The woman offered a kind chuckle, got Lorewyn a bowl of soup and some bread, and sat with her on one of the benches with several other people.
She introduced herself as Edie Kincaid, a social worker and nurse. She had lost her job in the private sector the previous year, as had so many others, and had joined with a group trying to offer help to those in the city who had lost their jobs in the Crash, and in many cases lost their homes as well. The 21st Street Mission was not church-operated, although several churches in the area supported the work.
“It’s ultimately about hope,” Edie explained. “These are hard times, yes, and people are discouraged. It can be a spiraling effect. You lose your home because the bank forecloses, or calls in the loan as a desperate attempt to regain lost capital. So, you’re angry, upset, and your family is homeless. Your lack of stability, unable to have a place to sleep at night, and so on compromises your ability to work, and so you lose your job as well. Even more depressed, you turn to the bottle. But booze costs money, especially since Prohibition is still in effect. So, you spend whatever small amount of money you can make doing odd jobs on booze, never able to pull yourself out. The Mission is certainly about food, and clothing, and a place to sleep if needed… but more importantly it’s about hope. We want people to understand that the spiral doesn’t have to be eternal, even though it seems that way. These hard times are temporary… there are brighter days ahead to look forward to, elusive as they may seem.”
She shifted her gaze for a moment, looking around at the people in the Mission, then seeming to look beyond them, beyond the walls of the building, beyond the poverty and hard times that people were facing.
“Because I believe that one day, things will be different,” she continued. “Not just restoring our economy, but truly different… and for the better. Mankind will not remain here in this place, this time in our evolution. We will grow, we will advance. We will find solutions to hunger, to war, to homelessness, to diseases like polio that make people horribly sick and often kill them. It will take work. It will take perseverance. But I believe it is possible! And Ariel Archer… those are the days that are worth striving for.”
Lorewyn had been listening, eating her soup, and was now quite captivated by what this woman was saying. She reminded her of many things… many people… but perhaps most of all…
Did I ever speak like that? She wondered to herself. Was I ever that inspired and convicted about things that really matter the most? When did saving money, buying a new car, and fearing losing everything in a bank account become so important and what this woman is saying so marginal?
Lorewyn lowered her soup spoon and looked intently at Edie, sitting across from her, starry-eyed and glowing with visionary zeal.
“Miss Kincaid,” she finally stated. “I would like to help you. I would like to help these people. I want to be a part of those days worth striving for.”
***
“You’re not upset, are you?”
Lorewyn had been a bit hesitant to break the news to Rhianyn. The work at the Mission was essentially voluntary. Edie was able to offer a modest stipend to cover transportation, free meals if desired, and a very small percentage of any financial support that the Mission received as a result of Lorewyn’s marketing of the work to potential benefactors in the city. Once Lorewyn’s previous experience in writing, editing, and so on became known, Edie saw an opportunity.
But it was still a tiny fraction compared to what she had made at Scribner’s or the Graphic. For all intents and purposes, Rhianyn would be the household’s sole bread-winner and income-earner. Lorewyn felt guilty, like she wasn’t going to be pulling her fair share of the load. Rhianyn dispelled her fears instantly.
“You’re glowing again,” she said lovingly to Lorewyn, caressing her cheek with her hand, then kissing her.
Lorewyn stepped back, alarmed. “What???” She hastily checked her current use of magic and spell reserves. Had she been careless and activated some kind of illumination effect? Had she been walking around in public all lit up?
Rhianyn laughed, reaching out and embracing her. “No, you S’trysthyl! I mean, your heart is glowing again. You’re happy! You’re doing something that makes a difference, something that helps people. You’re being you! It’s been a while since I’ve seen you happy like this. No, I’m not upset in the slightest! In fact, I’d be upset if you hadn’t taken the opportunity presented you. We’ll be fine, Yellowfeather. We’re budgeting. We’re careful. I’m still earning enough at the club to cover our basics. Help Edie. Get involved with the work at the Mission. Make people’s lives better… because I know you, remember? That’s the sort of thing that ultimately makes your life better as well… for you. And I wouldn’t be worth a damn as your friend, lover, and wife if I didn’t support your decision to do something that makes life better for you, now would I?”
