by Janice Hanna
About a half block away from the church, Callie ran up to her with tears streaming down her face. “Miss Rena, I can’t find Lilly anywhere.”
“No!” Rena stopped then turned and looked in every direction. Off in the distance she saw one of the boys up a tree. A second glance revealed the truth. “That’s not a boy. That’s Lilly.”
Callie ran off to fetch her little sister, and before long the group was nearly home.
“Whew, that was a close one.” Wesley drew near and took her hand as they approached the house.
“Why do you say that?”
“You haven’t met the mayor yet, have ya?” He squinted up at her.
“No. I hope to very soon, though, especially now that Josephine owes his daughter an apology. Though, I must say, I can see her side in this too. That little girl had no call to say such ugly things to her.”
“Calista always says ugly things. But she’s not the one you need to be afraid of.” Wesley gave a visible shiver then released his hold on her hand. “You’ll see, Miss Rena. One of these days…you’ll see.”
“One of these days you’ll see!” Oliver echoed, his eyes wide.
She slowed her pace as they entered the house, her mind still awhirl from everything that had happened this morning. The incidents of the morning—the inside-out clothes, the run-in with Molly Harris, the reverend’s sermon on patience, the lecture she’d given the boys, the conversation with the newspaperman, the news about Molly’s campaign against the children’s home, and Josephine’s fight with the mayor’s daughter—all these things had worn her out, and it was barely noon.
What else could the day possibly hold?
Chapter Eleven
TIPS FOR DEALING WITH UNRULY YOUNG’UNS—It’s the mayor’s job to lead the people and offer advice when necessary. That’s why I can no longer hold back my opinion regarding the little devils who’ve taken over our fair town of Daisy. Never in all my fifty-three years have I seen youngsters so intent on bringing destruction to a place. Oh, I know, some well-meaning locals insist that the hooligans from the orphanage can be reformed. My opinion? That’s a pie-in-the-sky concept. Personally, I’d like to drive them all out of town on a rail so that I can focus on what’s really important—my upcoming reelection campaign.
—Mayor Albright
(“A Vote for Albright Is a Vote That’s All Right!”)
On Monday morning during breakfast, Rena led the children in morning devotions and prayer. Just about the time she bowed her head to pray for their upcoming school day, loud knocks on the front door interrupted her. She tried to keep praying, but the persistent pounding forced her to stop.
“Who would stop by at this time of the morning?” she asked as she took a couple of steps toward the window to peek outside.
Several of the children rose from their chairs and joined her.
“Oh no!” Josephine paled and dove under the table. “It’s him!”
“Him? Him, who?” Rena asked.
Callie turned away from the window, her eyes wide. “The…the mayor!” She dropped to her knees and crawled under the table to join Josephine.
At this point, even the boys looked nervous. Oliver’s eyes widened, the twins raced for the kitchen, Wesley and even Henry shot out of the room and up the stairs. Tree began to babble nonsensically and Mochni joined him, going on and on in an unfamiliar language.
Rena wondered at their inordinate fear of the man. Was he really such an intimidating fellow? She peered through the window once more but couldn’t see him from her angle. And still the knocking at the door continued. Rena took a few steps toward the foyer.
Carolina joined her, wiping her hands on her apron. “Three of the boys just bounded into the kitchen and told me to get out of the house while the gettin’s good. What’s happening out here?”
“The mayor’s come calling.”
Carolina paled and wiped her hands on her apron. “Are you sure?”
“Well, I’ve never met the man personally, but I’m quite sure it’s the mayor based on description alone. And from the children’s reactions, of course.”
“Well, in that case…” Carolina turned around and hightailed it to the kitchen.
“Whatever are they so worried about?” Rena muttered.
