Hannah's Journey (3 page)

A waiter soon appeared to take their orders. While the ladies had the finger sandwiches, David Logan ordered a chicken dish, the house special.

As Hannah slipped her napkin from its ring, she thought of her mother. Although Lily Monroe and her husband John had very little, she knew it was important to learn the correct way of doing things in this world. She wanted Hannah to know how to cope with all kinds of situations.

Among the few books she possessed, Lily had a worn copy of an etiquette book. She poured over it in the evenings, then taught Hannah everything she learned. Lily had studied dressmaking, and fashioned lovely gowns for ladies who brought expensive fabric to the small flat. Hannah often went to sleep at night lulled by the whir of her mother’s sewing machine. Often, the ladies urged

Lily to keep the leftover fabric. When she did, she created beautiful outfits for Hannah and herself before she became ill. She had even begun to teach Hannah the art of sewing.

While they waited for their orders, Hannah turned her attention to the young woman who sat at the piano. A large plant had hidden her from view when they entered. Noticing her interest, the piano player smiled at the young girl.

“What would you like to hear?” she called softly.

Margaret Logan leaned over and said, “Why not Beautiful Dreamer,” she teased Hannah, “since you didn’t want to wake up this morning.”

Hannah smiled and nodded. She surprised herself by going over to the young woman and asking for the tune Margaret Logan had suggested. When the song started, Hannah couldn’t seem to move. She stood beside the piano and watched the slender fingers move over the keys. When the song ended, the girl asked Hannah if she knew how to play.

When Hannah shook her head, the girl said, “If you are interested in learning, I give lessons. You might want to talk to your parents about it. Hannah started to correct this wrong impression and then stopped. It felt good to think she belonged to the Logan family. “Thank you. I’ll ask. I think I’d like very much to learn.”

Walking back to the table, she thought how much her mother wanted her to play the piano. Lily had played as a young girl, but after she married, money was scarce in the Monroe household. There was no way to afford a piano. Hannah’s chances of learning the instrument had been remote.

With lunch over, the four set out for the park. Flowers bloomed everywhere and the park held a small zoo. The girls had fun petting the animals and spent a delightful hour making friends with a baby lamb. Margaret and David Logan sat close by, watching the girls as they enjoyed the perfect spring day.

At last, it was time to leave. Before going, Mrs. Logan suggested that Hannah decide on a name for them. “Mr. and Mrs.

Logan seems so formal. Is there any other name you would like to call us?”

Hannah thought for a moment. “Would you mind if I called you Uncle David and Aunt Margaret? I never had any relatives, and I always wanted an aunt and uncle.”

David Logan beamed and his wife clapped her hands. “That’s perfect, Hannah. You’ve solved the problem. Caroline, that makes you a cousin.”

“Goody,” Caroline said, then she looked puzzled. “What’s a cousin?” Everyone laughed as they piled into the carriage.

The girls chatted on the way home, with Caroline asking Hannah questions about New York. The Logans, in turn, answered Hannah’s questions about Texas. Hannah thought this had been one of the most amazing days of her life. A shiver of delight ran through her when she remembered the many boxes that held her new clothes. Images of the day, from the tales told by Uncle David to the reluctant farewell to the baby lamb, raced through her mind. Suddenly, she recalled the young piano teacher and vowed to speak to Aunt Margaret and Uncle David about piano lessons. Perhaps she could do some chores to help pay for lessons.

The sun’s rays lengthened as they drove home, casting shadows on the road before them. The girls could barely hold their eyes open for a simple meal before tumbling into bed.

Hannah only took the time to look once more at the piano teacher’s card before she placed it into her bureau drawer. It read, Miss Sylvia Cooper, Piano and Voice Lessons. Hannah’s fingers explored the raised letters. Mama would be so proud of her if she mastered the piano.

Slipping into bed, Hannah whispered a heartfelt prayer of thanks for such a wonderful day.

CHAPTER FOUR – SCHOOL DAYS

On Monday, Hannah awoke to delicious smells wafting from the kitchen. Delia, the Logan’s maid, had fixed fluffy pancakes and spicy sausages. Caroline and Hannah giggled when Caroline’s father drew faces on their pancakes with the thick, brown syrup. Hannah already considered Delia an ally. The first day of her arrival, Delia hugged her and said, “anytime you need to talk, child, you’ll find me in the kitchen or in my room just down the hall from the kitchen. I have a nice easy chair in there and we can talk to your heart’s content.” Hannah knew she had made a friend.

