Intimate Apparel

It’s Sunday and George is dressed to go out, but Esther wants him to go to the church social with her and then have dinner with Mrs. Dickson. George complains that Mrs. Dickson is always asking him questions. Then he changes his tone and asks Esther for two dollars, calling her Mrs. Armstrong. George claims that he needs a new hat so he can dress up to look for a job. Hesitantly, Esther retrieves some money from the quilt, reminding him that she has promised to make him a new suit. This is something that has clearly happened before. George asks for more, adding that he wants to get a drink with friends. George rants about being passed over for construction jobs for white men with far less experience. Then he pulls out a letter and says that the last employer who rejected him gave him a note. Staring at Esther, he asks her what she thinks about it. Esther, who can’t read, deflects.

When Esther asks him to go to the church social, he claims that he “ain’ a church man, really” (79). This surprises Esther, who points out that he said differently in his letters and George replies, “I say a lot of t’ings” (79). Esther pleads with him to go to church with her, suggesting that someone there might hire him. George insists he doesn’t want to shine shoes or carry bags at a hotel. What he really wants is to own his own business. George says that he met a man at the bar who wants to sell a stable full of horses for less than they’re worth because he’s desperate, and although Esther tells George that it’s a scam, George insinuates that Esther ought to give him her quilt money. Esther refuses, insisting that the money is for her beauty parlor and George laughs at her cruelly, suggesting that Esther isn’t pretty enough to know anything about beauty. Feelings hurt, Esther replies, “I make pretty things” (81). George exclaims that he’s tired of relying on her for money and leaves.

Esther goes to see Mr. Marks, noticing that he has fixed his button. He shows her some fine wool and then some lace, both of which he saved for her. Mr. Marks is delighted to see how much Esther enjoys both and comments, “The wait was worth seeing your smile again” (84). They find themselves standing very close to each other. He calls her by her maiden name and Esther corrects him. Then she tells him that she is only there to buy fabric for a men’s suit. Mr. Marks brings out rolls of dark, boring fabrics, sadly putting the lace away. Suddenly, Esther says that she can’t keep coming back to the shop. Mr. Marks, upset, begs her to explain why and Esther replies, “Please, I think you know why” (85). After a pause, Mr. Marks becomes business-like. Esther asks for suit fabric then asks for the wool and the lace as well.

In Mrs. Van Buren’s room, she tells Esther about her relief that her husband is in Europe for an extended trip. Mrs. Van Buren asks about George, sighing about the excitement of being in love, but Esther won’t say much. Mrs. Van Buren tries to get Esther to smile, but Esther remains serious and asks her to pay for the work that she’s done. When Mrs. Van Buren mentions that she misses writing letters for Esther, Esther gets angry and then bursts into tears, finally admitting that she has been lying to George about not being able to read. Vaguely, Esther confesses that she may love someone else. Suddenly, Mrs. Van Buren kisses Esther and then apologizes, claiming, “I just wanted to show you what it’s like to be treated lovingly” (89). This upsets Esther, who exclaims that Mrs. Van Buren doesn’t love her and doesn’t even let her use the front door. Mrs. Van Buren begs Esther to still be her friend, calling her a coward when she refuses and tossing money at her. Lights fade and rise on Mayme. George enters her room, puts money on the piano, and begins to kiss and touch her. In Esther and George’s bedroom, Esther sits and waits. 

Esther visits Mayme, who is excited because she is in love. One of her customers comes to see her three times a week and says that Mayme is his girl. The only problem is that the man has a rich wife whom he complains about constantly. Esther agrees that his wife is probably awful but that Mayme isn’t much better. Annoyed, Mayme shows off a gift he gave her—the Japanese silk smoking jacket that Esther gave to George on their wedding night. Stunned, Esther comments on the fabric and then asks Mayme if she doesn’t feel guilty that the man’s wife probably waits for him and worries about him while he lies, then accepts him when he finally comes home “because his body is warm and she ain’t alone” (93). Mayme gets angry and says that she doesn’t care about the wife and Esther calls her “the worst kind of scavenger” (93). Esther tells Mayme that she feels ill and leaves Mayme, who is confused as to why her friend isn’t happy for her.

In George and Esther’s bedroom, George is wearing the suit that Esther has made for him. She asks him to stay home tonight, promising to make his favorite meal. Then, he becomes excited when Esther says she has a surprise, expecting money. When Esther shows him that she is wearing lingerie, George gets angry at Esther, claiming that she emasculates him and treats him like chattel. He swears that if she would give him the money, he would become a good husband. Caught up in this promise, Esther agrees, and rips open the quilt. George is thrilled, but Esther is disappointed that he still ignores her. Finally, Esther confesses that she didn’t write her letters by herself, but that the George in his letters would have thanked her. She demands to know who wrote them. George admits that he paid an old man ten cents apiece. Esther realizes that they don’t know each other at all. George swears that he meant the words even if he didn’t write them and promises that they can start fresh after he takes the money and buys the horses.

Esther goes to see Mayme, who is wearing the smoking jacket and waiting for George. Esther explains that she had relented and given George her quilt money, but he didn’t come home last night. Esther says that she had intended to take scissors and scar his mistress’s face. Mayme tries to convince Esther to leave because her man will be there soon. Esther tells Mayme that she is wearing the jacket she gave George on their wedding night. Shocked and appalled, Mamie tears the jacket off. Then Mayme describes how George had come to the bar the night before, spending money and promising to take her out. Mayme realizes that she had known that George was Esther’s husband. Esther demands to know why Mayme didn’t send him home and Mayme says, “Because, he belong to me as well” (103). She returns the smoking jacket and thanks Esther for never treating her like a prostitute. George knocks on the door. Esther begs Mayme not to answer. Mayme hesitates, but eventually Esther convinces her that they would both be “chasing him forever” (104). Finally, he gives up and Esther takes the jacket and leaves.

Esther visits Mr. Marks, who is surprised to see her. Esther reminds him of the Japanese silk she had once bought from him and she shows him the smoking jacket. Mr. Marks comments that Esther’s husband will undoubtedly be happy with it, but Esther insists that she wants to give it to Mr. Marks. Moved, he thanks her. Esther starts to leave, but Mr. Marks asks her to wait while he puts it on. Mr. Marks asks what Esther thinks and Esther asks, “May I?” (105) Breathlessly, Mr. Marks nods and allows Esther to touch and adjust the jacket. They look into each other’s eyes. Then Esther exits silently, leaving Mr. Marks alone to consider what occurred between them.

Esther finds Mrs. Dickson in the room Esther once rented. Mrs. Dickson welcomes her, offering her tea and pleased that she came to visit. Esther asks if Mrs. Dickson has rented her room to a new tenant, refusing to explain why she is asking. The room is still empty, and Esther states that Mrs. Dickson will have space for her at the table. Mrs. Dickson invites Esther to come downstairs and catch up, gossiping about Corrina Mae, who got pregnant right away and is “big as a house” (108). Esther doesn’t want to talk about Corrina Mae and explains that she wants a moment alone in her room and Mrs. Dickson agrees, squeezing Esther’s hand lovingly. Alone, Esther touches her stomach, pausing for a moment. Then she goes to the sewing machine and begins to make a new quilt. An antique photograph of Esther is projected with the caption, “Unidentified Negro Seamstress, ca. 1905” (108).