Oh, my Ma Ma !

ACT I

 

The Singer treadle works overtime. Mama is a terrible sewer. I hear her say naughty words, watch her pull the gray material out of her machine, straighten it, then take a tiny sharp scissor off the table and cut her crooked stitches away. 'Get out of here!' Mama yells at me. 'You make me nervous.'

 

Picturing her chasing me with the scissors open, I run as fast as I can to my daddy. He's reading the Sunday Clipper but lays down the sports section as soon as he sees me. Putting me on his lap, he shows me where to sit. Daddy hugs me and I hug him back. 'What's wrong, Honey Pie?' he asks. 'Mama is what's wrong. She told me I make her nervous so she makes mistakes. Honest, I don't even talk to her. I just watch. Daddy, Miss Bierfeld told the class our costumes have to be ready for Monday, and I don't think mine will be finished on time? It's barely started.' I don't want to but cry anyhow.

 

Mama walks past us, doesn't glance our way, say a word, but she looks angry. Daddy aks her what is wrong and Mama blames me for bothering her so she can't sew right. 'Nancy, do you want your costume ready for Monday? If you do, stay away from Mama when she sews. Will you do that, Honey?' I have to tell him yes.

 

'Hannah, what's for lunch?' Mama tells him 'air'. I can't make lunch and sew too. Fix pbjs for the two of you. There's an unopened bottle of chocolate milk in the fridge. I have to iron the fabric again before I get back to work on that rotten material.'

 

I stay as far away as I can from Mama all afternoon. Daddy plays 'war' with me. Sometimes I win and get a penny. If I lose I have to pay Daddy a kiss. There doesn't seem to be any sound from the sewing room for a long time. Daddy goes up stairs and finds Mama with her head on her arms, leaning against the sewing machine. She hears him open the door and sits up straight, starts pedaling. 'Did you open the chocolate milk, Eddie? Did you save me some?' He asks her how the costume is coming along but gets no reply, closes the door and comes downstairs to try to read the morning paper that he never got to.

 

Sunday morning Mama calls me. ' Come in here, Nancy. Your costume is finished. Come try it on.' I am happy, skip to the stairs taking my clothes off as I almost run to her. Mama tries to help me get it over my head but it won't go. The hole is too little. 'Nancy, bring me your comb and brush, I'll try to smooth your hair down a little.' I do it but even if she puts kitchen grease on my hair, the neck won't fit. Mama whacks my behind and blames me for her mistake. Daddy hears the commotion and comes to protect me and calm Mama.

 

'Hannah, what the devil is going on up here?' He is very upset and angry.
Mama tells him she worked hard on it, did a good job, but the pattern was wrong.' 'What can be done about it, Hannah?' he asks. Mama has no answer. She just sits in front of the sewing machine and twiddles her thumbs.

 

'Look, Eddie, see how nicely I put the big white collar and cuffs on. My stitches are all straight, no threads are pulled.' Dad and I examine Mama's work and agree it is well done but if it doesn't fit, I can't wear it, can't be in the play. 'Don't worry, Sweetheart,' he tells me. He'll think of something. 'But, Daddy, it's Saturday and I have to take it to Miss Bierfeld before school starts Monday.' Daddy has his breakfast and as soon as he is finished and Mama has gone to the cellar, he makes a phone call.

 

Sunday morning the doorbell rings and Daddy tells me to answer it. A young lady in a blue winter coat is standing on our stoop. In her hand she is holding a wire hanger with my costume neatly ironed. I call Daddy to come see what this lady has. 'It's a surprise, Sweetheart. I looked in the phonebook for 'dressmakers', found Miss Jackson's name and explained the situation. She asked me to bring it to her home so she can see what can be done immediately. And here she is.' 'Come in, Miss Jackson.' 'Nancy, take your costume upstairs and try it on.' And I do, coming down stairs like a ball of fire. 'Daddy, Daddy, look it fits just right. Miss Jackson made a slit in the neck put a tiny gray button there and it is great.' Daddy thanks the seamstress, pays her and all is well, I think.

 

Monday I am the first one to  bring my costume to school on a hanger.
Miss Bierfeld tells me my mother did a good job. Everybody's mother did a good job. We Pilgrims walk proudly  onto the school auditorium stage to perform the annual Thanksgiving Day program.

 

The little button the seamstress put on my neckline falls off but nobody notices it. My hem is crooked, lopsided. My toe catches in it and I fall. The pail that I had been carrying makes a lot of noise as it rolls across the stage. There are giggles. I leave my place and get the pail back and go on with the program. The audience applauds me.

 

When Daddy, Momma and I get into our car, Mama immediately starts to brag. 'Didn't I do a great job for Nancy? Is it my fault she tripped on something and fell?'