Chapter 49 "Back to School" (Part 1) With school starting in a couple of weeks, I decided to write a back to school story for Ruby.

The sun was starting to set earlier and earlier. The shorter amount of sunlight was a clear sign that summer was fading away and fall was making an entrance. The mornings were cooler as were the nights. It had been a nice summer for the Dillons. Matt did have to leave town several times, but that was to be expected. With summer winding down, Ruby would be starting school in a couple of weeks. Matt and Kitty were on the verge of having a first grader.

"You know I was thinking," Kitty said to Ruby as the two of them walked the baking dishes to the basin. They had just finished baking a batch of blueberry muffins. "School is starting soon, and we need to make sure you are all set with your school supplies. While I finish cleaning up in here, you go use the bathroom and get washed up. When we're finished we'll take a trip into town. Make sure you grab your bonnet."

"Oh boy! A trip to town!" Ruby exclaimed as she darted out of the kitchen and into the parlor.

Matt, who had been sitting in the parlor, saw the whirlwind of his daughter zip by him. "Whoa! Slow down!" he called out to her. "What's the big hurry? You know better than to run through the house like that."

Ruby came to a stop and walked back to her daddy. "Sorry daddy, but I couldn't help it. I'm too excited. Me 'n momma are going to town to get me stuff for school."

"Well now, that does sound exciting," Matt agreed. "But you won't be going ta town for school supplies if you fall and hurt yourself. You'll be going ta town ta see Grandpa Doc. Since you are going ta town, I need another bar of soap. Mine is almost gone."

"You can use momma's," Ruby suggested. "It smells really good."

"I can't argue with that," said Matt. "But I really don't want ta smell like a woman."

Kitty walked into the parlor room. She could see that Ruby did not have her bonnet with her. "Ruby, I told you to grab your bonnet. I can't believe you forgot it. Please go and get it."

"Momma, I didn't forget it," Ruby defended herself.

"I don't see it in your hand or on your head," Kitty pointed out. "You were supposed to use the bathroom, wash up, and grab your bonnet."

"I haven't done any of that yet," Ruby admitted.

"Ruby, when I give you directions, I expect you to follow them," Kitty reprimanded her daughter.

"Hold on Kitty," stated Matt. "I take blame for that. I stopped her as she was passing through."

"Oh, sorry sweetie," Kitty apologized to Ruby. "I didn't realize that. Please do the three things I told you to do. When you're done, I'll quickly get ready so we can leave."

"Sure thing, momma." Ruby started walking towards the water closet, but stopped and turned towards her parents. "Momma, we have to buy daddy another bar of soap. His is almost gone, 'n he doesn't want to use yours. He said he doesn't want to smell like a woman." Ruby had lowered her voice at the last part, trying to mimic her father.

Kitty laughed out loud. "We certainly don't want him to smell like a woman." She gave Matt a wink.

Ten minutes later Kitty and Ruby were ready to leave. Matt would have gone with them, but decided it would be best if he stayed home. He was still recovering from a bout of ague from last week. It seemed that when he made a trip to Hays City and didn't get the rest his body needed, it was not uncommon for ague to sneak up on him. Doc's orders were simple. Get plenty of rest and drink lots of fluids.

"I can hitch Buttercup up to the buggy for you," Matt offered as he stood up from his chair.

"Thank you, but that's not necessary," Kitty politely declined the offer. "I can manage. You just follow Doc's orders and rest. Ruby 'n I want to make sure you're healthy for her first day of school."

"Yeah, daddy," Ruby concurred. "I don't want you to miss my first day of school."

"I think I'll be better by then," said Matt. "You ladies enjoy yer trip to town."

Hitching Buttercup to the buggy was a very easy task. Buttercup's gentleness and cooperation made it easy for Kitty. Once Buttercup and the buggy were all situated, Kitty assisted Ruby into the buggy, and then climbed in herself. She put her handbag on the seat between the two of them. With a gentle snap of the reins and a click of her tongue, Kitty and Ruby were riding towards town. After twenty minutes of riding, Kitty was steering the buggy down Front Street. She found a side street to park the buggy.

"What supplies do I need?" questioned Ruby

"You don't need a new knapsack or lunch pail. Those from last year are still in good shape," Kitty replied. "I saw Miss Grey the other day. I wasn't thinking. I should've asked her. She did say she would be at the school this week getting ready for the new school year. It's a nice day. We can walk that way 'n see if her buggy is there. If it is, we'll ask what supplies you need."

"I like that plan," Ruby nodded.

"Good," said Kitty as she climbed down from the buggy and helped Ruby down. She grabbed her handbag off the seat and the harness weight from the floor. Kitty attached the weight to Buttercup's snaffle bit, and she and Ruby made their way toward the school.

It did not take long for the school yard to come into view. Miss Grey's buggy was parked next to the school. "Look!" Ruby pointed with her finger. "That's Miss Grey's buggy. That means she's at school."

"Alright, we'll go and ask her what supplies you need, but we can't stay. I'm sure Miss Grey is very busy," Kitty told Ruby. They strolled towards the schoolhouse and climbed the steps.

Miss Grey had been writing names in her attendance book, when she heard a knock. Looking up, she saw Kitty and Ruby. "Hello, Mrs. Dillon and Ruby," she greeted with a smile. "It's a pleasure to see you. Is there something I can do for you?"

