Anna All Year Round Page 3

  Rosa puts her chubby finger on the bottle and spins it ever so slowly. