Jim picked up a bat. Rachel knew that Jim had a straight, even swing. She wondered what Seth’s comment would be.
Jim hit the first pitch. He threw the bat down awkwardly and started to run. The ball went to second base, where Hank snatched it up and threw it to first base. In a real game, Jim would have been out.
“Nice try, Jim,” Seth said. “You have a nice swing. Let me just suggest one thing.” He picked up a bat to demonstrate. “As you swing, start taking a step with your left foot. After you connect with the ball, let the bat swing around in your left hand and let it go. Don’t worry about it. If you lift your foot on the swing, you’ll be one step on your way to first base. You might have been able to beat out that throw.”
Jim nodded. “I’ll try that next time.”
The batting practice continued. Steve and Joe and Hank took their turns. Seth diagnosed the swings of each player.
Rachel was keeping an eye on Simon. The hurler’s hands had come out of the pockets of his trousers, and he had moved along the fence closer to the infield—closer to Seth. Rachel saw Simon listening carefully to everything Seth said.
“Now I want to see how well you can field,” Seth called out to the team members. “I’ll hit some fly balls. You try to catch them and throw them back in.”
The team spread out around the field. Simon left the fence and joined the practice. He stood deep in left field only a few feet away from the fence. But he had definitely joined the practice.
Seth tossed a ball in the air and swung. The ball sailed into left field. Jim scrambled to get under the ball and held his hands high. Judging the arc of the ball carefully, he took a few steps back. The ball plopped into his hands. Grinning, he heaved it back to the infield for Seth to hit again.
“That was pretty good,” Steve called out. “For someone who usually plays first base, you do pretty well in the outfield.”
“Thanks!” Jim called back.
Rachel smiled to herself. If dolls and a birthday party could build a bridge between enemies, maybe baseball could do the same.
When practice was over, Rachel trailed behind the boys as they walked off the playing field toward their homes. “Your cousin is really good,” she heard Jim say to Sam. “I never noticed how I wasn’t taking a step with my swing. That’s really going to help.”
“I’ve learned a lot from Seth,” Sam said.
“You’re lucky to have a cousin to teach you,” Jim said.
“Jim is right.” Simon had drifted over. “You’re lucky to have Seth teaching you, and now we’re all lucky to have him coaching our team.”
Rachel held her breath, watching as Simon and Jim started to talk to each other.
“How’s your eye?” Jim muttered.
“Not too bad.”
“We thought you weren’t coming.”
“I thought about not coming.” “But you’re here.”
“This is my team,” Simon said. “Where else am I going to go to play?”
Jim shrugged. “The Seventh Street team would be happy to have you.”
“Naw. They don’t have a coach.”
Jim nodded. “You’re right. We’re the best. We have a coach.”
“Even if he’s a union man?” Simon asked.
“He’s a ballplayer, through and through. That’s what matters.”
“Heads up!” Seth shouted. He tossed the ball toward the group. Rachel raised her eyes to the sky and tried to follow the path of the ball. She wanted to catch that ball, just to show the boys, but she knew she shouldn’t spoil the moment by interfering.
Simon and Jim were also following the ball’s arc, their heads tipped back. Neither of them were watching what the other was doing. Both of them jumped to catch the ball. Instead, they smacked into each other and tumbled into a heap. The ball dropped to the ground and dribbled past them.
The two boys broke into laughter. Untangling themselves, they lay on the ground, rubbing their heads where they had rammed into each other.
“I think you tripped me,” Jim said, laughing. “I’ll probably have two black eyes now,” Simon responded. Rachel and Sam exchanged looks over the two boys’ heads. Brother and sister smiled. Things were finally getting back to normal.
CHAPTER 16
A Disappointing Party
The doors opened and the children poured out of the school building into the bright sunshine of a May afternoon. Sam and Rachel met each other in their usual spot and looked around for Carrie. Rachel had promised Mama she would walk Carrie home.
“Rachel, look!” Carrie cried as she ran up to join them. “A streetcar!”
Rachel turned to look, and indeed a streetcar was rumbling past. At least ten passengers were riding inside. Now it was Rachel’s turn to get excited.
“Sam, it’s Janie’s father. Mr. Lawrence is driving the streetcar!”
Sam looked carefully. “You’re right. The strike must be over.”
Mariah Webster was nearby. “The strike definitely is over,” she informed them. “The drivers did not get their two cents an hour back. They have to work on Mr. Lowry’s terms or not at all.” Mariah tossed her hair over her shoulder haughtily.
“You don’t have to be so excited,” Sam said. “A lot of families got hurt during the strike.”
“They caused all that trouble for nothing,” Mariah retorted.
“The important thing is that it’s over,” Rachel said. “Everyone can go back to work, and things can go back to normal.”
“I want to find Jim and talk to him,” Sam said.
“You go ahead,” Rachel said. “I’m going home. I have to finish getting ready for Annalina’s party.”
“Can I come to the party?” Carrie pleaded.
“I’m giving a birthday party for Annalina,” Rachel said. “It’s not for little kids.”
“I’m not little, I’m eight.”
“You’ll have to be on your best behavior.”
“I can behave, I promise.”
“All right, then, but we have to hurry. I don’t want Annalina to get there before we do.” She turned and waved at Mariah. “See you at the party, Mariah.”
Mariah did not answer.
Rachel and Carrie scurried toward home. They hadn’t gotten far before they met Janie.
Janie was talking with some of the other girls in her class. Even Colleen was there.
“I saw your father driving,” Rachel said. “I know he would never go against the union, so I guess this means the strike is over.”
“It’s over all right,” grumbled Janie. “And Thomas Lowry won.”
“I heard that the drivers didn’t get the wage cut back.”
“That’s right. They got nothing. Thomas Lowry got it all, so he can stuff his fat, filthy pockets.” Janie did not seem at all relieved that the strike was over.
“At least your father is working again,” Rachel said.
“And the streetcars are running!” Katherine Jones was excited. “I was getting really tired of walking everywhere. I’m going to go downtown right now. I’m going to ride a streetcar all the way to Bridge Square and back.”
“If you do,” Janie said, “you’re just putting more money in Thomas Lowry’s pockets.”
Rachel looked at Colleen, who had not said a word. She could be gloating, Rachel thought. She could be boasting about the victory of Thomas Lowry. But Colleen said nothing.
“A birthday pie?” Carrie asked, giggling. “I think that’s silly!”
“It’s what Annalina wanted,” Rachel said. “Since she didn’t get to eat pie when she came for supper, I promised to make her one for her birthday.”
“Are you going to put candles in it?”
“Of course.”
Carrie giggled again.
Rachel ignored Carrie and continued her preparations for the party. She had made the pie early in the morning before school, but she had not baked it yet. She wanted it to be fresh and hot from the oven for the party. Now it was time. She opened the oven
and put the pie inside.
Then she turned her attention to the dining room. Mama had agreed to let Rachel have the party in the dining room. Annalina had never had a real birthday party before. Rachel wanted this party to be one Annalina would remember for a long time.
After the girls at school discovered Annalina’s talent with the painted dolls, they seemed to welcome her a little more warmly. Rachel did not hear so many of them snickering behind Annalina’s back. Katherine, especially, was intrigued by the dolls and wanted to learn to paint them herself. So Rachel had invited Mariah and Katherine and Phoebe and Beth to the party. Rachel had also invited Colleen and Janie, but they couldn’t come. It was Colleen’s father’s birthday, and she had to spend the evening with her family. Janie was helping her mother. Janie told Rachel that her mother was getting stronger but was still too weak to make dinner without her help.
Pink was Annalina’s favorite color, so last night, Rachel had decorated the dining room with as much pink as she could find, from the tablecloth to paper streamers tied to the lights. A big sign propped up on the buffet read HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ANNALINA. Rachel’s gift for Annalina was wrapped in pink tissue paper and placed in the center of the table.
A knock sounded at the front door. Carrie jumped up. “I’ll get it.”
“I early?” Annalina asked. Her cheeks were pink.
“Did you run all the way?” Carrie asked.
Annalina nodded.
“You’re right on time,” Rachel answered. “The others will be here soon. Now close your eyes.”
Annalina looked puzzled. Rachel put her hands over Annalina’s eyes, making her friend giggle. She led Annalina into the dining room. There, she removed her hands. The Swedish girl gasped. “Pretty! For me?”
“Yes, it’s for you,” Rachel said smiling. “Happy birthday, Annalina.”
Annalina spun around and hugged Rachel. “Dank you, dank you, Rachel.”
Carrie nudged her way in between them. “Where are the other girls?” she asked.
“They’re coming,” Rachel said confidently. “We just got out of school. They probably had to go home and get their gifts for Annalina.”
“Will you braid my hair while you wait?” Carrie asked Annalina.
Rachel looked to be sure Annalina had understood. Annalina was already separating Carrie’s hair into the strands that would become twin braids.
The clock in the hall ticked loudly. Rachel tried not to look at it too often. She was no longer sure the other girls were coming.
Rachel watched as Annalina nimbly braided Carrie’s hair. Carrie was sitting perfectly still. It would not be long at all before the job was done, but for once, Rachel wished that Carrie would wiggle a little bit. But Carrie had promised to be on her best behavior, and she was.
The clock ticked.
Finally someone knocked on the door. Rachel leaped out of her chair and ran to open the door. “Katherine! Hello!”
“Hello, Rachel.” Katherine stood on the front porch awkwardly holding a small package. She wore an emerald green satin dress that highlighted her eyes beautifully. Rachel had never seen her look so lovely, but she had not expected Katherine to change from her cotton school frock into such a fancy dress.
“Come in.” Rachel opened the door wide. She glanced over her shoulder at the dining room, grinning. “Where are the others?”
Katherine shuffled into the house. “I’m not sure,” she muttered.
Rachel was puzzled. “Didn’t you talk to Mariah today—or Phoebe or Beth? They were all in school today.”
Katherine licked her lips nervously. “I don’t think they’re coming,” she said quietly.
Rachel closed the door and leaned against it. “What do you mean?”
“I asked them all if they were coming,” Katherine said, “because I can’t stay. I wanted someone to bring my gift.” “You can’t stay?” Rachel asked.
“My mother says I have to go have dinner at my grandmother’s house. My aunt just got engaged, and they’re having a party for her tonight. Mama’s waiting out in the carriage.”
“So that’s why you’re in your best dress.”
“I’m sorry, Rachel.”
“It’s all right, Katherine. You have to do what your mother wants you to do.”
“I’m sorry about the others, too.” “That’s not your fault,” Rachel said.
“Here, please give this to Annalina.” Katherine put the small package in Rachel’s hands.
“Don’t you want to say happy birthday to Annalina yourself?”
“My mother is waiting. We have to go look for my brother, Steve.”
“But, Katherine—”
“I’m sorry. I have to go.”
Then she was gone. Rachel turned back to the dining room. Determined not to let Annalina see the disappointment she felt, she marched into the room.
“Look what Katherine brought for you,” she said brightly.
“Where is Katherine?” Carrie asked.
“She couldn’t stay,” Rachel explained. “She had to go to her aunt’s engagement party.”
“Katherine go?” Annalina looked puzzled.
Rachel nodded. “She wanted to stay, but she couldn’t.”
Annalina did not respond. Her lower lip quivered.
“I think it’s time we get this party started,” Rachel said.
“But no one’s here,” Carrie commented.
Rachel shot her sister a pointed look. “We’re here,” she said emphatically. “We don’t need a whole roomful of people in order to have a party.”
