Chapter Two

 

Katie filled the pitcher and when she turned around, Mrs. Johansson was gone. She carried her pitcher into the bedroom, poured the water in the bowl and then visited the outhouse.

What a dream! Whoever visited an outhouse in their dreams?

When she returned, she washed up in her bowl using the towel that was placed beside it, and then flopped on the bed. There was another knock at her door. She got up to answer it, and there was Mrs. Johansson again. “Here’s your uniform. Put it on and be ready to go soon. You missed breakfast. I’ll give you something to eat in the car. Mr. Johansson is pulling the Buick around to take you girls to work.”

Work? Really? Katie could not believe she would have to go to work in her dream. She decided to play along and put the uniform on. It was a crisp black dress, almost floor length, black socks and shoes. She tied a stiff, white bib apron over the dress and was finished. There was no mirror to see how everything fit. Katie felt like she stepped back in time in the outfit. Perhaps it was an old-fashion or Amish restaurant.

Yes, that has to be it. All of this will make sense once I get there.

Katie stepped into the hallway and all the other doors were open too. Three girls about her age, dressed the same way, were in the hallway. Two of the girls were talking while the third leaned on the doorframe to her bedroom.

“Oh, hello. You must be the new girl, Kathryn. I’m Lucinda and this is Ruthie.” She pointed to the girl next to her. “And that one,” pointing to the leaning girl, “is Anna.” She leaned in closer to Katie. “Not too friendly, that one.”

By then, Katie decided to go along with anything that happened. She nodded her head but waved to Anna. Anna held up a hand and then quickly put it back down.

“Girls, girls! Oh good, you are ready. Mr. Carl is parked out front and ready to go. Have a good day and see you tonight.” Mrs. Johansson scooped all four into her arms and gave them a group hug. “Do a good job.” Her voice trailed after them as they headed out to the waiting car.

When Katie saw the car, she stopped short. “We’re going to ride in that?” She stood with her mouth open. “Is that thing in working condition?”

Mr. Carl came around from the driver side. He laughed. “The car’s not that old. I did buy it used this year but I needed more room to drive you girls from the boardinghouse to the hotel. This here is a 1925 Buick, holds seven passengers.”

Katie just shook her head. That’s used, alright.

The girls climbed in. “You know the car’s not that old,” Lucinda chimed in. She seemed to be the talker of the group. “It’s only two-years-old. It’s a very nice car, Mr. Johansson.” She pronounced Johansson very exactly, in the proper, correct way.

Katie’s head spun and she closed her eyes. Please wake up. Please wake up. She didn’t wake up. All she did was bounce in her seat as they traveled along a dirt road. The air felt hot and dry. The landscape was filled with pine trees when she finally opened her eyes. She closed them again tightly. Thankfully it was a short drive.

Mr. Johansson pulled up to a door in the back of the hotel. The girls jumped from the car, waved good-bye and ran inside. All of them, except Katie.

Mr. Johansson turned around from the driver’s seat. “I thought I only counted three going in.” He smiled at Katie. “The first day is always hard. Don’t worry. Everyone will help you. Most everyone’s very kind. You’ll have a good day. I’ll be back to pick you up in no time.”

Katie slowly got out of the car, tears filled her eyes. She wasn’t in Kansas, make that Ohio, anymore. She said she would go along with whatever happened in her dream, and that was what she would do.