A/N: I took a lot of liberties in writing this story. I wasn't sure how old I wanted Laura to be, so this takes place in the pre-beginning of her relationship with Almanzo. I think Eliza Jane should have been the teacher around that time, but I prefer Miss Beadle.

Miss Beadle was going on and on about an upcoming school project and the class's role in it, but Laura admittedly wasn't paying attention. Her mind had drifted away to the outdoors, where, she hoped that she'd run into him. As soon as the bell rang, she jumped out of her seat. Braids flying, she ran out of the school and down the steps. But she stopped short when she didn't see what she was looking for-or rather whom. Wagons moved this way and that but there was no sign of the familiar wagon that always stopped in front of the school.

Her hand reached into her pocket, and a feeling of relief came over her when she realized that the folded, wrinkled piece of paper was still there. Ma had been somewhat reluctant to give it to her that morning and only did so with the promise that Laura would take special care of it.

"Don't mess it up any." Ma said. "I'm saving that forever, just like I said I would."
"But it's just a few words." Laura replied. "And you said it wasn't really an essay."
"That's what makes it special." Ma laughed. "Miss Beadle might enjoy seeing it, too. After all, she's the one who assigned it."

"Oh no, Ma. I'm going to keep it right here in my pocket. I don't want anything to happen to it."
"That's a fine idea."
"Ma? Do you really think I should show it to him? He won't think I'm silly?"
"If he cares about you as you say he does, then he won't. In fact, I think he'd be flattered that you shared it with him. After all, your dream is to be a teacher, right?"
"Right, Ma."

Brought back to the present, she looked around, oblivious to the steady stream of classmates who were spilling out of the building behind her. And her heart sank when she realized that he wasn't going to come.

A lump caught in her throat and she blinked back tears. She had no idea why she was so emotional. It wasn't as if he'd be upset if she didn't show him her paper. In fact, if she never mentioned it, he wouldn't know a thing about it. But she wanted so much to show it to him. She wanted to share it with someone other than Ma, Pa, Mary or Miss Beadle.

She was about to give up and start walking home when she heard the sounds of horses and a wagon coming to a stop beside her.
"Can I give you a lift, Beth? You were awfully deep in thought there."

Her heart soared. He was there, his eyes peering into hers, his blonde hair blowing in the breeze. He was the most handsome man she'd ever seen, besides her Pa of course. She looked up, momentarily confused.
"Huh?"
"A lift? You know, a ride home?"
"Sure."

Still in a daze, she walked over to the wagon. He slid out of his seat, his feet landing with a thud in the dirt. And then he took her hand and led her to the other side of the wagon. He waited for her to get situated in the wagon and then returned to his seat and ordered the horses to go.
"So how was school today?"
"Oh, same old, same old."

"That's the trouble with school. It's rarely different. But I guess it's good to learn to follow a routine."
They rode in silence and she patted the paper that was safely in her pocket.
"Whatcha got there?" Almanzo asked.

"Huh?"
"In your pocket. Must be something special the way you keep fiddling with it."
She pulled her hand away, embarrassed. "Oh… I…"
"I'm just teasing, Beth. So what's new?"
Again, her fingers slid to her pocket. She wanted to show him, so badly, but what if he laughed at her? Or thought she was silly?"

Unexpectedly Almanzo said "Whoa!" The horses came to a halt. Laura looked around worriedly.
"Is something wrong?"
"I was about to ask you the same question, Beth."
"What do you mean?"
"Well, you seem a little preoccupied. I just wanted to make sure you're all right."
Her heart swelled. "Really?"
"Of course. So are you? Okay, that is?"
"Actually there's something I wanted to show you."
"All right."
She slipped her hand in her pocket and pulled out the faded, wrinkled, folded paper. Her hand trembled as she moved it toward him.
Gently he took the paper from her. "What's this? It looks important."
"It is. Or it was."
"I see." He unfolded it carefully and looked at it. She could see his eyes moving across the words on the page. She didn't have to look at them to know what they said:

Ma is good

She works hard

She cooks

She sews

"That's real nice, Beth. But what is it?"
She took the paper from him and looked away. "Nothing. It's nothing. I shouldn't have shown it to you."
"What's wrong?"
"I don't want you to think it's silly. Or that I'm silly."
"I would never think that. Now if you don't want me to know what that is, I'll understand. But I have to admit that you've peaked my curiosity."
"Well, okay. That was my first assignment from Miss Beadle; except for spelling words. We had a Visitor's Day at school and everyone came. The parents, I mean. Ma, Pa and Carrie all came. Ma made Mary and I the most beautiful blue dresses out of yard goods that she bought to make a dress for herself."
"That sounds like something your ma would do."
"And we all had to go to the front of the class and read our essay. That was mine."
Almanzo's eyes scanned the words again. "Well, this is…"
"I know, it's not really an essay, but when I stood up, I made this whole speech about Ma and Pa. It was mostly about Ma, since she'd made the dresses for us. After it was over, Ma told me that she loved what I said, but that it wasn't what I had written on the paper. I showed it to Miss Beadle and I was so scared that she was going to be mad. But she wasn't. She just smiled and said that my spelling had improved and my penmanship needed work."
"Well, from what I can see here, this is a fine piece of work."
"Really?"
"It's great. Your ma must have been real proud."
"Thank you. So you don't think it's silly that I showed it to you?"
"Not at all. In fact, I'm flattered. I gather that not many people have seen that."
"No. Just Mary, Ma, Pa and Miss Beatle."
"And now me. Thank you, Laura. It's getting late. I'd better get you home." He moved the reins, signaling the horses to get going.

Laura watched Walnut Grove pass by in a blur of colors. She couldn't look at Almanzo. She felt silly for showing him her paper without telling him why. Maybe he was just pretending to not find it silly. Suddenly she was worried.

Before she knew it, the horses slowed to a stop.

"Here we are, Beth."
"Thanks for the ride, Manly." She began to climb off the wagon, but he jumped out first and helped her to her feet.
"Manly, do you want to know why I showed you my paper?"

"Well, that's up to you. It sure was fun reading it, though."
"I want to be a teacher. And I want to have a student who doesn't know how to read or write so I can teach them those things."
Almanzo smiled and smoothed Laura's hair from her face. "That's a fine idea. You'll make a wonderful teacher, Laura Ingalls."
Before she could stop herself, she hugged him tightly. "Thank you, Manly."
"My pleasure, Beth." He tipped his hat and smiled. "Have a good evening."

She stared at the wagon until it was so tiny she could barely see it at all. She said hello to Pa who was working in the barn and to Ma who was busy making dinner. She'd tell Ma what happened with the paper later.

Carefully she removed the paper from her pocket and went into Ma and Pa's room where she put the paper safely back where Ma had found it. And then she ran upstairs to change. She thought about the words on the paper again and Manly's reaction to it.

Becoming a teacher was definitely a dream that she could tell everyone. But the fact that she hoped to be Mrs. Almanzo Wilder one day was something she wanted to keep to herself. At least for a little while longer.

~Fin~