Two minutes later...

Can I foresee the future? A letter came from Kate! I will paste it here or else someone in my family will end up throwing it away.

August 5, 1900

Dearest Em,

Sorry if this letter arrives later than it is

supposed to. I had it sealed and ready to

go the minute you left for your new home,

but it lay on my bureau for days, untouched.

I finally remembered and mailed it.

Please write me every little detail on

how glorious Galveston looks. You are lucky.

Papa insists we stay here in Little Rock.

Maybe if he didn't own the Mercantile we

would move more.

However, I do have some good news,

though I have been melancholy since your

departure. Do you remember Jordan Hanes

from down the road? I think he has eyes

for me. During church service he continued

to turn his head and glance my way. When

I smiled, he blushed. I don't really mind

that he has eyes for me, since he is rather

handsome, if you recall.

Well, I must go. Mama is going

to need me to help with something.

Your forever friend,

Kate

Isn't that like Kate to mention boys in her letters? That is all she thinks about everyday all the time. And about the "I have been melancholy since your departure" part, I don't mean to talk bad about my friend, but Kate is never melancholy, even if the worst disaster of them all happens. She is forever happy and as busy as a squirrel, not to mention just as chattery.

I will write her back.

Later...

Mother suggested, "Why don't you make some apple dumplings? You are so good with the recipe Grandmother Carson gave you." At first I was quite shocked. Mother never complimented me on anything, and if she did, she usually had a negative edge to her tone. This time, there was no disapproval. I hurried to the kitchen and began cooking. I will paste the recipe here. Grandmother gave it—along with a silver locket—to me minutes before she died when I was eleven years old. I know the spelling is not the greatest, and I was thinking of erasing it, but it is my grandmother's own penmanship and I don't want to change it. Grandmother wasn't always proud of her writing, so she hardly picked up a pencil, except for writing down recipes.

No, I mustn't cry. I do miss my grandmother horribly. We did almost everything together, from reading to baking, to walking to talking. I was closer to her than I am my own best friend.

The apple dumplin' recipe of Cynthia Lorraine Carson

1 1/2 cups suger

2 cups water

1/2 tsp. ground cinamon

1/2 tsp. ground nutmeg

1/4 cups margerine

2/3 cups suger

2 homemade pie crusts (see my other recipe)

8 good-looking apples, peeled and cored

3 tbsp. margerine, cut in slices

1. Boil 1 1/2 cups suger, 2 cups water, 1/4 tsp. cinamon, and 1/4 tsp. nutmeg to boil over the stove. Stir. Remove. Stir in 1/4 cups of margerine.

2. Add the other 2/3 cups suger, and 1/4 tsp. cinamon, and 1/4 tsp. of nutmeg.

3. Cut homemade pie crusts in half and roll in 8 inch circels. Put 1 apple in center of each circel. Sprinkel suger on top. Dot 3 tbsps. margerine evenly.

4. Fold doe over apples, pinching it to seel. Place in a pan. Pour seerup on top. Bake till golden brown.

While I had been baking (the dumplings are in the oven now) Anthony and Samuel came marching over, asking me what I was doing.

"Making apple dumplings."

"Granny's recipe?" Anthony wondered.

"Yes." They squealed with delight.

"Can we have some now?" Samuel asked quietly.

I shook my head. "They aren't done yet. I'm still boiling the ingredients."

"Please, Emelise?" Anthony wailed. "Just an apple slice?"

"No," I answered firmly and shooed them away. They did leave, but not before both of them stuck their hands in the sugar jar and ran away with a handful. White snow sprinkled on the floor.

Nathan came in while I was sweeping the floor.

"Apple dumplings, I presume?"

I sighed, but grinned. "Yes."

"And let me guess, Anthony and Samuel snitched some sugar."

"How'd you know?"

Nathan laughed and walked to the sink. I am continuously amazed the way he can walk around the house without running into something, but then again, he can see objects.

Nathan grabbed a rag, soaked it in water, walked back to me, knelt down, and began helping. "So I'm right?"

"Yes," I nodded.

"No wonder. I heard them running by, snickering something about how good they fooled you. Anthony led the robbery, didn't he?"

