Heart and Home(20)

"Stand up straight. Look people in the eye. If you don't like the looks  of a family that asks for you, say so. You're good boys. There are  plenty of people who can use you. You try to pick someone who'll be good  to you."

Seven boys nodded their heads.

"If you see someone watching you, someone who looks kind and happy, do  like I told you. Go ask if they want to be your mother or father."

With a sigh, he ran an eye over each of the boys again. "You're next, Charlie."

Charlie turned at the sound of his name, but continued to eat. Holt put  his hands on his hips and looked down at the boy. A smile slowly spread  across his face. Charlie laughed and offered him a bite of the crumbling  bread.

"We'll brush you off when you're done, and you'll be ready for the show.  If we can keep you until we get to the church, that is." For Jane's  benefit he explained, "We had two offers on the train."

"His hair's all over the place," a freckle-faced boy said.

Jane smoothed the downy hair, but it defied her efforts.

"His hair is hopeless," Holt said, smiling at the older boy.

Mrs. Elder and two of the girls joined them. "Did Peggy come in here?" Mrs. Elder asked.

Jane shook her head. "She may have gone into the parlor."

"Alex, go look," Holt directed.

"I didn't hear the front door open so she's sure to be in the house," Jane assured them.

"Try under the bed," one of the boys suggested.

"Oh, heavens," Mrs. Elder said, turning back up the hall. "She'll get herself all dirty."

Jane hid a smile in Charlie's soft hair. She wouldn't get dirty in this  house-not right now, anyway. This, she would tell Adam, was the reason  she had cleaned.

In a few minutes Mrs. Elder led the rest of the girls out of the  bedroom. Peggy had evidently been retrieved from under the bed. Mrs.  Elder, her hand firmly wrapped around the little girl's wrist, said, "I  believe we'll go on over to the church. I'd like to have the children  inside before people start arriving."

Jane handed Charlie to the oldest girl while the children filed out. Mr.  Holt thanked her before he followed, urging a couple of dawdlers to a  faster pace.

Jane sat for a moment, thinking about Peggy and Charlie. She had planned  to attend the presentation and had prepared a cold supper that she was  going to leave for the boarders. Now she wished she had made no such  arrangements. Fixing the usual big meal would keep her mind off the  little children.

She asked herself if it would be better to see the children leave with  their new families or sit here and wonder about them. With a sigh, she  stood to clean the table. She knew Adam had worked hard at selecting  good families. Anyone asking for a child today without having already  applied would have to be approved by the board. She didn't have to worry  for these children.

The more she thought about it, the more she knew she wanted to be there.  She quickly cleaned up after the children and laid out the buffet,  carefully covering each dish with a cloth. She couldn't dismiss the  urgency she felt even as she left the house and hurried around the other  folks making their way to the old city hall, which now served as the  Methodist Church. In the large meeting room, she took a seat near the  front even though spectators not applying for children were urged to sit  in the back. She needed to be as close to the children as possible.                       
       
           



       





Chapter Eight


George came out and quieted the audience. After introducing the members  of the placing board, all of whom were seated to one side, he explained  the procedure, then turned the program over to the sponsors. A row of  chairs had been arranged in front of the altar, and, as Mr. Holt led  them out, the children took their places. The oldest girl carried  Charlie and settled him on her lap. Peggy, her hand in Mrs. Elder's,  brought up the rear.

Mrs. Elder helped the little girl into her chair and stood behind it,  her hands resting on the child's shoulders. To Jane, Peggy looked very  uncomfortable. She squirmed in the seat and tried to get her shoulders  out from under Mrs. Elder's control. Mrs. Elder bent and whispered to  the girl, who cringed away.

Mr. Holt glanced at Peggy, but went on with the introductions. He called  each child's name and, while he or she stood, gave a brief description  of that child's background.

By the time it was Peggy's turn, she seemed on the verge of rebellion.  Mrs. Elder stood her up and, kneeling beside her, tried to hold her in  such a way that she faced the audience. Mr. Holt had no more than stated  she was Peggy, last name unknown, when she wailed, clutched her stomach  and bent forward so forcefully Mrs. Elder's best efforts weren't enough  to keep her from falling to the floor.

Jane leaped to her feet. Adam, she realized, was already hurrying toward  the child. Jane couldn't merely watch from a distance. She made her way  forward as quickly as possible.

Holt, after a nod from Mrs. Elder, directed the other children back to  their seats. "I'm sure it's nothing to worry about," he said. "Will the  families who have picked out a child please come forward now?"

The noise faded into the background as Jane knelt beside little Peggy.  "What's wrong with her?" she asked. Peggy was on her back now, tossing  her head from side to side. Her lips moved as if she were whispering to  someone. Her eyes were tightly closed.

Adam, kneeling on the other side of the girl, shook his head. He removed  his suit coat and folded it for a pillow. Peggy tried to roll onto her  stomach and hide her face in the coat. Adam gently rolled her back. She  pulled the coat around her head instead.

"Peggy," Jane said gently, trying to coax her out from under the coat. "Tell us where it hurts, sweetheart."

The girl clutched the coat all the tighter.

Adam gently probed Peggy's stomach. With her face covered it was hard  for Jane to gauge her reaction. She didn't cry out again, at least.

Still Jane was terrified for the little girl. She had seen enough death  recently. This child had to be all right. "Adam?" she whispered.

Their eyes met. He looked as concerned as she felt. He shook his head.  "I don't know. I don't think it's anything serious. Maybe it was  something she ate."

"She ate at my house," Jane said, horrified at the prospect.

Adam actually grinned. "We can rule that out, then."

Jane smiled in gratitude. She had to avert her eyes before she gave  herself away. She was too frightened to guard her emotions. "Come on,  sweetheart," she coaxed again. "Come out and tell us what's wrong."

Peggy shook her head, coat, arms and all.

George and Mrs. Elder stepped up beside them. "Adam," George said, "nobody's asked for this little girl."

"We can hardly be surprised," Mrs. Elder said sadly. "She's such a strange little thing."

"Has she done this before?" Jane asked, hoping for reassurance that nothing was truly wrong.

"Not exactly this," Mrs. Elder said.

"What happens if no one wants her?" Adam asked.

"When children aren't chosen, we like to leave them in temporary homes  until permanent ones are found. At least that's what we usually do. I  don't see that there's much chance anyone will want this one, especially  if she's sick. I suppose we'll take her back with us."

"If she is ill that may not be wise," Adam said.

"Let me have her," Jane said impulsively. She had always loved children. This could be her chance to have one as her own.                       
       
           



       

Mrs. Elder raised an eyebrow. "A single woman isn't exactly what the  society is looking for, but if the local placing board agrees we have no  objection."

"Can you leave her long enough to join us for the vote?" George asked Adam.

"I'll stay right here," Jane promised, "and call you if anything happens."

Adam nodded and came to his feet. In a moment only Mrs. Elder lingered nearby.

"Peggy," Jane cooed. "Everybody's going home. You can come out now."

A muffled buzz emanated from the wadded coat. Jane leaned down to listen. "She's whispering," she told Mrs. Elder.

Mrs. Elder nodded. "I've never been able to understand her. I doubt if she's really saying anything at all."

"Peggy," Jane whispered loudly, leaning close to where the little arms held the coat closed. "Come out so I can hear you."





The placing board convened in the corner behind the pulpit. "Just so  everyone knows," George began, "Jane Sparks has asked for the little  girl, Peggy. We all know Jane, I think, so we can skip the discussion.  Vote yes or no. We need a unanimous vote to let her take the child."