She eased the door a crack, ready to do business with the man once and for all. Might as well get it over with. Peering through the small space she’d created, Rena took in the stern-faced man in front of her. Short. Rotund. Tiny tufts of gray hair so thin, she could see right through them down to his scalp. His plump cheeks seemed to swallow up his marble-sized eyes. Still, she felt their penetrating gaze, and there was no denying the anger in his expression. He wore a gentleman’s suit—expensive but ill-fitting around his expanded midsection. His collar looked tight against the folds of skin in his neck. Maybe that would account for the red face she saw.
“Miss Jewel?” He offered a brusque nod. She half expected a smile to follow. No such luck.
“Y–yes?” she managed.
“Mayor Albright. I’ve stopped by for an unavoidable conversation.”
“O–oh?” Though everything inside her fought against it, she opened the door a bit wider. “Well, do come in, then.”
“I believe I will. Do you have any coffee made?”
“Coffee?” She shook her head. “I’m a tea drinker, myself. But I could—”
“Black. No sugar or cream. Largest mug you’ve got. Can’t very well have this conversation without stiffening my backbone. Get to it, woman.” He marched into the parlor and took a seat, drumming his fingers on the chair arm.
Ugh. No doubt he’d come to talk about the run-in between Josephine and his daughter. Well, she would win him over with her coffee. If she could figure out how to make it.
Thank goodness she didn’t have to. A quick trip to the kitchen showed her that Carolina had already set the coffee to brewing. “Knew it would be the first thing he’d ask for,” Carolina said. “Always is. Sometimes I think the man has coffee running through his veins instead of blood.”
“Then one can hope it will calm him down,” Rena said.
“Agitate him is more like it,” Carolina said. “Doesn’t take much to get him going. But you’re about to find that out firsthand.”
A few minutes later he took a sip from the cup she offered him then wrinkled his brow. “This stuff’s not fit to clean out the sewer system.”
“Oh, I’m sorry, I—”
His eyes narrowed into slits and he gazed at her in such an intense way that she felt shivers run through her. “Miss Jewel, I won’t waste your time. I’ve just come by to speak with you about the incident at church yesterday. I’m sure you know what I’m talking about.”
“I do.” She nodded and offered what she hoped would look like a compassionate smile. “And I’m so awfully sorry about what happened between the girls.”
“Well, that would make two of us. Three, if you count my dear wife. She took to her bed over this.” He pursed his lips for a moment. “She suffers with nerves.”
“I see.” Rena bit her lip. “Well, how is Calista this morning?”
“Her ego is bruised, but her backside is worse, according to my wife. If I’d been there, I would have taken a switch to that Josephine at once. She deserves a solid beating for what she’s done to my girl. This is not the first time the two have scuffled, but it will certainly be the last, if I have anything to do with it.”
Rena bristled. “I can offer my assurances that Josephine was disciplined for her hasty and somewhat careless actions. But you might as well know that Calista started the fight by calling Josephine a rather ugly name and saying awful things about her mother. I heard it myself and was stunned, to say the least. I do hope you will encourage her not to instigate trouble again.”
The mayor leaned forward, his jaw tightening. She could almost see the steam coming from his ears and wondered if he might blow like a teakettle.
His next words were sharp. Crisp.
Defined.
“Listen. Up. And. Listen. Good. We’re. Going. To. Have. An. Understanding. You. And. Me.” At this point, his pace picked up and he spoke with a terrifying intensity. “There will never—and I repeat, never—be an instance where I will lend my support to one of these orphans, so get that idea right out of your head. They’ve brought nothing but grief to our fair town and to my little girl.” His volume rose and the veins in his neck throbbed. “I won’t have it, you hear me?”
Rena heard the scuffling of feet in the dining room. The children were stirring. No doubt his words had sent terror through the whole lot of them. Not that she blamed them for being scared. The man was intimidating, just as she’d been warned. Still, even the hottest-tempered soul could be reasoned with. Right?
She’d just opened her mouth to interject a few thoughts when he went off on another rant. “These children are determined to destroy this town, lock, stock, and barrel.”
“Destroy the town?” She stifled a laugh as she realized just how absurd his words sounded. “Well, sure, they’re a handful. I’ve witnessed it firsthand. But honestly, Mayor, they’re just being children. I’m sure that after a bit of time and discipline you will see a marked improvement in their behavior.”
