It's Bliss by Alene Roberts Read Free Book Online Page A

the yard work in the summer, shoveled snow in the winter, and fixed anything that needed fixing, like faucets, the washer, and the toaster. He also hung wallpaper and painted. In fact, he did anything that needed doing.
    Uncle Henry, with his short stature, brown hair, and paunchy middle, looked more like his sister Matilda than his sister Margaret, her mother. He was between them in age. Uncle Henry’s distinctive, down-turned nose and mouth betrayed his cynical outlook on life. But, like Grandpa, he too earned his board and keep by planting and caring for the vegetable garden in the summer, and helping Grandpa with the yard work. He also took over the job of doing the dinner dishes. Sometimes he annoyed Minnie, the housekeeper, with his help, when she came once a week to clean house. When Uncle Henry’s wife died ten years ago, Billie’s parents’ invited him to come and live with them. Billie was sure that this was a great relief to his three grown sons and their wives. When his sons came to visit, bringing with them their wives and children, the five extra bedrooms of this big old home soon filled up.
    Billie contemplated this household with its strong-willed occupants, each with such different personalities. She had often wondered how everyone got along so well. A few problems would crop up now and then, but they were short lived and usually with apologies afterward, although Uncle Henry’s apologies were peculiar to him. Not until Billie was older did she understand how this family was able to live together in such harmony. It was because of the tradition her grandpa Bliss had started in his own home, which his son now carried on in his. Every morning early, all the family gathered around the kitchen table and read the Bible together, always ending in prayer. Billie missed this part of living with her family—but carried it on by herself in her own little apartment.
    She, Grandpa, and her parents had bedrooms on the second floor. Aunt Tilly and Uncle Henry’s were on the third. Papa, looking to the future, had an elevator installed.
    “ Billie girl!”
    All heads turned toward the library door. “Papa!” exclaimed Billie, getting up and running to him. Throwing her arms around his chest, she gave him a squeeze.
    He grunted, put his briefcase down and returned her hug. “How’s my girl?”
    “ How’s my papa?”
    “ Are we both fine?” he asked, studying her as she pulled away.
    “ It looks like it,” she said, smiling at him. “You look as handsome as ever.”
    And he was. Tall and broad shouldered, he was always dressed in superb suits and ties with white shirts. His thick, auburn hair, graying at the temples, complemented warm, brown eyes, framed by wire-rimmed glasses. Her father owned two hardware stores and a feed store. At one time, he rolled up his sleeves and worked with the help, but now, William Bliss was the true executive, delegating and managing.
    “ Come, come!” Aunt Tilly’s voice floated through the hall before she appeared at the library door. “William, go wash up, you don’t want the chowder to get cold.”
    “ No, I certainly don’t, Matilda.” The lines around his eyes crinkled as he grinned. “I’ll rush right on up and wash my hands.” He ran upstairs, and Billie disappeared into the dining room.
    Tilly trotted over to the two playing chess. “Stop that game of chess right this minute. Dinner is ready.”
    “ We heard you, Tilly, we heard you,” growled Henry.
    “ He’s just mad because I’m about to beat him,” Bill Bliss explained, grinning at Tilly as he stood up.
    Tilly led the procession as the three marched, quickstep, into the dining room.
     

Nine
     
    Sheldon Ackerman, his eyes alight with excitement, studied each girl as she sauntered into class Monday morning. Most of them smiled and said, “Good morning, Dr. Ackerman.” He nodded at each, a pleasant look on his face, totally unaware of the blush on a couple of faces. No one was late today.
    But