Redemption

After a breakfast of Eggs, Hash browns, toast and grits, David joined his Ma and Grandpa in their walk towards town. This would put him at the school an hour early, but it was worth it to spend time with them.

The air was cold that morning, they agreed as they walked down Bloody Run Road. The wind that blew unhindered across the barren crop fields made this all the worse. Fighting against her shivers from this, Ellen pointed out it was a lot warmer than it was up north. On the other hand, it was a lot colder than it was in Florida, the old man mused.

“I wish that we could have moved to Florida,” Ma said as a figure stepped onto the road in the distance ahead.

“If wishes came true, every man would be a king,” the elder reminded as David recognized the form as the morose Cathy.

“Is that one of your schoolmates?” Ellen asked curiously.

“Yes,” the boy affirmed, “It’s Cathy.”

“Well, tell her to hold up and she can walk with us,” William offered brightly.

“I would,” the boy replied, looking at the distant form thoughtfully, “But she isn’t that friendly.”

“Why not?” Ma demanded concernedly.

“I don’t know,” he shrugged, “She just isn’t.”

Thus, on they walked, with the girl walking before them, casting uncertain glances back at them. Once in town, she turned from the road, and walked to the right. When they were able to see where she walked towards, they found that she had entered a graveyard.

“That might explain why she isn’t that friendly,” the old man decided as they passed.

Coming to the warehouse, Ma and Grandpa hugged David and told him to have a good day in school. When they disappeared into the building, he continued on to Thrush Road, and took a right. His doing so proved somewhat of a comfort, as the trees along the road cut the wind down a little.

After a while, he looked back, and saw the sullen girl to be following by a few yards, but when he stopped, she stopped as well and stood glaring at him. After a couple of seconds, he considered walking on and forgetting the matter. Still, the boy hated passing up the opportunity to make a friend, so he finally spoke.

“Cathy,” he called back, “My mother and Grandfather were hoping that you might walk with us tomorrow.” Her only response to this was to stand glaring at him. Seeing this, he took a step towards her, which only resulted in her taking a warning step back. Stymied, he heaved a frustrated sigh.

“I just want to be friends.”

“Keep walking,” She growled, “You’ve already got friends.” Hearing this, the boy marveled. Finally, he shrugged.

“Well, maybe I want you as a friend as well.”

“I don’t care what you want!” The pretty girl snapped angrily, “Just start walking! I am getting cold standing here!” Shaking his head, the boy turned and started on.

When Miss Thatcher arrived, she was surprised to see David waiting on the playground, where he had stood so Cathy could stand in the doorway of the school. Waving at him, the teacher continued on to have a brief whispered conversation with the sullen, coal-haired girl. When the woman spared him a glance, he knew that the girl was recalling what had happened. To his comfort, the blonde beauty shook her head, and made some smiling assurance. Then, she turned to unlock the door, as the girl stared at him thoughtfully.

Once inside, the three paused at the entry to hang up their coats. As Cathy was careful to keep the teacher between them, Fall enjoyed an up-close view of her lovely pink chiffon blouse, and brown cotton dress. As he finished hanging his coat up, the two headed to the front of the classroom, where, they sat discussing the homework from the night before, as he took his seat. Mindful to keep his distance, he sat listening as the woman explained the concept to the girl.

“The whole thing to remember,” She said, looking over her glasses at the suddenly softened green eyes, “is that division is simply multiplication in reverse. So, if six multiplied by six is thirty-six, then thirty-six divided by six is . . .”

“Six?” The girl answered uncertainly.

“Yes!” The teacher cheered, “Just as three multiplied by five is fifteen, so fifteen divided by three is-”

“Five,” the child realized.

“Right. See? I told you that it was not all that hard!”

“But what if you try to divide a small number by a bigger one?” The girl asked in slight befuddlement, “Like three divided by ten?”

“That leads to fractions and decimals, which you aren’t ready for those. So, for right now, just concentrate on dividing larger numbers by smaller ones.”

“Okay,” the raven-haired girl accepted. Then, opening her textbook, she pointed at the pages, “I read the whole chapter.”

“And what do you think?” Miss Thatcher asked as the boy fell into silent amazement.

“Well, pronouns are useful,” Cathy replied thoughtfully, “But I much prefer proper nouns.”

“Well, what do you think, David?” The teacher asked, turning her blue eyes to him. Seeing a chance, he took it.

