Adventures In Sisterhood
A/N This was originally written as a stand-alone one-shot, but now it's going into my collection of one-shots. This one features Laura and Mary.
"Now class," Miss Beadle said pleasantly. "I will be handing you back your arithmetic tests. Many of you did very well." Miss Beadle walked around the room whispering praise into a few students' ears.
She handed Laura her test ad then Mary. Miss Beadle leaned over and whispered into her ear, "Please see me after class."
Mary looked down at her test and gasped in horror when she saw a large, red 'D'.
The rest of the pupils focused their attention on Mary, who had tears forming in her eyes.
Nellie Oleson muttered, "Attention hog," and looked away, crossing her arms over chest. Laura rested her hand on Mary's shoulder and mouthed the words, "Are you okay?"
Mary nodded and quickly wiped her eyes.
"Moving on, turn to page-" but Miss Beadle was interrupted by the shrill screaming of the bell. "Have a nice evening, children." The students shuffled out of the schoolroom.
"You can go, Laura. I have things to do," Mary told her sister.
"Okay! I'll see you at home, Mary!" Laura waved and left in a similar fashion as the rest of the students.
Mary took a deep breath and turned to face the front of the room. As she began to walk forward, the only noises she could hear were her heart pounding and her shoes against the rough wood.
"You wanted to see me, Miss Beadle?" Mary choked out.
"Yes Mary. About your test, you were uncharacteristically unprepared. Is there any specific reason?" Miss Beadle asked.
"Our Pa's out of town. We've had a lot of extra chores. I didn't have much extra time to study."
"Laura did just fine on her test." Mary looked to the ground, ashamed. "You just keep studying. I expect better from you next time Mary. You may go."
"Yes, ma'am," Mary said and quickly exited the school building.
What will I tell Ma? Mary let the tears fall freely as she raced towards the Ingalls' little house on the banks of Plum Creek. Will I ever become a teacher?
As she approached her home she was greeted by Jack, the dog, bounding towards her. "Hi, Jack," Mary croaked, heading towards the creek with Jack at her heels. She knelt by the water and washed her tear-stained face. Jack nuzzled her with his furry head and licked her cheek. Mary managed a smile and scratched his head in thanks.
"Mary! Is that you?" Ma called as she stepped out the door.
"I'm here Ma! Just washing up," Mary stood up and walked towards her mother.
"Did something happen at school? Why were you late?" Ma asked with concern.
"Everything's fine, Ma. Miss Beadle just let me borrow some books to read." Mary said, too embarrassed to say what really happened.
"All right. Get started on your homework," Caroline Ingalls kissed her oldest daughter on the forehead and allowed her and Jack to enter.
"Any news from Pa?" Laura asked as Mary climbed the ladder to the loft.
Caroline's face visibly creased from worry at the mention of her husband. Charles had been sent to Sleepy Eye to drop off some lumber for Mr. Hanson. They hadn't heard anything from him in the week he had been gone. It was unlike him. "Not yet. Would you girls like to eat dinner outside this evening?"
"Yay!" Carrie said, clapping her hands. Laura nodded in agreement.
"Mary? What abut you?" Ma asked.
"No thanks. I'm going to lie down." Mary's response drifted down from the loft.
"Okay dear. We'll be outside if you need anything." Mary heard Ma, Laura, Carrie, and Jack leave the house.
Mary quietly slid down the ladder and looked around to make sure no one was in the house. Once she was certain she walked across the room and grabbed one of Ma's knives. It was small, so Mary could easily conceal it in her skirt. Mary climbed up the ladder back into the loft and lit a lantern. She looked down at the knife.
Do I really want this? I failed. I'm a disgrace. Anyways, being dead, Ma and Pa wouldn't have to pay for my extra expenses. Laura would get her own room. It would be easier for everyone. What else am I to do?
Mary was so engaged in her thoughts and the small space between the knife and her neck that she didn't hear the opening and closing of the door and the sound of someone climbing the ladder.
"Mary!" She turned around to see Laura's horrified expression. Laura lunged at Mary, pinning her to the ground as the knife clattered noisily on the floor.
"What were you doing?" Laura demanded, tears falling from her face and onto Mary's.
"K-k-killing myself," Mary choked out, crying as well.
"Why?"
"I failed a test," on those words Mary began to sob.
Laura climbed off of Mary and pulled her sister to her knees.
"Everyone does poorly sometimes. This doesn't mean you can't be a teacher. I believe in you. We all do." Laura pulled her sister close and said, "I love you, Mary."
"Thanks Laura. I love you, too." The two girls climbed down from the loft and put away the knife.
Hand-in-hand they went outside to join the rest of the family for dinner.
….
I wrote this a really long time ago on a car drive back from South Carolina in my notebook. I finally typed it. This is kind of after I failed a test and a quiz and I was all depressed. I edited it a lot. It took me three tries to come up with where Charles was. This seemed to be the safest.
Review!