesday through Saturday. Sunday was spent in bed, recovering. At the club, the first few hours were devoted to Sam in the kitchen, while Esme worked her shift. Mr. Buckley wouldn’t allow Sam to experiment with the menu any further, but he hadn’t raised a fit about his hijacking the kitchen, either. In the meantime, Sam was making great progress with his spice book, and Darby had promised to type it up for him once it was completed.

Even better, Sam had kissed her several times in the back alleyway. She might have allowed him to take it further, but they were never alone. The memories of being with him tantalized her as she lay in bed after sneaking into the Barbizon, waiting to drop into a dreamless sleep.

One Wednesday morning at Gibbs, her shorthand teacher called out her name. “Please report to Mrs. Tibbett’s office.”

Darby looked up from her desk, surprised.

“I’m sorry, why?”

“I don’t know the answer to that. She’d like to see you now.”

Darby stood up and gathered her books. She’d passed all her tests this week, albeit not with the high marks she’d been known for in high school. But still.

Mrs. Tibbett’s office looked down on Park Avenue, one of the few two-way avenues in the city. Cars lined up bumper to bumper at the traffic lights, tearing away when they turned green, only to stop again a few blocks later. Like an inchworm with tires instead of feet. If inchworms had feet.

Mrs. Tibbett gestured for Darby to take a seat.

“Miss McLaughlin, are you all right?”

Darby coughed. “Yes, I’m fine.”

“I’ve warned you before about your distracted behavior, and your teachers tell me that you’ve been having a difficult time adjusting. Is that right?”

“I did have a difficult time, in the beginning. But I’m enjoying class very much now. I think in the next month or so, you’ll see I’ve made real progress.”

“I see.” She looked down at a piece of paper on her desk. “Your scores are low. Very low.”

“Right. As I mentioned, I got off to a bad start. But I promise you I’ll make it up. I can do the work.”

“What exactly has been the problem?”

She was unsure how to continue. “It’s not what I expected. All the drills. I find it difficult to concentrate because the work is . . .” She couldn’t finish the sentence.

“Dull?” Mrs. Tibbett’s mouth softened, ever so slightly.

Darby sighed with relief. Presumably, other Gibbs girls had experienced similar pains adjusting to the program. “I’m afraid so. It’s awfully repetitive. But I’ll get used it. I’m already getting used to it.”

“My dear child, not every girl can be a Gibbs girl. It takes a certain can-do-it-ness. It’s about serving others, not thinking of ourselves.”

Or thinking for ourselves. Darby didn’t say it out loud, just nodded.

“You may know that I sent a second notice to your mother last week, indicating that you were doing poorly. And after hearing from the other teachers during midterm conferences, we’ve decided that it’s best if you don’t finish out the year.”

Darby’s chin dropped. “I’m sorry?”

“You’ve been given many chances, but we don’t want to waste our time with a girl who shows up late and half asleep, performs badly, and feels she’s above the role of secretary. We think you’d be happier elsewhere.”

She’d walked into a trap.

“No, you don’t understand,” Darby sputtered. “I didn’t mean the work was dull, not at all. It’s my dream to be a secretary, and you see, my mother has spent all of her savings on my tuition. I can’t fail.” She imagined Mother reading the letter of expulsion, knowing that none of the fees were refundable, and a cold sweat enveloped her. She reached out a hand and gripped the edge of the desk. “You can’t tell Mother. I’ll make it up to you, I promise. Please. Tell her that I’m still enrolled, that it was a mistake.”

“I’m sorry, Miss McLaughlin. Please take your belongings with you. You are expelled.”