“I don’t know what to think,” He confessed frankly, “Other than to hope that Cathy can teach me to study as hard as she does!” His saying this brought a smile to the blonde teacher and a stunned look to the girl.

Once underway, the day went quickly. This was mainly due to Miss Thatcher’s starting the day by asking the children to put their books down, as she wanted to speak to them about something. Peering at them thoughtfully, she paused to formulate her thoughts. Finally, she began.

“As I walked to the school this morning, I was thinking about what an exciting time it is to be alive. For, truly, this is an age of miracles-one in which the impossible is more and more becoming possible.” Looking around the room, she asked, “Can anyone tell me something that has recently been created that is a sort of miracle?” At this, several hands went up. Looking around, the blond beauty chose.

“Jenny?”

“I think that the flying machine created by the Bishop Wright is pretty miraculous.”

“Why?” The teacher challenged.

“Because, soon, we won’t have to rely on dirigibles, we can fly ourselves like we drive a wagon now.”

“Which helps us how?”

“Because we can go where we want, when we want,” the tough girl replied.

“Yes! We will be more independent. And what would that mean?”

“That we will be freer,” Angelica replied.

“Very good!” The teacher applauded, “But even so, the dirigible is a tremendously miraculous thing, when you think about it, as it can still do things that the Wright flier cannot. Can anyone tell me what?”

“It can carry a lot of people where a flier can only carry one or two,” David offered.

“Yes,” Miss Thatcher agreed, “Which, it can also carry . . .?”

“Cargo?” Ewing offered.

“Yes!” She approved. Looking around the room once more, she asked, “Who else knows of something miraculous that we are now using?” Once more hands were raised. “Zak?”

“My dad was talking about the new Hunley boats that are out, and how they can spend days submerged.”

“A Hunley?” Angelica asked uncertainly, “What’s that?”

“It’s a really neat boat that can go under the surface of the water and hide from enemy ships. Then, it can attack them without their knowing where it is, or being able to attack it back. Then, when the crew wants to come to the surface, they can,” the small boy explained excitedly.

“How in the world does it do that?” Tina demanded.

“Through air that is stored in the ship,” Zak replied.

“In other words, it is what is called a ‘Submarine,’” The pretty blond clarified, adjusting the lay of her glasses. Then, taking on a wide-eyed look, she added, “My dad was a production supervisor at a plant that made them. So, when I was a little girl, he let me visit him at work. One time, while I was there, the test crew took one out into the ocean to check its performance and they let my dad and I tag along.”

“You rode in one?” Leer asked in openly envious shock.

“Yes,” the schoolmarm confirmed proudly.

“Did you go under the water?” Tina asked, in astounded wonder.

“Yes!” Miss Thatcher repeated excitedly, “And, they even let me look out one of the viewing windows as we moved along the ocean floor.”

“What did you see?” Jenny gasped in rapt amazement.

“Oh! A sunken ship and fish of ever size!” The blond replied in recalled wonder, “One even swam up to the window and looked back in at me!” Allowing the kids to imagine this, she looked around, “Who else knows of a modern miracle?” At this, the burly Ewing raised his hand.

“The new chemically powered torches,” he offered.

“Yes,” the pretty blond agreed, “That is a wonderful thing! Why, just last night I was reading a magazine article that talked about how a little boy had gotten lost out in California. As the adults were looking for him, a terrible storm blew up, but they were able to find him since they were using those new lights. Because, as the article pointed out, the storm would have sure doused the flame of a fire-torch.” Pausing again, she looked around. “One more?” Finally, she looked at Fall, “Do you have one, David?”

“Well, I was going to talk about the flier, but Jenny beat me to it. Other than that, I would point out the new steam-powered cars.”

“Yes, which, like the flier, such cars allow us the independence to go where we want. For unlike a train, they do not need tracks.”

“Also, if you have a horse, you have to feed it all of the time, whether it is working or not,” David added, “But you only need to add coal or water to a steam-car when it runs out.”

“Making it cost less to own,” Little Cathy added thoughtfully from her seat next to Fall.

“Yes!” Miss Thatcher applauded, shooting a warm smile to the ragged little girl, “Which another word for something costing less is . . .?” Looking around, she was slightly dismayed to see that she had no volunteers coming forth. Finally, she revealed, “It is more economical! Eco-nom-ic-al.” Pausing once more, she walked over and half sat on her desk. Once settled, she took on a questioning look.

