No one seemed to understand how hard it was to be Katie Weaver. No one. Except maybe Miss Ella.
Though she had three big brothers and a mother who seemed to see and know everything, Katie sometimes felt like she was always being shuffled around.
It truly was difficult to be very small when everyone else in the family was so terribly big. And old!
Today was the perfect example. With all three of her brothers needing to be in the fields and her mother already having promised to can all day, Katie had been told to stay with Lucy.
Well, actually, Mamm had told her to either stay with Lucy or sit in the hot kitchen and watch all the ladies can carrots and beans.
Then, just as Katie had settled in by Lucy’s side at the library, even Lucy had found something else to do than be with her.
Next thing Katie knew, she was being handed over to Miss Ella. And though Miss Ella really was her favorite librarian, Katie still wasn’t too happy about it.
“Katie, I’m so glad you are going to walk home with me today,” Miss Ella said with a kind smile. “I feel so lucky your family is letting you keep me company this afternoon.”
Though it was on the tip of Katie’s tongue to tell Miss Ella that she got it all wrong—that her family wasn’t being kind, they just didn’t have time to go get her—she decided to keep quiet.
“Can we bring some books back to your home?”
“Perhaps. How many do you want to check out today?”
“Four.”
“Four is just fine,” Ella said agreeably.
“I mean, maybe five,” she sputtered. Unable to stand still, Katie twisted her fingers. “How about five?”
Miss Ella’s lips twitched. “We could probably check out five.”
“Or six?” she blurted, unable to help herself. She loved getting picture books from the library. She loved carefully writing the titles down on the paper.
And she really loved when Miss Ella put special gold stars on her reading form. They were so shiny and sparkly.
“Six?” Ella’s eyebrows rose over the gold rims of her glasses. For one second, Katie was sure Miss Ella’s eyes lit up before she turned almost stern. “I think not.”
“But—”
“It is never a good thing to be greedy, Katie. Don’t you forget that. Plus, there needs to be some bichah left for other kinner.”
Katie supposed Ella was right. There did need to be plenty of books left for other children. “I won’t forget.”
“All right, then. I’ll wait here while you pick out your books.”
“It won’t take me long. I already know which ones I want.”
Miss Ella’s lips twitched. “Take your time, Katie. When you get your books, I’ll check them out.”
Katie rushed over to the children’s section. Though she was tempted to look at some of the new books by the bean-bag chairs, she pulled the ones she’d hoped to have and handed them to Miss Ella.
With little fuss, Miss Ella scanned the books through a machine and put little cards in the book pockets. “Let’s go now, yes?” Ella reached down and held out a hand. Katie lifted her palm and clung to Ella’s hand happily. After saying goodbye to Ms. Donovan, they walked down the library’s steps and headed to the left.
Holding Miss Ella’s hand, everything looked brighter and prettier. The patch of fall pansies were more purple, the bed of begonias looked as red as the brick on the courthouse.
Katie began to skip, swinging Miss Ella’s arm as they walked down the sidewalk. She had to skid to a stop when an Englischer walked by with his Dalmatian; and then a group of English teenagers approached, all of them punching buttons on their phones and laughing.
When one teenager smiled at her, Katie smiled right back.
“Do you like living in town, Miss Ella?” she asked when they started walking again.
“Today I do.”
“Why today?”
Miss Ella smiled. “Because it means I get to do two special things.”
“What?”
“I get to have a visitor, and it gives me an excuse to stop at the Kaffi Haus.”
Katie wrinkled her nose. “I don’t like coffee.”
“I didn’t imagine you would,” Miss Ella replied, obviously trying to hide a smile as she held out her hand. “But perhaps you would like a donut? They have all kinds there.”
“You’re going to buy us some?”
Ella nodded. “Of course.”
Katie slipped her hand back into Ella’s. “Then I can’t wait. I’m hungry.” As soon as she blurted that, she winced. If her mother had been there, she would have scolded her, for sure.
But Ella didn’t look mad at all. She just laughed. “I’m hungerich, too.”
A warm burst of happiness floated through Katie. Some of the kids she knew were a little afraid of Ella. Ella was very tall. Almost as tall as the men. And her glasses made her eyes look too big.
But Katie thought she was one of the nicest people in the world. She read all the good stories, and she had a merry laugh that seemed to make her whole body wiggle.
Remembering how Miss Ella had stared at Loyal when he wasn’t looking, Katie began to plan. If Miss Ella was a part of their family, then Katie would never run out of books, because surely Ella wouldn’t put a limit on the numbers of books family members could check out.
If Miss Ella married Loyal, then Katie could go get donuts all the time. And she’d have someone to laugh with, too.
“I like being with you, Miss Ella,” she blurted.
Ella laughed merrily again, making crinkly lines around her eyes. “And, I, Miss Katie, like being with you.”
It had been a good day, Ella decided as she walked Katie up the front steps of her apartment. Ms. Donovan had complimented her work ethic that morning, and then, of course, there had been Lucy’s visit, with Katie in tow.
“Feel free to tell me no, Ella,” Lucy had said. “But is there any way I could leave Katie here with you for three hours? Mattie has a doctor’s appointment today and everyone else has other commitments.”
