As I looked out of the back of the wagon, Pa called that we had arrived in a town called Sleepy Eye, Minnesota. He said we would stop here for a couple of days while he worked out some details about a piece of land. Ma had already unloaded a few things and taken them to the hotel where we would be staying.
I asked Pa if I could look around. He said yes so, I set off on a walk. I'm usually not this brave to go off on my own in a new place but, I figured that Sleepy Eye wasn't very big but it had all the necessities: a store, a school, a post office basically everything you could find within the block of my home in Chicago was spread out into a whole town. It fascinated me how happy people were here while having so little. As I walked back to the hotel I noticed a sign that said "Blind School". I walked over and peered in the window. A bunch of children were seated around a large table getting ready for breakfast and, though blind they were still so happy. Something came over me and I made my way to the door hesitating before I knocked. A woman who introduced herself as Mrs. Mary Kendall opened the door and asked if she could help me. I said no but, I would like to help them. She said they couldn't pay but, when I told her I just wanted to volunteer my time she was much obliged because their only sighted person, Mrs. Kegan was gone for a few days and the could really use the help. Because she was blind she couldn't see that I was wearing a fancy dress or had my hair done. All she knew was that I was a blessing to them.
As I walked in the door she said she was just getting breakfast on and that she could use some help serving the food. Her husband Adam was already placing milk for the children. It amazed me how he knew precisely where to place each glass and, he did so without error. I joined her in the kitchen and began to place plates with pancakes and eggs in front of each child. As I cleared the table after they were all finished I noticed a box of old clothes in the corner. I asked Mary if I could have a dress or two and she said they were going to be donated anyway so I was welcome to whatever fit. For the rest of the day I helped with various tasks and by the end of the day I was tired but, in a very rewarding way. I had completely lost track of time and I was sure Ma and Pa were concerned. I bid farewell to the Kendalls and told them I would hope to visit again soon. I slowly wondered back to the hotel where my mother seemed to be worried sick about my whereabouts. Good thing I was not particularly hungry because I missed supper. Tired from the long day I quickly fell asleep.
The next day while Ma sorted through our things and Pa worked on getting his land and cattle, I went out walking again. I forgot how refreshing it was just to walk without hundreds of people in the way. I stumbled across a young boy with a basket of Dalmatian puppies. I thought I might need a friend where ever we were going so I asked how much the puppies were. He said they were free because they just couldn't keep them all. I looked over the puppies and found a small male with blue eyes that seemed to stare at me. I gladly gave the little boy a dollar for the dog which he was reluctant to accept but, upon insistence shyly took it. I decided to name him Buddy as he would be my only friend heading into this new adventure.
I wasn't sure what Pa would say about me getting a dog but, luckily he understood my loneliness and agreed to let me keep Buddy. Ma wasn't excited about my new friend but, then again she wasn't excited about any of this so I figure she just took it with everything else that was going on.
At lunch Pa said that we would be leaving in the morning to find the track of land he had just purchased. It was west of some creek. I think he said Plum Creek. Ma wasn't happy to hear that the town it was near was not even half as big as Sleepy Eye. Pa said it is a little farming town called Walnut Grove.
That night as I went to bed, I couldn't get those words out of my head: Walnut Grove. I dreamed of finishing school, working on the ranch, and maybe if I'm lucky find a place to really belong. Morning could not come fast enough.
As the sun shone through my bedroom window, I awoke to the sound of Pa already having the wagon almost loaded out front. I got ready went downstairs for something to eat and then off we went to Walnut Grove.
In all my anticipation, the road to Walnut Grove seemed longer than the weeks of the trip from Chicago. Pa had really convinced me that this was something to be excited about. I only wish he could convince Ma but, I think she will come around in time.