The Help

Reading the book by K. Stockett brings back faded memories
 of visiting my aunt as a child. She hired an african american maid. I remember barely seeing the woman in an apron and do-rag on her head vacuuming and polishing the furniture. My aunt was quite suspicious and afraid that she would steal the silverware and kept a close count on it.
All my relatives counted the silver-heck they even counted it when we visited.
This book actually has this in it, and how insulting it was from the maid's point.
I think the maid she had made herself scarce because I only caught fleeting glimpses of her.
My only thought was that I found it odd.
Odd that she was black.
Odd she was big.
And odd that my aunt hired someone to clean her already clean house.
( my sister says her name was Ruby and she "loved us kids", what do you know)

One day we came back to the house and I saw someone drop down from upstairs past the window outside.
We had walked in on a robbery.
All the silver and things were in pillow cases ready to be taken.
I was just a child but I remember the uproar.

I recommend this book for it's not so long ago history.
I love the way it is written, each chapter from the different points of view of the characters.
It is written during the late 50's early sixties and I can recall what was going on in my life at the time.