Pewter Angels (10 page)

T
he clock on Henry’s
bedside table read six-fifteen. The sun was up but just barely. He rose, too, and went to the window to look outside.The sky was overcast and rain threatened. He was glad. If it was a nice day his dad would probably be wishing he was golfing or working in the yard rather than framing an old door.

When Henry entered the kitchen, he was surprised to see his dad already at the table, sipping coffee and gazing off into space. He had seemed kind of quiet lately, not really himself. It bothered Henry to see him that way. He much preferred when his dad was more talkative and joked around with them. Henry hoped nothing was wrong.

“’Morning, Dad.”

“’Morning, son. Ready to get right at it, are you?”

“Yeah, I went to bed so early last night, I couldn’t sleep any longer. Are you still game to help Mr. Engelmann today?”

“You bet. A man is only as good as his word, remember that.”

“Yeah, for sure, Dad.”

“I thought I would start carrying things over before the traffic gets too heavy,” his dad said. “What time do customers usually start coming in?”

“I’m not really sure. Ive been working downstairs the last few days. Why do you ask?”

“Well, to build and frame a wall requires a lot of hammering and sawing and it’ll make some noise.”

“Oh, that’s okay. I’m sure Mr. Engelmann and his customers won’t mind. I think they’re just happy to see things improve.”

“Well, let’s get started then. Maybe you can carry the tools and nails and I’ll carry the two-by-fours and the insulation. I’ll come back to get the sheeting and anything else I might need once I see what all needs to be done.”

“I sure appreciate your help, Dad, and I know Mr. Engelmann will too.”

They arrived at the store just after seven. Henry noticed a light on inside and tapped on the front window. Moments later, Mr. Engelmann appeared at the door, looking surprised. “What are you doing here so early?”

“My dad brought the door and insulation over. Can I get downstairs to open up the cellar doors for him?”

“Yes, yes, of course, come in. Quickly, go open the doors so he doesn’t have to wait too long.”

Henry brushed past Mr. Engelmann and galloped down the steps to the cellar doors, swinging them wide.

His dad stepped down carefully and surveyed the basement.

“Looks like you’ve made a good start. You’re doing a good job, son.” He walked over to the washing machine still in partial darkness. “Could use another light over here. How on earth does Mrs. Engelmann see to do the wash?”

“Dad, two days ago you couldn’t see a thing.”

His dad studied the situation for a moment. “I have an extension cord at home. We can plug a light cord into it and hang it over the wash area with a pull string on it so Mrs. Engelmann can turn it on.”

“That would be great.”

“So, what’s with these doors?” his dad asked, crossing the room. He closed the cellar doors, noting the cracks and the open space between them. “Hmm. If we build a wall with a door in front of the alcove leading to the old cellar doors, we can block out most of the draft and cold—and keep the field mice out.”

After sizing up the job, Henry’s dad decided he needed more materials and supplies from home. “If you want, you can start stuffing insulation between the floor joists and the outside walls. Keep the insulation loose. It’s more efficient when it’s not packed tightly.”

“Okay,” Henry replied, then went to get the crate to stand on while his dad climbed the stairs back outside.

Before putting up the insulation, Henry checked the traps for more mice. One had a mouse; the other didn’t. That was a good sign. They must be almost gone. After he discarded the mouse and reset the trap, he took out the insulation and began to work.

A few minutes later, Mr. Engelmann came down the stairs. At the bottom, he held his hand over his eyes to shield them from the brightness. He spun around in an astonished pirouette.

“Henry, this is amazing! It looks so bright and clean. Anna will not believe this.” Mr. Engelmann drew near, sputtering words of gratitude before finally giving up altogether and hugging Henry instead. Straightening, he tugged on his sweater vest and attempted to regain his composure. “In the fourteen years I have owned this store, I have never seen this basement look so nice. From the bottom of my heart, thank you, Henry.”

There was a call from outside. “Henry, can you come and get this? I’ll hand it down to you.” His dad was back.

Henry ran over to the cellar doors. Mr. Engelmann followed.

“Oh, hello, Mr. Engelmann.”

“Hello, Bill. Nice to see you. Thank you for your help with all this. First your son comes, and now you come on your day off. This is very kind of you.”

“Glad I can help.”

“This is quite the boy you have,” Mr. Engelmann said, patting Henry on the back as he reached for the things his dad was handing down to him. “He works so hard and he knows so much. You have taught him well.”

“Yeah, we’re very pleased with Henry.”

“He’s a good boy. A good man,” Mr. Engelmann corrected.

“Yes, he’s growing into that for sure.”

“And don’t forget I will pay you for that door and the insulation and whatever else you need.”

“I’ll keep an accurate record, Mr. Engelmann. Don’t worry.”

“And, remember too, for your labour I’ll give you three pounds of my best salami.”

“That’s very kind of you.”

“Okay, I will go back upstairs and get ready to open the store. If you need any help, call me.”

“We will.”

By noon, Henry’s dad had built the wall and framed and hung the door. Satisfied that it opened and closed properly, he glued thin boards over the cracks in the cellar doors.

“Well, son, that about does it. I think I have the key for that door at home in the garage. You can bring it back with you later.”

“Thanks a lot, Dad, that was really nice of you. Are you going up to see Mr. Engelmann?”

“Yes, I better go square things up or it will bother him until I do.”

Henry wanted to see how they would negotiate their settlement but decided it would be better if he kept out of it. He didn’t want Mr. Engelmann to feel pressured at all. He looked at his dad’s repair job and decided he’d paint the old door, too, but he would need more paint.

