THURSDAY MORNING,
OCTOBER 5, 1871
- Poppy’s Decision -
On Thursday morning, Poppy awoke to the sound of waves, boat whistles, and voices. The sky was light but clouded with smoke. She had only today and tomorrow to give Ma and Mr. Plant the wax impression of the key. Then she’d sneak on board one of the ships and sail away to somewhere else.
Yes, that’s what she’d do. After all, the Butterworths had never really cared about her. Even Claire said she believed Poppy had taken … something. Well, the Butterworths be danged. She’d had enough of them!
She got up, adjusted her sweater, and headed to a nearby park. There, at a small beach, she washed her face in the water.
“Whatcha doin’, kid?” A man dressed in raggedy clothes staggered up to Poppy. “Got any food?”
“No!” She turned away. Although she was a street person herself, especially now that she had nowhere to live, she knew she had to be wary of beggars who killed for just a bite of food.
She was hungry, too, but she wouldn’t allow herself to think about food right now. She had to take the wax impression she had made of Mr. Butterworth’s key to Ma Brennan straightaway.
As she headed up the dusty road, she stopped suddenly. Was that Justin coming down the street? For an instant she wanted to run toward him and call his name. Then she recalled the accusations the Butterworths had made about her. She’d vowed never to see them or speak with any of them again. She ducked into the next alley and ran around trash and garbage to the next street. Then she suddenly realized that the boy could not have been Justin. He’d be in school at this hour of the morning.
There was no one around the empty lot where the wax impression was hidden. Once again Poppy found the loose stone and reached inside the cavity. She pulled out the small matchbox and the four dollars that were left. Yes, everything was exactly as she had left it.
Poppy would need the money now that she had decided to stow away on the Highland. It wasn’t going to last long, but at least it was something.
She stuffed the money and the little box containing the wax into her pocket and replaced the stone. She’d probably never come back to this place. She’d be far away in a few days. Her heart skipped a beat at the thought of what lay ahead. At the same time, she was scared. Who would have anything to do with a girl her age who had no family or friends? Perhaps she could clean houses—become a maid. That wouldn’t be bad. Maybe the people in the household would learn to love her … like she thought Claire had.
Poppy didn’t want to think about Claire, but all the sweet things that Justin’s sister had said and promised came back like the smoke on the wind and then disappeared in the sky.
Tears welled up again. Only stupid people let their hearts believe anything, she decided. Poppy took out the box of wax, opened it, and studied the impression of the key to the jewelry store. It was a perfect cast. Ma would have no trouble making a key from it.
Still, Claire told Poppy she was learning to love her. And Poppy had felt like Mew must feel—warm and loved, tucked away in a safe place next to Claire’s heart.
A safe place. That feeling of belonging was gone now, but at least, for once in her whole life, she had felt part of a family—part of a friendship—in a safe place. That was something, wasn’t it? Something to remember—the rest of her life.
She took the wax impression out of the box and held it in her hand. Then, with a sudden decision, she threw it to the ground and stomped on it hard.