* * *
He opens the back of his wagon and returns a smile. "Good morning, Adeline. How are you and your sisters this morning?"
* * *
"The three of them have been practically bouncing off the walls, they're so excited." I laugh as I take his hand and climb up into the wagon.
* * *
He helps Genevieve, Lydia and Hazel up after me smiling before shutting the back of the wagon.
* * *
I sit down on the bench next to my sisters. Lydia rests her head on my shoulder and sighs.
* * *
"What's wrong Lydia?" I say softly.
* * *
She takes a long breath in, before replying. "Just a little nervous, that's all."
* * *
"Lydia, you're a kind, sweet and funny girl. You'll make so many friends. I know it." I wrap my arms around her shoulders, squeezing her tightly.
* * *
She smiles, looking up at me. "You think so?"
* * *
I laugh. "Oh Lydia. I know so."
* * *
We remain quiet for the majority of the ride there. It isn't until we can see Riverbend in the distance that we begin chattering again.
* * *
"I wonder how many other kids there will be." Genevieve leans forward in her seat craning her neck to see Riverbend.
* * *
Hazel giggles. "Maybe one thousand. And all of them will be bad and Adeline will have to deal with them all."
* * *
We all laugh until the wagon is silent again. A thought comes to my mind. "Girls? Remember to call me Ms. Carter around the other students."
* * *
The girls nod and soon after, the wagon stops and I feel the nerves kick in. I allow August to help my sisters down first and I take the basket in my hand, then reach to take his hand with the other while I jump down.
* * *
I stand in front of the schoolhouse. It seems so intimidating. Me, so small compared to it. I somehow muster up the courage to take the key out of my basket and walk up the steps toward the door.
* * *
“Have a good day girls!” August calls from beside his wagon.
* * *
I take a deep breath, closing my eyes as I stick the key into the lock and it clicks open.
Chapter 16
I’m now standing by my desk, with my sisters all sat in their desks. Soon the other children will enter.
I run a mental list through my head. Water for the children from the well? Yes. Books set out for today's lessons? Yes. Now, all I have to do is wait patiently for the children to arrive.
August told me the other day where I could find the well, and I’m glad he did because I’m sure I wouldn’t have found it otherwise.
My heart lurches as I see the door slowly open. A little girl with short black hair walks in, followed by a bunch of other children.
Without instruction, they fill up the seats and look at me shyly. I clear my throat and give a smile. "Hello students. It's lovely to see you all here. Before we begin, you can go set your lunch pails on that shelf over there."
The students reluctantly stand and cross the room to the shelf where they put their lunches. Soon, they're all back in their seats and I look around at each of them, giving them a smile.
"Okay, let's begin. I thought it would be a good idea for us to introduce ourselves. In case you don't know, I'm Ms. Carter. We're going to go around the room and you can say your name. How about we start with you?" I say, pointing to a girl in the front row who looks to be the same age as Hazel.
She smiles and pushes her long blonde hair over her shoulder. "I'm Eva."
I walk toward her. "It's nice to meet you, Eva. Now we'll work our way down the rows. So you’re next." I smile at a little boy sat beside Eva.
The children take turns reciting their names, and after each child has told me their name, I can honestly say I only remember a few.
I laugh and stand next to my desk again. "All right students, I'm going to discuss what I expect from you in my classroom and some basic things you should know." I tuck a piece of hair behind my ear and slowly walk around the front of the room. "In this classroom, I expect that all of you are kind to one another and you treat each other with respect. If you ever need help, please don't be afraid to raise your hand and ask. If you'd rather ask me in private, you can find me."
Out of the corner of my eye, I can see a young boy with curly red hair raise his hand. "Yes?"
"Will we be able to have outdoor time?" He asks, his voice soft and quiet.
I smile and look toward him. "Yes, for sure at lunch. If it's nice, you will be able to take your lunches outside and play for a bit. Some days, if you're doing really well and behaving nicely, I will perhaps let you all have an outdoor break."
Some students murmur to each other, excitement clear in their voices. I raise my hands in front of my head gaining their attention again. "Now, I've donated a bunch of books which are on the bookshelf over there." I point to the bookshelf and they turn to view the books. "My ma was a teacher and she had so many books at home, and I know she’d be so happy to know that you children will be putting them to use."
I watch as the children nod, some with enormous smiles on their faces. In the middle row, I spot the little girl who August said was called Mae.
I focus myself back on the task at hand. "So, I think we should just start the lessons and begin learning. For the first lesson of writing, we will work on the alphabet. I know many of you already know the alphabet, but we need to get the children who don't know the alphabet caught up. This will be our writing lesson. After everyone knows the alphabet, we will work on spelling. Does that sound good?"
Some students nod; others smile. All right, I’ve got this.
Soon after some explanation, the students are all ready for me to begin. The young children who don't know the alphabet have their slates and chalk out. I've chosen some of the older students to stand near them and help if they need it. Genevieve is standing in between two little girls, smiling at them. Other students have chosen a book off the shelf and are sat at the back of the room reading quietly.
