The Mandie Collection (34 page)

Mandie struggled for a moment, embarrassed yet flattered that Miss Prudence thought her journey important enough to invite all these people to hear her. She smiled weakly at the headmistress and Miss Hope, who sat at a table off to the side of the room.

Mandie was certain Tommy Patton was in the group. They had become friends on other visits between the two schools. But she was afraid to look for him. In fact, she avoided the eyes of all the listeners as she nervously took a place in the corner of the crowded room and began relating her adventure.

“First of all,” she said, her voice quavering, “I want to thank Miss Prudence and Miss Hope for allowing me to take leave from school.” She stopped and cleared her throat. “President McKinley is a wonderful man. And his wife is so warm and friendly. As you probably know, my grandmother went with me. And the President also invited my friends, Joe Woodard and Sallie Sweetwater and Uncle Ned, my old Cherokee friend.”

There was a snicker in the group, and Mandie caught sight of April Snow in the back row making a face.

Miss Prudence rapped on the table and stood up. “We will have none of that now,” she said sternly. “You will maintain silence until Amanda has finished. In fact, I would suggest that you pay close attention because I might just give a test on her speech.”

The students looked at each other and frowned.

Oh, no
, Mandie said to herself.
The girls will hate me
.

Miss Prudence remained standing, keeping a watchful eye on the students. “Please continue, Amanda,” she said.

Mandie tried to make it short. But she had to tell them about the beautiful rooms in the White House, climbing the 898 steps of the Washington Monument, and seeing all the exhibits in the Smithsonian Institution. And Miss Prudence, Miss Hope, and Mr. Chadwick kept asking questions now and then, making her go into more detail about everything she had seen and learned. The students remained quiet, but Mandie wasn't sure they were really interested.

Finally, when she could think of nothing else to say, she turned to the headmistress. “Thank you, Miss Prudence,” she said, sinking down into the chair behind her.

“Thank
you
, Amanda,” Miss Prudence replied. “You have given an interesting account of your visit.” She turned to address all the students. “Young ladies and gentlemen, we will serve tea in the dining room now, but since there are so many of us, you may bring your refreshments back here or take them into the hallway while you visit with one another. Please follow me.”

As the students moved through the line, they all seemed to avoid Mandie. They looked at her out of the corners of their eyes and stayed out of her path.

But Tommy Patton and his friend Robert Rogers singled out Mandie and Celia to discuss the Washington trip and the latest happenings
at the two schools. With the cold shoulder Mandie was getting from the other girls, she was glad to talk to Tommy as they waited in line. Tommy was a tall, handsome boy with dark brown eyes, and Mandie always enjoyed being with him.

Tommy smiled down at her. “I've never been to Washington, D.C.,” he said. “You certainly did make the inauguration and everything sound interesting.”

“Thank you, Tommy,” Mandie replied, accepting a cup of tea and a small cake from Aunt Phoebe. The others did likewise and the four of them wandered out into the less-crowded hallway to talk.

“I don't think it's very interesting to the other girls, though,” Mandie said sadly. “Miss Prudence has seen to that with the threat of a test.”

Robert smiled shyly at Celia and took a drink of his tea. “I don't think she really meant it,” he said.

“I certainly hope not,” Mandie replied.

Tommy leaned over to Mandie and spoke softly so that no one outside their group could hear him. “Pardon me for saying so, but Miss Prudence ought to know that a test would make the other girls despise you,” he said. “They're bound to be jealous enough already that the President invited you to the White House.”

Mandie laughed nervously. “Well, let them be jealous,” she returned. “I was the one the President invited. After all, most of these girls have lots of money, but what have they ever done for other people? They haven't built a hospital for the Indians or anything.”

The boys and Celia eyed Mandie with concern. What was happening to her?

In the days that followed, the other students avoided Mandie more and more because Miss Prudence
did
give a test on Mandie's account of her trip to Washington. Mandie tried to pretend she didn't notice their reactions, but no one would even talk to her. Even Celia seemed a little distant, not her usual warm, bubbly self.

April Snow snickered every time she saw Mandie in the hallway—as long as the schoolmistresses weren't in sight. Sometimes she would mock Mandie, saying things like, “Princess Amanda! She went to visit the President!”

