The Bluebird and the Sparrow by Janette Oke Read Free Book Online

she found little ways to bring some joy and laughter into the otherwise somber household. At length, even their mother managed to laugh again.
    But Berta found it hard to laugh. Though she never would have said so, she was angry. Angry with life—and even angrier at death. What right had death to steal away her father? To destroy their happy home? Berta buried her thoughts deep inside and lifted a stubborn chin. Her father had been a good man. Unselfish. Giving. Seeking to fulfil God’s command to love and serve others. Perhaps it didn’t pay. What good had it done him?
    Berta would never have expressed her angry thoughts, but inwardly she gave them room to grow. She had no intention of standing idly by and letting anyone, or anything, take from her what she deserved. Nor would she bear pain simply because she couldn’t fight back. No one was going to rally to the aid of a passive soul, she decided. She would fight on her own behalf. She would look after her own interests.
    ————
    “May I walk you home?”
    It was Thomas Hawkins who stood before her. Berta lowered her gaze. It wasn’t that Thomas Hawkins was difficult to look at. He had really grown into a very nice-looking young man. Berta had found herself stealing frequent glances his way.
    And he was—well, pleasant as well. Berta could not deny the fact. Thomas Hawkins had been favorably impressing her for many months. Had been impressing several of her classmates too. A number of the girls were whispering their feelings concerning Thomas Hawkins.
    But Berta was surprised that Thomas Hawkins had noticed her. Why her—among all her attractive school friends? Why was he asking to walk her home from class?
    She flushed. She wasn’t sure how she should answer.
    “I—I need to hurry,” she said at last. “Mama needs me.”
    “We’ll walk fast,” he countered lightly.
    But Berta shook her head.
    “I have to get right home. Mama needs my help.”
    It was the truth—stretched to an untruth. She did assist her mother with household chores and yard work. But her mama would not be standing at the door, anxiously awaiting her arrival.
    “Some other time, then,” said Thomas, and he smiled, nodded pleasantly, and turned to go.
    Berta gathered her books, her face still flushed. Why is Thomas asking to walk me home? she puzzled again. Why—when there were so many other girls to choose from? Like pixie-faced Matilda, or hazel-eyed Violet, or pert Mary Jane.
    She was—she was just plain Berta. Her dark hair, now grown long to please Mama, was pinned back tightly in a simple roll at the base of her neck. With her severe skirts and plain shirtwaists, devoid of even ribbons and lace, she was the unfeminine one—it didn’t make sense. Was it a dare? Was it meant as an embarrassment? Was it simply to get close to the bubbling Glenna? All the schoolboys seemed to have a crush on young Glenna, who just smiled her sweet smile and treated them all as big brothers. Was this Thomas’s way of trying to break out of the pack of Glenna’s admirers and get some extra attention?
    Berta lifted a stubborn chin into the air and headed for home. She would not allow Thomas to make her the laughingstock of her entire class. She would rebuff him before he had the chance.
    ———
    “You dropped something.”
    Berta did not recognize the masculine voice that spoke softly behind her, but she knew he was speaking to her. She turned and looked into a pair of deep brown eyes.
    He smiled.
    Berta let her gaze travel over his face. He was new. She had never seen him in church before.
    She felt her face flush.
    “Here,” he said, smiling slightly. “You dropped this.”
    Berta let her eyes fall to the clean white square of cotton that he held in his outstretched hand. Her hankie. The flush on her face deepened. He would think she had deliberately dropped it in an effort to get his attention. It was a familiar trick of young ladies and one he was sure to be aware of.
    “I—I—”