Flygirl by Sherri L. Smith Read Free Book Online Page B

what the WASP are here to do—prove them wrong.”
    â€œYes, ma’am.” I smile self-consciously. Pay attention, Ida Mae. Don’t forget what line you’re walking. I take a deep breath and start again.
    â€œSo, when the war started, and the Japanese bombed our own ships and our own soil, my brother went off to fight to keep us free in his way. He’s doing his part, and I want to do mine. Now, I can stay at home stretching flour rations and collecting nylons, or I can do what God and my daddy taught me to do. I can fly. I can fly straight and far or however the army needs me to. I learn quick and well. And I just know, if you give me a chance, I can do as good a job or better than any—” I have to stop myself from saying “white woman.”
    Elisabeth Murphy smiles. “Go ahead, finish your sentence. ‘Better than any man.’” She grins more broadly. “Good. You need that kind of spirit. The army is a hard place for a woman, Miss Jones. And the Women Airforce Service Pilot program is even harder. We have a lot to prove. The men don’t think we have it in us to fly, let alone fly for the government. We’ll show them otherwise, but it takes determination and skill. We can teach you the skills. But you have to bring the rest.”
    She looks at me for a long moment, and I can hear my heart pounding in my ears. Slowly, my shoulders relax. What am I first, I wonder, a woman or colored?
    â€œDon’t look so concerned, Miss Jones. Tell your mother there’s a good chance you’ll wash out in the first month, and you’ll be home with your tail between your legs ready to listen to all of her ‘told you so’s’ and settle down to make fat, happy babies.”
    Elisabeth Murphy flips through the files on her desk. I resist the urge to mop my forehead with the handkerchief tucked into my handbag.
    She eyes me. “But I don’t think so. Now, did you bring your license?”
    My heart skips a beat. “Yes, ma’am.” I feel like I’m moving in molasses when I hand Daddy’s license over to her. I hope the glue stays stuck, I hope the typing looks official. I hope a lifetime’s worth of hoping. And then she’s nodding and handing it back to me.
    â€œCongratulations. This is only the first step.” She thrusts out her hand. I take it, bewildered.
    â€œExpect papers to arrive in about a week. If they give you the final go-ahead, training for the next class starts in one month. Texas. Ever been?”
    I shake my head slowly, dazed. She shrugs and hands me her card. “Well, you’ll get enough of it soon. You can reach me at that address if you, or that mother of yours, have any questions.”
    I rise to my feet for the second time, light-headed with disbelief. I forget myself and curtsy again. “Thank you, ma’am. Thank you very much.”
    I want to whoop for joy. A grin slides across my face. Jolene will never believe this. Not until there is a letter in my hand signed by President Roosevelt himself. And even then, she’ll think I’m fooling.
    â€œThere’s that curtsy again. Good luck, Miss Jones.” Elisabeth Murphy opens the door. “You’ll need it.”

Chapter 6
    â€œMama, there’s a white lady coming up the walk.” I can hear Abel’s voice ring out, calling to Mama in another part of the house. Sound travels farther than I ever thought, out here in the strawberry fields. I turn around to see who’s been following me from the turn off the road. It takes a second for me to realize who he’s talking about. Me.
    I walk down the little road that becomes our driveway, gloves on my hands and Mrs. Wilson’s hat still perched on top of my head, my face half hidden behind the blue veil . . . I forgot to change, I wanted to get home so bad. Well, there’s nothing to do about it now. I can bring the hat and stole back tomorrow morning. The