Lucy’s Wish Page 3

  Lucy dropped the marble back into her pocket. Miss Kelly said, “Children, you’re going to discover many fine people who want very much to meet you. Some of you will find new families here.”

  Jessie spoke softly. “What happens if we don’t?”

  Lucy’s heart began to thump hard. Miss Kelly answered, “Then you’ll still have me. I’ll be with you. I won’t leave you until you all find homes.”

  “Do you promise? You will stay with us?” Lucy asked.

  “I promise,” Miss Kelly said. “My job is to make sure that you all have good homes.”

  Lucy’s heart grew quiet. But she still held tightly to Baby. She still hoped with all her heart that her wish would come true.

  When the train stopped in Harwood, a man came aboard to greet Miss Kelly. She turned to the children and said, “Pick up your luggage, boys and girls. We’ll leave the train and walk two blocks to the Methodist church, where we’ll meet the people who have come to see you. Remember, you’re wonderful children, and I’m very, very proud of you. The families who get you will be lucky, so hold your heads high and smile.”

  There were a lot of people on the platform who had come just to look at the orphans. Lucy blushed. She hated being stared at. She hated hearing people talk about her as though she couldn’t hear. Staring straight ahead, she followed Miss Kelly and the other children down a dusty street to the Methodist church.

  The church was filled with people. At one end there was a raised platform. Three rows of stools were on the platform, and Miss Kelly seated the children on the stools. The smallest were in front, the largest in back. Lucy found herself at one end of the middle row.

  When they were all settled, Miss Kelly told the people who had come to see the children about the Children’s Aid Society. Then she introduced each child.

  Lucy was terrified when her name was called. She looked out at all the faces and wondered whether anyone there would want her. Daisy was introduced next, and all the eyes turned to look at Daisy.

  Miss Kelly invited those who had come to visit the stage and get to know the children. A buzz of voices quickly filled the room.

  A woman ran to swoop up little Lizzie, and Lucy saw two of the older boys being chosen.

  Choose me, she thought, and dared to look into the eyes of a young couple who were standing nearby. But their eyes were on sisters Emily and Harriet Averill. Neither the woman nor the man glanced in Lucy’s direction.

  Lucy knew she should smile, but she was too frightened. She wrapped her arms around herself, scarcely daring to look up.

  Couples strolled nearby. Some of them stopped to chat with one or more of the children. Many of the stools on the platform emptied as people signed the papers to take an orphan train rider.

  The room became quieter. Lucy heard Miss Kelly thank the committee members for their help, and she heard someone behind her sob.

  She quickly straightened and looked around the room. It was practically empty. Only a few of the orphan train children were left.

  “No one chose us,” Lucy whispered in surprise and fear. “No one wanted us.”

  Miss Kelly stepped up to Lucy and took her hand.

  “Don’t worry,” she said. “We have two more stops to make. We will find a family for you.”

  She smiled, but Lucy didn’t smile back. She had never been so scared in her life.

  Lucy counted. At least she wasn’t the only one not chosen. Twelve other children stood together. They waited to hear what Miss Kelly would tell them.

  Daisy clutched Lucy’s arm and whispered, “Virginia got chosen. Why didn’t we?”

  Lucy didn’t answer, but she thought she knew. She had watched Virginia. Virginia had smiled and talked to the people who stopped in front of her.

  Miss Kelly had told them that there would be two more stops. Lucy took a deep breath to steady herself. She wouldn’t let herself become so scared at the next stop. She’d look at the people who paused to talk to her. She’d do her best to smile.

  This time she’d make her wish come true.

  “We’ll catch the midmorning train tomorrow,” Miss Kelly said. Then she matched the children with adults who had offered to put them up for the night.

  Lucy and Daisy walked with Mrs. Judson, who lived just down the street from the Methodist church. Mrs. Judson didn’t say much to them. However, she led Lucy and Daisy into her kitchen and fed them big bowls of tasty mutton stew. When they had eaten all they wanted, Mrs. Judson showed them her guest bedroom, where they’d spend the night.

  “There are clean towels by the washbasin and pitcher,” she said. “If you need anything else, just call me.”

  She left the room, closing the door behind her.

