Gradually more people came to watch the game. A few parents settled themselves on benches or quilts in the grass. Many of the spectators were brothers and sisters of the players.
Out of the corner of her eye, Rachel saw Mariah Webster strolling across the field beside Beth. Rachel turned her head to watch them more closely. Usually Mariah and Beth and Phoebe came to baseball games with Katherine Jones. Katherine came to watch her brother Steve, but Katherine was not with Mariah today.
Mariah tossed her hair haughtily as she approached Rachel. The bench was empty except for Rachel, who sat perched at one end, but Mariah and Beth did not pause.
“Hello, Mariah. Hello, Beth,” Rachel said in her sweetest voice. “It’s a fine day for a game, don’t you think?”
Mariah rolled her eyes. “I suppose.” She kept walking right past Rachel. Without speaking to Rachel, Beth followed Mariah to a patch of grass behind first base. There they put their heads together and giggled.
Rachel was determined not to be annoyed. She turned her attention back to the field.
Sam fielded a ball Seth had tossed toward him. In one smooth motion, Sam scooped it out of the dirt, twisted, and snapped the ball to Jim, waiting on first base. Jim grinned and delivered the ball to Simon on the pitcher’s mound.
Abe signaled that the team should gather together. With his arms around the shoulders of Sam and Larry, Seth smiled proudly at all the Spitfires.
“You boys have been working very hard,” he said. “In a few minutes, all your hard work is going to pay off.”
“That’s right,” Elwood said. “The Oak Lake Boaters will not even know what hit them.”
“Simon and Jim,” Seth said, “do you remember the play we went over?”
Simon nodded enthusiastically. “If I see a runner taking a lead off of first base, I fire at Jim.”
“And I keep my foot on the base so I’m always ready,” Jim added. “We won’t let any base runners get past us.”
“Joe and Sam, are you ready for the double-play balls?” Seth asked.
“Better than ever,” Sam answered.
“And you’ve all been working on your swings. Keep your eye on the ball and stay steady.”
Hank and Elwood practiced swinging imaginary bats.
“Hey,” Hank said, “where’s Steve? We need him to help cover the outfield.”
The whole team turned to scan the playing field.
“There he is,” Larry called out, pointing at left field.
Rachel saw Steve trotting across the field with Katherine dragging behind him.
“Sorry I’m late!” Steve called out.
“We’re just glad you’re here,” Jim said. “We need everybody today.”
“Let’s play ball!” Seth said, clapping his hands. The team scattered to take their positions.
Katherine hurried to get out of the way of the players. “Hi, Katherine!” Rachel called. “Come sit with me.”
Mariah and Beth burst into laughter. “Of course she’s not going to sit with you,” Mariah said. “What makes you think such a thing? Come on, Katherine, there’s plenty of room for you over here.”
Rachel paid no attention to Mariah. She kept her eyes fixed on Katherine, whose steps were slowing down.
“I’d like to hear about your aunt’s engagement party,” Rachel said. “I’m sure everyone loved the dress you wore.”
Katherine hesitated for just a moment. Then she turned her steps toward Rachel. She came and sat on the bench. Rachel could hear Mariah gasp in the background.
“Don’t pay any attention to her,” Rachel advised.
“I won’t,” Katherine said. “I should have stopped following Mariah Webster around a long time ago.”
“How was the engagement party?”
“It was nice. There were lots of sweet cakes and punch. But I kept wishing I was at Annalina’s birthday party.”
“Really and truly?”
“Really and truly. You’re right about Annalina. She’s nice. I like her. I’m sorry for making fun of her.”
“She’ll be glad to hear that,” Rachel said. “She’s supposed to meet me here later.”
Katherine turned her eyes to the field. “It looks like the game is about to start.”
Rachel turned toward the field as well. She saw that Simon was studying the batter. With his left arm, he leaned on his knee. His right arm, with the ball in his hand, was tucked behind his back. Finally, he stood up straight, wound up, and threw the first pitch of the game.
It was a strike, straight and true. The batter swung and missed. The ball smacked into the hands of Tad Leland, the catcher. With a whoop, Tad threw the ball back to Simon.
