A Suitcase Tale

Marcia studied the contents of a small beige Samsonite which lay open on her mother’s bed. It was half full. Perhaps she had missed something. She returned to the armoire. The heavy odor of stale cigarette smoke and strong perfume assailed her nose. How she hated sharing this, the only closet space in the apartment, with her mother, Julia, and youngest sister, Collette. Everyone’s clothes reeked, and if Collette forgot to close the armoire’s doors, her cat, Pepper, climbed in and deposited hair on the bottoms of their skirts and in all their shoes. Marcia had gotten every piece of her clothing. She sighed as she shut the door.
Marcia walked through the kitchen. Her mother, and Minnie, her mother’s best friend, were seated at the table having coffee and smoking cigarettes. Marcia entered the enclosed back porch and collected a long plastic bag which was tightly knotted at the bottom and had a metal hanger protruding from a tiny opening in the top. She had chosen the highest nail on the porch wall, well out of the cat’s reach, and hopefully away from the cigarette smoke on which to hang her bundle. The bag contained her “essential black dress.”
Mother had accompanied her to one of the two exclusive dress shops in town and, to Marcia’s extreme mortification, loudly announced to all present the reason for their errand. Marcia retreated to the dressing room with the first outfit they found. She could hear her mother’s incessant chatter as she followed the woman around the shop and felt sorry for the clerk. They soon found a simple wool dress and matching three-quarter sleeved jacket. The sales lady had emphasized that this dress could be accessorized in so many ways, was so very stylish, and would be perfect for any function Marcia might attend. The dress did fit well and looked elegant. Her mother happily agreed with the clerk as to the merits of the ensemble, and paid an enormous sum so that Marcia could have it. The cost bothered Marcia, but her mother was insistent. She would add it to her charge account. Marcia knew it would be a long time before the account was paid in full.
Now she hesitated, bag across her arm, listening to the falsetto tones in her mother’s voice as she repeated, for at least the hundredth time, how proud she was that her oldest daughter had chosen nursing. This was always followed by, “I always wanted to be a nurse. Should have gone right after high school. What was I thinking ?” There would be a brief pause, then,
“Well, Marcia’s going to do it.”
Marcia passed through the kitchen. “Are you all packed?”
“Just need to put this in the suitcase and I’ll be ready.”
“The cab’s here,” Collette hollered from the front porch. The screen slammed behind her as she ran into the room.
“Couldn’t you just come and get me? You always yell from the porch.”
Collette’s cheeks reddened.
“Come give me a kiss. I love you.” The sisters gave each other a long hug. Marcia released Collette and pulled her suitcase off the bed.
The cabby was leaning on the horn.
“Bye, Mom. Thanks for everything.” Marcia gave her mother a quick hug and headed for the cab; her mother, Minnie, and Collette on her heels. Her mother was wringing her hands and making the funny moans and noises she always made when she was excited. Marcia found this very annoying and wished they all had stayed in the house, especially after Collette stepped on the back of her shoe and caused her to trip.
“This it?” asked the driver as she handed him the suitcase and a small matching cosmetic case, a gift which she had received from her father when she graduated from high school. Marcia nodded.
“Where to?”
“The train depot.”
Marcia glanced out the window as the cab turned the corner. Her mother was waving frantically with one hand and wiping tears away with the other. Collette had found Pepper and had buried her face in her fur.
“Where you headed?”
"I’m going to St. Joseph’s in Denver.” I'm starting nurse’s training.” “Well, I think that’s great,” the driver replied. He then launched into a story about his Uncle Ed’s gallbladder surgery. He thought the nurses were great, but didn’t care much for the doctor.
Marcia was grateful the ride was short. She was sure the driver had a number of tales he would be all too happy to relate.
She settled herself on the train. The compartment was only half-full so she had the seat to herself. She felt a churning in her stomach. Four hundred and thirty-six dollars and fifty-six cents was the total contents of her purse. What if she didn’t have enough money to cover the first year’s expenses? How could she have considered going to Denver with such a small amount?
Mother was not good at giving advice.
“What in the world prompted me to follow her advice this time ? I must have been out of my mind. Oh well, it’s done. I’ll just have to hope for the best.”, Marcia contemplated ruefully.
She had told Julia about her visit to the O’Shea’s. Mrs. O’Shea was a graduate of St. Joseph’s and volunteered to give Marcia and her friend,
Janet, one of the required recommendations needed to enter training. Marcia gladly accepted the assistance. Janet declined as she was gong to the University of Wyoming.
Marcia received all the required recommendations and completed the paperwork necessary to apply. In early spring a letter inviting her to take the entrance exam arrived. Julia was beside herself with excited anticipation.
Marcia took her exam in late April. It had not seemed particularly hard, but she was quite relieved when a thick manila envelope arrived a month later. She had been accepted. All of the necessary paperwork was enclosed, including a sheet detailing expenses for the three years. Marcia’s relief was replaced by a surge of panic.
She had understood that the cost for the three years of training, room, board, books, and tuition was supposed to be six hundred dollars. That was the amount quoted when she had inquired last year. The enclosed paperwork indicated the cost was now one thousand dollars. The explanation for the increase of four hundred dollars was no comfort. She would only have a bit over four hundred dollars saved by the end of the summer!
Marcia was waiting in the kitchen when Julia returned from work. “I’m not going to be able to go to St. Joe’s.”
“Why?” her mother’s voice trembled.
“The costs have risen to a thousand dollars. Where will I ever get the extra money?”
Julia settled on a kitchen chair and lit a cigarette.
“My feet hurt.” She removed her white oxfords and began to massage her right foot. She gave a deep sigh of contentment as she rubbed.
“MOM! What about school?” “You can still go.”
“How do you figure that?” Marcia replied irritably. She grabbed the expense sheet and thrust it at her mother.
Julia glanced at the paper.
“You don’t have to pay for all three years at once. Just pay for the first year.”
“Then what?”
“Something will come up. Maybe they’ll have some jobs for students, and I’ll help.”
Judging from the fifteen dollars her mother had put away for her education, Marcia knew she would not be a reliable source of financial help. Julia could barely support the three of them on her income, even when tips were good.
“Mom, I won’t have enough money.”

“Even if you have to come home after a year, you’ll have that much education. No one will be able to take that away from you. If you have to leave you can work at the hospital as an aide until you’ve saved enough to start again.”