“It is. I’m glad I decided to join the group. I appreciate that it’s all women too. I don’t think that was the intention, but that’s who showed up.”
“Women have always been at the forefront of any activity worth doing,” Joan said.
“Any movement too,” Meemaw added. “We are the true protectors and caretakers of this world, and men know it. That’s why so many of them resent us. They mistakenly believe it’s their natural role and that we’re somehow usurping it, which is complete and utter bullshit.”
“You must’ve been popular during the women’s suffrage movement,” I said.
“Oh, I was arrested more times than I care to remember. People today don’t realize how dangerous it was for women to take up that cause. They take the vote for granted. Thosemen were like cornered animals. They saw their hold on society loosening, and so they tightened their grip. You’re probably the only one too young to remember this, Maya, but do you realize a woman in this country could be prevented from having her own bank account until a federal law was passed in 1974? That’s less than a century ago.”
“That must’ve infuriated you,” I said.
“You’d better believe it. I’d been an independent woman for longer than most of the men had been alive, yet I wasn’t deemed competent to handle my own money.” Her lip curled. “They were lucky I exercised restraint.”
“Who wants wine?” Margie asked.
All hands went up, including mine. Alcohol might be the only way to survive the evening, although I’d have to be careful not to overdo it and say too much. By trying to help Bernice and Louise, I’d put myself in a vulnerable position.
Margie opened the bottle at the kitchen counter and returned with two glasses at a time until we each had one.
“What are we playing?” Louise asked. “Crazy eights?”
“No cards tonight,” Meemaw said. “We decided on something different.”
Catherine jumped in, eager as ever. “It’s called All Alike. It’s a game where you have to find common ground with your teammates. The more traits you share, the more points you get,” she explained.
Traits I could do.
We divided into teams. Naturally, we paired Bernice with Louise, who wasn’t too pleased. We ignored her glares of resentment and carried on. I was paired with Joan, which I found a little intimidating. The woman was a legend. Catherine, Margie, and Meemaw formed the third group since we had an uneven number of players.
The first topic was education.
“That’s not as easy as it seems,” Joan said. “Girls didn’t attend school in the era of my youth.”
“Then we have that in common. I didn’t attend middle school or high school.”
Joan blinked in shock. “But you’re only, like, twenty.”
“Thirty-five.”
“Twenty, fifty. It’s all the same to me. Were you homeschooled?” Joan looked me up and down. “Hmm. Your fashion choices do suggest homeschooling.”
“I was.” Sort of. Better to let her believe I was homeschooled than the alternative.
“What was your favorite subject to learn?” Joan asked.
“History.”
“Then Evermore is the right place for you. I like history too.” She typed on her phone. “How many points do we get?”
“I’m not sure it matters,” I said in a quiet voice.
Joan’s gaze flicked to Bernice and Louise. “Right. Let’s say two, shall we?”
“Time’s up,” Margie said. “Next topic is romantic relationships.”
Joan and I burst into laughter simultaneously. That boded well for our partnership.
“When was your last relationship?” Joan asked.
