CHAPTER VIII
MIMI GETS A BID
Mimi blotted the page and closed her diary quickly at the first knockon the door of Tumble Inn. She felt her eyes with the back of her handto be sure there was no trace of tears. Never any time or privacy to doanything, be homesick, or tell all your troubles to your diary.
The last few days since Mimi had been excused from gym because of herswollen nose, she had found time to get a few things done. She was upwith all her notebooks; had clinched every word of her Spanishvocabulary, and today had written the following in her diary. (Mimialways considered her diary a person; a person to whom she told hersecret joys and sorrows.)
Oh, Diary, there's no one to tell but you how it hurts not to beforward on the basket ball team. If I wasn't such a good player itwouldn't be so bad but I _am_ good. I can dodge and pivot and shoot.Yes, I know what I've resolved to do. I am going to spend every spareminute of my free time in the gym at goal practice as soon as they'lllet me. There's always room for a crack shot on any team. I'll be one.
Do you know what I've discovered? I must be kin to Pollyanna. I havefound several consoling things about having a "busted snoot." Firstplace, I couldn't wear an "S" if I _had_ made the basket ball team; noPrep can. Those class numerals wouldn't mean so much--I'd always beexplaining them after I got home.
Betsy must like me, Diary Dear. That first night when I could not go tosupper, she brought me her dessert (oh me! I shall probably diewondering if there is one "s" or two "sses" in dessert). Chloe has beensweet, too, but she acts so strange. Every time we are alone she actslike she wants to tell me something and can't. There is something queerabout her--Oh here comes somebody--No, it wasn't; they passed by.
I don't know why I don't want any one to know I keep you, Diary, unlessit's because some one might try to find you and then I should die! It'sno fun to have you if I can't tell you my very insidest thoughts. Sueis the only one who knows and she won't tell. Here's the most privatething I have to say today:
I am getting popular!
I know it. The Delphians and the Ruskins are both trying to get me topromise to join their society. I don't know what to do. I'm so thrilledto be asked but the Ruskins want Sue and the Delphians want Chloe andBetsy is already a Ruskin. I hate to see our suite family split up.Maybe I won't join either. They seem silly, in a way; the Ruskinsbragging on themselves and slurring the Delphians and the Delphiansslurring the Ruskins and bragging on themselves. But the pins areperfectly precious! Solid gold with tiny pearls.
There really is some one coming--
"Anybody home?" Madge called at the door of two hundred and nine.
"Just me," Mimi answered hastily hiding her diary in the top drawer ofher wardrobe trunk. "I'm in the sitting room--Come on through."
Mimi could tell Madge was upset. She was paler than usual and her hazeleyes were unnaturally bright. But she didn't seem happy. Mimi felt shewas not up to hearing any bad news.
"Are you keeping training?" Mimi asked.
"No, I'm not that good. Oh, Mimi, since--the other night, I've decidedI'm not good for anything."
"Don't be foolish, Madge. Here try some peanut butter on a grahamcracker and forget it. Another advantage of a swollen nose, I can eatand eat and eat!"
"I don't want to forget it until I tell you something--then, if youplease, let's both forget it. You see, Mimi, I came to thank you forkeeping me out of a scrape. I didn't stop to think--I never do--and Ican not take a dare; I simply can't."
"I can't either," Mimi admitted. "I don't know why I ever butted in, anexcitement-eater like me, but I did."
"And I'm so glad, so glad." Madge pulled herself together for the finalconfession. "Mimi," she said levelly, "I am in school this year onborrowed money. I wouldn't have come at all if I were not going tograduate. Suppose I had rung the alarm and they had caught me and sentme home? I would hate myself the rest of my life."
"I'm glad I butted in then. But let's forget. You--you make me feellike a heroine--and I'm _not_!"
"Yes, you are--you're the grandest all around sport in school--you andBetsy."
