Chapter 21 what you have to do

Miss Thermer closed her eyes and leaned her head back.The mother continues with the makeup routine.She sponged her former partner's cheek.I looked at her with mixed feelings.I have always believed that the occupation following a person's name is a very important thing.Chick.Bernato, professional baseball player; not Chick.Bernato, salesman.Now I know what to do with Percy.The occupation behind the name Bernato is a nurse, with Percy.Bernato, the beautician, and Percy.Bernato, cleaning woman.I feel angry that she is so humble. Mom said to me: Why didn't you just ask Dad for money?

Mother raised her chin: I don't need anything from your father. right.Miss Thurma said. We're doing okay, Charlie. Yes, you guys are doing okay.Miss Thurma said. Why don't you go back to the hospital to work?I said. They don't want me.mother said. Why don't you fight for it? Does that make you happy?She sighed: That era was different from today.People these days will go to court for a little thing.It was the only hospital nearby.We can't just move away.This is my hometown.You siblings have endured enough changes.it's nothing.I later found a job as well. clean the house.I muttered.

She lowered her hands. I don't think there's any shame in being a cleaning lady like you do.she says. But, I'm stuttering, trying to find the right words: You can't do the work you think is important. Mother looked at me with a defensive gleam in her eyes. I did what I thought was important.She said: I am a mother. Next, we fell silent.At last Miss Therma opened her eyes. How are you doing, Chick oh?She said: You're not still playing baseball on the field, are you? I shake my head. I think so too.She said: Baseball is for young people.But, to me, you will always be that little boy with a baseball glove in his hand and a serious look on his face.

Charlie has a family.mother said. Yeah? And a good job. You see.Miss Thurma lays her head back easily: You're doing well, Chick, then.Very good. They were all wrong and I wasn't having a good time at all. I hate my job.I said. Well, Miss Therma shrugged: it does happen sometimes.It couldn't be worse than scrubbing your bathtub, though.She grinned: You do what you have to do to keep your family together.Isn't that right, Percy? I watch them go through their routine.I thought about how many years Miss Therma must have spent years vacuuming floors or scrubbing bathtubs to feed her children; big.As for me?I played 10 years and I wanted to play 20 years.Suddenly, I felt ashamed of myself.

Anyway, what's wrong with your job?Miss Thurma said. I described the salesman's office, with stainless steel desks and pale fluorescent lamps. I don't want to be so ordinary.I muttered. Mother raised her eyes to look at me.What is ordinary, Charlie? You know.You forget someone. From another room came the screaming of a child.Miss Therma raised her chin in the direction of the voice and smiled.This keeps me from being forgotten by others. She closed her eyes and let her mother do eye makeup for her.Then, she took a breath, relaxed her body more, and leaned her head back again.

But I did not hold my own home together.I blurted out. Mother raised a finger to her lips and told me not to speak. □□□ To my charlie on his big wedding day I know you think my notes are ridiculous.Over the years, when I gave you the note, I often saw your face wrinkled.But please understand that sometimes I want to tell you things, and I hope to be right.Writing it down allows me to make things clear.I wish I could go to college.If I could, I think I would study English and strengthen my vocabulary.Many times I feel like I keep using the same words, like a woman wearing the same clothes every day.How boring!

What I want to say is, Charlie, this person you married is a very nice girl.When I think of Catherine, it feels like I think of Roberta.I feel like she's like a daughter.She is sweet and patient.You should do the same to her, Charlie. You'll discover that marriage works like this: You have to work together to make it work.You must love three things.You must: One, love each other. 2. Love your children (after you have children! I'm just hinting! Hinting!) 3. Love your marriage. What the last item means is that you will fight, and sometimes you and Catherine might not even like each other.But in these moments you must love your marriage.Treat marriage as a third party.Go look at your wedding photos and reflect on the memories you have created together.If you have faith in these memories, they will draw you back to each other.

I am so proud of you today, Charlie.I tucked this paper in your dress pocket because I know you're good at dropping things. Love you every day! mom (From a note preserved by Chick Bernato, written about 1974)