They went to bed early that night.
Rhianyn was right, of course. Lorewyn was happy, happier than she had been in a while, in fact. Sure, she enjoyed her work as an editor. She had enjoyed working under Max at Scribner’s and doing what she considered real and meaningful editorial work compared to her job at the Graphic. But the work at the Mission satisfied her at her very core. For a while she tried to figure out what exactly about the work inspired her so much. And then, one day, she understood.
“It’s like being a Village Constable again,” she told Rhianyn, whom she knew would understand perfectly. “At least, the parts of being Constable that I loved the most. Interacting with the people. Helping. Serving.”
“And no arrests with this job,” Rhianyn added, holding her hands up as if cuffed, in a humorous way.
Rhianyn was very supportive of Lorewyn’s efforts, and arranged an opportunity to come down to the Mission herself and sing for the people. That was a huge hit! Initially, the management of the Back Room wasn’t too thrilled about it, but then Rhianyn said the magic words.
“It’s charity,” she explained. “Volunteer charity for an organization that helps people in need. And we can make sure that everyone knows that my charitable appearance as Lady Raven is sponsored and supported by the Back Room. People like to hear about businesses supporting such efforts, yes? People with money. It makes them feel good inside… you know what I mean?”
That was all it took. Rhianyn did two separate charity events at the Mission, in fact, and the Back Room contributed to new blankets for those who needed to stay overnight. Everyone was happy. And profits at the club increased noticeably the following month. People were feeling good inside indeed, especially the management!
Things changed suddenly in August of 1930. It was a hot summer in New York, and there had been a sudden increase in polio cases. Edie, who was a nurse by training as well as a social worker, was called to help in a polio ward that had been expanded at New York Presbyterian Hospital. Lorewyn was effectively placed in charge of the Mission’s day to day operations.
“I have complete faith in you,” Edie had said. “But if you need me for anything, you can call Presbyterian Hospital. I’ll be working in the Iron Lung facility.”
“Iron Lung?” Lorewyn asked. “I’m not sure what that is.”
“It’s a new invention,” Edie explained. “Made available last year to hospitals around the country. It’s been very effective in helping patients with polio whose lungs have been compromised, the muscles unable to breathe. You might’ve heard it called a Drinker Tank? It’s basically a large cylindrical ventilator. If you’re curious, I can show you. I’d have to get you cleared with the hospital. You’d have to wear a mask.”
“That would be… interesting,” Lorewyn stated, considering the usual dilemma she faced in these situations. She and Rhianyn were immune to every Human disease they had encountered so far, and seemed unable to spread any of them. However, although Lorewyn had heard of polio, she had never been exposed to it before. “I’d appreciate the opportunity to see the device in action.”
She got the opportunity
in September when a personal message for Edie arrived at the Mission. The courier said it was urgent, so Lorewyn made the trip over to Presbyterian Hospital to deliver it to her.
“I checked with the ward administrator,” she said to Lorewyn. “He approved. We’ll get you a mask, and you can join me in a few minutes.”
Lorewyn put on the face mask that she was given and entered the ward. Her thoughts drifted instantly to her experience in Fairport and on the Crown Islands long ago with the deadly affliction… the quarantine… her mother… Kestrys…
There were about three dozen patients currently using the machines. Each patient was placed inside the tube, their torsos and legs completely sealed within it, with only their necks and heads poking out one end of the cylinder. Edie explained the process, how the air was extracted, causing a vacuum that would help the patient inhale, then how the chamber would be filled, compressing the chest cavity and allowing the patient to exhale. The average length of time that a patient would have to remain inside the device was one to two weeks.