“Now. Another thing that you may not have heard about is a new device called a ‘Long distance audio-graphic transmitter/receiver,’ or, as some simply call it a ‘telephone.’ This wonderful device is said to enable someone to say something in one area and another person to hear them a good distance away. As well, where it is only a few yards today, scientists are working to make it work over miles.” Pausing to allow a gasp of amazement run through the class, she added, “Some have said that we will someday be able to talk to anyone, anywhere in the world-instantaneously. In other words, just as if they were in the same room.” Taking on a thrilled smile herself, she asked, “Pretty exciting-hunh?” Rising, she stepped forward, “I want you all to think about these things, because the next time that we talk, I would like to know how each of these things will make the world a better place.”

The kids were so enthralled by this and their studies that, before any knew it, lunchtime was upon them. During this, Cathy sat with the teacher, while David sat with Zak, Ewing and Jennie. Everyone was in a good mood, as Ricky had been absent that day.

“He never has anything nice to say,” Tillems complained about the absent bully, “All that he ever wants to do is insult people.”

“Or beat people up,” Zak lamented.

“Or get beaten up,” Ewing recalled, “I’ve licked him five times already this year.”

“Miss Thatcher doesn’t like him, although she has tried many times,” Jennie explained, “But, he is always so . . .”

“Caustic?” David offered.

“What does that mean?” Zak pressed in amused curiosity.

“Acidic,” Prentice replied, “corrosive, or blistering.” Then, he explained, “In the context that David is using it in, it infers that someone has a harsh personality.”

“Exactly!” Fall agreed in open approval.

“Ewing wants to be a writer,” Jenny explained proudly.

“He’s good!” The little fellow assured Fall, “You should read some of his stories.”

“I’d like that,” David agreed, looking at the big fellow.

“I’ll try to remember to bring some in,” the bigger boy promised.

“That reminds me,” Leer recalled, “I asked my dad and he has heard of the Osprey.”

“What has he heard?” The sandy haired boy asked in sudden interest.

“That she was lost somewhere in the mid-Atlantic. There are rumors that wreckage was found. But others argue that none was.” Hearing this, the boy looked down at his half-eaten peanut butter sandwich in thought. Nevertheless, before he could reply, Jenny gasped.

“She’s laughing!” Looking up, he saw that she was staring toward the front of the room in amazement. There, Cathy and the schoolmarm sat giggling over something.

“Well, I’ll be!” Zak astounded, “She is capable of smiling!”

“I told you that she was,” Prentice reminded loftily.

During recess, the boys played Red Rover, while most of the girls skipped rope to keep warm, and Cathy stood watching with Miss Thatcher. After a few minutes, Jenny put down her rope, to join in with the boys. This did not seem too welcome with the other boys, until her turn came and she broke through the other line.

“Wow! She’s strong!” Fall heard someone astound.

Of course, no one could stop the big Ewing, who offered to sit out the game after his third breaking of the opposing side’s line. Tillems would not hear of this though, adamantly insisting that the big fellow keep playing. Little Zak, on the other hand, was all too easily stopped. Therefore, he changed sides no less than five times during the game. Finally, it was time to go back in.

Later that afternoon, the coal-haired girl looked over at David. At first, she did not say anything; rather she sat staring at him. Finally, she nodded.

“I will walk with you and your folks tomorrow,” she told him softly.

“Okay,” the boy accepted brightly. With that, she returned to her studies. A few minutes later, Zak made the room ring with laughter as he explained how an owl outside his window had explained verbs and nouns to him the night before.

“I told him ‘But, I don’t understand,’” he recalled as he stood between the rows of seats, “‘Run is a verb.‘” Then, flapping his arms like wings, he took on a squeaky tone to his already high voice. “Listen, kid, the word run can be used as a verb-as in to run, or it can also be used as a noun-as in to go for a run. Just like the word fly can be used to describe what I am doing, or to describe the insect that buzzes around.’”

“You goofball!” Jenny scoffed.

“That was one smart owl!” The teacher allowed in approval, “But Miss Tillems is right; you do look like a goofball. So, quit flapping your wings and sit down.”

“Hey! I am just explaining what happened,” the little fellow shrugged in triumph as he slid into his seat.

“Owls are birds, you know?” Tina Hanover observed brightly.

“We know! ” Jenny nodded in a sarcastic mirroring, bringing another laugh to the class.