Out of the Easy

Josie knows that she is a liar and thinks about the lies she has told everyone in her life, including telling Miss Paulsen that A Passage to India is “currently under restoration” (152). Every lie she tells requires a new lie. She knows it was not smart to keep A Passage to India downstairs and is still confused how her mother got the watch if Hearne did not go to Willie’s house. She moves the cigar box of money hidden under her bed to her bottom desk drawer and puts the book in where the box was hidden.

For the next two weeks, everyone prepares for Mardi Gras and Josie debates calling Mr. Lockwell. Even though Willie is very tired, Josie still brings coffee to her and gives her all the items she found while cleaning. Willie counts stacks of money. Josie subtly asks about Evangeline’s new jewelry and her “big man” or Mr. Lockwell; Willie does not like him and his “twisted need for power” (154). Josie notices that Willie’s hands are swollen but Willie claims it is just from eating too much salt. She gives Josie the stacks of money and tells her to put them in the safe and bring back the green box inside. Josie calculates that the cash is worth a year’s tuition, and Willie reprimands her by implying that Josie is thinking about all the money in the safe. She tells Josie to open the green box; inside is a gold Lady Elgin watch, which makes Josie believe that “this was her way of telling [her] she knew” (156) about Hearne’s watch. It is a gift for Josie’s 18th birthday. Willie warns her that she is now an adult and can be arrested.

In the kitchen at Willie’s house, Dora and Evangeline wish Josie a happy birthday. Evangeline wants to know if Willie gave Josie a present, and Dora teases her for expecting a Valentine’s Day present from her “big man.” Because Mr. Lockwell still sees Evangeline and Josie has not received a recommendation from him, she gives him a call. He invites her to his office to make him a martini and says he is drunk from the previous night. He tells her she should wear high heels. He says that if she comes over wearing high heels, he will write the letter. She agrees to make him a martini if he writes it, but he denies that offer. She wants to “take advantage” (159) if he is drunk, so she will meet him at six o’clock. She knows it is “just a little game” but it gives her “a sick feeling inside” (159).

Josie wears her new watch and feels guilty that she is keeping secrets from Willie. Cokie arrives at the bookstore and sings the same song he sings to her every year on her birthday. He gives her a map and a thermos for her 30-hour drive to Massachusetts. He shows her the route he drew on the map with his friend Cornbread. He says she will need coffee in the thermos for the drive, and he sounds “so certain, his belief so absolute” (162) that it will happen. Josie cries, lamenting that it may not be possible for her to go. Cokie tells her not to “let fear keep [her] in New Orleans” and that she has “a bigger story” (163) than her current life. Before he leaves, he hands her a newspaper article: Hearne’s family thinks his death was suspicious because of his missing watch and money, so they will do an autopsy.

Patrick wants Josie to come to his house to celebrate her birthday, but she is determined to get her letter of recommendation from Mr. Lockwell. Patrick offers to come, and although she would like that, she knows Mr. Lockwell would not. Patrick is concerned because Miss Paulsen called for Charlie; Josie assures him she did not tell her about Charlie’s condition. Patrick does not want Miss Paulsen to “get a look at Charlie and call for a straitjacket” (166). He asks Josie for the store’s inventory report and to watch Charlie the next night. He teases that her “redneck Romeo, Jesse” (166) got her flowers and shows her the lilies in her window box. Josie feels “a mix of happiness and apprehension. Unless it was Cokie, gifts from men weren’t free” (167). She dresses herself in her only nice outfit and wonders whether there is a difference between “pretty shoes for a letter” and “sex for a string of pearls” (167).

Josie arrives at Mr. Lockwell’s office, and he is irritated that she is wearing loafers instead of heels. She says she will only show him her heels if he proves he has the letter. He enjoys their back and forth but admits he does not have it. Josie knew he would not and says heels would have been “a bad investment of [her] time and self-respect, not to mention money” (170). Mr. Lockwell is impressed by her knowledge of business and insinuates that she could get more than a letter if she sleeps with him. The insinuation repulses Josie so he offers her a job in his office. She declines and asks for his letterhead, wanting to do the letter herself. He calls her “honey” and says to call him “John” (171). She purposely calls him Mr. Lockwell again and tells him she wants two sheets of letterhead.