While she was in a confidential mood she continued:
"Every one in Prep Hall is sorry you won't be on our team. Betsy issorriest of all. She keeps going around saying it was all her fault butshe is going to make up to you for it. She is--please, cross your heartnot to tell a soul. She wants to surprise--"
But before Mimi had time to promise, Sue dashed in to get her music,leave Mimi a candy bar and a letter from Jean. Before she left for herpractice room, Chloe was home. She seemed quieter and more occupiedwith her own thoughts than usual.
So beautiful, Mimi was thinking as she watched Chloe stare out thewindow, so perfectly beautiful like a Magnolia or a lily or a tuberose; something that darkens and withers if you touch it. Chloe'smother must have been beautiful, too--and what about her father? Allthe girls knew about Chloe's family was that her allowance came fromher Aunt Marcia. Bad as they wanted to know, they did not ask. Maybeher parents were divorced. Her mother must have been so beautiful thatmen might have kept on falling in love with her.
"Guess I'd better go," Madge said putting the top back on the peanutbutter jar. She had been eating and hoping Chloe would leave as Sue hadbut Chloe seemed settled for the afternoon. "Please, don't mentionanything I've told you."
"Certainly not."
Giving Mimi an impetuous hug she hurried out.
"Isn't she queer?" Mimi said to Chloe.
"Kind of. Almost as queer as I am," Chloe answered quietly.
"You, queer?"
"Don't pretend, Mimi. You know I am. Someday I'll tell you about it andmaybe you'll understand. Oh gee, I am supposed to be at meeting inchapel this minute. All the Preps--
"No one told _me_ about a meeting."
Chloe colored.
"Maybe it's art students only. I'd keep quiet if I were you. Be a ladyof leisure while you have a chance. If you were supposed to go and theycall your name, I'll say you are excused."
By the time Chloe finished talking she had closed the door and Mimiheard her join Olivia and Gretchen.
"Aren't you lending your charming presence to the gathering?" she heardOlivia ask some girl who was evidently in a great hurry.
"Certainly, I am. Who do you think called this meeting?" The breathlessvoice was Betsy's.
So? Mimi figured. That "something nice" is going to happen today. Whatcan it be?
Class officers had already been elected. Since the Prep Departmentwould end this year the seventy-five girls in it had chosen to organizeas one class. The very first week of school they had done that and oldgirls had carried president, vice-president, secretary and treasurerwith practically no competition. Maybe they were going to give her afruit shower or a fudge feast.
Whatever she guessed she was wrong. None of the guesses were thrillingenough. It was something she had been off and on unofficially but nowshe could be officially and wear a white uniform on special occasions.
Although the meeting time seemed long to Mimi, her elephant's-childcuriosity prickling her 'til she couldn't sit still, it was short. Ittook Betsy five minutes to have President Gretchen call the meeting toorder, to present her motion, have it adopted by acclamation, and givea yell of victory.
Standing by the open window, Mimi heard the echoes of the fifteen rahscoming up from the chapel ell. The ending blurred. What was it theywere saying?
Soon she knew for the same yell was repeated outside her door.
She did not hear Betsy signal "one-two-three" but the rahs were so lowand snappy and lusty Mimi knew Betsy was leading.
Now she knew the ending. It was; "Mimi, Mimi, M-M-Mimi!"
Mimi's merry blue eyes danced.
"Shall we huff and puff and blow Tumble Inn down or will you open thedoor?" Gretchen called.
Before Mimi could answer the girls threw the door open themselves andstormed in; all the Preps. They piled on the beds, proppe
d against thewindow sills and the radiator. Olivia pompously mounted the stool tothe vanity and rapped the wall for order.
"Madam chairman," (this to Gretchen) "ladies and Mimi, with regret Iannounce Sheridan Prep has, for the season, lost a great forward. Buteven this dark cloud has a silver lining. By this loss she has gained agreat cheer leader. Ladies, I give you Mimi Hammond, a red headedpepper pot who, henceforth, will direct your vociferations! Youzza!"