Kitty and Ruby both returned the smile. "We can see that you're busy, so we don't want to take up too much of your time. Ruby 'n I are in town to get her some school supplies. What will she be needing?"

Miss Grey looked at Ruby. "Let's see. You are going to be in grade four," teased Miss Grey.

"Miss Grey, yer teasing. I'm gonna be in grade one," Ruby corrected her.

"Oh that's right, grade one," said Miss Grey as she winked at Kitty. "I see you grew a little bit over the summer. It always amazes me how my students change over the summer months. Anyway, you will need a slate pencil to write on your slate board. You will also need a tablet of paper with lines and a lead pencil. In first grade, you will use the line paper to learn to write on the lines and to do some arithmetic. I almost forgot. You need a clean cloth to wipe off your slate board. Some students, especially the older ones, bring pocket knives to sharpen their pencils. I suggest the younger students have an extra pencil or two already sharpened."

"Do younger students bring pocket knives to school?" Kitty asked. "I wouldn't think their parents would want them to."

"I agree with you," said Miss Grey. "But if their parents allow it, I really can't stop it. However, students must have written permission to have possession of one."

"Thank you so much, Miss Grey," said Kitty. "That certainly does help. We'll let you get back to what you were doing. Come along, Ruby. Goodbye, Miss Grey."

"Goodbye, Miss Grey," Ruby waved as she and Kitty left the school room.

"Goodbye," Miss Grey replied. She returned to her attendance book.

Kitty and Ruby made the short journey back to town. Along the way, they saw Festus. A huge grin spread across Festus' face when he spotted Kitty and Ruby. With an extra skip in his step, Festus made his way towards them, his spurs jangling away.

"Mizz Kitty. Mizz Ruby," Festus happily greeted as he touched the brim of his hat. "What brings y'all ta town?"

"Me ''n momma are buying me stuff for school," Ruby answered.

"That's right. I plum fergot. Youse gonna be goin' back ta school," said Festus. "I hope ya find what ya need. How's Matthew doin'?" Festus noticed that Matt wasn't with Kitty and Ruby.

"He's on the mend," Kitty replied.

"Glad ta hear," said Festus. "I reckon I better let you two ladies be on yer way. You ain't gonna be buying no school supplies out here. I'll see ya directly."

"Bye Festus." "Bye Uncle Festus." Kitty and Ruby said in unison.

Kitty and Ruby went to Jonas' store and stepped inside. Hearing the bell ding, Mr. Jonas looked up and saw the Dillon ladies. "Hello, Miss Kitty and Miss Ruby. How can I be of your service?"

"I need school stuff," Ruby replied.

"We need a few slate pencils, a few lead pencils, and a tablet of lined paper," Kitty told Jonas.

"Momma, don't forget daddy's soap and a pocket knife," Ruby reminded her momma.

"Add the soap to that list, but not the pocket knife," Kitty instructed.

Jonas nodded his head. "Give me a few minutes to gather the items. I'll be right back."

"There's no rush," assured Kitty. She and Ruby watched Jonas walk away to get the soap and Ruby's school supplies.

"Momma," Ruby addressed. "How come I can't get a pocket knife?"

"You are too young for a pocket knife," Kitty responded. "Your daddy 'n I will make sure you have sharpened pencils each day before you leave for school."

"Maybe we should ask daddy what he thinks," Ruby suggested.

"We can discuss it with him tonight at the supper table," said Kitty. "But I'm pretty sure I know what he gonna say."

"What about a slate board and a clean cloth?" Ruby inquired.

"You already have a slate board," Kitty replied. "We'll make sure it's all clean for school. As far as the clean cloth, we can get one from home."

Jonas returned with everything Kitty asked for and set the items on the counter. "Here's everything you asked for. I'll add up the total and get this stuff bagged up."

Kitty put her handbag on the counter, opened it, and waited for Jonas to tell her what was owed. "Thank you, Mr. Jonas. Would you please put the soap in a separate bag?" Kitty was going to let Ruby carry her own bag of school supplies. She figured the little girl would like that.

"That's no problem," Mr. Jonas responded. "Let's see. The total comes to four dollars and sixty cents."

Kitty handed Jonas the money, which he took and put in the cash register. Grabbing two bags from behind the counter, Jonas put the soap into a smaller bag and Ruby's school supplies into a slightly bigger bag. He rolled the tops of both bags down and handed them to Kitty. Kitty accepted both bags and thanked Jonas.

"Here, you can carry your school supplies." She handed Ruby the bag of school supplies. Ruby eagerly took the bag. Kitty was right. Ruby did like carrying her own bag.

Later that evening, the Dillons were sitting around the table eating supper. Tonight's supper consisted of chicken and dumplings and buttered corn. The corn had come from the garden. Kitty canned most of it for the winter, but left a few cobs for the family to eat fresh. They would have some blueberry muffins for dessert.

Ruby had just put a spoonful of dumplings in her mouth, when she remembered they were going to discuss the pocket knife with her daddy. She swallowed her food. "Momma, remember what we were gonna 'scuss with daddy?"

"What's that?" asked Matt as he took a sip of his coffee.

"Daddy, can I get a pocket knife for school?" questioned Ruby.

TBC in part 2