  Daisy stared openmouthed at the matching pitcher and basin. “Hand-painted china!” she exclaimed. “Look at all those pink rosebuds!” She backed away. “I can’t wash my face in that basin. I’d get the rosebuds dirty.”

  “That’s what you’re supposed to do,” Lucy said. She turned slowly so she could look at everything in the room. There were lace curtains at the window and bright quilts on the beds. In one corner was a small writing desk and chair.

  “Oh, how beautiful!” Lucy whispered.

  Daisy’s eyes brightened. “Do you think Mrs. Judson might want to adopt a girl?” She glanced at Lucy. “Maybe two girls?”

  “Mrs. Judson could have chosen a child if she wanted to,” Lucy said.

  Daisy looked around the room again and sighed with delight. “Wouldn’t this be a grand house to live in, Lucy?” she asked.

  Lucy thought for just a moment. Then she said, “It is a grand house, but it doesn’t have what I want in it. I want a mother and father and a little sister.”

  Daisy smiled. “There is a Mr. Judson,” she said. “I heard somebody say he’s a banker. So there’s your mother and father. And I could be your little sister.”

  Lucy shook her head again, but she smiled. Mrs. Judson wasn’t exactly what Lucy had hoped for in a mother, and Mr. Judson she hadn’t seen at all. But Daisy would make a good little sister.

  “Tomorrow morning I’m going to tell Mrs. Judson how happy her house would be with two daughters in it,” Daisy said. “You’ll have to smile, too. And be helpful.”

  “All right,” Lucy said.

  Daisy pulled off her shoes and dress and tossed them on the floor. Then she dove into bed. “Good night, Lucy,” she said, and giggled. “Tomorrow we may have a new mother.”

  Even though the early-evening sky was still light, Lucy was exhausted. She undressed. Then, sinking into the soft, beautiful bed, she pulled the quilt up to her chin.

  Lucy wondered if Mrs. Judson would like children in her house. She and Daisy would be good, helpful daughters and do their best to make Mr. and Mrs. Judson happy parents. With a smile on her face, Lucy fell sound asleep.

  The morning light awakened her. She jumped from bed, surprised to find that Daisy was already up and dressed.

  Lucy washed her face and hands in the basin and put on her clothing.

  “Should we fold the bed linens?” Daisy asked. “We want Mrs. Judson to think we’re very helpful.”

  “We want her to think we’re clean, too,” Lucy said. “Wash your hands and face.”

  “You can’t tell me what to do,” Daisy complained.

  “I can if I’m your big sister,” Lucy said.

  Daisy grumbled, but she quickly washed in the cool water. She even wiped up the splatters with her towel.

  Lucy worked with Daisy to put the room in order. Then they hurried outside to the privy, remembering to wash their hands and dry them on the towel hanging outside the kitchen door.

  The door opened, and a plump, middle-aged woman poked her head outside. “So this is where you got to,” she said. “I was gonna start huntin’ for the two of you if you didn’t show up pretty soon.” She smiled and said, “I’m Gussie, the Judsons’ housekeeper.”

  “She has a housekeeper?” Daisy whispered to Lucy. She loo
ked terribly disappointed. “We thought she might need a girl … uh … two girls to help out with the housework,” Daisy told Gussie.

  Gussie laughed. She poked a stray wisp of gray-blond hair back into the twist that sat like a fat biscuit on top of her head. “Last thing Mrs. Judson needs is two little girls. She has four of her own already and just married off the last one. What she wants now is to sleep late, like she’s doin’ this mornin’.”

  Gussie held the back door open wide. “You come inside now. I’ll fix your breakfast and get you to the depot in time for the train.”

  Lucy took Daisy’s hand. “Don’t be sad,” she whispered. “We’ll find our families. Maybe at the next stop.”

  “What if we don’t?” Daisy whispered back.

  Lucy remembered Miss Kelly’s words. “You have to believe,” Lucy said.

  It was hard to believe and not be frightened. Lucy found that it was even harder not to give in to her fears when Gussie left her and Daisy at the train station. Lucy could see from the faces of the other children that they were just as terrified as she was.

  Everyone looked sad. Everyone looked scared. No one had wanted them at the first stop. Would it be any different at the next stop?

  A young couple rushed up to Miss Kelly. They had taken five-year-old Walter just to spend the night and had decided they wanted to keep him.