Ella hadn’t waited even a half-second to accept. “I don’t mind at all, though I get off at three o’clock today.”
Lucy’s eyes widened. “Oh! I couldn’t ask you to stay longer. Don’t worry, I’ll just take her with me.”
But Ella could only imagine how things would be at the medical center with Katie in tow. “What I meant to say was that I would be happy to take her home with me.”
“I couldn’t ask you to do that . . .”
“Whyever not? I’m happy to offer.”
After glancing Katie’s way, Lucy finally nodded. “Danke. Let me go speak with Katie, then I’ll be on my way.”
“Lucy, is everything all right with Mattie?”
She bit her lip. “I hope so.” Moments later, after a quick hug and visit with Katie, she’d darted off.
After getting Katie’s books, they’d walked down the street, got a snack for Katie, and visited with John Weaver. Then, after another three blocks’ walk, they arrived at her home.
As Ella unlocked the door, she handed Katie the book bag she’d been carrying. “It’s now your turn to hold this,” she teased. “All of your books almost made my shoulder ache.”
Katie’s eyes widened with worry, then when she saw that Ella was teasing, crinkled with glee. “Miss Ella, you’re funny!” she said.
As soon as the door opened, she wrinkled her nose. “But your house smells yucky.”
Stepping in, Ella had to agree. The air smelled thick and stale . . . like rotten food?
But how could that be?
Feeling thoroughly confused, Ella leaned down and stared hard at her tiny guest. “Katie, you stay by the door and keep it open for me, would you? I’m going to go in and open some windows.”
“I’ll hold it way open.”
As Ella stepped inside, her heart started beating quicker, right in sync with her spirits sinking lower. Once again, it was obvious that someone else had been in her apartment. Her knitting basket was on its side, the needles and yarn strewn in a knotted mess across the floor.
The book that she’d checked out of the new release section of the library had been ripped in half!
Tears burned her eyes. Now she was not only going to have to pay for it, but would have to tell Jayne that she’d somehow damaged a brand-new book.
But when she took two steps farther into the kitchen, she saw the reason for the smell: the chicken dinner that Dorothy had made a week ago was sitting on the counter. Spoiled.
Two flies buzzed above the rotten chicken, sticky noodles, and wilted salad.
Ella pressed a hand to her mouth as she attempted to retrace what had happened. With a weary heart, she remembered taking a bite of Dorothy’s dinner, but not enjoying the flavors at all. It had been too salty, and all a bit rubbery in texture. In addition, Ella had worried that maybe the chicken hadn’t been all that fresh.
Worried about possibly getting sick—and definitely knowing that the meal would not be enjoyed—she’d thrown it in the trash.
But now, here it was, sitting on her kitchen counter on one of her plates—after sitting in a garbage can outside for two days!
Obviously, only one person could have done such a thing. No, Ella corrected herself. Only one person had done such a thing: Dorothy.
Pain, sharp and biting, rushed through Ella with as much force as a knife blade. She’d always praised the Lord for Dorothy’s friendship. She’d been so thankful when Dorothy had offered her this place to live, at such a reasonable price, too.
But now nothing was clear. Surely there could be no reason for Dorothy’s actions except for pure hatred and spite.
But what was even the correct way to respond? Ella wished she knew more about English laws. Wasn’t it against the law for Dorothy to do what she was doing?
Was this something that she should contact the police about? But what if they laughed at her?
And how would she even know where to contact them? She had no idea where the police station was.
“Miss Ella, are ya goin’ to open a window?”
“Oh, jah!” Quickly, she rushed to the window over the sink and pushed it up.
“Did you figure out the smell?” Katie called from the door, bringing her back to the present. “And can I move yet?”
What Ella wanted to do was curl up in a ball and cry. This violation of her privacy was terribly upsetting. For Dorothy to ruin a book and put that dinner on her counter, too—well, it was bordering on very scary.
But in the forefront of her mind was her obligation to Katie. She’d promised Lucy that she would look after the little girl. And that promise needed to be kept, no matter what the circumstances.
So for now, she’d put on a happier face and move on. And decide later what she was going to do about Dorothy.
“Um. Of course, child. Come here. Come help me use this kitchen chair to prop open the door. Perhaps the breeze will air out the room.”
After they did that, Katie looked at her with wide eyes. “Are you all right, Miss Ella? You look like you’re about to cry.”
“That’s because I am,” she admitted. “But I will be fine. Don’t worry none.”
Katie touched her arm. “Miss Ella? Are you mad at me? Are you sorry that I’m with ya? Because I talk too much?”
The little girl looked so worried—her blue eyes so wide-eyed and frantic—Ella immediately got down on one knee and enfolded her in a hug. “Not at all, child. As a matter of fact, I’m terribly glad you are here. I need a friend right now.”
Instantly Katie’s arms flung around her middle and hung on tight. “No one’s ever said they needed me before,” Katie whispered.
“Well, I certainly do. Katie Weaver, your hug is exactly what I needed, right this minute. You’ll never know how very happy I am to have you with me right now.”
With that, the little girl flung her arms around her once again. Unable to hold back her emotions any longer, Ella bent her head and wept.