Cora had given her on a peg by the door Behind the cloth bag hung the only designer purse she still owned Cora had said If you’re going to work at the general store you best take a more practical purse Jenny rolled on her side Through slit eyes she watched Reuben lead Mother to the rocking chair He bent over slightly at the waist and spread his arm out as if to say Your majesty your chair Mother hugged his head and tussled his hair Hello my darlings she said Jenny closed her eyes tightly when Mother looked her way but didn’t miss a word Did you know it’s absolutely true what they say about riding a bike Mother asked Something smacked Jenny in the head She sprung upright to see a pillow in her lap and Reuben giggling Reuben Please please be careful dear Mother leaned back in the rocker To answer your question you never forget how to ride a bike It’s quite a distance to town What’s true Reuben replied 8
Jenny’s interest suddenly multiplied How far she asked The possibility of going to town of going shopping someday lifted her spirits No idea On the bright side I shall have strong muscles in no time Now tell me about your day Jenny slid her legs over the side of the bed What’s there to tell Mother Cora makes me work till my knuckles are torn up like a farmer’s I’m nearly thirteen but my hands look ancient Jenny spread her fingers wide to display the nicks and rough fingernails And you should hear her go on and on about this farm as if it were Saks Fifth Avenue Try to be kind Jenny Mother said her voice growing weary But in her best imitation of Cora’s voice Jenny warbled My ancestor’s blood sweat and tears went into this farm Reuben couldn’t hold in his giggles He kneeled to untie Mother’s work shoes Warbling his voice as best he could he added And I’ve walked every inch of this 9
property My darlings Mother said and laughed unable to hold it in She put her stockinged feet up on the bed Leo and Cora have given us a home for a while and we must show our appreciation It sure isn’t the life Daddy wanted for us Jenny said Please dear heart don’t say that Mother whispered her eyes welling up Jenny looked toward his photo on the dresser I just miss him so much Me too Reuben said plopping down on his bed Do you know what Cora told me Jenny asked changing the subject She reached over to nudge Reuben’s shoulder She said Bring in all the eggs without breaking a one clean the chicken coop and milk the cows Do that promptly and I won’t make you scrub the outhouse Jenny sighed and shook her head Can you imagine scrubbing the outhouse That would be horrid I simply could not do it 10
Reuben grabbed another pillow Don’t you touch me with those chicken poop outhouse hands he said and pulled the pillow up to his mouth to hold back more giggles Then he flung it at Jenny I’ll get you good and smelly she said and popped the pillow up in the air then smacked it back at Reuben knocking over the kerosene lamp that sat on the box Mother grabbed it as it grazed her leg Thank goodness this wasn’t lit You two must stop this She set the lamp on the floor and lifted her scarf off the box to inspect it Jenny slid off the bed stubbing her toe on the box which she’d thought was empty She kneeled down and ran her fingers along an edge What’s inside of this she said lifting the lid off A few surprises I was saving for you Reuben kneeled next to her and watched as Jenny removed wadded up balls of newspaper Let me see let me see he said Oh look Mother My Lincoln Logs And my Spirit of St Louis 11
