On Closer Inspection: ... ten days out of a lifetime
Jones Williams, Tina
Synopsis "On Closer Inspection: ... ten days out of a lifetime"
A lot can happen in ten days ...From the Pullman porter binder"The Pullman porter has the privilege of serving elite guests. He stands quietly waiting to serve, listening for the smallest rustle, aware of the slightest nod or watching for eyes averted from a conversation in his direction signaling that the guest was in need of the porter's attention."The first Pullman porters were hired for their looks and for their familiarity with serving privileged White people. The men had to be as close to jet black as possible, reinforcing the closely held stereotypes a likely Pullman passenger would bring on board. The porter also had to have a broad, almost startlingly white smile and an "attitude that shows he understood the privilege of serving."Everett, an experience Pullman porter, had a split second to note and memorize the on boarding family's name. In the same split second, he determined if the passenger was Old or New Money and decided in which luxury car they should travel. Everything about Old Money said quality, the best that money could buy, including their demeanor and manners. Old Money's clothing and accessories were never trendy or the latest in fashion, but were tasteful and stood the test of time. Women from old well-established families had a strict code of rarely speaking to service people and allowed their husbands to do their bidding. Their clothing and accessories were the highest of quality, but never showy, always understated and appropriate to the time and place. Old Money passengers never raised their voices or sought to bring attention to themselves, but relied on their status to insure their rightful place in the world. New Money passengers tended to be flashy and everything about them was brand new-their money, clothes, and accessories. Both men and women had an aggressive way of pushing to the front of every line. Women from Old Money felt a woman should not wear diamonds during the day, with the exception of her sizable engagement ring, usually a family heirloom. New Money women tended to be dripping in diamonds, day or night, all newly purchased from the Diamond District.It was Everett's responsibility to insure Old Money and New Money co-existed comfortably within the confines of the opulent Pullman cars. It was to his advantage when they did.On Closer Inspection, Book 2 Bridge to Freedom Series