I take a piece of chalk and erase the board. I turn to face the students, smiling. "Okay, pay attention. The alphabet is very important and you'll use it a lot. There are twenty-six letters in the alphabet. I will teach them to you in order. The first letter is ‘a’. It looks like this." I turn and write a big, neat ‘a’ on the chalkboard. "Now you try it. Draw an ‘a’ on your slates."
I walk toward the students who are slowly moving the chalk along their slates. One boy, I notice, has his tongue stuck out slightly as he concentrates on his slate. "Raise your hand when you're done and I'll come see."
Soon a little girl with black hair and big, green eyes raises her hand with a triumphant look on her face.
"Hello." I bend down beside her desk so we match height. "What's your name again?"
She grins. "Emma."
"What a beautiful name. Could I see your letter ‘a’?” I reach for her slate and she reluctantly passes the slate to me. I smile as I realize I've taught a child something. There in the centre of her slate is the letter ‘a’.
Chapter 17
"Great job Emma." I pass the slate back to her and stand. Another girl with a huge smile has her hand up.
I walk over to her and she passes her slate to me. I smile at her and look at her slate. Sure enough she's written the letter ‘a’. "This is a lovely ‘a’. What is your name again?"
She takes her slate and sets it back down on her desk. "Pearl."
"Oh yes. I don't have a very good memory sometimes. You might have to help me."
She giggles and looks up at me. Her eyes seem to be sparkling. "Thank you."
"For what?" I laugh softly.
"Teaching me the letter ‘a’ of course. Now I can go home and tell my mama that I know a letter!" She giggles leaning back in her chair.
I sm
ile. "Hopefully I can teach some more letters to you today and you can go home and tell your mama you know more than just one letter."
She grins as I turn to walk to the next child. Soon, I'm back up at the chalkboard ready to teach the next letter. All of the children have finished their ‘a’s and I've seen and talked to each of them and know most of the younger ones names.
"The next letter in the alphabet is called ‘b’.” I write it on the board and the students go straight to copying it on their own slates.
After a while, I decide to move on to something else. I’ve taught them the letters up to ‘f’ so far.
All the other students put their books on the shelf and return to their desks.
I then start a lesson on simple arithmetic. I feel bad for the older students who won't be learning as much until I get the younger ones going, but they seem more than willing to help out.
I spend the next while teaching on the board and having students write some things on their slates. The students all have such eagerness to learn and I can tell they're paying attention.
Soon I feel my stomach growling, and I know it's telling me it's time for lunch. I set my chalk down and smile at the students. "You students have worked extremely well this morning and I think it's time for lunch. You can leave your slates at your desk. Take your lunch outside and when you're done eating you may play or do what you like for a bit. When we get outside, I'll show you where you cannot go. You may get you lunches now."
With that, the students stand their chairs scraping on the floor. Children rush to grab their pails and soon everyone is outside, including my sisters. I grab my sandwich and shut the schoolhouse door behind me.
The sun is shining and I smile at being able to have fresh air after being inside all morning.
The students have not gone too far from the schoolhouse, likely not wanting to get in trouble for going too far.
I smile down at them from where I stand on the top of the steps. "You can go wherever you please, except don't go in front of or into any of the other buildings in town." I point down the road at the different buildings. "You can go quite far into the trees over there." I'm pointing at the large area behind the school. "But no further than the river. And please don't go in or near the water."
I smile and motion for them to go. Many students head in the direction of the trees, while some sit on the grass next to the schoolhouse with their friends.
I choose to sit on a bench on the deck of the school. I smile looking around at the children laughing and talking. Thinking back to this morning brings a grin to my face. These children were truly wonderful and the fact that I’m teaching them things they'll use in their lives is amazing.
I'm startled when Lydia sits down beside me. "Hey." She smiles.
"Hello Lydia. Aren't you going to go sit with the other girls your age?"
Her face goes red and she looks down at her feet. "Well, I would, but I'm kind of nervous to ask to join them."
"Oh Lydia, it’s fine." I stand, motioning for her to do the same. "Here, I'll help you find someone to sit with."
She raises her eyebrows. "Couldn't I just sit with you?"
I laugh. "I think you can meet some wonderful people here, Lydia. You already know me, so let’s find you someone else."
We walk down the steps and onto the grass. We walk past a group of five-year old girls. One girl, named Elizabeth, looks up at me with her blonde hair covering one of her eyes. "Hello Ms. Carter."
I smile down at her waving. "Hello Elizabeth."
Lydia and I continue walking until we reach the trees. I spot two girls under a large tree laughing to each other. I know they are the same age as Lydia.
"How about these girls, Lydia?" I point in the direction of the two girls.
Lydia hesitantly nods. As we near the girls they give warm smiles in our direction.
"Hello girls." I say looking down at them.
"Hello." They say in unison.
