Chasing Lilacs (33 page)

“You know it doesn’t go with our décor,” Mrs. Johnson said.

“Hell’s bells, woman, a man’s home is his castle. That’ll make a nice throne.” He winked at his girls.

“You’re the king, all right.” She touched him lightly on the cheek, then went into the kitchen and started pulling things
from the cupboards.

Slim’s Bible went to Olivia; Norm got twenty years’ worth of
The Old Farmer’s Almanac
when he said he’d been thinking about taking over Slim’s garden—something he and Cly could do together. We set the Last Supper
painting aside to donate to Hilltop Church.

At noon Irene Flanagan brought ham and cheese sandwiches for everyone. And a coconut cake. Goldie dropped off a plate of cookies
and hugged me. Doobie and PJ came by to eat a sandwich.

Fritz Brady took two pickup loads of boxes and assorted furniture to the VFW, giving the veterans a boost for next year’s
sale. When Mr. Johnson grew tired, Tuwana’s mom drove him and the two younger girls home in the Edsel. Olivia wanted me to
have Slim’s walnut desk from the spare bedroom so I’d have a nice place to write. At Olivia’s insistence, Daddy agreed to
take Slim’s braided rug, and somehow it just felt right.

“Slim would want you to have this.” Olivia handed Cly the backgammon board with the worn-smooth playing pieces. I could see
his Adam’s apple bobbing up and down when he thanked her.

The rooms echoed now that they were empty. I ached to hear Slim tell us another story or play another game of dominoes. To
hear his teakettle whistle on the stove and sniff the steam from a cup of Ovaltine. As I fought back tears, Daddy winked at
me and guided me toward the front door.

“Sis, I think we need a break.” He dug in his pocket and handed
me a fistful of quarters. “Why don’t you and Tuwana run over to Willy’s and get us all a Coke?”

The sun beat down on our backs as Tuwana and I walked up the center of the camp, our faces smudged and grit under our fingernails.
If normal had a name, this would be it. Tuwana and me, being ourselves in spite of everything. Every day a new beginning without
knowing what might be around the corner. Maybe something exciting. Maybe nothing. Goldie had been right. The Almighty had
seen us through some tough times.

Instead of reading
Gone with the Wind
, I had taken Mama’s New Testament from the hatbox and started reading the first chapter. With the whole summer ahead, I’d
have it read in no time. And I couldn’t wait.

After getting the Cokes from Willy’s, we headed back.

Graham Camp. Not even a dot on the map.

Under the shade of an elm tree, Daddy and Olivia sat in webbed folding chairs. Daddy whittled a long stick while Olivia watched,
her honey-colored hair escaping in loose strands from her topknot. No wonder. The only thing holding it was the stick Daddy
had given her a few nights ago. Now he was apparently making one to match it. Across the street Cly pointed out to Norm the
various rows of the garden while Norm nodded his head up and down.

“Here you go.” I handed over the ice-cold bottles.

Daddy pried off the tops with the hooked blade of his knife while Tuwana and I settled on the tickly grass. When I tilted
the bottle up, Grapette soda fizzed all the way down to my toes. I ran my hand across the top of the grass looking for four-leaf
clovers, but all I came up with was a dandelion tuft. Twirling it in my fingers I puffed out my cheeks and blew the snowy
top. Fuzzies floated in the air.

“You know, days like this don’t come along too often,” Olivia said. “Friends, neighbors, family. All of you helping out. I’ll
savor
this moment a long time. A dandelion day, that’s what I call it.” She smiled at Daddy, who reached across and took her hand
in his.

My heart did a little skip as I watched them.
Daddy and Olivia holding hands?

“I wonder what they’ll be like?” Tuwana said out of the blue.

“Who?” I asked.

“The people who move here. Daddy said the new family would move in July the first. You know we really do need some excitement,
something fun and totally cool.”

“Tuwana.” I planted my hands on my hips. “You are nuts! Totally.”

But my mind spun with possibilities.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

Chasing Lilacs
by Carla Stewart

1. Both in the beginning and after her mother returns from the hospital, Sammie is torn between caring for her mother and
   having fun with her friends. Do you think this is a normal response for a twelve-year-old girl? Have you ever been torn between
   duty and pursuing your own interests? How did that make you feel?
   