“Say what you like, do what you like; it will make no difference. Trust me. I watched Mrs. Wabash try, that poor, gullible, old soul. She did everything a woman could do, but they trampled right over her. I have no doubt they will do the same to you, if you let them.” He leaned forward, his elbows on his knees, and gave her a look that could only be defined as a warning. “So don’t let them. You’ve got to be stern. Lay down the law. Speaking of the law, you’ve met our sheriff?”
“Well, yes.”
“He was a fine fellow until he and his wife adopted those two boys. Now I wouldn’t give a nickel for any of them.”
“Well, that’s hardly fair. His mother told me that he’s been raising those boys by himself since his wife’s death. I’m sure he’s doing the best he can. From what I can tell, the children in Daisy adore him. He’s like a father figure to them all.”
“He’s a fine sheriff but a terrible excuse for a father.” The mayor squared his shoulders. “Those boys of his are the worst of the lot. He goes way too easy on them. Feels sorry for them, from what I’ve been told. So I must insist that you keep the orphans away from the sheriff’s youngsters. When they all get together, the potential for danger is everywhere.”
Rena couldn’t think of anything kind to say, so she kept her mouth shut. Oh, but she wanted to give this man a piece of her mind. What a cruel fellow he must be, to judge the sheriff so. Why, anyone who was paying attention could see that Sheriff Wyatt was struggling to care for his boys without his wife. Some compassion was called for here, not judgment.
The mayor rose and took his hat in hand. Fingering the brim, he said, “Brace yourself for hardship, Miss Jewel. These boys and girls are liable to make your life a living—”
“Please, sir!” Rena put her hand up. “For pity’s sake, don’t say it. You have made your point, and you’ve made it well. There is no need to continue.”
He slapped his hat on his balding head, marched to the door, and flung it open. “Until next time, then.”
She gave the door a shove—perhaps a bit too hard—and it slammed shut, almost catching him in the rear. Wishing it had actually done so was probably sinful, but she couldn’t help herself.
The children streamed from the dining room and the upstairs, all of them talking at once. The cacophony of the children’s voices was nearly deafening.
“Miss Rena, you told him!” Henry gave her an admiring look.
“No one ever talks to the mayor like that,” Wesley added. “You’re a hero, just like my grandpa.” He started talking about his grandfather, the war hero, once again.
Carolina entered the room and untied her apron. “I was listening from the kitchen. Thought he was going to take you down a notch or two, but you got him in the end. Good for you.”
“Yes, good for you!” Josephine echoed.
Rena knelt in front of the youngster and took her hand. “Josephine, you realize that much of this trouble came about because you chose to fight with Calista, don’t you?”
“I didn’t want to fight with her, but she said mean things.” Josephine’s eyes brimmed with tears. “I used to have a mama and a papa just like her. And I lived in a big, fine house too. So she’s got no right to say those ugly things to me.”
Rena’s heart twisted. “Honey, even if you never lived in a fine house…even if you never knew your mama or papa…she still had no right to say ugly things to you. Ugly words are painful. The Bible says we are to guard our tongues.” Here Rena paused and gave Josephine’s hand a squeeze. “But the Bible also says that we’re to guard our temper. I want you to keep that in mind the next time she hurts your feelings. When she says something mean, you should turn the other cheek.”
“Calista’s the one who needs to turn the other cheek,” Henry said. “So Josephine can smack her on that side too!”
At this, several of the boys began to laugh. Wesley let out a snort, which tickled the girls. Before long, their giggles filled the room. At this point, Rena finally let down her guard and laughed with them. It felt good. Very good.
When the laughter died down, Oliver tugged on her sleeve. “Don’t let that old grouch get you down, Miss Rena. He was a kid once too, ya know.”
“Can’t imagine what sort of child he was,” Rena said.
