The only events that brought a little distraction were the religious festivals of Easter, the Feast of the Assumption, and Christmas. In such a monotonous existence, the round of visits to the club of Grands Nègres constituted an essential element. Lest we forget, her job as an elementary school teacher, one of the first black elementary school teachers, invested Jeanne with a heavy responsibility. Despite her young age, she was now enrolled in the embryo of the bourgeoisie. She therefore had to form alliances with the members of this prestigious club. The round of visits was made on Sundays. On those afternoons, Jeanne dressed to the nines, dabbed herself with perfume, then fastened around her neck the gold choker she had bought with her first wages since everyone was sized up by her collection of jewelry. She then slipped on her silk stockings and patent leather pumps. A little mascara around the eyebrows, a little lipstick, and some rouge on her cheeks. Then, flanked by her mother, who had put on her best golle dress, she turned the key in the door, opened her parasol, and set off.
