Window Boy by Andrea White

Author:Andrea White
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Window Boy
ISBN: 97819339779144
Publisher: Bright Sky Press
Published: 2013-02-22T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-Four

After school, Sam begins work with Mrs. Martin, Miss Perkins hovering anxiously over him. Although when Mickey had been about to break his hand and he had desperately wanted to see his caretaker, now he wishes that she would have another doctor’s appointment.

“Your essay has to be about a wartime hero. I assume you want to write about Churchill,” Mrs. Martin says. She takes a sip of hot coffee out of her Styrofoam cup.

“I’m sure that’s right,” Miss Perkins breaks in.

Sam knows that Miss Perkins is excited for him to get a chance to show Mrs. Martin all he knows. So why won’t she let him do the talking?

“Sam?” Mrs. Martin repeats her question.

“YYess,” Sam says eagerly.

“Let’s start with a title,” Mrs. Martin says.

“If you move the alphabet sheet closer, he can reach it easier,” Miss Perkins points out.

After shooting a glance at Miss Perkins, Mrs. Martin moves the alphabet sheet closer to Sam.

“I can write down the letters for you,” Miss Perkins offers.

Mrs. Martin turns and looks at her hard. Miss Perkins is just trying to be helpful, but Sam senses that Mrs. Martin wishes that Miss Perkins would be quiet, too.

“I’ve got an idea,” Mrs. Martin says. “Doesn’t Sam live close by?”

Miss Perkins nods. “Yes, ma’am.”

“Let me have Sam for the afternoon.” Mrs. Martin looks at her watch. “Would you mind coming back in an hour?”

Sam grins at Miss Perkins to show her that this plan is fine with him.

“That would be a real help,” Miss Perkins says. “I could use the time on my chores. I’ll be back at 4:30.”

“Don’t be late. My mother says my daughter is doing better, thank goodness. But I need to get home,” Mrs. Martin says.

“I’ll be right on time,” Miss Perkins says.

Mrs. Martin mutters to herself, “Maybe starting with the title is too hard.”

Miss Perkins picks up The Suitcase. “Sam has written essays for me. He knows all about titles.”

Without glancing at Miss Perkins, Mrs. Martin says in a firm tone, “4:30.” She turns to Sam. “Why don’t you answer this question? What do you admire most about Winston Churchill?”

“His bravery,” Miss Perkins calls from the doorway. As she exits, Sam feels ungrateful but he is glad that his shadow is gone. Not only his shadow but also his interpreter. And he reminds himself that it’s not her fault that she cannot always express things just as he would say or mean them.

What does Sam admire most about Winnie? As usual, he has to admit that Miss Perkins is right. It’s his bravery. After France surrendered to Germany in June, 1940, Britain, undermanned and under-funded, fought on alone. Winnie turned the terror of a possible defeat into a challenge. Sam remembers the speech Winnie gave after the surrender of France: Hitler knows that he will have to break us in this island or lose the war. Let us therefore brace ourselves to our duties, and so bear ourselves that, if the British Empire and its Commonwealth last for a thousand years, men will still say, ‘This was their finest hour.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.