“They’re not coming, are they?” Carrie said. “They didn’t want to come to Annalina’s party.”
Rachel wanted to give her sister a good shake and send her out of the room. “That just means more pie for us,” Rachel said.
But Annalina was not fooled. She had understood enough of what Carrie said to know that no one was coming to her birthday party. She sank into a chair. “Girls not come,” she said sadly.
Rachel said quietly, “No, the other girls are not coming.”
Annalina set Katherine’s gift on the table next to Rachel’s. “They not like me.”
“They don’t know you,” Rachel insisted. “If they would get to know you, they would like you as much as I do.” Annalina stared at the floor. “Let’s open the gifts,” Carrie suggested.
“That’s a wonderful idea.” Rachel sat down next to Annalina and once again put the package from Katherine in her hands.
Slowly, Annalina unwrapped the box and opened it. Inside lay a neat row of six bright paint colors and two new brushes. Annalina’s face brightened. “New paint! I need!”
“That was a thoughtful gift,” Rachel said.
“Open Rachel’s present,” Carrie urged. From the other side of the table, she nudged the package toward Annalina.
Annalina gently removed three layers of pink tissue paper and opened her mouth in delight. “Pretty!” She held up one of twelve colorful ribbons, two each of six different colors.
“I got them from Mr. Johanssen’s shop,” Rachel explained. “I’ll have to take you there. But maybe you already know him. He’s Swedish, too, after all. He has lovely things in his shop. He might even like to sell your dolls. Your father could carve them, you could paint them, and Mr. Johanssen can sell them.” She clapped her hands in delight at her own idea. “I’ll talk to him right away.”
Annalina laughed. She had not understood much of Rachel’s speech. “Rachel talk much,” she said.
“How is the party going?” Mama had just appeared in the doorway.
Annalina smiled at Mama. “Presents nice.”
“I’m glad you like them.”
“Is it time for pie?” Carrie asked eagerly.
Rachel glanced at the clock. “It should be just about done.”
Mama sniffed the air. “It doesn’t smell like you’re baking a pie.”
Rachel’s stomach sank. Mama was right. By now the house ought to be filled with th
e aroma of sweetened fruit. She jumped out of her chair and dashed into the kitchen.
Pulling the oven door open, she looked at her pie. It was formed perfectly. But it was still pasty white and raw. She groaned.
“I forgot to ask you to light the oven,” she said to Mama. “It should have been baking all this time.”
“I’ll light the oven now,” Mama offered.
“It’s too late,” Rachel said. “Annalina has to go home soon.”
Carrie and Annalina came into the kitchen.
“What’s wrong with the pie this time?” Carrie asked.
Rachel’s face crumpled.
“The pie is perfect,” Mama said, “it’s just not baked.” “No pie?” Annalina asked, confused.
Rachel shook her head. “No pie.” She opened the oven door and showed Annalina. Instantly, Annalina understood. She started giggling.
“Why are you laughing?” Rachel said. “I’ve ruined your party. We don’t have a cake or a pie or anything.”
Annalina giggled some more. Carrie started laughing, too. And then Mama started.
“What’s so funny?” Rachel demanded.
“If this were a baseball game,” Carrie said, “you’d be out on three strikes. This is the third pie you’ve made that no one got to eat.”
Now Rachel started laughing. “Three strikes or not, I’m not quitting,” she said. “Someday I will make a pie, and we will all eat it!”
CHAPTER 17
Friends at Last
Rachel arrived at the baseball field early. She was one of the first spectators to claim a seat, so she made herself comfortable on the wooden bench along the first-base line. She arranged her blue calico dress so that it fell evenly around her knees and ankles and tucked in her shawl so it would not flap in the breeze. Her hair, braided carefully that morning, featured matching white ribbon bows.
Rachel leaned forward to study the activities of the players. The Spitfires were warming up on the field, while the Oak Lake Boaters were having batting practice.
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