Chapter Two : Michael and Rosie Settle In
''So , Mr. Laurie told us you and Rosie are from Boston , Mike'' ; Dan said as they all sat down at the dining room table. Yeah , Rosie and I have lived in Boston since we were little ; Michael replied. Where's your family , Mike? ; Nan asked. Our parents died when I was eleven , and Rosie was ten , so after they died , rather than go to a filthy orphanage , we lived on the streets ; Michael finished. That's exactly what happened to me and Nat here ; Dan said , patting Nat's shoulder. Really , Dan ? ; Michael asked , encouraged to find someone like him and Rosie. Yeah , my parents died when I was little , and I ended up in an orphanage for awhile , and when I got big enough , I ran away and lived on the streets like you and Rosie ; Dan said.
Do you think we might've crossed paths back in Boston , Mike ? ; Dan asked. Maybe we did , you look sorta' familiar , Dan ; Michael said. What were your parent's names , Michael ? ; Mrs. Jo asked. Our father's name was Joseph , and our mother's was Eileen , Mrs. Jo ; Michael replied. Those are lovely names , Michael ; Mrs. Jo replied , smiling at him. Do you and Rosie have any other family , Michael ? ; Mrs. Jo asked. Well , from what my father told me , we had an uncle and aunt somewhere in Boston , but they disappeared for some reason and no one ever saw them again , Mrs. Jo ; Michael said. Do you know what happened to em' exactly , Mike ?; Dan asked. I'm pretty sure they both died in an epidemic that hit Boston when I was five years old , Dan ; Michael replied.
I'm sorry to hear that , Mike ; Dan said. I was'nt much older when my folks passed away ; Dan said. So , what's Plumfield like , Dan ? ; Michael asked. After school , it's a lot of fun ; Dan said. We play games , Nick takes us berry pickin' , we go on pic-nics , and on Saturday nights , Mrs. Jo lets us have a pillow fight for fifteen minutes ! ; Dan laughed. That sounds like fun ! ; Rosie piped up. Oh , it is , and I think you'll enjoy it , Rosie ! ; Dan said , flashing Rosie a friendly smile. Do you join in the pillow fights , Nan ? ; Rosie asked. Oh , you bet I do , Rosie ! ; Nan laughed. What about you , Bess ? ; Rosie asked. Sometimes I indulge in one , Rosie ; Bess replied , trying her best to be friendly to their new classmate.
What do you and Nan do for fun , Bess? ; Rosie asked. I like reading , painting pictures , and I enjoy sewing , Rosie ; Bess replied . Me , I love playing games with Dan and the boys , climbing trees , and collecting and studying insects , Rosie ; Nan said. I like some of the same things too , Nan ; Rosie said. Speaking of school , Dan , is'nt Franz waiting for all of you in the schoolroom? ; Mrs. Jo asked. Yeah , I guess we'd better get going , Mrs. Jo ; Dan said as he and Nat stood up. Michael , would you and Rosie like to get settled in first , or go on to school with Dan and Nan and meet your new teacher ? ; Mrs. Jo asked.
We'll go on to school with Dan and Nan , Mrs. Jo ; Michael replied. Alright , Michael , I'll help you and Rosie get settled in your rooms later on ; Mrs. Jo said. Thanks , Mrs. Jo ; Rosie said. You're welcome Rosie , we're happy to have you and Michael here ; Mrs. Jo replied. Come on Rosie , you can sit with me and Bess ; Nan said , taking hold of Rosie's hand. Thanks , Nan ; Rosie said as they left. And you can sit with me and Nat , Mike ; Dan said , clapping Mike on the shoulder. Smiling , Mrs. Jo watched them as they headed off to the schoolroom.