From the sideline, Seth caught Simon’s eye. Rachel held her breath as Simon nodded, indicating he had understood Seth’s secret message. Simon got ready for the next pitch. The batter swung again, scraping the top of the ball with his bat and sending it dribbling into the infield. Sam easily stopped the rolling ball and threw it to Jim before the batter could get to first base.
Seth paced along the sideline, clapping his hands. “That’s the way to do it, boys!”
“It looks like they’re off to a good start,” Katherine commented. “Steve was a little worried on the way over here.”
“That’s because they lost so badly the last time,” Rachel said. “Simon wasn’t here to hurl. But with Simon pitching and Jim Harrison playing first base, the other team doesn’t have a chance.”
Katherine smiled. “I hope you’re right. But it’s only the first inning.”
“Go Spitfires!” Rachel shouted.
“Beat the Boaters!” screamed a voice just behind her. Rachel turned to see Mariah Webster standing behind the bench. Rachel stared up at Mariah with questions in her eyes.
“The ground is cold,” Mariah said. “You said there was plenty of room on the bench.”
“There still is.”
Katherine scooted closer to Rachel. Mariah and Beth sat down. “If you’re going to sit here,” Katherine said, “you have to promise not to be mean.”
Mariah tilted her head, puzzled.
“I don’t want you saying anything nasty about Annalina or Rachel or anybody.”
Mariah didn’t seem to know what to say. “I promise,” she finally said.
“Here comes Annalina!” Rachel cried. “We have room on the bench for one more, don’t we?”
“Of course!” Katherine responded.
But Annalina wasn’t alone. Colleen and Janie were with her.
Annalina’s steps slowed as she approached the first-base line. Now she stopped. She caught Rachel’s eyes with her own worried ones.
Rachel waved to Annalina. “It’s all right, Annalina. Come and sit with us.”
Annalina did not move.
“What’s the matter with her?” Mariah asked.
Katherine scowled. “Would you want to come and sit with people who have been as mean to you as we’ve been to her?”
Mariah hung her head. “No, I guess not.”
Biting her lower lip, Annalina looked from Rachel to Katherine to Mariah. She still did not move her feet.
Rachel waved her arm in a big circle. “Come on, Annalina,
Colleen, Janie. Come and sit.”
Colleen and Janie took seats on the bench. Still Annalina did not move.
Katherine stood up. “I’m going to get her.”
Rachel grinned and watched. Katherine marched over to Annalina and took the Swedish girl by the hand. She pulled so hard that Annalina had no choice but to follow. Katherine led Annalina to the bench and pointed to the open spot between Mariah and Beth. Gingerly, Annalina sat down. She looked around nervously.
“It’s all right,” Katherine said. “We want to be your friends.”
“Friends?”
“Yes, friends, just like Rachel is your friend.” “Rachel is friend.”
“Yes, Rachel is your friend. And so am I.”
Annalina smiled nervously. Katherin
e glared at Mariah and Beth.
Awkwardly, Mariah leaned over and put a hand on Annalina’s shoulder. “Sit with us whenever you want to. We’re glad to have you.”
Confused, Annalina turned to Rachel for reassurance.
Rachel was smiling so big she could hardly talk. “It’s all right, Annalina. It’s not a trick. We all want you to sit with us, to be our friend.” It felt right. Her old friends had joined with her new friend. Now they were all just friends, the way it should be.
The crack of a bat made them turn their heads back to the game. The ball sailed to center field. Steve Jones was under it and snatched it out of the air.
CHAPTER 18
Peace in the Family
Carrie twirled to make her pink dress spin. “Do you like my pretty dress, Papa?” she asked.
“You look spectacular.” Papa sat on the sofa in the living room, Rachel next to him, and Sam in the chair across from him.
“I didn’t get to wear my new Easter dress to Aunt Linda’s for Easter dinner, so I decided to wear it today.”
“You made a good choice,” Papa said.
Rachel watched Carrie’s spinning dress and thought of her own new sapphire cloak. It had not survived the Easter Sunday riot as well as Carrie’s dress had. She only got to wear the new cloak one day. Then it was so tattered that it went straight to the rag pile. Still, Rachel was happy that Carrie was enjoying her new dress.