  Lucy couldn’t help feeling jealous. There are only eleven of us now. She fought back a lump that stuck in her throat and made her want to cry.

  In the distance she heard long blasts from the train’s whistle. The train would be there soon, and they’d be on their way to Springbrook.

  The train chugged through patches of woods and clearings. Lucy slumped against the uncomfortable wooden back of her seat. One hand gripped Baby. The other held tightly to Daisy, who huddled against her.

  No one ran up and down the aisle. None of the boys teased. The car they rode in was quiet. Lucy was sure that everyone was thinking about the same thing: What would happen in Springbrook?

  Lucy knew that Miss Kelly was trying to cheer them up. She told stories and sang and even made up riddles.

  But every few minutes someone would ask, “Will it be long until we get to Springbrook?” Or “Are we almost there?”

  “In a little while,” Miss Kelly would say patiently.

  Then, finally, it was time to wash faces and hands, comb hair, and straighten jackets.

  The conductor strode through the car. He called out, “Springbrook, next stop. Springbrook, five minutes.”

  Lucy found it hard to breathe. Her heart began to pound again as the train reached the depot. She saw a large cluster of people waiting on the platform.

  Just as before, Lucy carried her parcel and Baby and climbed down the steps with the other children, following Miss Kelly.

  A tall, thin woman shook hands with Miss Kelly. “I’m Isabelle Domain, chairman of Springbrook’s placing-out committee,” she said. “The train will be here for half an hour, so we’ll do the choosing right here on the platform. Then we’ll get the waifs no one wants back on board.”

  Lucy shuddered. Waifs? She wasn’t a waif—especially not one that nobody would want. She was Lucy Amanda Griggs, and she’d find her parents here. She had to.

  Lucy forced herself to stand up straight. She looked at the people who had come to see them. Each time she caught someone’s eye, she smiled. She touched the marble in her pocket—her gift from Henry. Soon she’d have the gift of parents … and a sister.

  Soon after the children had been introduced, they began to be chosen. A stout, middle-aged couple beamed at Daisy. The woman said, “A happy child brightens a lonely house. Will you come with us, Daisy? We’d be so thankful to have you as our little girl.”

  Daisy gave one quick, longing glance at Lucy. “Good-bye, Lucy,” she said, then disappeared with her new parents into the crowd.

  Lucy knew she should be happy for Daisy, but loneliness wiped away every other feeling. She hugged Baby and closed her eyes, choking back tears.

  “Er … young lady … Lucy …,” a deep voice said.

  Lucy opened her eyes. A man stood before her. He had sunbaked skin, with red blotches on his cheeks. His wide-brimmed hat shaded soft, kind eyes. He looked at her hopefully.

  He said, “My name is Wilbur Snapes. My wife sent me to bring home an orphan girl to be a companion to our own little girl. Would you like to come with me?”

  Miss Kelly stepped to Lucy’s side. Before Lucy could answer, Miss Kelly asked, “Where is your wife, Mr. Snapes? I’d like to meet her.”

  “Mabel couldn’t come,” Mr. Snapes said. “She had to stay home to take care of the child.”

  “I’m not sure that—” Miss Kelly began, but Lucy quickly spoke up.

  “Miss Kelly, they have a little girl!” Lucy said. “I’d have a little sister! This is what I wanted right from the beginning!” She looked up at Mr. Snapes. “What’s your little girl’s name?”

  “Emma,” he answered.

  “Emma!” Lucy gave a happy sigh. “That’s a lovely name!”

  Mrs. Domain joined them. She nodded to Mr. Snapes. “Morning, Wilbur,” she said. She turned to Miss Kelly. “The Snapeses are good-hearted people. I recommend them.”

  “We usually meet both parents,” Miss Kelly said. But Mrs. Domain shook her head.

  “Poor Mabel doesn’t get out much, what with Emma to care for. But she’s a fine, upstanding woman. Did I mention that Wilbur’s a deacon in our church?”

  Miss Kelly took Lucy aside. “Are you sure you want to live with the Snapeses?” she asked. “You have a choice.”

  Lucy looked over her shoulder at Mr. Snapes and into his kind eyes. A sister! Her wish was finally coming true.

