Eleven Pipers Piping by Angela Breidenbach

Author:Angela Breidenbach [Breidenbach, Angela]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Montana Beginnings, Book 2
Publisher: Gems of Wisdom
Published: 2014-12-31T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 5

Cookies, coffee, hot cider for the children, and a bit of information about each newsie waited for the good-hearted people. Mirielle surveyed the room for any last minute forgotten detail. Each newsie had a small biographical page for the potential sponsors to consider. Instead of reading lessons, they boys had one-on-one assistance preparing small speeches for the coming attendees. Calista, Evan, and Albert helped her prep them. But one little boy failed to attend both times. Joey.

“Miss Mirielle?” Frankie peeked his head into the schoolroom.

She set down the last plate of cookies. “Frankie! Are all the boys with you?”

He moved into the doorway. “No, ma’am.” His eyes shifted around the room rather than focusing on her.

“Is everything all right?” She scooted around the chairs set up for an audience in rows. “Is Joey sick? He hasn’t been around all week. I’m worried.”

“W-e-l-l…”

“Where is he? I’ll go get him right now.” She turned to pick up her coat.

“He’s here.”

“Here. Where here?” Leaving the garment untouched, Mirielle turned back to the boy. “Frankie, what’s going on?” She leaned over him for a better view, and then looked around the corner into the hallway. A frightened Joey plastered against the wall as if hiding. Another questioning glance at Frankie’s tight lips, and Mirielle crooked her finger and wiggled it calling the younger boy into the room without a word.

Joey walked forward with halting steps.

“I’ll ask one more time. You know you can trust me.” She gave both boys direct eye contact. “What is going on?”

Joey crumbled into tears. “I don’ wanna,” he hiccupped. “I don’ wanna leave Frankie.”

“Honey,” she knelt down and held her arms open. Joey melted into her embrace. “Honey, what makes you think you have to leave Frankie?” But the little guy just rolled his face back and forth on her shoulder.

“Miss Mirielle,” Frankie stopped and took a deep breath. “Miss Mirielle,” he started again as if it took every ounce of courage he could muster. “I think I gotta be givin’ Joey to Mr. Evan.”

Mirielle gasped. She pried they tyke, who sobbed all the harder, away to look at his face. She squinted as she studied the dirty hair, shape of his eyebrows, and the rest of his face. “Why yes, you do have a resemblance under all that soot.”

Joey pressed back into Mirielle’s warm hug. “Don’t let ‘im take me.”

“What’s all the hubbub?” Evan asked as he walked into the classroom. “Did he bump a knee or noggin?”

Joey crumpled. The unexpected motion knocked Mirielle off her heels. Both child and teacher landed in a fluff of skirts on the floor.

Evan rushed to their aid as Frankie grabbed for Joey. Their heads knocked hard landing them both right beside Mirielle and Joey. The surprise landings and stunned faces on all four caused Joey to crack a hint of a giggle. Just enough to release the tension and light laughter in Frankie and Evan as they both rubbed the tops of their heads at the same time.

“Let’s stay put for a moment.

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