Here Olivia paused for a deep breath and looked at Betsy. This was asignal to begin the song. To the clapping of hands and the stamping offeet the Preps sang to Mimi:
"The peppiest girl I ever knew She never comes a pokin', If I were to tell you all the pep she had You'd think I was a jokin'. It's not the pep of the pepper pod Nor the pep of the pop corn popper, It's not the pep of the mustard jar Nor the pep of the vinegar stopper. It's the good old fashioned P-E-P The pep you cannot down, Sheridan pep _Mimi pep_ the peppiest pep around. Heh!"
"Mimi, we realize you can't do your stuff in true Terpsichorean stylewith that cotton in one side of your nose, but do by some speech orsymbol signify your acceptance."
Mimi hopped up on the stool beside Olivia. She was grinning from ear toear, wide mouth, bandage and a carrot top.
"At a precious place like Sheridan, I'd rather be cheer leader thanPresident! Thank you too much for this honor. Olivia is right. 'Thespirit am willing but de flesh am weak' as my Mammy Cissy says but I_can count_ a feeble 'one-two-three' for y'all to give fifteen forSheridan----"
That fifteen was never finished. Mrs. Cole pushed her way in.
"Girls!" Her voice drenched them with ice water. "There are musiclessons, and office work and college classes going on around thebuilding in spite of the fact that the Preparatory Department seems tobe making a Roman holiday."
That was enough. She turned sourly and walked out, the tails on herserge skirt flopping behind her at every prim step. The girls scatteredafter her.
"Did anybody say 'kill-joy'?" Betsy laughed.
"Not I!" Mimi declared. "Take more than a little thing like that totake me down when I'm so thrilled. Oh Betsy," Mimi moved toward her,"you did it, you did it every bit. You're a good sport!"
"What about yourself?" Betsy answered smiling.
For an instant Sue thought they were going to embrace. She was such asentimental little piece she hated "scenes" unless she was in them.
"I am going to write Dot this minute," Sue said, "and it will be allover B. G. Hi two days from now."
Mimi wished the news would spread on to State University where Walter,sophomore camp life guard of the previous summer, could hear it.However, she didn't say so. She never mentioned Walter except to herdiary unless she was showing the pictures in her camp count book.
"At present, I have only one worry worth mentioning," Mimi sighedcontentedly. "These bloomin' Society bids. Betsy, forget you're aRuskin and tell me what to do? I am thrilled to death they want me, butto tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth, I don't care a hangabout joining either one of them."
"Be a Ruskin," Sue interrupted.
"Why a Ruskin? Why is it the one to join?"
"I don't know, except--I've joined it." There it was out and she wasn'tsupposed to tell until Friday.
"You have!"
"Please be a Delphian, Mimi." Chloe spoke quietly, but she waspleading. "I've pledged Delphian."
"'Divided we fall,'" Mimi quoted. "What does that make me? Nothing,absolutely nothing. I won't join either!"
"Good for you," cried Betsy to their amazement. "You'll be the firstPrep who ever had courage enough to refuse. I am proud to know you.Whatta' girl!" Then realizing she belonged herself she added, "Not aword of what I said goes outside this suite."
"Not one word," agreed three voices.
It was their first four-sided secret. For the first time they wereclose together.
Mimi felt quite important and lady-of-the-worldish as she sat down andwrote two notes of refusal.
Sue found her pen. Chloe took the stopper out of the ink bottle. Betsyoffered two sheets and two envelopes of her special stationery with theSheridan crest.
"I'd better write it with a pencil first and then copy it," Mimisuggested. "Now just what does one say?"
They went into a huddle. After much erasing and scratching out andrewording, Mimi made two copies of the following note. It soundedsophisticated and mysterious. She really did not know what mysteriouswas until later, when she found out about Chloe. But not stating anyreason for declining the bids seemed very mysterious. Changing only theheadings, Mimi copied.
"Dear ----:
"You were so kind to ask me to join your splendid club. For various reasons, it is impossible to accept. Believe me, that I am grateful and flattered that you ask me. Accept my regrets.
"Sincerely, "Mimi Hammond."