Contents
Chapter 38
Overview
Business expands beyond college boys as Birdie secures a private phone, sends money home, and manages operations while risks rise. Sheriff Porter signals awareness, and Garnett’s Anti-Vice League orchestrates a brutal raid on Priscilla’s brothel. Frances finds Rory jailed in Biloxi. Birdie ends her relationship with Jack, and despite escalating danger, Charlie insists on one more week to fund reclaiming Meg.
Summary
After a lucrative weekend, Birdie upgrades Idlewilde’s phone to a private line and oversees expanding clientele to grown men, with Virginia enforcing condom testing and tracking the women’s cycles. Birdie wires money to her mother and Frances, while Esmeralda reveals a female lover in Paris and defends Birdie’s sacrifices for Charlie.
Work hums as Picador and Polly streamline laundry rules. Birdie’s correspondence with Jack deepens until his letter about reconciling for his son triggers Birdie’s panic over infertility. Virginia urges Birdie to choose her own life, not be defined by motherhood.
Night brings a suspicious car; Esmeralda demands protection. Birdie visits Sheriff Porter, who already has a club card, warns against racial mixing, and promises a visit, offering no clear deal. Soon after, Frances calls: Rory is jailed in Biloxi for drunkenness, resisting arrest, striking an officer, and “unnatural acts.” Viktoria’s lawyer advises waiting on bail.
In town, Birdie sees Garnett Pittman and the sheriff promoting Anti-Vice efforts; the newspaper shows Porter’s raid of Priscilla’s brothel, with public humiliation and threats of prison and sterilization under miscegenation charges. Fear spikes; Esmeralda presses to close, and Charlie concedes to only one more week.
Shaken, Birdie finally writes Jack the truth about her infertility and ends the relationship. At home, Charlie doubles down: the risk is necessary to fund taking Meg far away, fearing Garnett’s power. Charlie asks Birdie to promise to try to adopt Meg if Charlie is arrested; Birdie agrees.
Who Appears
- Birdie CalhounNarrator; manages the club, wires money home, meets Sheriff Porter, ends relationship with Jack, and promises to protect Meg if Charlie is arrested.
- Charlie TarttDetermined madam; pushes to keep the club open one more week to fund taking Meg; reveals state-hospital rope scars and begs adoption backup for Meg.
- EsmeraldaPremiere prostitute; insists on sheriff arrangement, urges early closure after raid news; reveals a female lover and past in Storyville.
- Virginia CunninghamMedical student; enforces health rules, makes pads, counsels Birdie to choose her own life, shares medical anecdotes.
- FlossyProstitute; off work for menstruation, celebrates birthday, shares history and lost child, shaken by Priscilla’s arrest.
- RubyProstitute; crude humor, late-night vigilance, past marriage and temper revealed; wary of jail and publicity.
- Sheriff J. W. PorterCounty sheriff; signals knowledge of the club, fixates on race rules, later headlined raiding Priscilla’s brothel.
- Frances TarttBirdie’s sister; tracks Rory to Biloxi, reports his arrest and beating, coordinates with Viktoria’s lawyer.
- Rory TarttRunaway husband; arrested in Biloxi for multiple charges after hitting an officer with his car.
- Garnett PittmanAnti-Vice League president; pushes moral crackdown and sterilization rhetoric; linked to Priscilla raid.
- Viktoria Tartt (Mrs. Tartt)In Jackson; relieved Rory’s alive; her lawyer advises waiting on bail.
- Priscilla StuggsRival madam; publicly humiliated and arrested in a raid alleging prostitution and miscegenation.
- PicadorLaundry worker; improves operations, flags Rory’s Biloxi postmark, prompting Birdie to delay telling Frances.
- PollyLaundry worker; runs sheets, helps maintain order in the house.
- JackBirdie’s beau; seeks family life; his letter prompts Birdie to disclose infertility and end the relationship.
- TrixieYounger prostitute; shares violent past; town outing with the group.
- DixieYounger prostitute; reveals scars from abuse; accompanies town trip.