2. When did you first suspect that Rita (Sammie’s mother) might still have “nerve” problems? What was the source of Rita’s
   inner turmoil?
   
3. Tuwana has been Sammie’s best friend since first grade. Cly appears during the summer the story takes place. How are these
   friends different? What role do they each play in the story? Which friend do you think was closer to being a soul mate for
   Sammie? Do you find in your circle of friends those that fill different needs for you? Do you have a best friend? A soul mate?
   
4. What clues were given about Rita’s inner struggle? Could her suicide have been prevented? Were you able to identify the
   stages of grief Sammie went through following her mother’s death? How did Sammie and her father grieve differently?
   
5. The story is set in the 1950s. Does this era hold any special memories for you? How does the intimate setting of the petroleum
   camp affect the story? Are small, close-knit communities
   the same today as they were fifty years ago? How has our need today to encourage kids to be cautious with adults changed
   our view of community?
   
6. Goldie and Slim are two very different adults who embrace Sammie. How have their own past experiences with grief and loss
   equipped them to be wise mentors? Have you had an older person mentor you? Have you ever mentored another person?
   
7. Sammie’s aunt Vadine is a difficult person to like from her first appearance on the page. Did you think Sammie tried hard
   enough to get along with her aunt? Have you ever had a difficult person in your life? How did you handle it? What was the
   outcome?
   
8. What was Sammie’s relationship like with Joe, her dad? Why do you think he was unable to see what was happening between
   Sammie and Vadine? Do you think fathers today are more sensitive to their children’s needs? How have parental roles changed
   in recent years?
   
9. Brother Henry’s response to Sammie about her mother’s suicide wasn’t definitive. Do you think suicide is the unforgiveable
   sin? Have you ever been close to someone who committed suicide? What words of wisdom did you receive? Discuss what steps you
   took to reconcile the tragedy.
   
10. Rita had many of the things Vadine felt were rightfully hers—Joe, the pearls, a child who lived (Sammie), even the experience
    of meeting the author of
    Gone with the Wind
    . When did you first suspect Vadine had deep-seated jealousy and pain? How did she act this out? Were you surprised by her
    final act of desperation toward Sammie? Were you able to sympathize with her by the end of the story? Do you think Sammie
    forgave her?
    
11. Have you ever longed to feel loved by someone you weren’t sure loved you back? For Sammie, healing hinged on finding
    out if her mother loved her. What was Rita telling Sammie by putting the pearls and New Testament in her chest of drawers?
    
12. The scent of lilacs occurs frequently in the story. How was this used as a literary device to tie Sammie and her mother
    together? Are there any smells that evoke specific memories for you?
    
13. Tuwana was fond of predicting who would be Sammie’s new mother. Do you think Joe and Olivia, Sammie’s beloved teacher,
    have a future together? What do you predict will be the outcome? What problems might arise?
    
14. Both Sammie’s mother and aunt had psychological problems based on inability to deal with traumatic events in their lives.
    What are the chances of Sammie having the same kinds of problems? What does the future hold for Sammie? Is she stronger or
    more vulnerable because of what happened in the story?
    
15. What role does faith play in dealing with psychological issues and/or the effects of past traumatic events?
    

In her life before writing, Carla Stewart enjoyed a career in nursing and juggling the adventures of her four rambunctious
sons. She believes her experiences prepared her to write novels that answer some of life’s tough questions and offer hope
in our skid-marked world.

Carla launched her writing career in 2002 when she earned the coveted honor of being invited to attend Guideposts’ Writers
Workshop in Rye, New York. Since then, her articles have appeared in
Guideposts
,
Angels on Earth
,
Saddle Baron
, and
Blood and Thunder: Musings on the Art of Medicine
.

Most recently, Carla won two ACFW Genesis contests: one in the Historical Fiction category in 2007 and another for her Young
Adult entry in 2008.
Chasing Lilacs
is her debut novel.

She enjoys a good cup of coffee, great books, and weekend getaways with her husband. They live in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and are
somewhat partial to the little people in their lives—their six grandchildren.

Carla loves to hear from readers and invites you to contact her and learn more about her writing at
www.carlastewart.com
.