I nodded, shyly.
“You must wait until Seedy Sam gets here,” another girl said. She was tall, slim, and attractive with a smart white blouse and a cameo at her neck. “He’ll tell you where to sit.”
“Seedy Sam?” I asked innocently.
She grinned. “It’s what we call Sam Walters, the foreman. Only don’t let him hear you call him that, or you’ll be out on your ear.” She looked at me with interest. “You’re not Jewish or Italian—are you English?”
“No, I’m Irish.”
“That’s very funny.”
“What is—being Irish?” I stuck out my chin and felt my fists clench. Nobody made fun of the Irish when I was around.
“Sorry. I don’t mean funny. Strange. It is strange. The girls who speak good English don’t stay long, and they talk back to the bosses. That’s why Sam likes to hire newniks like us who can’t talk back. I’m Sadie. Sadie Blum.”
“Molly Murphy,” I said, shaking her hand politely. “Pleased to make your acquaintance. You seem to speak pretty good English,” I added.
“Yes, well I’m here two years now and I learn quick.”
Several other girls had clustered around listening to this exchange. One of them tapped my shoulder. “Weren’t you here the other day, visiting the boss?”
She was eyeing me suspiciously.
“That’s right. I was bringing him a message from an old friend in Europe. Then I decided I might as well ask him for a job while I was here.” I saw a glance pass between two of them. “Oh, don’t worry,” I said. “The boss made it very clear to me that I could expect no special treatment if I worked here, just because my great uncle knew him.”
“Whassamatter, did they declare a public holiday that I didn’t know about?” a big male voice boomed and Seedy Sam came into the room.
“If they did, we wouldn’t get it off,” Sadie muttered in my ear.
“Get to it then. It’s already one minute past seven. To your machines and no talking. You know the rules!” Then he noticed me. “And what have we here?”
“My name’s Molly Murphy. Mr. Mostel said I might start work today.”
“I remember you, all right.” Sam sneered. “All that garbage about delivering letters to the boss, when you were really after a job here!”
“That was true,” I said. “I was delivering a message from an old friend. I just decided to ask him for a job when I was talking to him.”
“Don’t think you’re going to be treated any different from the rest of these girls,” Sam said with his usual leer.
“Why would I be? I have no connection with your boss, other than delivering him a message. Now where would you like me to sit?”
“What skills do you have? You know how to sew, don’t ya?”
“I can operate a machine, but I’m a little out of practice. Mr. Mostel said I could start out on something simple until I get up to speed.”
“Collars then. Go and sit next to Golda. She’s in charge of our learners. She’ll show you what to do.”
A large middle-aged woman in a high-collared black dress beckoned and patted a stool beside her. “Sit your heiny down there and we’ll get started,” she said, giving me a friendly smile. “Did you bring your needle?”
“Needle?”
“Oh yes, girls have to supply their own sewing needles in this shop. And your own thread too. You can start off with one of mine, but during your lunch break you pop across to the dry-goods store and get yourself a medium-point needle and a spool of white thread.”
“They make us buy our own needles and thread?” I burst out before I remembered that I was supposed to be shy, withdrawn, and not attract any attention to myself.
Golda looked shocked. “But they do at all the shops. Where were you working last?”
“At a little place in Ireland,” I said. “It was different there. Just a few girls. Friendly atmosphere.”
“How nice,” she said wistfully. “You won’t find the atmosphere too friendly here, thanks to Seedy Sam over there. He makes sure we’re always miserable. We’re not supposed to talk at all. If a girl is found talking, he docks five cents off her wages. We get away with it now, because I’m showing you what to do. Now watch carefully.” She took two pieces of collar, put them together, and the machine clattered as it flew around the edges of three sides. “Smooth sides facing out. Get it?”
I nodded and demonstrated for her, rather more slowly.
“Ach ya, you’ll do just fine,” she said, a short while later. “She’s a quick learner, Sam. She’s ready to start out on her own.”