The Survivor by Shelley Shepard Gray

Author:Shelley Shepard Gray
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: HarperCollins US
Published: 2011-09-01T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Seventeen

In the days since Graham had come by, Mattie kept herself busy. It wasn’t hard to do. After a year spent mostly being sick or bedridden, much of the usual spring and fall cleaning chores had been pushed to the side.

Now there was much to do to help get the house back in order. And because there was so much to do, Mattie was happy to help her mother in any way that she could.

For the last two hours, Mattie had been helping her mother organize and clean her sewing closet—and what a mess it was! Stacks and stacks of fabric, shoe boxes packed with knickknacks, sewing notions, and old mementoes filled every corner. Not even a year’s worth of sickness could create this nest of a mess. No, this was only possible after years and years of being a packrat.

As Mattie opened one old shoe box and found six sets of laces and two skeins of yellow yarn, she sighed. Had her mother ever met an item that she couldn’t justify keeping and storing away?

“Muddar, we need to get rid of some of these things.”

Over her shoulder, her mother glanced at the contents of the box. “Those items are perfectly useful.”

“Indeed. They are useful for someone who will use these things. You haven’t knitted in years.”

“But I still remember how.”

“And the shoelaces? Mamm, no one has worn the shoes these go with since I was in school.”

Her mother wavered. “Perhaps . . .” She reached for one, held it up, and inspected it. “Or, they might be useful for trim? Or cording?”

“Maybe for someone else.” Encouraged that her mother was at least thinking about clearing up some of the mess, Mattie held up a large basket filled to the brim with scraps of all different shades and colors. “And look at all this. We could surely get rid of all these scraps.”

“Oh, no we could not. These scraps can make a very good crazy quilt.”

“Mamm, we’re not going to be making crazy quilts anytime soon.”

“We might. Daughter, you need to learn to be thrifty. Everything can be used for something.”

“That is true. But, Mamm, some of this fabric you’ve had for years.” She pulled out a piece from near the bottom of the stack. “Plus, it’s all mighty dirty and dusty!”

“It can be washed . . .”

“Really? You want to spend the afternoon washing old scraps of fabric?”

“Nee. But it’s still useful.”

“Why don’t we make a sack of scraps and take it to some of the older ladies in our community. You know how they like to make crazy quilts. They will put it to good use. They are always passing out blankets and quilts to people in need.”

Her mother bit her lip, obviously wavering. “But—”

“And then I will have made good on my promise to Daed,” Mattie said, talking as quickly as she could. Pressing forward, she added, “You know Daed asked me to help you clean this out. If I don’t help you, Daed will wonder what we did today.

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