Ester had stayed to help Elsa prepare supper for her and William, but only after Elsa insisted that Ester take some of the food home with her. While Elsa sat at the kitchen table and peeled potatoes Ester made the meatballs and cabbage.
“After I finish the cleaning up the peels you must lay down and rest until William gets home. Then I will cook the potatoes.” Ester said.
“No, no I can’t sleep in the middle of the day!” Elsa protested.
“Don’t be silly, you are a new mother. You need your rest. I will stay until the dinner is cooked. You just go rest on the sofa.”
Elsa finally agreed to lay down but only when the potatoes were sliced and seasoned and placed in a pan for reheating. Ester dished herself a plate which she wrapped in newspaper to take home. When she had made sure the table was set and the kitchen clean she went in the front room to check on Elsa. She found Elsa sound asleep. Ester slipped out quietly to walk home. Her new home on Sherman Avenue was closer to William and Elsa’s than the Chalberg’s residence had been so it was a quick walk.
Ester walked into the building court yard feeling so proud of her new life. She walked through the ‘Building J’ entrance hall and got out her very own key for the stairway door. Before she went upstairs she checked number 12 mailbox (Her very own mailbox) for any mail. There were two letters from Sweden addressed to her new address. She was excited to open the door to the stairwell that lead to her very own home. As she walked into her room looking around she thought about how pleasant it look. Astrid had helped her setup her room so nicely. She opened one of the windows and admired the curtains Astrid had given her. The flowers she’d gotten from the Chalberg’s were still fresh sitting on the table where she placed the food plate from Elsa and her letters. She sat down and took off her shoes and went to the toilet closet. Her own toilet, too. Astrid had given her a chair and small hearth rug along with linen for her bed. So much she thought. She was overwhelmed with their kindness. Not what she had expected from Astrid. She had misjudged her. Of course, she would be kind, Astrid was her mother’s good friend. Ester felt different about herself and her new life. She didn’t know what it was yet that had changed her attitude but she like how it felt.
Looking at her new room Ester decided to leave the bed down. She didn’t expect to have any visitors who would be scandalized. She hadn’t unpacked her trunk yet but that could wait. It was her home and she could make her own decisions about when she would do things. She was hungry now and wanted to read her letters now, too.
After washing her hands, Ester looked for her spoon. Her mother had given her a silver spoon with an ivory handle. It was from her mother’s wedding silverware set passed down from her own mother. The silver was engraved with the flower of Sweden on the center of the spoon. It was the only silverware Ester had right now. She got a glass of water from her own sink and she sat down at the table for her first meal in her new home surrounded with reminders of her friends here in America and her family in Sweden. As she unwrapped the newspaper covering her supper, she noticed an ad for the Riverview amusement park. Olof had mentioned this place to her at the fishboil and he said he wanted to take her to the park this weekend.
It was only Monday but she could hardly wait. He would pick her up on Sunday morning after church. Ester opened her letters while she started to eat her supper. The first letter was from her Mama.
Vislanda, Sweden
My dear Ester,
I am most happy that you have found a new life in America. Carine and I were glad to read your letter about your new room. Astrid sent me news, too, that you had decided to move. She assured me that the building was safe and that it would be appropriate for you to be alone without concern. I am walking less and less although the doctor tells me I should try to walk. My feet are so numb that I do not even feel the ground to support me standing up. Luckily my fingers are not numb yet so I can still sew and make a living. Carine is studying every day. She has a long walk to the parish school but seems so happy with all her work. I have not heard from August and Margit in several months. I can only say that no news is better than bad news. They have the spring planting to prepare so I expect I will hear from them now that summer is here. I am anxious to know how, my baby granddaughter, Marie is doing. Carine was in the Maypole dance this year and Mr. Janssen was kind enough to give us a ride to the event. I made her a new vest and skirt for the ceremony as Carine is still growing. She is as fair as you are dark. My lovely daughters. I pray for you both each day that you will be happy in your lives. Tell me more about your new place and your work and your friends. I look forward to your letters.
Blessings my daughter,
Mama
Ester yawned as she finished her dinner and her mother’s letter. She would save the other letter for tomorrow. She was tired tonight. She laid in bed worrying about her friend Elsa. Elsa seemed to be having problems with her pregnancy. Her own pregnancy, although a difficult time, was easy on her body. Elsa seemed so fragile. She and William were so in love and so happy about the baby. Ester got out of bed and kneeled down to pray for her friend asking our Lord to protect her and the new life she grew.
Every day was so different for Ester now. She seemed to glide through each day with ease. When the sun shined so did Ester. Her work was a joy. Even her English classes began to feel much easier. It was like everything was so right. She made arrangements with Mrs. Petters to cook a meal for herself in the Petter’s kitchen that she would take home each night for her dinner. They always had plenty of leftovers but it didn’t work out easily on the nights she went to the Svea Club for English classes so those nights she would get something to eat from one of the restaurants on Clark Street. Dropping the bowl of food on the streetcar had cured her of trying to take food home on those nights. She really looked forward to being at her home. She carried the old Svenska Amerikain newspaper (*) that Professor Petters left for her to take to the trash. She could read the Swedish paper with more ease than the American newspapers. Reading the paper reminded her that she hadn’t talked to Anya in a long while. She thought she would have to look for her before church on Sunday. She read a story about a temperance group starting at the Swedish Lutheran Church and she wanted to ask Anya about her role in starting the group.
Sitting down to eat the plate she prepared from the Petters’ kitchen she opened the letter from her brother August that she had saved to read today. Inside the letter she found photographs of baby Marie with August and Margit in front of their house. She stared at the infant, no longer an infant now, but a healthy toddler with curly hair holding Margit’s hand with a happy smile on her face. It struck Ester hard. She’d all but forgot her feelings of loss with her new life taking over her every thought but this was a harsh reminder. She thought I shouldn’t see this as a bad thing, but as a happy picture of my brother and his wife and their baby girl. They are all my family, too. A tear rolled down her cheek as she started to read the letter hearing her brother speak to her in Swedish.
Kronoberg Province, Sweden
Skorda 17
Dearest Ester,
Margit, Marie, and I are smiling today in this picture to let you know how happy we are to be a family. Ester, dear sister, we couldn’t be happier to have Marie with us as our daughter. We are so grateful. Margit said I should tell you that we know it was a hard decision for you to accept the adoption. We wanted to have the picture taken for you to share our joy. Ester, do not let this be sad for you, but know you are part of our lives with Marie. She has started to know some words and one is “America.” We showed her the picture you sent of yourself in the big hat standing by the lake in Chicago and we tell her about her Auntie who lives in America.
We haven’t seen Mama since the Santa Lucia festival last December. Mama made Marie a ‘candle wreath’ to wear on her head like Santa Lucia did. We told Marie the story of how the candles kept Lucia’s hands free so she could carry food to those hiding from persecution in the catacombs. (**) Mama with her creative sewing made the candles out of cloth since Marie is too small to wear real candles. She insisted on wearing it all winter. Now that it is time for planting she has given it up for her straw hat with the pheasant feathers Margit saved from the fall hunts. She calls it ‘chick’ hat. We hope to see Mama soon now that the roads are easier to navigate after the long winter and the wet spring. We are busy now on the farm and look forward to the much warmer weather of summer.
Please tell us about your life in America. We want to hear all about your job and your friends and what you are doing. You are always in our prays,
With Love,
Your brother, August.
It felt good to hear from August. Her life here was good and she prayed to the Lord it would continue the same. Looking at the picture again, she thought she would have to show Olof when she saw him this weekend. She could tell him about her brother and his family. Then she wondered about whether she should tell him the whole story. Her thoughts were quiet for a while then she decided that it would make her happier to leave the past in the past. Now was the time for her new life, the more carefree life of a young woman and her favorite beau. She would wait for a different time to tell him everything. Now she had unpacking to do and plans to make about her wardrobe for her weekend outing with Olof.