I smile at them before lightly pushing Lydia forward. "This is Lydia. She was wondering if she could sit with you."
The girl with thick curly red hair grins. "Of course. I'm Martha and this is Minnie!"
Lydia gives a shy wave as Martha pats the ground next to her.
Laughing, I say to the girls. "I'll see you three in class in a while." I give Lydia a reassuring smile before making my way back to the schoolhouse bench.
Now seated again, I eat my lunch quietly while watching the children playing around me. Some girls are playing jump rope and singing while a group of boys are running around playing a game.
After a while, I decide we should head back inside. I work my way around to the students telling them to head back inside. Soon, after one last check, I'm sure I've got everyone inside. As I enter the schoolhouse, I see the students all sat at their desks talking excitedly. Laughter fills the room.
I make my way to the front of the room and smile. "Okay students, quiet now. I know lunchtime was fun, but now it's back to learning."
I decide to take one of the books from the shelf that will help me to teach geography.
Before I know it, the school day is over and I'm dismissing the students. I stand watching as they all exit the schoolhouse, excited chatter following them out the door.
Chapter 18
"Oh, it's all right child. Don't cry." Mae has her thin arms wrapped around me as she sobs.
I've already dismissed the other children from their second day of school, but Mae stayed back because she wanted to talk to me. After getting my sisters outside, she’d run over to me sobbing.
I stroke her hair gently. "What's wrong, Mae?"
"My little baby sister Lillian came down with something last night and my daddy had to get the doctor over this morning. My daddy was crying when he sent me to school. He told me not to worry, but how can I not? I just don't understand. Is Lillian going to die like my mama did?"
"Oh, Mae." I let out a long breath as I pull a chair over for her to sit on. I kneel down beside her and rub her arm gently. "You should have told me this morning. This must've been bothering you all day."
She nods, looking down at her hands. Her face has tears running down it and her nose is puffy and red.
"I know your mama dying was hard for you. I know it was for me when my ma died. It's hard on a family, isn't it?" I say looking into her teary, brown eyes.
She nods, her lip quivering.
"But, do you know what the best thing you can do right now is?" I pause before continuing. "Being strong for your daddy and your little sister. And, you just have to pray that she'll be okay."
She sighs, wiping her eyes with her dress sleeve. "I try to be strong but sometimes it's just so hard. I don't understand why everything bad seems to happen to my family."
"I know. The things that happen to us never seem fair, but they're part of what make us stronger." I take her hand and she stands up.
She looks at me, her eyes seeming to search for an answer. "What should I do?"
I lift her chin up with one finger so she’s looking in to my eyes. "You just keep your head held high and that smile bright on your face. And if something bad happens, just know you're not alone. I’m always here if you need me.”
She tilts her head a little looking up at me again. "When you lost your mama did you cry and feel like your heart was broken?"
I hesitate answering her. How could a girl of such a young age have these types of thoughts? When I was her age, I was probably skipping around picking flowers, but at such a young age, she has already experienced death. "Yes. Yes, I did."
"Does it ever go away?" She has a look of desperation on her face.
How could I tell her the truth, that it doesn't? I sigh and look down at her. "Mae, let me put it this way. The pain will someday ease, but not entirely. For me, there is always a part of me missing my ma, but now it sometimes makes me happy."
I take her hand and lead her toward the door. She wipes at her eyes again before replying. "Why does i
t make you happy?"
"I don't know; it just does. The memories, I guess. I can think of the happy times with my ma, and it makes it somewhat better."
She opens the door and pulls it open with a tug. "Thank you Ms. Carter."
I pull her into a tight hug. "You're welcome, Mae. Please, if you ever need to talk, come see me. And I hope your sister gets better."
She smiles and walks down the stairs, then off in the direction of her house.
Genevieve lightly rests her hand on my arm. "What was that about?"
"Just a child needing someone to talk to."
She smiles, understanding as I lock the schoolhouse door. Two days of teaching has already passed. It’s been two of the best days of my life.
August comes up behind us, smiling. "Shall we head home now?"
"Yes. Oh, are you working on the barn again? We can make supper for you."
August nods. "Yes, that's the plan anyway. I'm hoping to have it finished by next week."
I match my pace to August's, his long strides making it hard for me to keep up. My sisters laugh and run to catch up.
Soon we're in the wagon and on our way home. As I now normally do, I take my seat next to August.
He turns his gaze to me and smiles. "Well, how was your second day?"
"It was lovely. I can almost remember every child's name." I pause folding my hands in my lap. "August? You know the girl Mae, right?"
He nods his eyebrows raised slightly.
"Well." I start thinking back to the conversation Mae and I had today. "She stayed after I dismissed the students saying she wanted to talk to me. I'd originally thought she didn't understand something from my lessons, but…oh August. As soon as the door shut and it was only her and I in the schoolhouse, she started crying and ran into my arms."
The Barn (Carter Sisters Series #2) Page 7