Full Speed Ahead: My Journey with Kit

I tell Kit that in that case, if I ever see Uncle Hendrick, I’ll tell him that I made the Kittredges let me help with chores. I remember what Mrs. Howard called me, and I add that Kit can tell Uncle Hendrick that I am not a “spoiled young one” who’s used to having my own way, and I absolutely insisted that Kit let me share her room. Kit smiles, but looks doubtful. And if she doubts that I’ll be much help with chores, she’s absolutely right. Mom has a housekeeper to clean our apartment, so I don’t really know much about dusting or housework. And I’ll be especially useless in the 1930s house with its weird or nonexistent appliances. It seems like they have electricity, but I haven’t seen a computer or a TV anywhere.

Finally, Kit shrugs and we stack dishes to carry to the kitchen. Buddy scampers around our feet, and Grace follows us. Kit uses her elbow to open a swinging door, and we head into the kitchen. It has a sink that looks like a tub, and a stove that looks like a Mars landing vehicle. There’s no microwave or blender, no food processor, nor even a toaster. I ask where the dishwasher is, and Kit says that she is the dishwasher. Kit says that they don’t have money for a maid, especially since… Anyway, Mother and Kit do all the housework.

I set the plates down on the counter and tell her that it’ll be fun. I’ll help, and we’ll be finished even faster. Kit turns on the hot water and nods toward a box next to the sink. It’s the soap. I give it a shake and soap flakes come cascading out in a blizzard. Kit tries to stop me from pouring too much, but it’s too late. The sink begins to overflow with bubbles. They float into the air, spill all over the sink onto the floor, and burble out onto the counters. Buddy barks with delight and Grace howls as Kit and I tried to hold the bubbles back, but soon our arms and chest are coated with bubbles. I tell Kit that I’m very, very sorry.

But much to my surprise, Kit starts to laugh. In fact, she laughs so hard she practically collapses. She says it’s bad to waste the soap, but I look so funny. I have a cap of bubbles on my head. Immediately, I make a beard of bubbles and pretend that I’m Santa Claus. I put bubbles on Buddy and Grace’s heads, too. And they will be the elves.

Kit holds up a handful of bubbles and says that she can be the Statue of Liberty. We burst out in song together, and then Kit turns on the radio so we can listen to jazzy songs that must be hit tunes of 1933. Kit scrubs the dishes in the very soapy water and I wipe them dry.

After we’re done with the dishes, we don’t waste the soapy water. We use it to wipe the counters and then mop up the floor. Kit tells me that her Aunt Millie always says to “use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without.” She’d even say that soapy water should not be wasted.