Josie types on Charlie’s typewriter and talks to him, hoping that he understands her despite his declining state. She reads him the draft of the recommendation letter she is writing on Mr. Lockwell’s letterhead. She has written it as if it is from Mr. Lockwell, and it describes her life in a positive light. She decides it is good and packs it away in her purse. Charlie keeps looking at the typewriter, so Josie helps him try to write something. After a few tries, he types the letter “B.” She encourages him to write more but he does not. Thinking his medicine may be the reason he cannot function well, Josie decides not to give him his next dose.

An hour goes by, and Patrick is out later than he said he would be. Josie decides to give Charlie a haircut. She places a towel and scissors by Charlie and goes to the kitchen to get a comb. When she returns, he is covered in blood and deeply cutting himself with the scissors. Josie runs to him, but he fights her off. She imagines Willie telling her, “Don’t be an idiot and panic. Pull yourself together” (177). Josie pauses and hums and Charlie calms down. She presses a towel against his wounds to stop the bleeding.

Patrick arrives home and screams loudly when he sees Charlie. Josie tells him to calm down, so the neighbors do not hear, and quickly explains what happened. She tells him to give Charlie his medicine because she did not do it yet. Patrick thinks she forgot but she explains that she wanted to see if Charlie would be better without it. Patrick tells her that her decision was “so stupid” (178), and she questions why he came home so late. Upon realizing that he will need stitches, they decide to call Willie for help. They do not want to call a doctor who may take Charlie to a mental hospital. Willie promises to send a first-aid kit with Cokie as well as an army doctor to Patrick’s house. Over the next hour, Josie cleans the blood off the floor and chair.

Cokie arrives and they bandage Charlie’s head. The young doctor, Randolph, knocks on the door and Patrick is worried the neighbors are watching. Randolph is drunk and yells at Patrick to slap him sober; Josie jumps in and does it. He begins to treat Charlie and Josie thinks about how the neighbors have seen a lot.

With Charlie now upstairs in bed, Randolph recommends Patrick stays in Charlie’s room. Patrick is angry with Josie and tells her to leave. She wants to stay and help but he claims he is okay; Josie knows this is not true. Randolph tells Patrick that if he plays piano, it may help Charlie. Josie changes out of her bloody clothes and into some of Patrick’s. She feels guilty for what happened, but Cokie says Patrick should not have been out with friends. Josie tells Cokie that Patrick was working.

Cokie drives Josie and Randolph to Willie’s house, where Josie finds Mr. Lockwell arguing with another man in front of his broken-down car. Mr. Lockwell does not want to tow it because people will know he was at Willie’s. He spots Josie and wants to know why she is there. She lies that she is out for a walk. She offers to get Jesse to fix the car, but says Mr. Lockwell needs to sign the recommendation first. He accuses her of breaking his car to get his signature, and threatens her by saying, “You better have a mechanic. If you’re hustlin’ me, kid, I swear I’ll find you and you’ll be sorry” (185). He signs the letter and Josie gets in Cokie’s car to drive to Jesse’s house. She asks him not to tell Willie and he thinks it is all a bad idea.

Josie finds Jesse at his house. Jesse goes with her to Willie’s and fixes Mr. Lockwell’s car easily. Mr. Lockwell asks Jesse for his card and tosses money at Josie, telling her to get a dress and high heels. Jesse is uncomfortable and Josie tells him it is not what he thinks. She explains the truth, and he relaxes. Josie gives him the money since he did the work. As they walk home, Jesse talks about cars and Josie gets lost in her thoughts, worried Willie will confront her about Mr. Lockwell and Hearne’s watch soon. They reach the bookshop, and she apologizes to Jesse for not listening. He teases her that even though she is “standin’ in [her] boyfriend’s clothes” (187) she likes him. She tries not to smile, and he points out that she asked him, not Patrick, for help, so she must like him. He jokes that she is “welcome for the flowers” (188) and heads home.

Josie arrives at Willie's house late for work. She only slept two hours because she was up all night crying over all the things happening in her life, feeling that everything is “all worse than wrong” (189). Mardi Gras is soon which means more customers and more cleaning for Josie. Sadie is relieved to see Josie is okay after being given her bloody clothes the night before. Josie spots a newspaper in the kitchen with a headline that Mr. Hearne’s cause of death was murder. The article details that Mr. Hearne’s autopsy proved he was given a “Mickey Finn” which is a “tasteless, colorless, odorless” drug that is “fatal in large doses” (191). Rich tourists are often given Mickeys in clubs in the French Quarter.