"I swear, it is Anthony who teaches Samuel those bad manners. Why can't that boy leave Samuel alone and not pass down his mischievousness?"

Nathan smiled. "They are boys, Emelise. Let them have a little fun." This time, Nathan sounded too much like Mother. I didn't like it.

I smell the apple dumplings. Better check to see if they are done.

Bedtime...

The apple dumplings were delicious, and everyone had seconds (except Edward; he had thirds and tried to hide his pleasure, but I know no one can resist Grandmother Carson's apple dumplings).

Tuesday, August 28, 2013

So here I am, sitting on the sofa writing while the older family members are huffing and puffing, trying to calm down after what happened this evening.

Papa and Edward argued. This is the first time they have since the move.

Everyone had almost finished their supper when Papa announced he had a surprise for Edward. Edward narrowed his eyes, gritted his teeth, and stared at his plate. Apparently, Papa's idea of a surprise is not the same as Edward's.

"Ah-hem," my father cleared his throat. "I happened to run into someone important today."

"The president?" Anthony questioned, eager as ever.

Papa laughed. "Good guess, but no. Anyone else want to try?"

When no one said anything, Papa proudly said he had met the principle of a university here in Galveston. "I told him about how bright Edward is and how he is getting ready to go to college. Then the man suggested why doesn't Edward go to his university? He said he will have no trouble getting Edward in. He may have to take a few tests to see if he can qualify, but as smart as Edward is he should have no trouble."

I wanted to laugh. Edward? Bright? But I didn't. Everyone else—except Anthony and Samuel, who gave no care and just enjoyed their chocolate pudding—was shocked and sullen.

"When were you going to discuss this with me, James?" Mother asked, fingering her necklace like she does when she is nervous or worried.

Papa seemed as taken-aback as everyone else, except his reason was different. "I am discussing it now, Lillian. You know, I figured you would be kind of excited at this opportunity for our son."

Mother came to reason now. She stood up and clasped her hands together. "Of course! Edward, we are so proud of you. You have come a long way." She turned to Papa. "When can he take the tests?" And there they went, chatting about when would be a good time for Edward to go to the university and look around.

"What do you think, son?" Papa asked. But his smile faded when he saw Edward clutch his napkin fiercely.

"So you just decided all this without me saying anything?" Edward asked coldly.

"Say what you want now, Edward," Papa stated. "But this is a wonderful opportunity for you and it may not come again. Think of your future!"

Edward stood up so briskly he knocked over his chair, frightening the boys. They ran to Mother and stood behind her. Nathan looked down at his lap. I tried not to smile. Sometimes, though it may not be very nice of me, I like it when Edward gets something he doesn't want.

"I am thinking of my future!" he bellowed. "I have been thinking of my future for the past two years!"

"Edward," Papa said more calmly, "you know what I have told you about Ruth Henry. She is a sweet girl, but neither you nor she is ready to get married at such a young age. And besides, with this new information, you should be turning your attention to a better future."

My brother blew up with rage. He does get angry so easily, but I guess I understand. He loves Ruth Henry, and she loves him (though I don't know why, since he isn't handsome). I would just hate it if I thought I had my future all planned out and someone came and told me it was going to be different.

"You never think of me! Just because you earned a degree in college doesn't mean I have to! It isn't what I want!"

"I understand that—"

"No, you don't! Even though I am your son, you don't understand me." Then he broke the information that I have been holding inside of me since the Saturday I read his letter. "I am not staying here. I hate it here. As soon as I have enough money and find a way to get there, I am going back to Little Rock and never coming back."

Papa was so shocked at Edward's words that he tumbled backwards a few steps. Mother gasped, stood, and ran out of the room. Nathan remained mute, but I sighed with relief. The secret was finally out in the open.

When Edward ran outside, Papa followed, shouting that the conversation had not ended and they still needed to talk.

Of course, since the adults left and the boys would not help, Nathan and I had to clear the table. We remained quiet throughout the whole time, and then I went and got my diary to write this down while it is fresh.

I really don't know what to think. What would be worse, Edward leaving to a university here and Galveston where he can still visit and torment me because he is so angry, or him permanently heading back to Little Rock? I mean, even though he isn't the sweetest peppermint stick in the jar, he is still my brother…