“Are Uncle Ernest and Uncle Stanley going to argue?” Carrie asked somberly. “Are they going to shout and be mad like they were when they were here?”
Papa pulled Carrie onto his knee. “I can’t promise you what anyone will do. But I do think Stanley and Ernest are trying to get along better these days.”
“The strike is over, so they don’t have to fight about that,” Carrie said.
Papa nodded.
“Freddy says that his papa quarrels with Uncle Ernest all the time.”
“I don’t think they quarrel all the time,” Papa said slowly. “But they do have different opinions about many things.”
“They can get along if they want to,” Sam said. “Look at Jim and Simon. A couple weeks ago they were so angry they were hitting each other. But now they get along again.”
“And Mariah and Annalina are starting to be friends,” Rachel added. “Mariah thinks Annalina is really smart. Once she stopped making fun of her, she found out how much she likes Annalina.”
“And Ernest and Stanley like each other, too,” Papa said. “I’m sure of that. They’ve known each other for a long time.”
“I’m glad we’re going to have a family dinner to make up for Easter,” Carrie said.
Mama entered the room. “Rachel, your pie is ready to come out of the oven. As soon as you wrap it up, we can be on our way to the Stockards’.”
Sam snickered. “Are we going to get to eat this pie, Rachel?” “This pie is perfect,” Rachel declared. “I was very careful with the recipe.”
A few minutes later, the Borland family was walking down the street, laden with their part of the family dinner. Rachel, of course, carried her cherry pie carefully and proudly. It was wrapped in two towels to keep it extra safe. Carrie swung a basket of biscuits, Sam lugged a sack of potatoes, Papa had the corn pudding, and Mama had the apple pie.
“Are we going to ride a streetcar?” Carrie asked.
“Here comes one now,” Sam said.
“It’s Mr. Lawrence’s car.” Rachel waved her arm to signal that the car should stop for them.
They clambered aboard and settled into seats right behind Mr. Lawrence.
“How are you all?” Turning to Sam and nudging the horses forward, Mr. Lawrence said, “I hear you hit quite a long ball against the Oak Lake team.”
Sam smiled proudly. “It was a triple. Two runs scored on my hit.”
“How is Mrs. Lawrence?” Mama asked.
“Well, it seems as though she has turned the corner. She’s doing much better, thank you.” Glancing at Rachel, he added, “I suppose Janie will have more free time for recipe swapping.”
Rachel smiled. “Well, the last time we tried it things didn’t go so well. I’m willing to try again.”
“Why are you carrying around half a market?” Mr. Lawrence asked, eyeing their food.
“We’re going to have Easter dinner,” Carrie explained.
Mr. Lawrence chuckled. “Well, that’s a fine idea. There was quite a bit of excitement that day, wasn’t there?”
“We’re going to the Stockards’,” Carrie said.
“Ah, yes, I hear their son Seth is coaching your team,” Mr. Lawrence said to Sam. When he saw the puzzled expression on Sam’s face, he laughed. “When you drive a streetcar you hear all kinds of things.”
They got off the streetcar in front of the Stockards’ house. Carrie scampered up the steps and knocked on the door ahead of the rest of them. When it opened, she hurtled through, calling for Freddy.
Aunt Linda stood in the open doorway with Aunt Agnes right behind her. They both laughed at Carrie. Mama shook her head.
“When she gets excited,” Mama said, “there’s just nothing I can do to control her.”
“Is everyone here?” Rachel asked.
Aunt Linda nodded. “Molly and Miranda are upstairs. No doubt they’re talking about their latest beaus. Seth and Gage are out back in Seth’s old lab.”
“What about Uncle Ernest—and Uncle Stanley?” Rachel was almost too nervous to ask.
“Hmm,” Aunt Linda said, puzzled. “I’m not sure where they disappeared to.”
“These potatoes are heavy,” Sam complained.
Aunt Linda took them from him. “Let’s put the food in the kitchen. Rachel, your pie smells delicious. I can’t wait to taste it.”