“You might want to come to my church sometime, young lady. I sing in the choir at Sunday night services. We’d be happy for you to visit. You just tell me when you’d like to go.”

Hannah was thinking of Delia’s kind offer when Uncle David made a surprise announcement. He set his coffee cup aside and turned to her. His words made Hannah tremble inside.

“Although it’s only a few weeks until the end of school, we thought you’d like to meet the other students and your teacher. I took the liberty of calling Mr. Dobbs, the principal, last night. He agreed that you could finish out the school year. In that way, you’ll get to know the other children and have friends to visit with this summer. What do you think of that?”

Everyone looked expectantly at Hannah.

She hesitated, frightened at meeting children her own age. What would they think of the brace on her leg? Would they make fun of the way she talked? Her happiness in this new place dimmed, but she couldn’t disappoint the Logans. They had treated her so kindly.

“That sounds fine,” she said, as her heart sank.

An hour later, Uncle David pulled the carriage up in front of the neat, red brick school. He got out of the carriage and went around to help Hannah down. “I’ll pick you up right here at three o’clock, Hannah. Everything will be all right,” he said as he patted her shoulder.

A handful of girls stood around the schoolyard. They looked at her as she limped toward them. Two of them moved to block her way. No one said a word. Hannah trembled, but remembering her promise to herself, smiled and said, “Good morning. I’m Hannah Monroe and I’m in the eighth grade.” She gazed at the group of girls expecting a reply.

Still they kept silent and continued to stare at her. At last, one of them stepped away from the group. Taller and heavier than Hannah, she had bright red hair. She held a rock, shifting it from one hand to the other. The rest of the crowd watched, their eyes moving between the two.

Hannah started toward the building, trying not to limp.

Tossing her bright mane, the redhead finally spoke. “Hey, new girl, where do you think you’re going?”

Hannah stopped. She looked to the other girls for help, but all eyes fastened on their leader as she raised the rock and aimed. Time seemed to stand still. Save for the chirping of the birds and the faint shouts of boys playing on the other side of the school, only quiet reigned. Colors stood out sharply. The green of the grass and the puffy white clouds that sailed overhead etched themselves in Hannah’s mind as she waited for the blow.

At that moment, a woman stepped from the building. Her navy serge skirt swirled in the strong breeze. Her white starched blouse had long sleeves and a high collar. Her dark braids coiled around her head. In her hand she held a bell that she rang vigorously.

The red-haired girl dropped her arm and the rock slid from her fingers. Moving close to Hannah, she whispered, “Teacher saved you this time, but I’ll get you later. You just better watch out!” With that, she skipped ahead to join the other girls.

As she followed them into the building, Hannah wondered what had caused her first day to begin so badly. Stopping at the door to the classroom, Hannah saw a row of girls on one side of the room, and the boys on the other. The bright hair of the bully caught her eye. The girl frowned and her eyes narrowed as she returned Hannah’s look.

The teacher smiled and motioned to Hannah. “Please come in. I’m Miss Trent.” She indicated a seat near the front of the room. Facing the children she said, “Class, we have a new pupil who joins us today.” Turning to Hannah, she continued. “Will you introduce yourself and tell us where you’re from?”

“I’m Hannah Monroe, and I’m from New York City.” Hannah looked at the floor when she heard giggling from some of the children.

“That will do, class,” said Miss Trent. “We’d like to welcome you, Hannah, and hope that you like Texas and that you’ll make many new friends here.”

She already liked Texas, but would she ever make any friends?

“Class, let’s get our readers out and continue the story we began last week. Hannah, will you go first? I’d like to hear your reading skills, since we haven’t received any records from your last school yet. You may begin on page seventy-one.”

Hannah found the book, opened it and read. Her voice shook, then grew stronger as she read the story of a boy who lived on a farm. It made her think of Teddy.

“Well done, Hannah. You put a lot of expression into your reading. Now, class, I’m going to put some arithmetic problems on the blackboard. We’ll all have a turn answering them.”