It was near lunchtime when Henry scrambled upstairs.

“See you after lunch, Mr. Engelmann,” he called.

“Yes, yes. When you come back we will discuss your wages.”

“Sure, that’s fine.”

There wasn’t much traffic and Henry didn’t even have to stop as he ran across the road and toward his house.

“Hi, Mom,” he called as he entered.

“I’m in the kitchen. We’re having salami sandwiches today.”

No doubt part of Mr. Engelmann’s payment.

As Henry sat down, his father came in from the garage and presented him with the key for the door.

“Thanks, Dad. How much did he pay you, anyway?”

“Oh, that’s between him and me, son. It was enough and I’m happy I could help out.”

His mom joined them at the table.

“Jenny was over this morning. She said to tell you that she can go to the movie with you tonight but she has to be home by nine-thirty.”

“Oh, that’s good,” he replied, trying to sound nonchalant. He continued eating, finding it very difficult to chew his sandwich and contain the excitement welling up inside him. Thankfully, his mother didn’t pursue it.

When Henry returned to the store, Mr. Engelmann was telling a customer where she could find the Ajax cleaner. After she went to get it, Henry asked, “Is there anything I should do?”

“Yes, yes. Can you watch the store? Anna needs me upstairs for awhile. Do you still remember how to operate the cash register?”

“I think so. If I have a problem, I’ll call you.”

“Here is a cloth, too. You can dust the shelves.”

“Sure, Mr. Engelmann.” Henry took the cloth over to the far aisle and started dusting.

Mr. Engelmann nodded, then disappeared into the back room. Henry served eight customers in the two hours he was gone. It was almost four o’clock when Mr. Engelmann appeared again.

“How is Mrs. Engelmann?”

“Not well. She’s sleeping now. She was so excited when I told her about the basement and what your dad did. She said to make sure I thank you for her.”

“You can tell her she’s welcome.” Henry related his movie plans with Jenny and asked if he could leave early.

“Yes, yes, of course. And you need spending money.” Mr. Engelmann opened the till, took out a ten dollar bill and handed it to Henry.

“Oh, this is too much,” Henry protested.

“No, no, you earned it and more. Now off with you and have a good time. That Jenny is a very nice girl.”

“Thank you very much, Mr. Engelmann.” It was the first ten dollars Henry had earned in his life so he just stared at it for a moment. Ten dollars wasn’t very much for three days’ work, but he knew it was probably more than Mr. Engelmann could afford.

Henry arrived home less than five minutes later and went directly to his room. He undressed, except for his shorts, then peeked out into the hallway to make sure no one was there before dashing for the bathroom. As he turned the knob to open the door, his dad swung it open from the inside.

“Is that how you’re going to take Jenny to the movie?”

“Geez, Dad, just get out of the way so I can take a shower.”

As Henry darted past, his dad swatted him on the behind, adding insult to his embarrassment. Henry was in and out of the shower in two minutes and ready for the mad dash back. He opened the door. The coast was clear so he ran to his bedroom, only to collide with his mom, who was coming out of it. He almost knocked her over.

“Mom! What are you doing in my room?”

“I just laid out some clean clothes for you. You’re going to want to wear
some
thing, aren’t you?”

Henry didn’t know how to respond to that. “Yeah. Thanks, Mom. Sorry.”

“Honestly, I’m not looking,” she said, moving past as if to leave then at the last second catching the end of the towel Henry had wrapped around himself. She tugged once, sharply, leaving him standing there in the nude while she laughed all the way to the kitchen, waving the towel behind her like a cape.

Geez!
He ducked into his room and slammed the door. A clean, pressed pair of trousers and his favourite blue shirt waited on the bed. He dressed quickly then returned to the bathroom to rub a dab of Brylcreem into his hair. He combed it into three different styles before settling on the way he usually did it. Satisfied, he left the bathroom and headed for the front door.

“Not so fast, young man,” his dad said, blocking Henry’s exit.

“What is it, Dad?”

“Here.” He handed Henry a dollar, probably the one Mr. Engelmann had given him for the old door. “Now that you’re working for a living, your allowance will be cut. Consider this a bonus. Treat yourself and Jenny tonight.”

His mother stood in the hallway, smiling. “You look nice, Henry.”

“Thanks, Mom, Dad.” Henry smiled and lifted the dollar in a kind of salute before tucking it into his pocket and walking out the front door. To his annoyance, the wind mussed his neatly combed hair. After several unsuccessful attempts to slick it back, he gave up. It was a battle lost by many hairdos on the prairies.

Jenny waved at him from her perch on the porch as he came up her front walk. He hadn’t seen her for over a day and was again overwhelmed by her smile. Her eyes held a special twinkle of excitement for their first date. She was wearing the new outfit she had modelled for him two days ago and the breeze carried a hint of her lilac perfume. Her necklace caught the sunlight in a series of silver sparks.

“You sure look nice, Jenny,” he said.

“You do, too. I love the colour of your shirt.”

Mrs. Sarsky stepped into the doorway. “Going to see
High Society
, are you?”

“Yes,” he answered.

“Mr. Sarsky and I will have to see it sometime, too. I just love that Grace Kelly.”

Henry nodded, anxious to get going. “Well, we better go, Jenny. We have fifteen minutes to catch the trolley.”

“Have a good time, and remember what your dad said. Be home by nine-thirty.”

“We will, I promise,” Jenny called over her shoulder as Henry closed the gate behind them.

As they walked past Henry’s house, he noticed a slight movement of the curtain in the front window. He glanced quickly, but didn’t see his mom, only the wide prairie sky reflected on the glass.