Josie brings Willie her coffee and apologizes for being late. Willie looks and sounds exhausted. She remarks that Cokie told her about the incident with Charlie and how brave Josie was. Josie admits how scared she was, and Willie agrees she would have been, too. She emphasizes that it was not Josie’s fault because Charlie is clearly not doing well. Randolph, the doctor, will get time with Dora in exchange for frequently checking on Charlie. Willie wants Josie to tell people that Charlie is not home to avoid him being taken to the mental hospital. She mentions how Josie and Jesse helped Mr. Lockwell with his car. Josie gets annoyed that Willie “state[s] it as a fact” (193) that she likes Jesse. Willie criticizes her for acting like she is too good for Jesse. She reads from the newspaper article about Mr. Hearne and is furious at its portrayal of the French Quarter. Soon the police will be around more, and she have less business because of their presence. She orders Josie not to speak to anyone about it. Josie admits she already spoke to the cops and although she said little to them, Willie believes she said “plenty” (195) already. Willie decides that if Josie is asked to testify, Patrick will do it for her.

Josie sleeps for 14 hours on Mardi Gras, purposely missing the festivities. She sent her application to Smith the day before and received a postcard from Charlotte. Charlotte describes her current activities, including her Progressives club’s plan to meet with a congressman. Josie “want[s] to join them, to work on something important and meaningful” (197).

Jesse calls out to her from the street and invites her to get food. They relax silently on a bench in the sunshine. Josie feels that with him she can “have a conversation without saying a word” (198). She decides to tell him about Charlotte and how badly she wants to go to Smith. Jesse moves his face close to hers which startles her. He apologizes and she feels “ridiculous” (200) for her reaction. He approves of her plan, telling her to get a jacket for the Massachusetts weather. She is focused on the closeness of their bodies. She details the costs of going to Smith, and Jesse believes she can find a way to get the money.

He walks her back to the bookshop, where Miss Paulsen is waiting. She states that no one will answer the door at Charlie’s house and demands to know the truth about Charlie.

Josie lies to Miss Paulsen that Charlie is helping a sick friend out of town. This is the story she and Patrick agreed on; she even embellishes it. It is easy for her to lie now, even though she used to hate her mother’s lying. She has not seen Patrick at the bookshop in several days. She goes to his house to help with Charlie, but he does not speak to her. She is saddened because she knows that “Something [has] changed. A curtain [has] fallen between [them]” (203). Patrick plays his piano to both soothe Charlie and avoids talking to Josie.

Patrick returns to the shop and Josie is encouraged that he plays their game; he signals that their female customer will buy a cookbook, while Josie signals it will be a mystery. Patrick guesses correctly and he makes up the woman’s backstory for Josie after the woman leaves. Outside the window, they see Mr. Lockwell’s son, Richard, with another boy, watching them. Patrick abruptly kisses Josie which stuns her, especially because she “let him kiss [her] and didn’t fight him off” (205). He looks out the window and apologizes, looking “drawn with pain” (205). She tries to apologize too, but he kisses her again and leaves. She does not know what to feel or what the kiss meant. As she works, she is distracted and thinking about Patrick, deciding that he knows her very well and they would be good together. She can picture a nice future with him.

Frankie steps into the bookshop and warns Josie that her mother is coming back from California. He is not sure whether Cincinnati is also coming back. He discloses that the Los Angeles police sent a telegram to the New Orleans police about bringing Louise back to town. The New Orleans police have been looking for her: They believe she murdered Forrest Hearne.

Josie runs to Willie’s house, questioning whether her mother could really have committed murder. She remembers finding Hearne’s watch under her mother’s bed and can hear it ticking in her head. Dora gives her a big hug and tells her not to worry, but Evangeline states that she is guilty. Josie learns that a witness saw her mother drinking with Mr. Hearne that night. Evangeline tells Josie to steer clear of Mr. Lockwell.

