The Trouble with May Amelia by Jennifer L. Holm

Author:Jennifer L. Holm
Language: eng
Format: epub, azw3, mobi
Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers
Published: 2011-09-21T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER NINE

Calving and Courting

There’s no shortage of volunteers to help mend the damage that Friendly caused to the schoolhouse. The men trip over each other and every single one has his sights set on our pretty teacher.

First one to show up is tall Ben Armstrong. He brings a wagon full of lumber scraps.

I heard what happened, Ben says. Thought I could build you a new outhouse.

That’s very kind of you, Miss McEwing says.

Next to come is Wild Cat Clark. He shows up with a dead cougar slung over one shoulder and drops it at Miss McEwing’s feet.

Just killed it this morning, he says and she goes white. It’ll make a mighty fine rug for under your desk.

How thoughtful, she says.

On and on they come. Even my cousin Thymei shows up and he’s only got one eye.

Looks like she’s running a bawdy house and not a schoolhouse, Pappa grumbles when he sees another man tying up his rowboat.

Miss McEwing smiles at every last one of them and after the outhouse is rebuilt and the door fixed she starts making little suggestions.

Oh, I do wish the children had a swing, she says loudly to Mr. Petersen and just like that we have a swing. Soon our schoolhouse is better than ever—we got a new outhouse, new desks, a swing, and a tall stack of neatly chopped wood to feed into the potbelly stove. I almost expected one of the men to sew up some curtains for our windows.

Good thing she ain’t married, Wilbert says, Or we’d be doing our sums in a shack.

It’s calving time and our cows start dropping babies left and right. Since we have no barn, we must keep an eye on the poor calves to make sure they aren’t eaten by cougars or bears. Pappa says every Jackson child must stay on the farm and help out and so there is no school for us. Our cow, Patience, decides to have her baby right as we’re sitting down for supper.

Put on some coffee, May Amelia, Pappa says wearily.

I don’t know what it is about babies that makes them come at the worst times. Mamma says it’s because they’ve been sleeping so long in their mothers’ bellies that they don’t much care what time it is. I think they’re just stubborn. And it looks like this calf is one of the most stubborn ones yet. It won’t come out even though its mamma is groaning and mooing.

Come on old girl, Pappa urges the cow. Push that babe out.

Cow’s just like your mother, Mamma says.

Finally, Pappa stands up, and shakes his head, and says, The babe’s stuck.

He goes back to the house and when he returns, he has his gun.

Don’t shoot her, Pappa! I plead.

She’s suffering, girl.

What about Mr. Clayton? I suggest. He’s got a good touch with animals.

Pappa wipes a hand over his forehead. Don’t think he’ll be able to do much, but can’t see the harm in him trying. Go on and fetch him.

I’ll go with you, May, Wilbert says.

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