Listening for Lions by Gloria Whelan

Author:Gloria Whelan
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Dear Grandfather,

Mr. Duggen saw a willow wren and I saw a robin. I hope you are feeling better.

Valerie

I slipped it under the door of Grandfather’s bedroom. The next days were torture. Grandfather was too sick to see me. I imagined the terrible Pritchards on their way. I ate so little that the cook, Mrs. Nessel, came into the dining room in her apron with a smudge of flour and a stern look on her face.

“I am sure, Miss Valerie, that I am doing all I can to give you tasty food. I suppose you are used to cooking elephants and such, but I can assure you there are no elephants to be had at Butcher Brogan’s.”

“Oh, no,” I said. “I’ve never had such good food. It’s just that I don’t feel very well.”

Her look softened. “I suppose you miss your parents. That’s only natural.”

“Yes,” I said, glad to tell the truth for once. “I miss my parents.”

Mr. Grumbloch returned, but the moment I saw him, I disappeared into my room, afraid of another of his angry looks. At supper I stuffed some of the food into my handkerchief and hid it in my pocket so that Mrs. Nessel should think I had eaten it and not be upset. I was so miserable, I was ready to leave Stagsway and walk wherever the road would take me. I had gone so far as to gather the few things that belonged to me and not Valerie and make a little bundle when Ellie appeared.

“Your grandfather wants you, Miss.”

I knocked softly on his door and heard him summon me.

“Come and sit beside the bed, child; my voice is weak this evening.” He looked at me for a long while. I thought, Now is the chance to tell the truth, but then I remembered Mr. Duggen saying, “One more disappointment would be the end of the old gentleman,” and I swallowed my words.

“I have had a letter from my son,” he said. “He and his wife wish to come to England. It seems they are lonesome for you and they wish for a reconciliation with me.” He straightened up in bed, and I could imagine how he had once been an impressive and a stern man. “My son’s reckless behavior sent his mother to the grave. I can never forgive him for that. However, I have found that he has had his own disappointments. At any rate he has sent you. For that I can forgive him a great deal.”

He paused to catch his breath. “It will be several months before they come, so we will have some time to welcome the spring and enjoy the summer. I had your note about the robin and the willow wren.” He handed me a paper. “I have a new list. You can begin in the morning. Now I must rest.”

I took the list to my room and read the names of the birds: swallow, turtledove, redstart. A description followed the name of each bird. I tried to sort everything out.

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