WHO: Rhett and Effie WHEN: Monday Morning WHERE: High School SUMMARY: Rhett finds Effie painting and offers to help. WARNINGS: None I can think of?
It was Rhett’s day off. He’d stopped by the Hayes residence to see if his niece had time to get a cup of coffee and Euphemia wasn’t home. Fortunately, her neighbor was outside and she’d known where Effie had gone. What a charming and unique old lady. Apparently, her niece worked at the salon and she enjoyed bird watching.
He found Euphemia outside the school, painting the front door. Rhett had changed into some work clothes before he'd arrived. “I heard you were here,” he said. “Can I help you with this?”
She did not turn around: suggesting one of two things. Either she could tell who it was by the voice and did not care to turn, or she did not care.
“Did you?” she asked suspiciously, as she worked an inexperienced hand over the door, applying a thick coat of paint, taking pause when he asked if he could assist. She turned her head to look at him appraisingly. Then, spoken factually, “I can’t pay you.”
“I just want to help you,” Rhett said. “I do not want to be paid.”
There was a small pause as Euphemia looked at him from her step stool, their height about even.
“Why?” Ever suspicious, but not hostile.
He did not quite know what to say. He just wanted to help her. If she was painting that was what Rhett wanted to do with his day off. He didn’t want her to do it all on her own when he could be there to help. “Because I have heard that is what families do.”
There was more silence, as if Euphemia was preparing to go into a Ted Talk about the meaning of family in modern day society.
But instead, all that came was a flicker of a smile that was gone just as soon as it started.
“Fine. There are brushes to my right. You can start on the next door.” She jerked her head to the left. “I’ll come to check your work in a while.” If this was some kind of Principal joke, she made no indication of it.
Rhett smiled. “Thank you, Euphemia. I won’t let you down.”