“We have nursing staff here in the ward 24 hours a day, 7 days a week,” Edie continued. “A doctor makes rounds on the hour during the day, and we have an on-call physician at night. The nurses take shifts. We have to handle the dietary needs of the patients, keep them as comfortable as possible, monitor the equipment, and… well, other things, as I’m sure you can imagine.”
Lorewyn glanced around. Polio. She had read up on it. It could be quite debilitating, some people dying from it, others becoming permanently paralyzed or severely disabled. There was no immunization against it, unlike smallpox.
Edie excused herself to tend to some patients while Lorewyn continued examining the ward. She had been in this predicament before, numerous times the past 1,500 years. It was always the same.
I could probably heal these people magically, she thought to herself, as she had in the days of the Black Death. But she had only healed one person of that… and that was an unusual circumstance.
She and Rhianyn had an agreement. It had to be this way. The consequences would be… well, it was understood. This was reality. This was part of the Human condition. This was the world they lived in.
Lorewyn walked through the ward, looking at the patients. Adults mostly. A handful of children, mostly boys. But there was one girl. Lorewyn felt herself drawn to this child in particular. She moved in closer. The girl saw her and managed a weak smile. Lorewyn smiled in return.
“My name is Ariel,” she said to the girl. “What’s your name?”
“Cateline,” she replied weakly. It was difficult to speak under these conditions, Lorewyn understood that.
“Hi, Cateline. I’m glad to meet you.” She glanced around. A few of the girl’s personal possessions from home had been brought to her and were on a nearby chair. Lorewyn saw a baseball pennant… the Philadelphia Athletics.
“Do you like baseball?” she asked.
Cateline nodded. “I do too,” Lorewyn said. “I haven’t been to a game in a while, but I saw the first game of the ’22 World Series.”
The girl’s eyes widened and she grinned. “Yankees vs. Giants,” she whispered. “Giants won. Five games.”
Lorewyn was impressed. “Wow! I don’t think I’ve ever met a young lady who knows so much about the sport. But you would’ve been only an infant in 1922. You couldn’t possibly have seen and remembered that series.”
“I know all the series,” Cateline said again. “I have all the stats. I follow all the games. But the Athletics are my team. I’m from Lebanon, Pennsylvania.”
Lorewyn nodded, understanding. “But they had to bring you up here to New York for treatment in the Iron Lung when you got sick, didn’t they? I’m sorry… that must be hard. To be away from home like that.”
Cateline moved her head just a tiny bit in affirmation. “The Athletics are going to play in the World Series in a couple weeks, I know they are. They’ll play at Shibe Park. But I might not be able to see it. I might still be here.” She was visibly sad.
Lorewyn felt a wave of sadness herself, but was determined not to shed any tears. A child who loves baseball so much… not able to see her home team in the World Series… all because of some rotten accursed disease!
“Do you want to play baseball in the big leagues someday?” Lorewyn asked.
“I’d love to,” Cateline answered. “But you know I can’t. They don’t have major league teams for girls.”
“I know,” Lorewyn agreed, “and it’s a damn shame if you ask me! Oh, excuse me. I should watch my language, right? We’re not in the dugout right now, are we?”
She winked at the girl. Cateline smiled again. She seemed to be getting tired. Lorewyn leaned in before she stepped away.
“I hope to see you again one day, Cateline,” she offered. “And I’ll be cheering you on as you hit one over the fence while wearing a Philadelphia Athletics jersey!”
Lorewyn placed her hand to her masked mouth and blew an imaginary kiss to the girl, then walked away.
Lorewyn returned only a couple days later to Presbyterian Hospital, however. She had called Edie in advance.
“You have a young lady in the ward named Cateline,” she explained. “It’s probably best that I not go in again, but I have something that I want you to give to her for me… please.”
She reached into her coat pocket and took out the autographed baseball that Babe Ruth had signed for her eight years earlier, when she had caught the home run ball in the first game of the World Series.
