Canessa Dickerson

Domestic Duties

"Rosie, Rosie can you come here?" "I'll be up there in just a few, Mrs. Wright!." Rosie set aside the mop near the pantry door of the kitchen. Making her way up the stairs, Rosie glanced at herself in the mirror hung on the wall connected to the staircase. Rosie slightly panicked at her reflection, the concealer she used to cover her black eye must have come off during the day as she sweated through her cleaning duties. "Yes, Mrs. Wright?" "I wanted to speak with you for a little while. It's about Lucia." Rosie stiffened, what could Mrs. Wright possibly want to discuss about my daughter? Rosie thought. "She'll be heading off to college next year, won't she?" Rosie nodded her head. "Well, since she'll be applying to schools, I'd thought I'd type up a recommendation letter. I know she will work hard and make you proud." Mrs. Wright held out the letter to Rosie who excitedly took it, placing it in the pocket of her uniform. "Thank you, Mrs. Wright. I really appreciate it. Lucia will too. Are you ready for your afternoon tea?" "Not quite. There is something I wanted to ask you about." "Yes?" "I've noticed you haven't been yourself lately. You've been bumping into walls and quite frankly have been a klutz when you are at home. It's funny, you didn't run into any walls before Luis was in his...predicament." Luis' predicament had been a five year prison sentence for forged checks. "Mrs. Wright, I..." "You can only use so much makeup to cover the bruises, Rosie. You are not fooling me. Why do you allow him to treat you that way?" "Respectfully, I don't want to talk about it, Mrs. Wright. I really don't." Mrs. Wright exhaled and joined her hands across her lap, "Well, if you ever need help, let me know." "Thank you, but, I'm okay. Really, I'm fine."