5.3 The Odd Women Chps 5&6 Happy Sunday

Honestly, the days are starting to run together.

I'm still enjoying the hell out of this book.

Yesterday we did some yard work, gardened, and worked on our new puzzle. We also used Houseparty to hang out with some friends online. I still managed to sneak in a few chapters.

In Chapter 5, Monica goes on a date with the Mr. Widdowson (who, it turns out is the son of a widow). They share a birthday and a nice boat ride. We find out that Edmund is not a self-made man but has inherited his wealth. I find the fact that he had a full working life, similar to what Monica is doing until he became rich lends me to like him more than if he was just some rich guy. It also explains why he is 44, wealthy, and still single. Monica returns to the boarding house at the fabric store and cannot sleep. She overhears the other girls discussing her date and calling her a "swell". I need to look that up, but I think I get the general meaning.

Chapter 6 has some meat to it. We get to visit the "old lady factory". It is decided that Monica will take classes there. Immediately after another group visits and a potential student is declined for not being of the right class. While I understand this, it seems unfair. It makes me think of Eliza Doolittle. Miss Barfoot just doesn't want to deal with having to teach women from the "lower classes" and I can only assume she means having to teach them manners and how to speak, how to appear in society, etc. She's not looking to overhaul someone's social status, but to take those of a certain class and show them how to use what they have to become independent. There is much discussion of the work and its aims. Clearly Miss Nunn is even more die-hard than Miss Barfoot. A former student is mentioned. Apparently this student took what she learned at the school and scored herself a sugar daddy. Now that has fallen through and the school must decide to assist her or not. Miss Nunn votes nay and Miss Barfoot is more forgiving. I think there is some concern about how much the school is responsible for former students.