Interview for a Wife by Ruth Ann Nordin

Chapter Seventeen

Amber started toward the schoolhouse and then came running back to Deanne, Marsha, and Vernon. “How long will those kids be there?” she asked.

“They’re going to be there all day,” Marsha replied.

“All of them?”

“Well, yes, that’s how school works,” Marsha said. “You spend the day there with the others. That’s why your ma put a sandwich and a treat in your pail.”

“But there’s so many kids. I’ll get lost in there.”

Deanne glanced at the children and saw there couldn’t be more than fifteen of them going into the building that also served as the town hall. She supposed to a child who was used to spending the day with her brother, that would be scary. She recalled how intimidated she’d been when she first arrived in Omaha after spending her whole life in a town smaller than this one. It took her a couple of months before she got used to shopping and church.

“You’ve seen some of those children in church,” Marsha told the girl.

“I didn’t talk to any of them,” Amber said. “And I wasn’t alone with them.”

“You won’t be alone. You’ll have the teacher.”

When that didn’t satisfy the girl, Deanne ventured, “What if you think of it like sitting in church? Pretend we’re sitting around you when you’re at your desk. Focus on the teacher and do what he says. Then, when you feel comfortable, take a peek at the child sitting next to you. And when you’re comfortable sitting next to that child, become aware of the other child who’s close to you. Before too long, you’ll be comfortable with all of the children who are with you in the schoolhouse.”

Amber arched an eyebrow. “Will that really work?”

“It worked for me when I was new in Omaha. I didn’t have to go to school, but I did have to go out shopping around a lot of unfamiliar people.”

“And you got to know them all?”

Deanne smiled as she thought of how impossible that would have been. “No, but I got comfortable being out around a lot of people, and when it came time for me to board a train to come out here to marry your pa, I wasn’t scared.”

“I think you should do what your ma says,” Marsha said. “I can’t think of a better way of handling things when you’re nervous.”

“And being nervous is normal,” Deanne added. “Everyone in a new situation feels nervous.”

“They do?” Amber asked.

Deanne nodded.

Amber glanced at the schoolhouse where the teacher was greeting the children as they went into the building. She took a deep breath then released it. “Alright. I’ll pretend I’m at church.”

“You’ll be surprised by how quickly you’ll get used to being in school,” Deanne assured her.

Marsha gave the girl a pat on the shoulder before Deanne took Amber to the door of the schoolhouse. They got behind an older girl who was currently greeting the teacher. Deanne noticed the way Amber closed her eyes in an attempt to calm her racing heart and decided to give her a comforting pat on the shoulder like Marsha had done. She didn’t know if it worked, but Amber opened her eyes and stepped closer to the teacher.

After the girl in front of them went into the building, the teacher turned his attention to them and smiled. “I see we have a new face this year. I’m Mr. Weebly.”

“I’m Mrs. Harvey,” Deanne said. “This is Amber. She’s my daughter.” That felt strange to say, but it was true. Even if she hadn’t given birth to the girl, she was raising her. That meant she was her mother. Just as she was Vernon’s mother. Even though she’d been taking care of them for the past couple of months, it didn’t seem real until that moment.

Mr. Weebly turned his gaze to Amber. “I’m very happy to see you, Amber. I think you’re going to enjoy being in school.”

“I hope so, Preacher Daniel,” Amber said then ran into the schoolhouse, keeping her gaze directly in front of her as she did so.

Mr. Weebly’s eyes widened.

“I’m afraid that’s my fault,” Deanne hurried to explain. “She’s nervous about today. I told her to pretend she was going to church. I didn’t tell her to think of you as the preacher, but apparently, she took it that way.”

Thankfully, Mr. Weebly understood since he offered her a smile. “All children are nervous when they first attend school. It’s never failed in the twelve years I’ve been doing this. But don’t you worry. In a few days, she’ll forget all about why she was nervous. Children adapt quickly to new situations.”

