Chapter 16 - Beatrice’s Childhood
Beatrice’s history went further back.
Her parents ran a restaurant in Newark.
Six children.
Everybody worked.
At eight she peeled garlic.
At ten she washed glasses.
At twelve she took orders during family parties.
No one called CPS.
Different era.
Different family economy.
Work kept business alive.
It also gave Beatrice pride.
She became first sibling to finish college.
Later married into Marcelli family and found the same ethos magnified.
Her belief:
Work prevents entitlement.
Not unreasonable.
Then wealth arrived.
Hotels.
Private school.
Drivers.
Security.
Children who could grow up never seeing who changed sheets.
Beatrice feared that more than poverty.
She said during family therapy:
“I watched rich families rot because children thought service came from invisible people.”
Again:
Not entirely wrong.
I wanted Dahlia to respect workers too.
The disagreement was method.
If you want a child to understand labor:
Introduce employees by name.
Make child clean own mess.
Tip properly.
Show how business works.
You do not tear up her dress, remove her bed, and make belonging conditional on service.
Beatrice could not see the distinction at first because discomfort had been the language of her own formation.
She believed easy lessons do not stick.
Maybe.
May you like
But memorable is not synonymous with good.
────────────────────
