Atlanta, Georgia October 15, 1941
Brandon Chambers’s secretary put her head into his office in the Atlanta Courier-Journal building and held her hand up, palm outward, her signal that what she had to say was important.
‘‘Hold it a minute,’’ Brandon Chambers said to the managing editor of the Courier-Journal.
‘‘They just called from the lobby,’’ she said. ‘‘Ann’s on her way up.’’
Brandon Chambers made a hmmphing sound. ‘‘I wonder what my lovely, impulsive, willful little girl wants now?’’ he asked. Then he signaled that Ann was to be shown in when she arrived, and resumed his conversation.
Ann Chambers was wearing hose, high heels, a blue polka-dot dress, and a small hat, perched jauntily on her head. The hat had a veil, and beneath it her face was powdered and rouged and her lips were a brilliant scarlet streak.
Brandon Chambers didn’t pay all that much attention to what women wore, unless it was uncommonly revealing, but he noticed the way his daughter dressed. She almost never wore anything fancier than a pleated skirt, a loose sweater, and loafers.
‘‘To what do I owe this honor?’’ he asked pointedly, expecting the worst.
‘‘Can I get you something, Ann?’’ her father’s secretary said.
‘‘I’d love a cup of coffee, Mrs. Gregg,’’ Ann said, ‘‘if it wouldn’t be too much trouble.’’
‘‘Is something wrong?’’ he asked.
‘‘No. Nothing’s wrong with me. I was hoping I was going to dazzle you with the way I’m dressed. No comment?’’
‘‘It’s one hell of an improvement, I’ll happily tell you that.’’
‘‘There was a piece in College Woman that said that when women are going for a job interview, they should dress businesslike. I gave a lot of thought to what I’m wearing. I’m here seeking honest employment,’’ she said. ‘‘I’ll take whatever’s offered, no questions asked.’’
‘‘Is that so?’’ he said, smiling.
‘‘That’s so,’’ she said. ‘‘And now that you’re dazzled with my businesslike appearance, let’s get right on to that. I seek employment on the Memphis Daily Advocate. Anything but the women’s section.’’
‘‘How about managing editor?’’
‘‘I’m serious, Daddy,’’ she said.
‘‘I was afraid you would be,’’ he said. ‘‘What about school?’’
‘‘I am bored out of my mind in school,’’ she said. ‘‘I’m finished.’’
‘‘You have three years to go, counting this year.’’
‘‘I’ve already withdrawn,’’ she said.
‘‘You can’t do that without my permission,’’ he said.
"Can’ I?" Ann asked. ‘‘What do they do, drag me back in handcuffs?"
‘‘Does your mother know about this?’’ he asked.
‘‘I suppose she will by late this afternoon.’’
‘‘And she’s going to be both hurt and furious,’’ he said.
‘‘I’m not so sure,’’ Ann said, ‘‘and neither are you.’’
‘‘Was there something specific at Bryn Mawr? Or was it just general boredom?’’
She didn’t answer the question. She asked one of her own: ‘‘Aren’t you going to ask why the Advocate? Instead of here?’’