SATURDAY AFTERNOON,
SEPTEMBER 30, 1871
- Poppy’s Secret -
Poppy started down the sidewalk, still wary of anyone who might have seen her steal the lady’s money. But the clamor had subsided, so it seemed safe now to head home. She reached under her blouse to feel the packet she had stolen. The woman must have just cashed a check in the bank, for Poppy could tell it was all crisp new bills—the kind the government had printed during the war. Ma would be happy with her take that day. But what about me? Poppy wondered. She had risked getting arrested and put in jail for stealing. She had every right to take her share of what she had stolen, hadn’t she?
Yes, she’d carry out her plan to save some of the sugar for herself—for when she’d run away and start her own life without Ma and the girls telling her what to do. But first she had to find a spot to hide the money—someplace near the Willow, but out of the way enough where no one else could find it.
As she turned down a side road to Clark Street, she heard the clang of loud bells. Two horses pulling a fire engine came racing up the road. The sound of steam and the clopping of horses’ hooves resounded loudly on the dry, hard street. The engine turned onto the next street and sped beyond the run-down buildings. Poppy could see a spiral of smoke swirl its way up into the clouds.
Another fire! Seems like there’s at least one fire every day. If we don’t get rain soon, the whole town may burn up, Poppy thought.
After she passed a line of deserted, dilapidated houses, she approached an empty lot not too far from the Willow. A building had been moved away to comply with the town’s demand to raise the level of the city streets. The rock foundation was crumbling and the land was filled now with dry weeds, grass, and dandelions. A few small trees reached up to the sky with leafless limbs. Fall had come early this year because of the drought.
Maybe there’d be a place in there to hide my loot. Poppy crossed the street and looked around to see if anyone was watching her. The large lot was filled with old newspapers, bottles, and other junk that was partly covered with dead leaves. She shuffled through the debris and closer to the stone foundation.
I’ve got to find a space where I can keep what’s mine, where no one would suspect there’s anything there.
Poppy glanced over her shoulder again, to make sure no one was around, and then bent down to the stone wall that had once been the foundation for the building. The cement that had previously held the rocks together had crumbled away and the stones all looked alike—except for one gray rock that sparkled with pieces of shiny stuff.
Poppy wiggled it, and almost immediately the stone fell out and into her hands. Poppy suddenly recalled what Justin had told her—that jewels grew in rocks. She examined the bits of tiny sparkles on this stone. Were they diamonds? If they were, they were very small. And Justin said diamonds didn’t grow in Chicago.
She reached into the opening up to her elbow, and she could feel another stone at the end of the cavity. Good! Even if someone removed the rock, the money would be way back in the hole. This was the perfect spot for her getaway stash!
Poppy kicked around at the junk beneath her feet and came across an empty can that was fairly clean inside. Then she removed from under her blouse the bank envelope she had stolen. Twenty-five dollars in five-, two-, and one-dollar bills were folded neatly inside. Ma won’t notice if I take five dollars. She’ll still have twenty, and that’s more than the other girls bring in with just one boodle.
Poppy folded two two-dollar bills and one one-dollar bill and put them into the can. Then, glancing around once more, she slipped the can into the hole and replaced the rock.
After putting the rest of the money under her blouse again, she ran back across the street—and stopped.
Noreen was waiting for her. “What were you doing over there?” she asked suspiciously.
“Er … nothing. I thought I saw a stray cat. So I went over to see it.”
Noreen didn’t speak for a long minute. Then she shrugged her shoulders. “You and your cats,” she said. “Ma would never let you keep a cat … or a kitten. So just forget it.”
“It’s all I want … a little kitten.”
“Where we live is no place for a little kitten. Someone would probably kill it if they saw it at the Willow.”
“Someday I’ll have a kitten,” Poppy said. “Even if I have to move away.”
“Come on, let’s go home.” Noreen started up the road.
Poppy walked fast to keep up with her, wondering if Noreen really hadn’t seen her put the money into the secret hiding place.
When they arrived at the Willow, the resort was filling up with boisterous men and women, beginning another evening of drinking and carousing. How Poppy hated going down the dark stairway that led to the cellar foundation where she lived! Even when the sun shone brightly outside, she had to enter this darkness every night as she returned to Ma Brennan’s place.
Sheila and Ma were already there, and before Poppy could enter the room, Ma grabbed her by the arm and pulled her inside. “Where have you been? Where’s the money?”
“Right here,” Poppy replied angrily, reaching under her shirt. “Give me a minute, will ya?”
Ma gave a quick, sharp slap across Poppy’s face. “How many times have I told you not to back talk?”
Poppy didn’t answer, but her hand shook as she handed the money to Ma. If Ma knew she had taken some of it, what would she do to Poppy? She’d give her more than a slap in the face. That was certain.
Poppy stood with her head down as she waited for Ma to count the bills.
“Good! This is what I need to feed the three of you!” Ma spoke with the pained voice she used each time she took money from the girls. “It won’t pay for my meals, but I’m not thinkin’ of myself, as usual. I’ll get by.” Poppy looked away. Twenty dollars was enough to buy food for the family for a month. Poppy knew it was a trick of Ma’s to make her look as if she were giving up so much for her girls.
“Oh, Mama, you mustn’t sacrifice for us,” Sheila whimpered. “You need to eat and stay well.”
“We’ll all get by,” Noreen agreed, and went to her mother’s arms. “Poppy is lucky to be part of our family … even though she isn’t really one of us.” She gave Poppy a long look, and Poppy wondered again if she had seen her putting the money away.
Ma interrupted Poppy’s thoughts. “Hush, Noreen!” said Ma. “Poppy’s like a sister to you. Besides, look what she brought us today. There’s twenty dollars in here!” Ma counted the money again, then patted Poppy’s arm. “Sorry I had to slap ya, Poppy. But your ma has got to discipline ya once in a while—to teach you respect.”
Poppy nodded, but inside, her desire to get away was stronger than ever. Still, how would a measly five dollars now and then make it possible to run away?
Suddenly she remembered that boy, Justin, the one whose father owned the jewelry store on State Street—the one who’d promised to show her real jewels.