“I can.” Carolina gave her a knowing look. “He was a bully just like Calista. A know-it-all bully who thrived on making others feel like the dirt under his heel.”
“Hmm.” Rena stared at Carolina as the realization hit. “You’re speaking from experience? You knew him as a child?”
“Knew him?” Carolina’s eyes widened. “I was terrified of him. All the boys and girls at the school were. And he only got worse as he aged.”
“Then however did he get elected mayor if folks were so scared of him?”
Carolina shrugged. “You know how it is. Folks vote for him because they’re scared not to. He’s been the mayor ’round here for as long as I can remember, and I daresay he’ll go on being the mayor until the Lord returns to sweep us all away.”
“I wish He’d sweep Mayor Albright away,” Henry said, rolling his eyes.
Rena sobered at these words. “Henry, we can’t talk like that. The mayor—crusty or not—is still one of God’s children, just as you are. And he’s probably got a story of his own.”
“What do you mean?” Wesley wiped his nose with his sleeve.
“I mean, his bullying ways are probably linked to something that happened when he was a boy.” Rena paused to think about her words. She would take what she had learned and use it as she disciplined Henry, Oliver, and the other boys. She didn’t want them to grow up to be mean-spirited or hateful like the mayor, even if they seemed a little devilish now.
Really, there was only one word that came to mind as she considered the outcome of the boys standing before her now: love. She would love the devil right out of them. And, by gum, she might just love it out of the mayor too.
Gene sat in the barber’s chair, a captive audience to Joe’s chatter.
Joe swished the blade this way and that across Gene’s cheeks before wiping off the shaving cream. “You saw what that newspaper fellow’s done now, didn’t you?”
“What’s that?” Gene asked.
“Happened just this morning.” Joe took a warm cloth and laid it across Gene’s face. “He posted an article in the Atoka County Register about child-rearin’.”
“I read it too,” his deputy, Charlie, added from the chair next to Gene’s. “He said that if we work together, we can get the situation with the children under control.”
“Interesting.” Gene spoke from underneath the cloth on his face.
“As if anyone could get those unruly children under control.” Old Man Tucker snorted.
“You’ll love this part,” Joe added. “He encouraged citizens to write to the paper and offer suggestions for how to handle unruly young’uns. Said if we came up with workable ideas, he would post them, one a day. What do you think of that?”
This certainly piqued Gene’s attention. He pulled off the cloth and sat up. “I think I’m ready to read that article. Do you have a copy of the paper on hand?”
“I do.” Joe reached behind the counter and pulled out the newspaper, which he passed to Gene.
“First page, far right column,” Charlie said.
Gene skimmed the page until he found the article in question. He folded back the page and read the piece quickly. Sure enough, Jonathan Brewer had come out swinging for the orphanage. He’d crafted a well-written article in defense of the children and encouraged residents of Daisy and nearby towns to link arms to make the situation better.
“Listen to this.” Gene read aloud, “‘If the residents of Daisy work together, if we’re all on the same team, we can turn around this situation. But we have to link arms. If even one person won’t join in, this won’t work. The children need to see a solid front. We can give it to them, if we try.’” Gene looked up from the paper and nodded. “Well, this is great. I knew he was talking about some sort of plan to counteract Molly’s ‘Fresh as a Daisy’ campaign. Guess this is it.”
“Yes, but child-rearing tips?” Old Man Tucker asked. “We’re supposed to turn it around by offering up tips for raising children? How will that fix anything?”
“I suppose if we’re focused on what we can do to help the children, we won’t have time left over to be angry at them,” Charlie said. “Guess that’s the idea.”
“I guess.” Joe grew silent as he cleaned out Gene’s shaving mug. When he finished, he looked Gene’s way with a sheepish expression on his face. “Look, Gene…you know I’m not really angry with the children, right? I just got a little riled up when they damaged my property. Truth is…” He removed his hat and raked his fingers through his hair. “Truth is, I just don’t know how to stop Molly when she comes around ranting and raving about the children. She’s one determined woman.”