“She loves baseball, and given that the World Series this year starts in just a few days, and seeing that she probably won’t be able to attend, I’d like her to have this.”
Edie just looked at the ball, smiling broadly, and accepted it. “I’ll definitely make sure she gets it,” she assured her. “And with any luck, she might just be able to make it home in time to see her team whip those Cardinals.”
Lorewyn gave a surprised laugh and embraced her. “I guess there are more girl baseball fans out there than I had initially thought!”
CHAPTER 8
October arrived with cooler weather, as expected. Edie was able to return to her duties at the Mission, although she made it clear to Lorewyn that as far as she was concerned, the Mission might be better off in her “deputy’s” more capable hands.
Lorewyn and Rhianyn had invited her to dinner with them, a kind of “welcome back to social work” dinner. They had met her just outside Carnegie Hall and walked over to the Russian Tea Room. Lorewyn had spoken to Edie several times about her “sister” Rachel, and of course Edie had met Rhianyn during the times she had come to the Mission to sing for charity.
“That message you delivered to me at the hospital a couple weeks ago?” Edie explained to Lorewyn after they had gotten seated and ordered. “It was a job offer. I have an opportunity to move to St. Louis and help with a rapidly growing Hooverville. They need social workers, missions, support services. It’s an incredible chance to do something really good in a city that really needs the help right now.”
“St. Louis as in the Cardinals?” Rhianyn mused. “Yes, Ariel told me about your interest in baseball and conversation in the ward. I must say, I’m still a bit shocked that she gave that signed baseball away… but it was for a very worthy cause, no doubt.”
“Yes, as in the Cardinals!” Edie laughed. “Ironic, huh? I’d have to be careful what I said or which colors I wore during baseball season.”
“So… have you accepted the job offer?” Lorewyn asked, feeling apprehensive at the idea of her leaving the 21st Street Mission completely.
“No, not precisely,” Edie replied. “I was able to stall them during my stint at the hospital. I had a valid excuse. We had a polio surge, and they needed nurses. But I’m off rotation now, back at the Mission, and I can’t stall any longer. I’m going to have to make a final decision in the next couple days. That’s partly why I’m glad we were able to have dinner tonight, all three of us. Had I received the offer s
ix months ago, I don’t think I could’ve accepted it. The Mission still needed me. But I’m thinking that I can leave now, seeing that there’s someone who can fill my shoes, who believes what I believe in terms of its purpose and direction.”
There was silence at the table for a moment. Lorewyn finally spoke up. “Edie, I’m… very honored. Flattered even. If you go to St. Louis, I guarantee we’ll miss you something fierce. I can step into your shoes, true. But I could never replace you.”
“Then it’s settled,” Edie declared. “I’ll accept the offer and prepare myself for Cardinals and riverboats!”
They laughed some more, finished dinner, and were crossing the street back toward where Lorewyn and Rhianyn had parked.
“We’ll give you a ride,” Rhianyn offered. “Not to worry.”
“I love the flivver!” Edie exclaimed when she saw their Model A. Lorewyn just laughed. “Flivver? Oh, that’s so last decade! Join the 30’s!”
“Well, it’s better than jalopy!” Edie stated, grinning and giving the car a pat on the hood. She was about to get in when she suddenly stopped. “My pocketbook!” she exclaimed. “I think I left it in the restaurant. Wait right here… I’ll be back!” She started running across the street, back toward the Russian Tea Room.
“No problem, we’ll still be… Edie, look out!”
Lorewyn was about to get in the car herself, but her keen peripheral vision caught a fast approaching Roadster barreling down the avenue. It was dark and the vehicle’s lights had been turned off for some reason, or were perhaps not working at the moment. The Roadster wasn’t stopping… and Edie was still crossing the street!
“No!” Lorewyn yelled, sprinting forward, trying to get Edie out of the way in time. Rhianyn saw it a split second later.
Two Birds, One Feather: The Lives and Times of Lorewyn & Rhianyn in America Page 10