Chapter 5 - Pomp, Circumstance, and Dead Rats
"How is the Swedish coming along, Pepper?" Annie asked a few weeks later.
"How do you think?" Pepper said with a hint of frustration, yet also great determination. "But, whenever it gets tough, I just keep telling myself 'Jag ser inte!' Right, Ambassador?"
The ambassador stifled a laugh. "I presume you are referring to Miss Hannigan's and that you don't sew. Which is true; you came up with almost the right phrase on the spur of the moment, which is good. But, what you wanted was 'jag syr inte.' You said you could not see." Pepper rolled her eyes and growled slightly as her hands formed half fists. "But, don't worry, it can be hard to come up with words on the spur of the moment. Plus, you are trying to immerse yourself in two languages, though your German is better and you can practice it more once you get to Sweden - and even on the boat. So, it is good that you are pushing the Swedish the most for now."
"But, how am I supposed to explain away flubs like that? I can pretend to be an uneducated German and that's why I don't care about the gender of words. I have a story all ready about how my folks never did believe in educating girls as much." Which, she mused, was a hilarious irony considering what she was doing. "But, I sure as heck better know the difference between a madchen and a badchen when I go to get a girl out of Germany, or I'll be getting a bath instead! Real Germans don't talk like that, no matter how little education they've had."
"I know it's difficult," Bostrom said. "You are considering how much will be at stake. And, that is good. It shows you aren't just rushing into this with no plan. I have to admit, when you began this project a couple of months ago, I worried about that. I worried you really didn't know what you were getting into; that it was just like running a fire drill and making sure that Miss Hannigan didn't become what she could have. Now, I see genuine change. You are going from 'Let's do this' to 'Here's how to do this.' And, you are keeping at it. You used a Swedish phrase when you didn't have to, and in the proper context," Bostrom complimented her.
Annie grinned. "See, Pepper; I told you it sounded like you were making progress. Don't get so down on yourself."
"Yeah. I just keep reminding myself of all those new kids you got in your homes for Girls and Boys. Someone has to care about the others," Pepper said with determination.
"And you do. I know; the lives of little people aren't worth a hill of beans in this world. But, we all have dreams. Dreams about helping to protect them. That's what matters."
Georg and Maria von Trapp walked up to the group, with Grace on their heels. "It has been wonderful being hosted by your father, Annie," Georg said merrily.
"Thanks; he's loved it. We had a fun party for you last night. Will you be able to stay for graduation in a few days?" Annie asked.
"We will; we must leave a few weeks later, but we shall return," Georg said. "I wonder if someday people wlil be able to get jobs right away in other countries."
"All I know is, I'm glad Annie's dad was able to get me a job with a newspaper so I can be a war correspondent if they go to war. It makes a good cover," Pepper said.
"How are your parents handling it?" Maria asked.
"Okay. Mom doesn't want me to go. But, she knows I'll be miserable just staying here and doing a comic strip," Pepper said a little dismissively. "So, she knows I feel like I have to. Some kids have it way worse than we did in the orphanage."
Grace went further. "There has been talk that, at least after the war, there might be a transition to housing orphans with special foster families instead. But, I believe we could easily transition our orphanages' homes into homes for special cases, children who have been mistreated, or something else. I know Annie has worked on some ideas, and will probably continue to do so once she gets to college."
"The future is going to be quite interesting. I'm glad your high school in Brooklyn has their graduation at a different time than July and Duffy's so we can all go to both. And, don't worry, Pepper. You'll do a great job over there doing… whatever it is," Annie said, mindful of the fact that Pepper's real plans had to be kept secret so nothing could leak out. She didn't even know specifics. The von Trapps acknowledged the hint - they wouldn't even let anyone know Pepper would be over there. Annie finished by saying: "You'll make it, Pepper. I know you don't always think so. But we believe in you."
"Thanks, Annie," Pepper said gratefully.
The former orphans were all gathered with their adoptive families in the reception area following July and Duffy's graduation.