They did? Well, that was good news. Deanne was beginning to feel nervous on Amber’s behalf, though she hadn’t realized it until she saw the way the girl bolted into the schoolhouse as if something was chasing after her.

“Do you know when school ends for the day?” Mr. Weebly asked.

“Two?”

He nodded. “I let the little ones out earlier than the older ones. Those twelve and older get out at three. You can’t expect a young child to sit too long in a chair.”

You couldn’t? Just when Deanne was getting comfortable with being a mother, she found out there was more she had to learn. It was a bit overwhelming at times. Working at the store was much easier.

Deanne said goodbye then went back to Marsha. Vernon had gotten impatient and was now running circles around the woman.

“Amber will be done with school at two,” Deanne said.

“I was sure it was two. It’s good to know my memory hasn’t failed me.” Marsha took Vernon’s hand, and the three walked down the path that would take Deanne to the store. “I’ll be there when she gets out. I expect she’ll walk herself to and from school by next week.”

“Want to go to school,” Vernon said.

“You’re too young to go there this year,” Marsha told him. “You’ll get your chance when you’re seven.”

After a moment of silence, Deanne asked, “Marsha, how long does it take to learn everything you need to know about children?”

Marsha chuckled. “Oh, you never stop learning. Just when you think you’ve figured them out, they do something new that surprises you.”

“They do?”

“I’m afraid so. Each one is different. That’s why you never stop learning.” She gave Deanne a sympathetic smile. “You’re doing fine. Being a mother isn’t about what you know. It’s about the care and concern you have for the child. It’s not something that can be taught. It’s something that has to be experienced. Just take it one day at a time. Everything will work out in the end.”

Deanne relaxed. When Marsha put it like that, being a mother didn’t sound so scary. “And I have you, Bill, and Henry to help me.”

“You most certainly do. You don’t have to go through this alone. We’ll be with you every step of the way.”

“Thanks. I feel much better.”

“I’m glad. And I think it meant a lot to Amber that you went up to the teacher with her. That’s the kind of thing a mother does, and children remember that long into the future.” Marsha hugged her. “I’m going to take Vernon home. You go on and help your husband at the store.”

Deanne offered a nod, wished Vernon a good day, and parted ways so she could go to the general store.

It turned out a couple of customers were already there. Noting that Bill was taking care of a man who was purchasing some items, she went over to Winnie and Piper who were struggling to reach one of the pots from a high shelf.

“Let me get a chair from the back room so I can get that for you,” Deanne told them.

Winnie stopped her before she could go to the room. “We heard that Amber started school today.”

Deanne glanced at the other two customers in the store who hadn’t been helped yet. Since they were sorting through the sewing supplies, she supposed she had a moment to talk. “Yes,” she said. “She was a bit nervous.”

“That’s to be expected. Piper, do you remember when we went to school for the first time?”

Piper gave a wistful smile. “Our family just arrived in this town. I was six and Winnie was eight back then. It’s hard to believe it was that long ago.”

“It wasn’t that long ago.”

“We got gray hair.”

“That’s just early gray. It doesn’t have anything to do with our age,” Winnie insisted. “Piper! Remember the dog that used to follow you to school each day. He’d stay by the schoolhouse all through the day until you were ready to go home.”

“I remember him. Sometimes I miss Otis. He was such a good dog. Faithful to the very end.”

“Curt didn’t think too much of him. He was terrified of dogs.”

Piper giggled. “I forgot all about Curt! He refused to leave the schoolhouse until I left with Otis. It wouldn’t have been so strange if he hadn’t been five years older than me. Can you imagine a boy that old being scared of a harmless dog?”

“Curt didn’t like any kind of animal. That’s just how he was.”

Assuming they were going to continue reminiscing, Deanne made a move to go to the back room when Winnie put her hand on her arm. “Curt wasn’t meant for small town life. When he grew up, he went to a big city. Last I heard, he works in an office somewhere.”

“I think he went to Philadelphia,” Piper said.

Winnie’s eyebrows furrowed. “Was it Philadelphia, or was it Pittsburg?”