Josie finds Willie in her room, preparing for the night’s business by going through her black book of coded information about her customers; it helps her remember their preferences but also has “just enough information [...] to use it as an insurance policy” (210) against any problems from the men. Willie does not seem concerned about Josie’s mother and simply tells Josie to stay quiet. She adds that Josie will need to go alone to Shady Grove, her country home, when her mother gets to New Orleans. Willie is not worried about Josie being out there because Josie is “a good shot” (212).

Josie sees Cokie on her way out, and he assures her that Willie is protecting Josie from her mother. He wants to know how Josie suspected foul play in Hearne’s death all along. She confesses that she simply admired him, and she does not “know many men like that” (212). On her walk back home, she is debating how to get rid of the watch when Mr. Lockwell’s car pulls up in front of her. He asks if she has gotten into Smith yet, then tries to coerce her into coming with him to his secret apartment. She declines and he says, “There’s something about you, Josephine” (213). He compliments her lipstick, so she wipes it off.

Josie holds her cigar box that she keeps hidden under her bed, Hearne’s uncashed check and watch inside. She remembers the cash her mother had when they went out to lunch and knows now that it was stolen from Hearne. She plans to discard the check and watch when she is at Shady Grove. Despite her stress, she is preoccupied with thoughts of Patrick; she “want[s] to impress Patrick, look good for him” (214) and takes extra care of her appearance. She fields another visit from Miss Paulsen, who gives Josie a sealed letter for Charlie. She receives a letter from Charlotte inquiring about Josie’s application status. The letter also jokes about her cousin Betty Lockwell’s crush on Patrick, which irritates Josie.

On her way to Patrick’s house, Josie plans what to say and how to act. She does not want to “let on how giddy [she’d] felt all day about the kiss” (215). She compliments Patrick’s appearance but he only thanks her in return. His piano has the score for Liebesträume by Franz Liszt propped up. Because Josie asks, he translates the title: “Dreams of Love” (216). Josie is thrilled when he appears to blush. Patrick explains that Charlie sleeps most of the day now. They eat together in the kitchen, and Josie reminds herself that it is not a date. She fills him in on her mother and her upcoming trip to Shady Grove. Patrick asks Josie if she can stay with Charlie tonight because his friend James’s girlfriend is having a birthday party. Before he leaves, she compliments him again, and again he only thanks her. He kisses her and promises to return soon, but she notices that “his lips [are] cold” (218).

Patrick is gone for hours so Josie checks on Charlie. She is surprised to see he typed another letter on the paper in the typewriter; it now says “BL” (218). Charlie is asleep with the heart-shaped box and looks unwell. She apologizes to him and suddenly, he looks at her and smiles. She tells him she loves him, but he falls back asleep. In the morning, she wakes up on the couch where she fell asleep waiting for Patrick. Patrick has not slept and happily recounts meeting Truman Capote at the party. He says he will miss Josie, who is leaving later that morning. Remembering the note from Miss Paulsen, she gives it to Patrick. Miss Paulsen wrote to Charlie that he needs to send her a letter from Slidell, where Josie claims he is, or she will “know this is all a lie” (220).

Cokie drives Josie in Mariah, which Josie hates. She would much rather be in Cokie’s cab, but Cokie loves the luxury of driving Mariah. He discusses the route they will take when they drive to Smith, and Josie reminds him that she must get in first. He is confident she will and gives her a pep talk. She needs to leave New Orleans because it will only “pull [her] down” (222). He understands why she has been so interested in Forrest Hearne, saying, “I bet you latched onto that rich man from Memphis ’cuz he fit your idea of a daddy. And I agree, ain’t no way you could turn out so good unless the other half was something fine” (222). They pass the next several hours talking about Cokie’s childhood and family. Josie thinks about her goodbye with Patrick, which was silent and intense.

Cokie stops at the neighbors’ house and Josie wonders why they sleep during the day, afraid of the night. Cokie warns her to be careful because the neighbors are too far away to hear her if something happens. He unpacks plenty of food, as well as Willie’s gun collection, for Josie and frightens Josie by indicating that Cincinnati could come to Shady Grove. Cokie is unsure who told the police that Josie’s mother was with Hearne, but everyone is saying it, and he wants Josie to “set some little signs” (225) around the house that would show if someone was there. Josie holds onto a shotgun as he drives away.