you spent at the stables wasnât a waste, after all.â
Before Willie could reply, a nurse came and told them they should go.
Nellie kissed her father. âWeâll come next Sunday, if we can,â she promised.
âGood,â said her father. He gave a little moan of pain and closed his eyes. When they got outside, Willie asked, âDo you really think Pa will get better?â
âYes, I do. And heâs so pleased and proud you went to work,â said Nellie.
Willie didnât say anything. If he could get to be a driver, maybe he would work until Christmas and go back to school in January. Maybe he wouldnât miss his grade. He could study hard and catch up.
When Willie and Nellie arrived at Sunny Row, they saw a horse and wagon tethered to the hitching post at the entry of the lane. Willie stopped short.
âThat mare looks like old Topsy,â he exclaimed. He ran over to the black horse with the sway back and rubbed her nose. âYes, it really is Topsy!â he shouted with joy.
He ran ahead and burst into the kitchen. There was Charley, sitting on the couch next to the warm stove, talking to Grandma as if heâd known her all his life. Grandma was laughing. Grandma hadnât laughed since the day of the accident.
Before Willie could say hello, Sara came bouncing up to him with a big, orange pumpkin in her arms.
âLook, Willie, look! Mister Charley gave us some pumpkins! Now me and you and Maggie can make pumpkin grinners for Halloweâen! I never had a pumpkin grinner before in my whole life!â
Grandma spoke up from her rocking chair. âHush, Sara. Remember it is the Sabbath Day.â
Sara said, âYes, today is the Sabbath but tomorrow is Monday, and itâs Halloweâen. We can make grinners as soon as we get home from school, canât we, Grandma? We know how to do it, donât we, Maggie?â
âYes, but we have to let Nellie cut the cover around the stem,â said Maggie in her quiet way. She hugged her pumpkin. Her smile was almost as wide as Saraâs.
âThen you take a big spoon and take out all the insides,â said Sara.
John, who had his leg in its wooden splints propped up on a chair, grinned at them. âAnd then you give Nellie all the insides to make pumpkin pie. And then you give me all the seeds to roast in the oven,â he teased.
Everybody laughed.
Nellie took off her coat and hung it on a peg. âWonât you stay for supper?â she invited Charley.
âThanks, but I have to get home before dark,â he said. âI just wanted to stay long enough to see Willie. How are you making out in the mine, lad?â
âItâs all right,â said Willie. âI get paid tomorrow. Then Grandma can have tea.â
âGood boy,â said Charley.
âAnd Iâm gettinâ a chance to try out as a driver. Gem is down there. I might get a chance to drive her.â
âThatâs just great!â exclaimed Charley as he picked up his cap to take his departure.
âPlease come back. I want to have a real visit with you,â begged Willie.
âThank you. Iâll have to get permission from my cranky sister first,â said Charley, chuckling as he went out the door.
* * *
Each night now, Willie borrowed the tin alarm clock from Nellie. He asked her to make up his lunch before she went to bed. By getting up very early, he hoped to avoid Simon on his way to work.
The only heat in the house came from the coal-burning stove in the kitchen. Overnight, the fire went out. In winter sometimes, even the water in the teakettle froze solid.
On the last day in October, Willie shivered, with cold as he crawled out of bed. John still had to sleep downstairs in the parlour. Willie lit his candle and crept down the steep, narrow stairway. He gobbled a bowl of cold oatmeal porridge and went out into the dark morning. He hurried along by himself, whistling to keep up his
George Simpson, Neal Burger