Ink Stains

Ramona looked across the finely decorated table. Everything was perfect. Pink rose filled a crystal vase that reflected the mid-afternoon sun. Her grandmother's tea set sat, ready for use, the white of it's china blending with the golden air that filled the room. She shot a nervous glance at the grandfather clock that ticked away in the room. Sarah said she would be here at 3:00. It was now 3:05. She bit her lip. Where could she be?  Ramona walked to the mirror that hung on the wall of the sitting room. Her auburn hair was fixed in the new Gibson style. A vine of lace was crawling up her neck and bloomed out just below her chin. The blue of her gown made her hair blaze like the fire in the hearth and Ramona smiled at herself in the mirror. She knew it was wrong to be vain, but if there was anything she liked most about her appearance it was her hair. When she had been young, Ramona would sit on her mother's chamber floor as her mother would braid it for her before bed. It was one of her favorite memories of her childhood. Ramona's smile fell as she thought of Mama. Her throat became tight as she choked down repressed tears. No, not now. She could not cry. Everything had to be perfect! She would be here any moment.

Ramona paced the sitting room, frequently looking out the window trying to catch a first glimpse of her friend. Finally, and 3:20 Sarah came walking up the newly bricked sidewalk to the house. Ramona quickly straightened her dress and looked quickly in the mirror one last time.

She heard Gerald, the butler, answer the door.

"Good afternoon miss, how may I help you?" He asking in a pompous tone. A lark sounding voice filled the hall in response.
"Yes, I am Sarah Turner. I believe Mona is expecting me."
"This way please" Gerald said.

Ramona sat down in the nearest chair, ready for Gerald's entrance.

"Miss Turner" he said.

Ramona could hardly contain herself from running to Sarah, but she knew it would not be proper to jump and down with her old friend as they had at school. They were ladies now, and must act the part. She rose slowly to greet her friend.

Sarah entered the room after being announced. She stood their, wearing a lavender gown with poofed sleeves the reached to her ears. Which was odd because Sarah was not very tall in height.  Her light brown hair was styled the same way as her own, perhaps to make up for lost inches, but Ramona noticed there were a few hairs flying about. Her bright blue eyes sparkled, just like the vase in the sunlight. A wide smile played across her pink lips. Sarah reached out her hand as if to shake Ramona's, but stopped. She looked up at Ramona, her eyes twinkling still and said,

"Is shaking hands still the thing? Or is it not proper?" her lark song filled the room, as it had filled the hall. For someone so small her voice could fill the room the way her body could not.

Ramona smiled down at her friend "Yes shaking hands is still "the thing"." She replied trying to hide her laughter. As they clasped hands Ramona noticed that Sarah's gloves were stained with ink and tea. Typical Sarah. She thought.

"Please sit" Ramona said, in the most grown up way she could, motioning to the red velvet sofa.

Sarah walked to the sofa and plopped down, in a very ungraceful manner. She looked up at Ramona with a quizzical look playing across her brow.

"What?" Ramona said, becoming self conscious as she sat next to Sarah.

"You look different" Sarah replied.

"Well you have been away for a very long time."

"A year is not that long, Mona"

Mona... goodness, Sarah had been calling her that since they were children. It seemed like a childish name now, almost as if it did not fit in the glowing room.

Ramona smiled at Sarah. "Well..." she said "how was college?"

Sarah beamed at her.

"It was..." Sarah began "Amazing!"

"Really? The boys did not tease you or boycott you and the other girls?" Ramona asked, concerned.

Sarah scoffed. "Well...yes they did. Some of the boys were downright awful. And some of the teachers were even worse."

Ramona clicked her tongue. She had read about women being ridiculed in the college class rooms across the country. With more and more schools opening to women one would think the old prejudices would dissolve.

"But I learned so much!" Sarah continued.

"Oh? Like what?"

"I learned science, and history, mathematics, and English. But not only that, I learned how to stand up for myself around men."

"And why would you need to learn that?"

Sarah rolled her brilliant blue eyes. "Because silly, we women need to take a stand now! I hear about the suffragettes in England who try and get the vote. That is what we should be doing. Not drinking tea."

Ramona felt her face turn a deep shade of red. She probably looked like a tomato with the color of her hair. Why did Sarah always have to ruin things by talking about change. Ramona was perfectly happy the way things were. Of course she longed to go to college and be at Sarah's side, but only because she wanted to learn. Not to prove a point.

"Oh Mona, I am sorry." She must have noticed Ramona's hot face. "I just get carried away sometimes..."

"Do not concern yourself about it Sarah" Ramona said cooly . "You know I would love to be there with you but because of..."

"Because of you mother?" Sarah said in a hushed voice.

Ramona nodded. Tears were filling her eyes again. She looked away, she did not want Sarah to see that it still upset her. She had to be strong, for her father.

"Was it bad? At the end?" Sarah asked. Ramona could tell she was concerned, but she did not want to talk about her mother's death in the middle of tea. All she could do was muster a short nod. She felt Sarah take her hand and she looked into her cool, blue gaze. They sat there a moment. Looking at the sparkles that played of the vase. And just because she needed something to do with her hands Ramona reached for the tea pot.

"Would you like some tea?" she asked

"Yes, thank you" Sarah said softly.

Ramona served them both tea and they sat in silence for a few moments.

Finally Ramona decided it should be her turn to talk and began.

"So" she started, "I can tell by your gloves that you are still writing. What new stories have you been working on?"

Sarah's coy smile flew across her face, and Ramona knew that for the next few hours, she would have very little talking to do.