Dolls of War by Shirley Parenteau

Author:Shirley Parenteau [Parenteau, Shirley]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780763693756
Publisher: Candlewick Press
Published: 2017-11-23T05:00:00+00:00

Macy dreaded facing Papa at dinner after the disastrous class visit to the museum. To her surprise, her father smiled as he took his seat. Miss Rasmussen’s mother had carried over a big pot of beef stew half an hour before and left it to warm on the back of the stove. Macy filled bowls for each of them and carried them to the table.

“I thought you’d still be mad.” The words were so close to the tip of her tongue that they slipped off before she could stop them.

Papa breathed in the aroma of the stew while Macy paused beside the map to choose a new safe place for Nick’s ship. “Mad?” Papa asked. “No. In fact, today’s behavior served a purpose.”

The radio on the table spoke with the solemn voice of Papa’s favorite announcer, Edward R. Murrow, but Papa didn’t seem to be listening to the news about Americans and Japanese still fighting for the island called Guadalcanal.

Macy stabbed the blue pin into the map, tried not to think of Nick or Hap, and took her seat across from Papa. “A purpose? What do you mean?”

“The Stanby’s record keeping has been lax for years,” he said, ignoring the pin she had placed between Florida and Cuba. “This afternoon, I tried to assess the damage done. The Stanby’s list of artifacts donated, lost, or damaged is all but unreadable.”

Macy chewed a bite of beef from her stew, waiting for Papa to explain.

“I found notes in the margins,” he said, “and others crowded between lines. Many entries were written in an early style that is more decorative than readable. In addition to notes jotted in, I found many cross outs. It’s a real mishmash.”

“Maybe if you read the notes and I write them on a fresh sheet of paper,” Macy suggested, “we can put them in order.”

“We’ll do better than that. It’s past time for a thorough inventory. I’m going to close the Stanby’s doors until that’s done.”

Papa gazed at her for a long moment, his eyes solemn, then sighed. “Our vandals today convinced me that it’s time to store Miss Tokyo and her accessories. Even with the Stanby’s doors locked, I no longer feel the Japanese exhibit is safe in the ballroom. As long as our countries are at war, we’ll put the doll in the storeroom. I want you to help me after dinner.”

Macy felt cold inside, but she knew that Papa was doing the right thing. Even Nick would agree if he were here.

In the morning, Macy reached her classroom as the first bell rang and slipped into her seat. Miss Stewart stood at the blackboard, writing an assignment with quick screechy movements of her chalk. Her shoulders looked stiff.

She’s still angry. Macy braced. Even if a scolding wasn’t meant for her, she didn’t want to hear one.

They were halfway through geography when the classroom door opened. Principal Bates stepped into the room.

Oh, oh. Macy sat straighter and curled her hands together on her desk. She wasn’t

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