Disclaimer: I do not own the book or television series Little House on the Prairie or any of the characters.
Chapter 1: The JobGrace Ingalls stood at the corner of Main Street and the road that led to her home. She debated whether or not she should go back to her house. Oh, I wish I could run away. She thought to herself. Why can't I live in Walnut Grove with everyone else? Well, I can't and I need to be there for Ma and Pa right now, so I might as well bring home the groceries Ma wanted me to pick up.
It was nearing the end of the 19th century and the Ingalls family was living in Burr Oak, Iowa. Carrie and Cassandra had moved back home to Walnut Grove a few months earlier. Carrie was working in the restaurant while Cassandra taught school. This left Grace in Burr Oak all by herself. She had James, but he and Charles had started their own business a few years earlier. He had recently gotten married and moved a few miles down the street. He married his enemy from school, Nancy Oleson. She had grown up a lot in the past few years.
Things weren't going well in the Ingalls home. Charles and James' family business had just gone bankrupt because of an economic slump that was affecting the whole country. There was barley enough money for the groceries Grace was holding.
Grace opened the door not expecting to see her parents arguing.
"Caroline, there is nothing left. We have to sell our house." Charles said in a frustrated manner.
"Charles, can't you reason with these people?" Caroline asked.
"It's the government, Caroline. There is no way of winning. Remember Kansas?"
"I remember Kansas." Caroline said with a doubtful tone.
"I guess we will have to move in with Laura and Almanzo until I can find a decent job."
"Charles, you know we can't barge into their home like that. After all, they are having their own financial trouble."
"James and Nancy are going to have to move out as well. I think they are moving in with Laura for awhile."
"We can't all move into Laura's house."
"What are we supposed to do Caroline? Live on the streets? We have Grace to consider."
"Maybe Laura can take in Grace until we figure out what to do." Suggested Caroline.
Yes! Grace thought. Now I can be with my sisters again. Yet as she thought about how much better things would be once she was living in Walnut Grove she started thinking about how bad things would be for her parents and brother. I can't have a good time while my family is struggling. There has got to be something for me to do to help.
Grace finally spoke aloud. "Ma." She said hesitantly.
Charles and Caroline, both startled, looked at Grace standing in the doorframe.
"Why Grace, we didn't know you were there." Caroline said trying to put on a fake, but sweet tone.
"Ma, I can help. I can get a job and help pay for things around here."
"That is awfully considerate of you Grace, but you are to young to work. Besides, there aren't many jobs left." Caroline reasoned.
"That may be, but I know where I can get a job."
"Where?" Charles and Caroline asked in unison.
"Trust me, I know where. Please let me have the job."
"I'll tell you what, you tell us what the job is and maybe we will consider letting you have the job." Said Charles.
"How about I go see if the job is available, and if it is I will tell you what it is all about."
"Fine." Charles smiled. "Don't take the job until we say so."
"Thanks, Pa! I will be right back!" Grace ran out the door.
"Charles, I don't know if I like the idea of her working."
"Oh, Caroline don't worry. I bet she is getting a job selling newspapers or something, nothing demanding."
Grace ran down the street. She eyed the poster she had glanced on her way to the Mercantile. It read: SEWING JOB AVAILABLE IN THE FACTORIES. NOW HIRING. ALL AGES. SEE STAN LEWIS AT 42 MAIN STREET FOR MORE DETAILS.
"Excuse me, Mr. Lewis?" Grace said knocking on an office door.
Stan looked up from his desk. "Yes, may I help you?"
"Yes, you may." Grace walked into the room and stuck out her hand to greet him. "I am Grace Ingalls, and I saw this ad posted on the street. I was wondering if the job is still open."
"As a matter of fact, it is. Are you interested in the job?"
"I am, sir. I need money for my family, and I am a great sewer."
"Are you familiar with factories?"
"At school we have learned about how they are taking over the country. We have also learned about people's specific jobs in the factories; sewing being one of the jobs."
"I see. Well, would you be willing to start next week?"
"I have to ask my parents first."
"Oh, well then I guess you can't have the job. I need to know right away."
Grace hesitated. She knew she should ask her Pa first, but if she did then she wouldn't get the job. "Okay, I will take the job."
"Great. You leave for Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in a week."
"Pa! Pa!" Grace exclaimed running into the house.
"What is it Grace?" Pa asked.
"The job, Pa. It's available."
"Well, tell me what the job is."
Grace sat down. "Well, you know about those new factories they are opening across America? The job is one of those factories in Pittsburgh."
"Grace, we thought you would be getting a job selling newspapers, not a job hundreds of miles away." Caroline said.
"I know, but I would get paid so much money. It would only be for a month, and I can come back home with money and then we could move back to Walnut Grove and start over again."
"Grace, we don't know anything about these factories." Pa said.
" I do! We learned about them in school. Many children are going there to work to take money back to their families. I would be sewing, and from what I know that is the easiest job. Mr. Lewis the man hiring said you could go talk to him about the job if you would like. Please, Pa, please tell me I can work!"
"Why do you want the job so badly Grace?" Ma wanted to know.
"That way I can help our family, and we can move back to Walnut Grove."
"Grace," Pa started, "Did you by any chance tell Mr. Lewis you were going to take the job without asking me first?"
Grace gave her parents a sad look. "He said I had to tell him right away if I wanted the job or not, so I had to say yes. Please don't be mad."
"Grace, I told you not to take the job, but since you are so willing to help, and since you already said yes, I will let you work, but only for one month."
Grace jumped up out the chair and gave Charles a hug. "Oh, thank you Pa! Thank you so much!"
"Charles, do you think this is a good idea?"
"Don't worry Caroline, I will go talk to Mr. Lewis tomorrow. If I don't think the job will be good then I won't let Grace leave."
Little did the Ingalls know that the job at the factory would not be good, or that Mr. Lewis was a liar who promised much more than what the factory actually supplied.