“I’m pretty sure it was Philadelphia.”

“That doesn’t sound right. I don’t recall his sister saying he went to a city that ended in an ‘a’.”

“What does it matter? It was somewhere in Pennsylvania.”

“I suppose it doesn’t matter. I just don’t want my memory to start failing me.” Winnie glanced at Deanne. “It’s important for a woman my age to keep a sharp mind. It’s why I stay active.”

Piper snickered. “So you do admit you’re old.”

Winnie gasped. “I admit nothing of the sort. I meant that I’m keeping a sharp mind now so that it’ll be easier for me to do so when I get old.”

“Of course.”

“It’s true.” When it was obvious that her friend didn’t believe her, Winnie turned her attention back to Deanne. “You think I’m still young, don’t you?”

“It’s not fair to put her in the middle of this,” Piper argued. “You’re forcing her to tell you something you want to hear. We don’t need to put her in such an uncomfortable position. You came here for oregano and thyme, and I came here for a new pot. The least we can do is let her get the chair.”

Since Winnie let go of Deanne’s arm, Deanne took that as permission to get the chair. After she got the pot and scooped out the amount of oregano and thyme Winnie wanted, all of the other customers had left.

“How are you two doing today?” Bill asked the women.

Deanne glanced at him but kept quiet as she took the payment from Winnie. Did he really want them to stay here for another half hour? Already, another customer was entering the store, and, if she was right, another one was coming in behind him. This was turning into a busy morning.

As they talked to Bill, Deanne went to help the other customers. She had no idea what time they finally left, but she and Bill had a steady stream of customers for the rest of the morning. She was never so happy to see the last customer leave.

Bill chuckled as she turned the sign on the door letting everyone know the store was going to be closed for fifteen minutes. “I’d think you wanted to go into the back room with me if you weren’t so frazzled.”

“It’s like everyone in town decided they needed to shop today,” she said, not hiding the fact that she was overwhelmed from her voice. “And it’s not even a day when they all got paid.”

“Now you can appreciate why I wanted to get married again. Poor Archie couldn’t keep up with everyone like you can.”

“I barely kept up with them.”

“You were great.”

She went to the back room so she could sit down for a few minutes. She closed her eyes and slowly released her breath to help herself relax.

“I know it’s harder for you to go through all of that since you have to run around and grab things for people,” Bill said. “But you really did handle everything well. Poor Archie used to get flustered and need to come back here for a minute to compose himself before he was ready to keep helping people. I ended up asking a couple of the customers to grab things off the shelves for other customers to keep up with it all. Though the customers didn’t seem to mind, I’m relieved that I didn’t have to do that today.”

She opened her eyes and saw that he had pulled the wheelchair up to her chair. “I wouldn’t mind it so much if this wasn’t the same morning Amber started her schooling. I came here late. I’m sure that put us behind.”

“Things were quiet in here until about fifteen minutes before you showed up. It wasn’t busy the whole time you were gone.” He took her hand in his. “I hope you don’t get discouraged.”

“I’m not discouraged. I’m just resting.”

“Good. I think Archie would leave town if I asked him to come back to help me.”

She chuckled at his joke. “I’m not going to stop working here. I like the job. It’s nice to have a purpose.”

“Your purpose goes beyond that of working here, but I admit it’s been a big relief to have your help.”

Her skin warmed in pleasure at his words.

“How did things go with Amber? Was she nervous?” he asked.

She nodded. “She was reluctant to go into the schoolhouse. I feel a bit nervous for her. I know what it’s like to have to go somewhere new all by yourself. It’s not easy.”

“She’ll get through it. We all do. She’s at the age where it’ll be good for her to meet other children. Aunt Marsha was right. This will be good for her.”

Considering how good it was for Deanne to leave her hometown to explore the unknown, she suspected he was right. Sometimes a person had to embrace something new in order to improve their life.

“You’re good with the children, Deanne,” Bill told her. “I couldn’t have married a better woman.” He gave her a kiss.

She smiled and returned his kiss.