Mandie was furious, but she didn't answer April. She simply tried to avoid her.

One afternoon between classes Mandie overheard two other students talking.

“I wish she had never even come to this school,” Etrulia Batson said with disgust. “She thinks she's so important.”

The other girl said, “I wish I could have been there in Washington just to see that little mountain girl make a fool out of herself, for all she knows about society functions,” she replied.

Mandie turned and quietly slipped into an empty classroom. Tears welled in her eyes as she thought about what they had said.
Why does everybody hate me so
? she wondered.
It isn't my fault that Miss Prudence decided to give that test
. She wiped her eyes and took a deep breath.
I'm not going to let it bother me
, she told herself.
The President thinks I'm special. What difference does it make what these girls think? They're just jealous
.

After all the catching up she had to do on her schoolwork and the way the girls were treating her, Mandie was really looking forward to Easter holidays. But a few days before they were to begin, Miss Prudence announced that the school would not close for the usual week. The girls had already missed too much school-time because of the flu epidemic during the winter, she said. They would stay at school and have Good Friday and Easter Monday observances there.

Disappointed with Miss Prudence's decision, Mandie found some comfort in the fact that she and Celia were at least allowed to attend church and spend the day with her grandmother on Easter Sunday. Easter came on April seventh that year, and the weather was already warm. Leaves sprouted on the trees, and flowers bloomed in gardens everywhere. A feeling of “newness” filled the air.

After church on Easter Sunday, Mandie and Celia sat at the dinner table with Mrs. Taft and Hilda, the dark-haired, disturbed girl whom Mrs. Taft had given a home. Hilda still couldn't talk much, and Mrs. Taft had told Mandie that the girl still ran away occasionally when she got a chance. But Hilda was excited to see Mandie. That made Mandie feel good after all the rough treatment she had gotten from the girls at school lately.

Now, as the others ate and talked, Hilda sat quietly and listened.

“Amanda, dear,” Mrs. Taft said as Ella, the maid, refilled her coffee cup, “we need to begin planning our trip to Europe, you know.” She smiled and turned to Celia. “And Celia, I have obtained permission from your mother for you to go, too.”

The girls began to talk excitedly.

“Also,” Mrs. Taft raised her voice to get their attention, “it seems that Senator Morton will be sailing on the same ship that we'll take. Isn't that nice?”

Mandie and Celia looked at each other and giggled. Mandie had told her friend about the senator.

“That's great, Grandmother,” Mandie agreed. Then she realized that she had not heard a word from her mother about the proposed trip to Europe. “But did you ever ask
my
mother if I could go?” she asked.

“Of course, dear,” Mrs. Taft replied, cutting a slice of ham. “Your mother and I got that settled long ago—in fact, right after we came back from Washington. I'm sorry if I didn't remember to tell you.”

“Thanks, Grandmother.” Mandie jumped up and ran around the table to give her a hug. “I love you. You're a wonderful grandmother.”

Hilda's big brown eyes sparkled. “Love you,” she said.

Everyone smiled at the girl's recognition of the words.

“Well, Amanda,” Mrs. Taft said, “I don't know what brought that on, but sit back down now, dear, and let's get our plans made.”

There was a lot of discussion about where to go, what to see, and what they would need to take with them. Mandie was excited that Celia would be able to go with them this time. “When are we going?” she asked.

“I've thought about that,” Mrs. Taft replied. “And your mother and I agreed that we should wait until after your little sister or brother is born in June, so I have made reservations to spend the whole month of July in Europe.”

“We have to wait that long?” Mandie said, disappointed.

“Well, we can't go before the baby comes, and your mother may want me around for awhile afterward, so July is about the soonest we could go.”

Mandie grumbled to herself. That baby was causing trouble again, even before it got here. She would be glad when it finally came. Then maybe it would quit interfering with her plans.

After the meal, Mandie went to the kitchen to feed Snowball, who had patiently waited at her feet under the table. As Mandie entered the kitchen, she saw Ben sitting at the table having his dinner.

She flashed a quick smile. “I just want to give this cat something to eat,” she said, stooping to put some food scraps onto a plate on the floor. “You look all tired out, Ben. Where've you been this morning?”

