Chapter 18

Parson Farm
Grindstone Island
St. Laurence River

January 2011

It was her. It had to be her. It was Tally, his little sister. Alive and well and for her small stature all grown up. He stared after her as she got up and went to her room only to come back with a small ladder. She set it up and started writing things on the board. "You always start with the Pledge of Allegiance and the Lord's Prayer." She said. "Have them stand to recite both. Make sure they mind their manners, call you Sir, look down when they speak to you, it's good training for them unfortunately. I'd rather they looked at me but it's best that they not get into the habit. You have a roll sheet but remember that paper costs, so don't actually check it off. They use slates most of the time for that reason. It's usually best to start with Math, but I'll have them start with copybook work today so you have some more time to get settled in. They copy pieces out of the bible, usually. Once I get my girls settled I'll come over and help you out with your first day. Why are you staring?" She asked, turning around.

"Duuuaaahhhh...you look like someone I knew a long time ago." He said.

"Oh." She smiled and shook her head and turned back to the board. "I doubt it was me."

He could tell her. Maybe he should tell her. But he didn't have enough data to know if that was the best thing for her. "I don't know. Maybe."

"Maybe? How could that be?"

He took a deep breath. "Where I'm from pumpkins actually do shatter like glass."

That got her attention. She stopped writing, climbed down from her step ladder and came over to him. "Do they?" He nodded. She studied him for a long moment, and then moved her stepladder to the other side of the board. "The old schoolmaster said he knew about a place where that happened. He said it was almost like another country. He'd never been but he spoke the language although not as well. Not like a native I suppose." She finished what she was writing and stepped back. "He said anyone who came from there would understand as well."

Spencer looked at the board with a smile. She had written a complex series of equations up there, ones that spoke of advanced mathematical knowledge. Whoever had come before him must have been a mathematician. Given her parents he wasn't surprised that Tally picked up math easily. He stepped to the board and finished what she had written with a flourish, and then turned to meet her grin. "I've been there." He said. "We can go a lot further than that." To his surprise she covered her face and he heard sniffling. "What?" he asked. What did he do?

"I've been so lonely!" She said, and she threw herself at him.

She was so small and so light he instinctively picked her up in his arms. "You're not alone anymore."

Candlewood Suites
Watertown NY
Outside Ft. Drum Military Reservation

October 2011

"Then what happened?" Morgan asked.

"Then I met my students, all eight of them, and started teaching." Spencer replied. "Math, spelling, English grammar, reading, writing, basic science and US history. She had ten girls and somehow she kept both classes organized. The girls were only supposed to learn basic math and no science or history; they had to learn handicrafts instead, for their future work. But her two oldest came over for lessons; it was a reward if they did their other work quickly and well. I actually enjoy teaching, I never thought I would. And it let me keep an eye on the kids in that environment, make sure they stayed safe."

"Did they?"

"None of them were ever punished in any way while I was there." He smiled a little at a memory. "At one point one of the boys accidentally broke one of the school house windows while they were playing. I said it was my accident and took the punishment for it. I thought it was better an adult take that."

"Is that why you got whipped?"

"Yeah. I didn't realize it would be that bad. I wouldn't have done anything differently though."

"I believe that." Morgan nodded. "You're not changing jobs on me, are you?"

Spencer managed a smile. "No. But if I ever retire from the Bureau I might look into teaching."

"That's all right." Morgan could see an elderly Dr. Reid surrounded by a flock of children. "Did you two have a chance to talk at lunch?"

"Not really. The kids ate indoors; it was too cold for them to go out. We had some time at the end of the day."

Parson Farm
Grindstone Island
St. Laurence River

January 2011

It wasn't a bad job, Spencer realized. They left the doors open between the classes, and while he and his boys went over the work they could hear the feminine voices and general good humor coming from the room next door. He was already planning to ask Tally to make his room look more homey and welcoming.

When the end of the day came around Spencer dismissed his students so they could go back to their chores. As he stood at the window and watched them go another stream of children, these bundled in shawls and wraps, left the other door and followed after them.

"What's it like?" Asked that familiar voice from the doorway. "What's it like back home?"

Spencer turned and saw Tally standing there, looking at him, her hands tucked into the pockets of her indigo apron. "Warm." He said. "The people are wonderful. They all know this sort of thing; they come up with new ideas all the time. And they're happy. They laugh and play jokes on each other. I can tell you about it, if you'd like."

"I would like that." She said as she stepped toward him. "I've come to this schoolhouse every day but Sunday for as long as I can remember. This is home now. Teacher, the other teacher, said that a school was the closest we could get to that place here on the farm. So I always thought of this building as home." She smiled a little. "I wish I could sleep here sometimes. It feels safer than back in the bunkhouse."

"Safer?"

"There's something bad here. But no one ever talks about it."

"Ever?" He thought a long moment. "Do the overseers come and take women away at night?"

She nodded. "Housekeeper said I'm too young to know about that yet."

"They take men away too. Foreman said I don't need to know."

She shook a little. "Let's not talk about it. You're supposed to teach me you know." She said as she stepped away. "Technically I'm supposed to be your apprentice, at least for a little while longer."

"I don't know anything about teaching." He said.

"True. But you know how to speak the language from home."

He pretended to consider this. "What do you want to learn?"

The smile she gave him was definitely mischievous, and might even have been a bit wicked. "Teach me everything. But, um..." She looked out the window. "I remember I never saw snow before I came here. It doesn't snow there, does it?"

"No. Well, very little if it does and very rarely. I had to learn to snowshoe this morning."

"We need to get back before they close the gate. Or else."

Or else. "Then we might want to get a head start." Spencer agreed.

He was glad they left when they did. Even with Tally giving him pointers it took most of forever for them to get back. They arrived just as everyone else was filing in as well. JD and his minions were sitting on his SnoCat by the main gate. "Don't look at them." Tally hissed. Then she reached out to steady him as he quickly looked away.

"Looks like College Boy's got a thing or two to learn after all." JD said. The other's laughed the sour chuckle of the bully. "Don't act all high and mighty Princess. May have to take you home, teach you your place." He grabbed at his crotch, but didn't get down. Spencer followed Tally's lead and hurried past them.

"Will you be all right?" He asked quietly when they were past.

"Oh yes, I'll be perfectly safe once I'm in quarters. JD and his men just like to scare people."

"I wish I could be sure of that." Unsubs like that only needed an opening, he knew they were a danger. "Be careful." He pleaded. "Don't give them an excuse."

"I'm always careful. I have to set a good example for the children. You be careful as well." She smiled. "I'll see you in the morning. Good night, Teacher."

"Good night, Teacher."