"Oh my goodness," Tessie declared as she ran from where her older brother - who had also graduated that day was to greet and hug her friends. "THat was so much fun!"
Annie sensed what Tessie was thinking. "We'll always be together somehow," she assured her.
"I know. My brother keeps saying the same thing. Plus I've got one a few years younger, too.I just hope we don't have to go to war!"
"I've been thinking the same thing. John had a younger brother graduating at another school, so he couldn't be here, but part of me wonders about that even with Roosevelt's promise," Duffy said of her recently steady boyfriend, who was over a year older than she was.
"War hasn't even started over in Europe. In Asia, well, Japan could stay bogged down in China. If not, we have the people to grow the food and make the stuff that'll beat all the dictators," Annie said with great confidence.
July looked over at the group from where she, Kate, and the family's two natural children, both under five, were talking with their parents. She closed her eyes and appeared quite wistful.
"We'll all be back together. We have to be - I graduate in five years," Kate joked.
"I know." July put an arm around her sister. They had bonded quite a bit at the orphanage, and while July revelled in the fact she didn't have to watch over anyone anymore, she was glad they were together, and also glad to have the joy of little kids in their house, as well as where she worked part time. "I just wonder - sure, my birth parents might have not planned me, but God did. He knew I'd be able to help someone. And yet, they cared so little they didn't even give me a name."
Her dad, Doctor Huntington, understood a little, at least. "Even that one girl who gave her baby up named hers."
"Right."
Kate asked what their mom was about to - she'd learned from July how to try to detect little things that had made the quiet orphan so good at dealing with others - and at keeping Miss Hannigan under control. "She's right over there. Do you want to talk to her?"
"Maybe I should." July inhaled deeply and walked hesitantly, asking for wisdom about what to say.
When she got up to her, Sue, the girl in question, was the first to speak. "Hi."
"Hi. Sue… I just want to say I'm sorry I've kind of avoided you for a while since, well, I heard." Sue looked skeptical but let July continue. "The problem is, I was given up for adoption to a really bad orphanage - well, not at the time, but, I don't know if you heard about Miss Hannigan, that court case, some years back?"
Sue nodded. "My cousin in Pennsylvania and her husband took little Joey in. They've got a farm, a great family, and even pictures. I… probably haven't written them as much as I should have since Joey was born six months ago," she said shyly.
"That's good. In a way… that's part of what bothered me. You met Annie, right?" She had. ""Her parents left a note and half a silver locket. Mine? Nothing. I mean, maybe if they couldn't think of a name right away…" July paused. "DId you.. Name him?"
"We kind of agreed. It's an ancestor; came over in the 1830s."
"I see."
July was quiet for a moment. The talk had been very low so nobody could overhear, so to outsiders, they could have still been talking about some confidential event. Now, however, it was as if neither knew how to continue. July wished Annie could be there. She would… well, why not.
"I guess there are worse months to be named after. February stinks here doesn't it?" July said with a grin.
"True. My parents said I had to give him up. I went to live with my cousin; well, you know that. Maybe yours didn't have family. My parents called them up right after they found out, but to be honest, I wasn't sure myself if I could take care of him. So, I was kind of thinking of them…" Sue sniffled a little, and July hugged her. "Thanks."
"It's stories like yours that inspire me to make sure all the children at Daddy Warbucks' homes feel loved and cared for. We think about the kids most of all. But, usually there's parents who really hope their kid is cared for."
"Usually… I'd think always. I'm sure yours cared some," Sue said, trying to sound hopeful.
"Maybe. I think about what it'll be like if we start taking in the ones who have really been mistreated, though. Pepper's life was rough, being on the street before her mom passed, but even she wasn't treated like some," July said.
Annie had come up to them. "Don't worry, July. We'll overcome evil with good. And, maybe your parents gave you up so you could be with someone who wouldn't be so mean."
July agreed. That was possible. Still, while it helped her to be thankful, it didn't help her with ideas on how to handle such situations if they came up.
