Edith Roller – August 9, 1978 – Wednesday

Transcript  |  Annotation  |Source: 89-4286-C-3-A-1 (31-32) (PDF) | Month Index


We were to have a very late morning today. Sleeping until 10.00, and breakfast would not be served until 10.30. However, I was awakened by a man who was discussing hours of work with Laura right at my head. I thought it was Hue Fortson but perhaps it was not. After last night’s disturbances I had had only 2.5 hours of sleep.

I had breakfast about 11.00.

Sewed for an hour or so. Went to the library and read news items on the boards.

Finished the draft of the simplified news, gave it to Vernetta who was in the library. Tropp asked whether he could borrow my typewriter, Frances Johnson is using his. I think she is typing copy which is to be given to the author of The Parallax View when arrives. His plans are to write a book about Jonestown and numerous people are gathering material for him. Mike Prokes and Don Jackson were taking pictures the other day. Tropp wants to use my typewriter while his own is in use. He will work afternoon and nights and he said he would return my typewriter by morning so that I could use it. I reluctantly agreed.

Met my adult class. I had the beginning readers and others up to third or fourth grade ability, Lois took the more advanced readers and those particularly interested in news. I worked with the beginning readers who had school primers. The others read books of their own choice.

Had a shower.

Listened to news in the pavilion after dinner. Extra socialism classes were held for those who failed the test. I didn’t have to teach. Laura has moved to a new cottage, No. 10. The same as mine. She and Phyllis [Chaikin] will be in the Loft. I couldn’t use her bed in order to sew, so I read Collected Poems by WB Yeats.

While cleaning out behind her bed, Inez discovered a dead rat in the corner. The women present acted hysterically. I told them I would dispose of the rat. I took him (or her) by the tail and found he was not completely dead, had probably taken poison and was fresh dying last night. I got a pail of water and drowned him, then threw him down the toilet.