  “I choose yes,” she said to Miss Kelly. “I’m going to have a sister!”

  Miss Kelly smiled at Lucy. “All right. We’ll give Mr. Snapes the papers to sign.”

  Signing only took a few minutes. Mr. Snapes put down the pen and ink and nodded to Lucy. “This way,” he said.

  But Lucy took time to wrap herself in Miss Kelly’s hug.

  “Write to me,” Miss Kelly said. “I want to know that you’re happy. Will you let me know?”

  “Yes,” Lucy promised. “I will.”

  She pulled away and followed Mr. Snapes to a large farm wagon. He boosted her to the board seat, where she found herself perched high behind two large horses.

  “Tell me about Emma,” Lucy said to Mr. Snapes excitedly.

  There was a long pause before he answered. “Emma’s a good little girl, a loving girl. You’ll see for yourself when you meet her.”

  Lucy soon realized that Mr. Snapes was not a talker. That was all right with her. At the moment she was so filled with excitement she didn’t feel like talking, either. Someone to love me. My wish has come true. I’ll have someone to love me, she thought.

  As they left Springbrook and entered a quiet country road, Mr. Snapes asked, “Would you like to hold the horses’ reins?”

  “Oh, yes!” Lucy said.

  Mr. Snapes showed her how to hold the reins and told her what commands to give the horses. Then he sat quietly by her side.

  He’s a kind man, Lucy thought, and that’s what counts.

  As the horses plodded on, Lucy gazed at the countryside. She loved the rolling hills and the tidy farmland.

  When Mr. Snapes took the reins and guided his horses up a road to a small farmhouse, Lucy was delighted. The house was part of her wish, and her wish was coming true.

  The wagon stopped, and Lucy quickly jumped down from the seat. She was eager to meet Mrs. Snapes. Would she be as nice as Mr. Snapes?

  But the middle-aged woman who stepped onto the front porch didn’t have a welcoming smile on her face. Her lips were tight and angry, and her forehead was creased into a frown. She stared at Lucy and snapped, “She’s too small, Wilbur. Take her back.”

  Mr. Snapes shook his head firmly. “No, Mabel. I won’t. You sent back the l
ast one because she was running around the house making noise and upsetting Emma. ‘Don’t bring me any girls who act like boys,’ you told me. Well Lucy won’t. She’s a quiet little thing. She’ll do. You’ll see.”

  Lucy was so shocked she leaned against the wagon for support. Sent back? Their last orphan train rider was sent back? This wasn’t the way her wish was supposed to turn out. Where was the smiling mother? Where was her dear little sister? Where was the love?

  “Take Lucy inside, Mabel,” Mr. Snapes said quickly. “Lucy and Emma should get to know each other.”

  Numbly Lucy walked up the porch steps and into the house. There, on a sofa, sat a girl who was probably twelve or thirteen. There was something different about her eyes, as if they didn’t see things the way other people did. Her lower lip sagged, too. But she perked up when she saw Lucy.

  With a start, Lucy realized that Emma seemed to be very much like Mrs. Olney’s Henry. Especially her eyes. What was it that Mum had said? That Henry was simple. Lucy was sure that Emma was simple, too. She was older than Lucy and much larger. Emma was not the cuddly little sister of her daydreams.

  “This here is Lucy,” Mrs. Snapes said to Emma. “She’s come to live with us and help take care of you.”

  Lucy remembered Henry and how much he needed and wanted kindness. She smiled and said, “Hello, Emma.”

  Emma smiled, too, and climbed from the sofa. Her walk was clumsy and slow. As she came close to Lucy, her arms reached out and she took Lucy’s hand. “Play outside,” Emma said.

  When Mrs. Snapes didn’t say anything, Lucy looked up at her. “Emma said she wants to go outside to play.”

  Mrs. Snapes sighed. “Emma just makes noises. She doesn’t know how to talk. So don’t start imagining that you know what she says. We just let her babble on and keep doing what’s best for her.”

  Maybe that’s what you do, Lucy thought. But I know what I heard. Emma asked to go outside to play. Mum had been able to understand Henry, and Lucy had learned, too.

  Lucy tried to remember the things Mrs. Olney had said about Henry. “Has Emma been like this since she was born?”