July and Kate relaxed in the family home - she would call it large, but then she remembered what Annie's and Molly's looked like - after July's graduation. Once the younger two were put to bed after supper, she, Kate, and the Huntingtons sat down in the living room and talked.
Duffy had come over to visit, also, after having driven to John's for a little bit. "Not too many girls out driving like you do, that's for sure," Mrs. Huntington declared.
"I learned quickly, when it came to people like Miss Hannigan, not to take any kind of putdowns. I've appeared on Broadway. I know how to be careful. I'm 19 already," she declared.
"Which one of you taught Kate how to wave those dead rats in Miss Hannigan's face?" Dr. Huntington asked.
"It was mutual," July said.
"I can tell you the story," Duffy announced.
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
It was late 1930. Annie, Pepper, and a few older orphans sewed, and Tessie struggled while being helped by Pepper. Meanwhile, July, Duffy, and little Kate were finishing up their cleaning chores. Molly wouldn't arrive for nearly a year, and a couple girls hadn't aged out yet.
"Tessie really gets scared by Miss Hannigan yelling," Duffy, ten, said. "But, I teach her who's boss."
July sighed. "DUffy, Kate's only four; remember Miss Kathy said to set a good example?"
"I don't expect her to stomp on Miss Hannigan's foot; that's why I do it. Accidentally," Duffy hastened to add.
"Accidentally on purpose, " July said under her breath.
"Hey, while Miss Kathy's got her job as a schoolteacher now…" Duffy was interrupted by Kate's astonished shriek. "What is it?"
July's eyes grew wide. "Another dead rat."
"Can we get a cat?" Kate asked.
"No, let's find a place for them; usually they're outside…" July mused out loud.
"I like your thinking. I had the same idea. We need to shove this in Miss Hannigan's face the next time-"
"Duffy," July hissed. "What does Miss Kathy always say? Be subtle. Work with her to make sure she won't go overboard."
A short time later,the girls went up to the sewing room as they heard Miss Hannigan complaining loudly again. They could tell Tessie was really nervous about what she'd do.
Miss Hannigan looked at Duffy and pulled her foot back. "Oh, no you don't! You're the clumsiest orphan alive! And you claim you'll be a dancer someday! The only thing you never miss is my foot!"
"Miss Hannigan…" Kate said sweetly at July's prodding.
"What have you got behind your back You show- eeeeek!" Miss Hannigan backed into one of the tables.
"Before this rat goes away," July said, "let's talk about how to be more patient with little ones like Tessie…"
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
"July accepted when Miss Hannigan said to put it away and then they'd talk. And, to her credit, Miss Hannigan accepted what we said. It also helped her see July wasn't as forceful as Pepper or I would be."
July smiled. "I still had my ways."
"Miss Kathy praised you that night when she came from her school job and learned how well you had done," Duffy said. "She told Miss Hannigan the same thing. She had to learn to work with us," she emphasized.
"Duffy would have been a lot more forceful," Kate proclaimed.
"I'm glad we don't have to use dead rats to get our orphans to listen," July said with a chuckle.
"Is something else on your mind?" Mrs. Huntington asked.
"It's just how things would be if we did get a worse kid; one like Miss Hannigan. If she's old enough she could be a real terror. One of her was enough," July said. "I know my parents never could have foreseen that part, with Miss Kathy having to leave for good the following summer. Still…" she trailed off, lost in thought.
"I doubt they'd have been that bad - some of that is genetics," Dr. Huntington said.
"You don't have to work there," Mrs. Huntington said. "The choice is yours. You've got a great big future ahead of you now that you've graduated. There's college, teaching, writing, all kinds of things. And we'd support you in whatever you do."
July thanked them. "I want to, though. I have grown to love it. At least for now, and probably for good. One of these days, we can get together with other educators to come up with things for children all over." July and Kate, in fact, through her dad's connections, would be among the dozens of educators who developed Sesame Street,, partly thanks to her memories of having to teach the younger ones letters and other concepts with music and such. "For now, though, I want to make sure these kids at Warbucks Homes know they're loved." They agreed that that was a very worthwhile goal.