Someone suggested to me a story set in the 1950s, where a wife discovers her husband has been helping a friend and the wife...handles her business.
So that's what this story is -- a little flashback to a different time. Things to know:
The story takes place in 1954, the year after the Korean War ended and the first year of the famous Ding, Dong! Avon calling campaign. Avon is a real product and was a way for women to earn a little spending money back in the day and even through present times. Many of us remember our mothers and grandmothers wearing Avon make up or perfume and those awesome, tiny lipstick samples! (The history of Avon is fascinating if you want to look it up -- it reaches all the way back to 1886.) Tupperware was still relatively new -- only eight years old. TVs were in about half of the homes by the mid-fifties
Married women weren't allowed to open a bank account on their own, get a loan or sign a contract. You needed your husband to handle all of that. It wasn't until 1974 that women were allowed to open credit cards in their own name. It wasn't until 1988 that legislation put an end to state laws that required women to have male relatives sign business loans.
Divorce happened, but it was difficult and there was a great deal of stigma attached to being a divorcee. Many times, women had no choice but to look the other way because the man was the breadwinner or they didn't want to face being ostracized.
The church Susan and Michael attend is an Episcopal one, and Episcopal priests are allowed to get married.
This little flash back has been bringing up some interesting memories and conversations and some thoughts of...it wasn't that long ago.
Enjoy!
YOU ARE READING
Michael and Susan
RomanceFlash back to 1954. For seven months, Michael had been working many extra hours during the week, coming home late and even having to go into the office on weekends. Susan stayed at home, patiently waiting for his return each day. One evening, she ca...