“Out to de farm,” Ben replied without thinking. Then he clasped his hand over his mouth, and his eyes grew wide.

Mandie looked up. “The farm where they grow the vegetables for our food at school?” she asked, hoping now she might find out what had been going on out there. She tried not to sound too eager. “I remember one time Aunt Phoebe took me out there,” she said innocently. “I met Uncle Cal's mother, Aunt Pansy—she really runs the place, doesn't she? And her son Willie and granddaughter Soony help, too, right?”

“Yessum, they does all right, Missy,” Ben agreed. “But I thinks I done said too much already.”

“Oh, come on, Ben,” Mandie pleaded. “You can tell me. My curiosity is killing me.”

“My, my, my,” Ben replied.

Mandie could tell he was giving in.

“I s'pose it be all over now, so it don't matter so much nohow.” Ben wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. “Well, it be like dis, Missy,” he began. “Dat Willie, he be out in de field somewheres and dat Soony, she be gone somewheres else. And Miz Pansy, she be all alone in de house.”

Mandie felt shivers up and down her spine, not knowing what to expect.

“And you know Miz Pansy, she always be good to po' folks to try an' he'p 'em,” he continued. “So when dis young Negro fellow come knockin' at de back do' and ask fo' food, she lets him in de kitchen and sets a plate of hot dumplin's b'fo' him.” Ben stopped and took a drink of coffee.

Mandie's heartbeat quickened. “Please hurry, Ben,” she urged. “Tell me what happened!”

“Well, dat fellow, he be up to no good. He tie up Miz Pansy after he beat her down when she wouldn't give in to be tied up. Den he rob de whole house,” Ben explained. “He took—”

“Ben,” Mandie interrupted, “is Aunt Pansy all right? Why did Miss Prudence keep all this a secret?”

“Miz Pansy, she done be recovered now,” Ben said with a mouthful of biscuit. “And dat Miz Prudence, she be a funny person. She don't want nobody to tell 'cause it might hurt de school, she say. Ain't dat funny?”

“Oh, I wish Miss Prudence had let us know so we could have gone to visit Aunt Pansy,” Mandie said. “I suppose since she's Uncle Cal's mother, that's why he and Aunt Phoebe were disappearing now and then. I'm going to ask if I can visit Aunt Pansy.”

“Now don't you be tellin' dat Miz Prudence dat you knows 'bout dis,” Ben warned, 'cause she know den dat I told you.”

“How would she know
you
told me?” Mandie asked.

“Because I was de one what took Miz Hope and Aunt Phoebe out dere,” Ben explained.

“Then Grandmother must have known about it,” Mandie said, confused.

“No, all dis happen when yo' grandmother ain't home,” Ben replied. “And Miz Prudence, she say don't tell nobody, so I don't tell nobody.” He shook his head vigorously. “Till now,” he added sheepishly.

Mandie put her hands on her hips, exasperated at Miss Prudence's secrecy. “I'll just ask if I can go visit Aunt Pansy,” Mandie said. “I won't mention anything about the robbery or her being hurt.”

Mandie didn't mention the matter to her grandmother either, but as soon as they arrived back at the school later that day, Mandie told Celia what had happened, and they made plans to visit Aunt Pansy.

One Saturday soon afterward, Mandie and Celia were allowed to visit the old woman when Aunt Phoebe had to go out to the farm for supplies. Aunt Pansy was delighted to see the girls, and no one mentioned the robbery. Everything seemed to be back to normal.

Later that month, while Mandie and Celia sat on the window seat in their room, enjoying the warm night breeze that floated in through the open window, Mandie was brooding about the way the other girls were still treating her. Suddenly she heard a faint noise below. She leaned forward to look down into the yard. “Did you hear something?”

“I think so,” Celia replied, glancing out into the night. “It sounded like a bird.”

Mandie peered outside, surveying the entire lawn below. The full moon illuminated the school grounds fairly well except for the shadows from the huge magnolia trees. A figure stepped out of the shadows. Mandie caught her breath. “Look, Celia! It's Uncle Ned!” she cried excitedly. “I'm going down there a minute.”