A/N: Sorry that I have taken so long to update. School makes my life extremely busy so I never get the chance to write or do any fun stuff like that. I'm going to try to do more of that in this coming year.
Times and Troubles Chapter 3: Getting Adjusted
It was mid afternoon when the Ingalls family arrived in St. Louis. They decided to find a boarding house in which to stay for the night and a few days until they found housing. After an hour of being unsuccessful, Charles listened to Caroline and went to the city housing center. Pa parked the wagon, and the family got out and went inside. Once inside, Pa went up to the counter.
"Hello, how may I help you?" the clerk asked.
"Hello. My family and I are looking for a boarding house in which to spend the night and a few days. We haven't been able to find any places by just driving around. Do you have a list of boarding houses, or maybe a suggestion?"
"Why, yes, sir. We have a list right here of all of the boarding houses and hotels in St. Louis." The clerk said.
Pa looked at the list and said, "Thank you very much. This will do just fine." He walked away from the counter and went to join the girls.
"Charles, what did you find?" Caroline asked.
"Here's a list of places. There's one only a few blocks from here. It seems to be a nice place. Let's go there and see if there is any space for us."
The Ingallses got back in the wagon and found the boarding house Pa had seen on the list. Pa parked the wagon outside, and went in to inquire about a room. In a few minutes he came out and yelled "Caroline! They have space! Get the girls and come with me." Caroline and the girls stepped out of the wagon. They took important items with them. They went into their room, and then seeing the girls safe, Pa went to take the wagon to the livery.
The very next morning Pa went out to finalize his job. He came back very soon, because his shift was in the afternoon. Then Ma went to find a job. She had thought of finding a job as a restaurant cook or a milliner's assistant. There was a milliner's shop not very far away that had an opening. She went inside.
"Hello. I'm here to inquire about a job as an assistant."
"That would be wonderful," the lady behind the counter said, "I haven't got anyone but myself and my family to run this place. What kind of skills do you have?"
"Well, I've come from a farm to live here, so I am a very good sewer. I also have very good people skills because I worked at a restaurant in Winoka, Iowa."
"I see. You should be a very good person for the job. I haven't had any other enquirers as of yet, so you should be all set for the job. When can you work?"
"I can work in the mornings and early afternoons. I may be able to work on Saturdays in the afternoon, depending on when my husband's Saturday shift is."
"That is just fine. That is when I am busiest anyway, so it works out perfectly. When can you start work?"
"I can start work as early as tomorrow."
"I will see you tomorrow morning at 8:00 sharp. There is no need to wear your Sunday best, just look presentable and of your age."
"Why thank you. See you tomorrow." With that, Caroline left the millinery shop to go back to the boarding house. She was certain Mary and Laura would be ecstatic that their mother was going to be working in a millinery shop.
As soon as Caroline got home the girls were on top of her, asking what job she found. Ma replied, "Girls and Charles, I found a job as a milliner's assistant at the millinery a few blocks from here. I know we won't always be here but it was a place to get a job."
"Oh, Ma, that's wonderful!" exclaimed Laura.
"Now, girls, when I'm at work you will have to mind your Pa. Do as he says."
"Oh, we will Ma. Don't you worry about a thing" Mary said.
By this time it was getting close to noon, so the family would have to do something about dinner. The family had not brought any food with them more than they would need to get through the journey, so they decided to go to the boarding house dining room to eat. They had a delicious meal cooked by the boarding house owner's wife, and then it was time for Pa to go to his job. He had to work that day, but he asked for the next day off to go look for an apartment or house to rent.
The next morning, Ma got up, made breakfast, and went to her job. Mary and Laura spent the morning working on their bible studies because they were not enrolled in a school in St. Louis yet. Pa worked on a Christmas present for Ma.
When Ma got back, the family ate dinner in the dining room and then went out looking for a place to live. There were several nice places, but they were either too small or too expensive. Finally, in the last place they were going to look before going back to the boarding house for supper, the family came across a row house that had been divided into two units. There was enough space, and the price was reasonable. Ma and Pa signed an agreement that afternoon.
The next day, Charles and Caroline took off work and the whole family moved their belongings into this new abode. That, along with a trip to the general store, took the whole day. The next day was Sunday, so the family rested in their new home. The girls didn't go to school quite yet, however, because they didn't know where the school was.
In a week, the Garveys and Olesons showed up in St. Louis and went through the same process that the Ingallses had. The Olesons rented an abandoned mercantile and began to set up shop. The Garveys went through the same housing struggle that the Ingallses had, and looked finally at the other half of the row house. Caroline just happened to be returning from a few errands when she saw Mr. and Mrs. Garvey get out of their wagon. She said to herself, "It can't be them. It just can't be that they will have the other half of the row house!" Indeed it was. Caroline greeted the Garveys, and went along with them on their tour. Partly because it was the best place in town, and partly because of the Ingallses, the Garveys decided to move into the other half of the row house. When they got home, Mary, Laura, and Pa were ecstatic.
The Ingallses helped the Garveys get settled and decided to get together often, seeing as they were living in such close proximity to each other.