"Back to School" (Part 2)

Matt put his coffee cup down and looked at Ruby with raised eyebrows. "A pocket knife for school? Absolutely not. That's the last thing you need for school."

"I figured that's what your daddy would say," said Kitty as she dabbed the corner of her mouth with her napkin.

"Aww, daddy," Ruby whined. She was not pleased with the answer he gave her. "Why not?"

"You are way too young to be using a pocket knife. You have ten adorable fingers and your momma 'n I aim to keep it that way," Matt responded. "Besides, what would you need a pocket knife for?" It did not occur to him for sharpening pencils.

"Ta sharpen my pencils," Ruby replied, hoping her response would change her daddy's mind. "My pencils have to be sharp for school. I won't be able to write if they're not sharp. Miss Grey lets kids with pocket knives sharpen their pencils."

"There's no need for that," said Matt. "I will make sure you have sharpened pencils."

"What about, momma?" Ruby asked. "Can she use a pocket knife to sharpen my pencils or are you afraid she might cut her pretty hands?"

"I'll leave that up to your momma," Matt responded.

Kitty gave Ruby an 'I told you so look.' Ruby decided to ask her daddy another question. "Daddy, how old were you when you started using a pocket knife?"

Matt was a year younger than Ruby when he first got hold of a pocket knife. He was going to lie to her about his age, but decided not to do so. "I was five years old," Matt started to say.

"What?! I'm six years old," Ruby interrupted.

Kitty couldn't believe Matt told Ruby he was five years old when he started using a pocket knife. What was he thinking? That was just going to make Ruby want to have her own pocket knife all the more. She hoped Matt would not tell Ruby he got to use one because he was a boy.

"You didn't let me finish," said Matt. "When I was five years old, I saw my pa's pocket knife sitting on the table. Since I was five years old, I figured I was becoming a man. I took the pocket knife and a piece of wood from the log pile next to the fireplace and went outside with both things. I started carving at the piece of wood. The knife slipped and I got a whopper of a cut on my hand. I screamed, and my ma came running from the house. She saw my bloody hand and rushed back inside to grab a towel and wrapped it around my hand. We made a trip into town and I ended up getting stitches. I was fortunate that I didn't cut any of my fingers off. You see this scar?" Matt pointed to a line-shaped scar on his hand. Ruby nodded her head. "That's the scar from that cut. I didn't touch a pocket knife again until I was around ten years old."

Kitty was very familiar with the scar on Matt's hand, but had always figured he had gotten it as a lawman before she met him. "I didn't know that scar was from your childhood. I always assumed you had gotten it on the job."

"Nope," Matt confirmed. "It's from my childhood."

Ruby silently counted on her hands. "That means I have to wait four years before I can get a pocket knife."

"That's right," Matt agreed. "And don't even think of touching one before that."

"I won't," Ruby promised.

Two weeks quickly passed by, and it was the evening of the school open house. Miss Grey started having open houses last year. The reason for the open house last year was to meet her students and their parents. She was a new teacher and figured that was the best and easiest way to do so. Since last year's open was so successful, Miss Grey decided to host another one this year. Like the previous year, this year's open house was proving to be just as successful. Also similar to last year there was a line of students and parents leading up to Miss Grey's desk, each waiting their turns to talk to her. Some of the students were new kindergarten students, while others were returning students. Finally, after waiting patiently in line, it was the Dillons' turn to see Miss Grey.

"Hello," Miss Grey first addressed Ruby. "Did you get all of your school supplies?"

"Yes, I did, Miss Grey," Ruby replied. "But I didn't get a pocket knife. Daddy 'n momma said I couldn't have one. Daddy said he doesn't want me ta cut my fingers off. He used a pocket knife when he was five 'n cut his hand. He still has the scar." Ruby took her daddy's hand and showed Miss Grey the scar. "See. He had to get stitches. Then he didn't use a pocket knife until he was ten years old. That's how long I have to wait."

Miss Grey looked at the scar. "I do see it. I bet that hurt. I think it's a good idea for you to wait." Miss Grey then addressed Matt and Kitty. "I'm glad to see you both, Marshal Dillon and Mrs. Dillon. I have Ruby's medical reports and the list of people who are allowed to take her off school property. Are there any changes that need to be made to either one?"

"There's no one to add to her people list, and her medical papers should be all set. Ruby stayed healthy this summer," Kitty answered. She looked up at Matt. "Do you agree?"

Matt shook his head yes. "I can't think of any changes that need to be made. Like you said, Ruby stayed healthy this summer, and there's nobody new to add to her people list."

"Well then," Miss Grey smiled as she put Ruby's papers away. "School starts in three days, and I look forward to seeing you then. Enjoy the rest of your evening."

"Thank you, Miss Grey. Enjoy yours as well," Matt responded as he escorted Kitty and Ruby, who waved to Miss Grey, out of the school.

The next two and a half days passed by without incident, and it was the night before Ruby's first day of school. To save time in the morning, Kitty and Ruby picked out Ruby's first day of school dress. The dress was sewn by Sarah the seamstress. Earlier in the month the Dillons had been in town for their Saturday shopping trip. During that particular trip, Kitty and Ruby picked out some material so Miss Sarah could make Ruby a few new dresses for school. They picked up the dresses the day before. The material for tomorrow's dress was pink with white flowers on it. Ruby would wear that with a white pinafore layered on top. The other dresses were blue with red flowers and green with yellow flowers. It was also decided that Ruby would have her hair styled in pigtails. Matt always appreciated it when Ruby wore her hair in pigtails.

"Do you think I'll have a good first day?" Ruby questioned. Matt and Kitty could hear the apprehensiveness in their daughter's voice.

"Of course you will," Kitty reassured her little girl. "You are going to have a very good first day."

"I wonder how Toby will be this year," said Ruby. "It was nice not to be around him this summer. Maybe he'll be sick and not be at school. That would be nice."

"Ruby, you shouldn't want people to be sick. That isn't polite," Kitty softly scolded.

"Even if it's Toby Stollman?" Ruby asked.

"Yes, even if it's Toby Stollman," Kitty confirmed. "You wouldn't want anyone to hope that you got sick."

"Alright young lady," Matt chimed in. "It's getting late, 'n you need to get ta sleep. We don't want you dozing off in school. It's kind of hard ta learn if yer fast asleep." He bent down and gave Ruby a kiss. "Sweet dreams, Little Gemstone."

Kitty did the same. "Goodnight, honey," she said. She and Matt left the room, closing the door behind them. "Tomorrow we will officially have a first grader."

Matt led Kitty to the parlor and sighed. "It's hard to believe. It seems like it was a year ago that she was learning to walk and talk. If I could slow time down, I would."

TBC in the conclusion