Rachel and Mama followed Aunt Linda into the kitchen, where Aunt Agnes was stirring her currant glaze in a pan on top of the stove. She smiled to welcome them.
“The ham smells wonderful!” Rachel said as she set her pie down on the table and began unwrapping it.
Aunt Agnes bent over and peeked at the ham in the oven. “It will be done in just a few minutes.”
“I’ll start peeling potatoes.” Mama took the sack from Aunt Linda.
“Agnes,” Aunt Linda said, “do you know what happened to Stanley?”
“He was headed for the study the last time I saw him,” Aunt Agnes replied.
Aunt Linda raised her eyebrows. “Ernest’s study?”
“Yes.”
“Ernest was in there reading the last time I saw him.” Mama and Rachel exchanged a worried glance. Aunt Linda read their minds. “Perhaps I’ll just go check and see how things are in the study.” “I’ll go with you,” Rachel said.
As they approached the open study door, they heard rising voices. “What on earth made you think to do such a thing?” Uncle Stanley exclaimed.
“I’m simply using the mind that God gave me,” Uncle Ernest answered. “I suggest you do the same.”
“Oh, no!” Rachel said. By now, Mama and Aunt Agnes had heard the voices and followed them into the hallway. Papa and Sam left the living room and joined the growing huddle in the hall.
“Should we go in?” Mama asked.
“They have to work things out themselves,” Aunt Linda insisted.
“They may need a little help.” Papa stepped through the doorway. Then, he tilted his head back and roared with laughter.
“Papa, what is it?” Rachel asked anxiously.
Papa gestured that they should all come in. The two men sat across the desk from each other. Between them was a chessboard. Most of the white pieces had been captured, and the king was checkmated. Uncle Ernest had the smirk of victory on his face.
“We haven’t been playing more than ten minutes,” Uncle Stanley complained, “and already he’s thrashed me.”
Rachel laughed in relief.
Uncle Stanley pointed a finger at his brother-in-law. “This is not the end of it, my friend. I learn from my mistakes. You w
ill not win so easily the next time.”
“We all learn from our mistakes,” Uncle Ernest said quietly. “Let us pray that the city of Minneapolis—even the whole country—can learn from its mistakes.”
Uncle Stanley nodded. “This nation has too much potential not to learn from its mistakes. If Jim Hill can build a railroad that reaches all the way to the West Coast, the rest of us can learn to solve our problems together.”
Uncle Ernest chuckled. “May I remind you that Jim Hill has not reached the West Coast yet?”
Uncle Stanley grinned in response. “It won’t be long, now.”
Rachel caught Sam’s eye and saw the smile on his face. The two men were bantering the way they always had. But the lightness in their tone and the twinkle in their eyes made everyone relax.
“I’d better get back to the potatoes,” Mama said.
“Oh, the glaze is probably boiling by now,” Aunt Agnes added.
“Rachel, I’m saving room for a piece of your pie,” Uncle Stanley put in.
Rachel smiled. “I’m afraid it’s only one pie. It’s not enough for fourteen people.” She turned and headed for the kitchen.
“Well, I’m having a piece,” Sam declared. “After all, you’ve made four pies and we haven’t gotten to eat any of them yet.”
“This pie made it all the way over here, safe and sound.” Rachel pushed open the kitchen door. “As soon as dinner’s over—”
White-faced, Rachel gasped and spun around to Sam.
“What is it?” Sam pushed past his sister and burst into the kitchen.
Freddy and Carrie sat at the table with cherries smeared on their faces and soiled forks in their hands. “We were hungry,” Freddy explained.
Rachel was too shocked to speak. Her beautiful pie was half-eaten. The remaining half was so crumbled that no one would want to eat it.
Sam roared with laughter. “I guess I’ll have to wait for pie number five!”
Emily Makes a Difference
JoAnne A. Grote
A NOTE TO READERS
The Allerton and Kerr families are fictional, but the events they find themselves in actually happened. During 1893, the United States celebrated the four hundredth anniversary of Columbus arriving in America. A huge world’s fair in Chicago was dedicated in 1892 and opened to visitors in 1893. One of the major attractions was the first Ferris wheel, which towered over everything else on the grounds.
American Rebirth Page 34