[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
matter at hand. Stepping up on the low platform John Walker had built for the event, she
raised her hand for silence. Voices lowered to a murmur, then stopped. Only the rustle of
clothes and an occasional cough disturbed the quiet.
Good evening. She smiled, making eye contact with several people around the
room. Welcome to our school open house. Your children have been studying diligently
all year and learning so much. They re very eager to display some of their newfound
knowledge tonight, so without further ado, let us all rise for the Pledge of Allegiance and
begin our program.
She turned to face the flag and there was a rustle of sound as everyone did the same.
When the pledge was finished, Catherine stepped down from the stage and sat in the
empty seat by her parents. Her father s twinkling eyes and the warm smile lifting the
edges of his moustache gave a sudden lift to her heart. He squeezed her hand after she
took her seat, and continued to hold it as Minnie gave her recitation.
Catherine nearly forgot her own fears, she was so caught up in Minnie s. The girl s
eyes were huge and her soft voice didn t carry beyond the first row. After a few lines of
The Old Cherry Tree, Minnie fell silent, fumbling for words. Catherine s heart beat
faster, willing her to get through the piece and off the stage.
Luckily, Melissa, who stood beside her frightened friend, had the good sense to give
her a little nudge and whisper the next line loudly. The blossoms fall. A drift of
white&
Minnie sucked in a breath and repeated the line. She finished the rest of the poem in
one breath, her face a fiery red. Both the little girl and Catherine heaved a sigh of relief
when it was over, and the audience politely applauded.
Minnie had barely returned to her seat before Melissa launched into her poem, The
Old Blacksmith. Line after line with increasing speed and fervor, she nearly shouted the
words, bringing the poem to a resounding conclusion.
The rest of the performers recited pieces, solved math problems on the blackboard or
gave short geography lessons using the map at the front of the room, according to their
preference. Dale Timmerman, who wasn t too creative, listed the presidents in order from
George Washington all the way up to the newly elected Theodore Roosevelt. Sarah
Jalkanen gave a wonderful description of the daily lives of the Sioux, who had peopled
the prairies prior to the settlement by pioneers.
Jennie Albright took her place on stage to recite the Declaration of Independence.
When she reached the words We hold these truths to be self evident, that all men are
created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with the right to life, liberty and the
pursuit of happiness, she gazed pointedly at her mother. Hostility simmered in the
Albrights house these days as formerly sweet, pliant Jennie demonstrated her rebellion
in not so subtle ways every day. Her parents might have control over her life, but she
wasn t going to surrender easily. Catherine tried to counsel her to look on the East Coast
experience as a great opportunity to see another part of the world, but all Jennie could see
was that she was being torn away from Ned.
She finished her recitation and spoke about what the words meant to her, something
she hadn t pre-approved with Catherine.
I m sure you all agree with President Lincoln that God wants us to be happy and
free to live as we choose. No one should have the right to dictate other peoples lives.
This extends to the poor and the rich, men and women, young people as well as old.
Thank you.
Another glare at her mother and Jennie took her seat.
Ned was the last to recite. He launched into an enthusiastic dissection of the
workings of the new electric light bulb, which he believed would one day replace gas for
home illumination. During his speech, which devolved into far too much detail, Catherine
heard the door open. Her gaze darted to Jim entering the building and moving to stand
along the wall with other latecomers who hadn t been able to get seats.
His eyes found hers and a smile curved his lips and lit his eyes.
Her heart thumped wildly. It always sped when she saw him, but tonight his presence
aroused anxiety mingled with love. Oh how she wished she d taken time to prepare her
parents for this news. She didn t want the horror on her mother s face to hurt Jim, and
knew he couldn t help but read the disapproval in her expression.
At last Ned finished talking about every last aspect of electricity and his speech
ended with the idealistic conclusion. Electricity will revolutionize our world and the
steam engine will someday be a footnote in history. Thank you.
Catherine s father leaned toward her to whisper, Quite the young radicals you ve
educated here.
I taught them critical thinking as you did for me, Daddy. What they do with it is
beyond my control, although I must say I think Ned s electric-powered future seems
[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]