While Miss Trent wrote the problems on the board, Hannah felt someone touch her shoulder. She turned and the girl behind her handed her a folded slip of paper. Mystified, she opened it and read the message. “I’ll be waiting,” it said. The signature read “Rosie.” Hannah looked up into the sneering face of the girl from the playground.

“All right, students,” Miss Trent said. Let’s have several of you come up and try these problems. Hannah, will you join them, please?” Hannah’s mind whirled. What did the girl mean? Waiting where? And what did she intend to do?

Stumbling, Hannah made her way to the blackboard and picked up a piece of chalk. The numbers seemed to blur before her eyes. Then she thought of her father. He had always made a game of arithmetic. Squaring her shoulders, she worked the problems. The answers came easily. When she finished, she put the chalk down and returned to her seat.

“Very good, Hannah. I don’t think you’ll have any trouble at all going on to ninth grade.

After that, the morning passed quickly and soon lunchtime arrived.

“Hannah, won’t you join me for lunch here in the classroom? We could get acquainted while we eat.” Miss Trent smiled as she extended the invitation. That suited Hannah. She wasn’t ready to face Rosie yet.

At three o’clock, the class prepared to leave for the day. The pupils hurried from the room, calling to each other about Saturday’s ball game and the town picnic coming soon. Hannah opened the door that led to the yard. Rosie and several of the girls stood under the big oak tree. Looking to the left, Hannah breathed a sigh of relief. The shiny black carriage stood by the side of the road.

Passing the group, Hannah kept her eyes straight ahead and turned her mouth up in a smile as she went to meet Uncle David. The girls kept quiet, but Hannah knew that Rosie might find her when there was no one around to help.

Hannah decided not to tell the Logans about her problem. When they questioned her about school, she replied, “I like Miss

Trent and the work seems pretty easy.”

This appeared to satisfy everyone.

“Well, we’re so glad you found the subjects easy, and know you’ll do well,” said Aunt Margaret, who smiled at Hannah over the lovely needlepoint pillow she worked on.

Sighing, Hannah wished all her problems could be solved so easily.

CHAPTER FIVE – HANNAH BETRAYED

On the following morning, Hannah could no longer ignore the little fingers of fear that crept over her. Would this week bring more of Rosie’s anger? Hannah wished she knew what went wrong. Squaring her shoulders, she made a decision.

Hannah carefully chose one of her new outfits for today. It was a navy middy blouse and skirt. She put her hair in braids and locked the brace onto her leg. Her last act was to clasp the gold locket around her neck and she was ready for the day.

Later, as Hannah climbed from the carriage, she said in a voice loud enough for the group of girls gathered under the oak tree to hear. “Thank you, Uncle David. I’ll see you this afternoon.”

As David drove away to his office, Hannah joined the gathering and spoke. “Rosie, what did I do to make you so angry? I’d like for us to be friends.” At first she saw the confusion in Rosie’s eyes, which was replaced with a flat look that disguised all feelings.

To Hannah’s surprise, Rosie answered. “We’ve decided you can join our group, Hannah. We’re sorry for the way we acted.”

Lucy, a small dark-haired girl spoke up. “You can even eat lunch with us, Hannah.” Hannah started to smile when she noticed two of the girls nudge each other and exchange sly looks. She wondered what they plotted, but decided to play along.

“I’d like that,” Hannah agreed, still puzzled as to why Rosie had changed her mind.

* * * *

At home, Hannah reported making new friends.

“That’s wonderful, Hannah. You and Caroline are getting to know each other, but you need friends your own age. Perhaps we can have an ice cream party soon and invite your classmates.

Maybe by that time, she would’ve discovered the mystery, Hannah thought.

Things went well the rest of the week. Hannah became the top student in the class and didn’t worry at all about the upcoming examinations. Some of the girls squealed and said, “Oh, I don’t know if I’ll pass. I don’t understand fractions.” Others asked for Hannah’s aid. “Won’t you please help us, Hannah? You’re so smart.” Lunchtime became study time under the big oak as Hannah helped the others understand the difficulties of division and fractions. She didn’t mind helping at all, but an uneasy feeling came over her when Rosie was nearby.