A/N: I am sorry that I haven't updated in a while. I said I was going to, but oh well.
Disclaimer: I do not have anything to do with Little House other than I read the books and watch the movies/TV show.
Chapter 4: School
One of the next things that the Ingallses did was register Mary and Laura at the local school. The name of this school was Piney Grove School. It was divided into two classrooms, with a common coatroom and outdoor facilities. Mary would be in the upper class, while Laura would be in the lower class. Ma and Pa did not like this, but the school masters would not make any exceptions to the age rules. It would only be for a few months, so Ma and Pa accepted the fact.
Mary and Laura were to start the next Monday. Because they were so eager to get out of Walnut Grove, they had only brought their slates and pails. As a result, the family had to buy the rest of the items at the general store. They did this the Saturday before the girls were to start.
Saturday morning, they got up and did their chores. Ma was adamant that the family go to the general store before dinner so the girls could look at their readers in the afternoon. Ma got the morning off of work, and when everyone was ready they set off.
When they got to the store, Ma immediately began to pick up items off of shelves that the girls would need. They needed slate pencils, writing tablets, and a copy of the reader. They also had to purchase a history reader and a math reader for both of the girls. Ma also had a few family items to buy, which she picked up once the girls' selections were made. The total came to $20, which was a lot for the Ingalls family.
That Monday, the girls got up early. They both put on their school best. Ma had gotten up even earlier and started breakfast. When they were finished dressing, Mary and Laura went downstairs to do their chores. Mary helped Ma with breakfast while Laura set the table. Soon breakfast was ready, and they called Pa.
When they were done eating, the girls helped to clean up, and then Ma took them to school on her way to work. When they got to the schoolhouse, Mary and Ma dropped Laura off, and then went to Mary's classroom. Laura was not happy to not be with her sister, but was okay once she knew that Mary would eat with her during the dinner break.
The morning went by very slowly. Mary and Laura both were very nervous, because their classmates were used to this two-room idea, and only having kids near their age in their classrooms. They both started their day out with reading from their readers. That was apparently the custom for St. Louis schools. Then Mary's class studied the Revolutionary War while Laura's class worked on math.
Eventually it was time for dinner and recess. Laura walked quickly out of her classroom and picked up her coat and dinner pail. The older class had not yet been dismissed. Laura found a spot under a tree where she knew Mary would be able to find her easily. Mary's class came out soon enough, and as soon as Mary spotted Laura she started running. Mary plopped down beside her sister and began to arrange her dinner. While eating, the girls compared classes and what they had been doing. Laura was amazed that Mary's class had been studying the Revolutionary War. Back in Walnut Grove they hadn't studied much history.
After they ate, many groups of students started to form various recess games. Because Mary and Laura were the new kids in town, no one invited them to participate in the games or conversations. That was okay, Mary drew a hopscotch game in the ground and she and Laura commenced playing. Soon several town girls started to come over to see what the new girls were doing. They started to join in, and soon all the girls were playing hopscotch. All too soon the headmaster came out and blew the whistle for the students to return to their classrooms.
That afternoon, Mary's class held a recitation of poetry. All of the other students had written a poem for the class, but no one had informed Mary. Meanwhile, Laura's class studied St. Louis history. Since she hadn't lived in St. Louis for very long and didn't care yet about history, Laura was discouraged even more about it.
Soon the day was over. Ma was waiting outside the schoolhouse for the girls to be done. They were sure glad to see her. The girls decided to wait to tell all about their day until supper when Pa would be home.
When they got home, the girls did their afternoon chores and then started on their homework. Mary had to write a letter pretending she was a Revolutionary War soldier, and do 20 math problems. Laura had to do several math problems, practice words for a spelling bee, and read a passage in her history reader about St. Louis' beginning.
Before they knew it, Pa was home from work. The girls finished their homework and then began to do their pre-dinner chores. The girls weren't used to having so much homework, so by the time dinner was on the table they were exhausted. Ma had decided to prepare leftover chicken, with bread and green beans to go along with it. Everyone was pleased with this meal. While eating, Mary and Laura told Ma and Pa how horrible their day was. Pa kept trying to tell them that it didn't sound so bad, but they would hear none of it. The Garveys had enrolled their son in that same school, but the Olesons hadn't. As a result, the girls knew absolutely no one. Mary and Laura explained that their lessons had been odd, but Pa said that was because they weren't used to city public schools.
Soon it was time to get ready for bed. Mary and Laura said their prayers, and then went to sleep.
A couple weeks passed. Mary and Laura gradually got more used to their school and life in St. Louis. Soon it would be time for Christmas, so the family spent time apart, making their gifts for each other as usual.
A/N: Well, that's it for this chapter. I will try to get the next chapter up soon, but we shall see. I hope you liked it! You know what to do – review!