Out of the Easy by Ruta Sepetys Read Free Book Online Page A

over Darcy?” Charlotte caught on and turned to me. “Josephine—Ethan Frome or Gilbert Blythe from Anne of Green Gables ?”
    “Oh, Ethan Frome,” I said quickly.
    “Out of pity,” said Charlotte, with an understanding nod.
    “A bit,” I agreed. “But Ethan Frome had a hidden depth, something waiting to be discovered. And that cold, dark winter setting in New England. I thought it was beautiful,” I said.
    Charlotte perked up. “It was set in Massachusetts, you know. And it’s quite cold and snowy like that right now.”
    “It sounds lovely,” I said. I meant it.
    Patrick rolled his eyes. “Perhaps Josephine should consider Smith, then,” he said with a snicker. “She doesn’t seem interested in schools in Louisiana.”
    “Stop it,” I muttered.
    “Are you applying to colleges?” Charlotte leaned over the counter. “Oh, Josephine, do consider Smith. It has a wonderful literary legacy. In addition to Margaret Mitchell, there’s a promising talent named Madeleine L’Engle who graduated from Smith.”
    “Smith? Oh, I don’t know,” I said.
    “Why not? You’re obviously an accomplished woman, practically running a publishing business and living on your own in a unique and decadent city like New Orleans. So many eccentric characters, I can’t imagine what you’ve experienced here,” she said with a wink.
    “We have some interesting people at Smith too. I’m part of a new group on campus,” continued Charlotte. “The Student Progressives. We promote opportunities for minorities and women. Perhaps you heard about the Amherst fraternity that lost their charter because they pledged a negro? We wrote to our congressmen and picketed.”
    I had heard about it. Cokie showed me the article in the paper. Several colleges out East supported the Phi Psi chapter in their decision to invite a negro into the fraternity. Smith was one of them. I was elated, but couldn’t talk about those things with most women in the South.
    Charlotte leaned toward me over the counter and lowered her voice to a whisper. “Let me just tell you, I have no interest in knitting argyles. And all of those little books about domestic servitude? Straight into the trash.”
    Patrick erupted with laughter and pointed at me. “She tried to convince my father not to carry those booklets in the store.”
    “Of course she did,” said Charlotte. “She’s a modern woman. Josephine, you really should consider Smith. Let me send you some information.”
    Charlotte took down the address of the shop and talked nonstop about Smith, the campus, the professors, and how she knew we’d be joined at the hip if I were in Northampton. Charlotte was a member of both the fencing and flying clubs at Smith and even had her pilot’s license. We chatted for an hour until she had to meet her parents at their hotel.
    “I know this is last minute,” said Charlotte, “but my aunt and uncle are having a get-together tonight for my parents. They live Uptown. I’d just love if you’d both come.”
    “Uptown?” I blurted.
    “Oh, yes, I know, they’re ridiculously stiff. But come, and we’ll have a good laugh at everyone. Do come!”
    Me? At an Uptown party? My mouth hung agape.
    “Sure, we’d love to,” said Patrick, handing Charlotte the book she had purchased for her father. “Just give us the address.” While Charlotte scribbled down the address, Patrick motioned for me to close my mouth.
    “See you tonight!” Charlotte hurried out of the store, smiling and waving from the wet street.
    “Are you crazy? An Uptown party?” I said.
    “Why not? I think you’re the one that’s crazy, Jooosephine, ” mocked Patrick. “Since when?”
    “Well, Josie is nearly short for Josephine and Josephine is so much more . . . I don’t know.”
    Josie sounded like a cheap nickname. Why couldn’t Mother have named me Josephine?
    “Seems like you’ve made a new friend,” said Patrick. “I like her. She’s smart.”
    Charlotte was smart. She