Yosemite at Last by Susan K. Marlow

Author:Susan K. Marlow
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Kregel Publications
Published: 2022-04-15T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 5

“Hurry!” Andi called to her young scholars. “Back inside the classroom.”

Just then, the bell rang. Clang, clang, clang.

Mr. Foster shaded his eyes at the carriage then shrugged and returned indoors.

Easy for him, Andi thought. Mr. Foster never cared if the school board showed up. He was always tidy, and his pupils were always ready to recite.

This was more than Andi could say about her own class. She’d planned a spelling bee for this afternoon. Most of the children were lousy spellers, about as lousy as she was.

What a dumb idea, Andi berated herself silently. To plan a spelling bee on the day the school board shows up. It won’t take long to show them what a failure I am at teaching spelling.

She herded her pupils up the steps and into the classroom. There was no time to warn them to be on their best behavior. No time to remind them not to speak unless spoken to. No time to wash her face or sip a cup of water to soothe her dry throat.

Holding up her skirt, Andi bounded up the porch stairs behind her charges and bolted through the door. Her steps hit the floor in rhythm with her pounding head. She narrowly missed tripping over a floorboard and fell into her chair, panting.

Runaway tangles of dust-coated hair stuck to her sweaty face. With flying fingers, she tucked her shirtwaist into her waistband, but tufts stuck out every which way. Too late she remembered her wrap. The cloak hung on its hook in the coatroom. It would cover her rumpled blouse, but it was too warm to wear it.

Wearing a winter wrap in an 80° classroom would look mighty suspicious.

Andi closed her eyes and sent up a quick, silent prayer. Please have the school board members walk up the stairs to Mr. Foster’s room.

When she opened her eyes, five school board members were filing into her classroom. Silent and unsmiling, they lined up across the back of the room.

To the children’s credit, none made a sound. They didn’t turn around to gape at the unwelcome visitors. They had caught Andi’s panic and looked scared into silence. Kristie’s wide eyes were glassy with tears.

Andi looked at Kristie and shook her head. Don’t cry, she begged the little girl with her eyes. Then she turned to the five men.

She knew them all. Mr. Evans, Fresno’s undertaker. Tall, unsmiling, and critical of anyone under the age of forty. He always lamented about what the younger generation was coming to.

Mr. Wilson, the Fresno County Bank president. Usually friendly, he took his position as school board trustee seriously. He probably still envisioned Andi as a twelve-year-old troublemaker.

Judge Morrison looked stern. He’d been a school trustee for more years than Andi could remember. He never put up with any monkey business and had given Miss Hall a hard time about four years ago.

A young farmer, Mr. Bartlett, was a new member. With two schools in town, the board had expanded. He looked solemn, as if he wasn’t sure what was expected from a trustee.

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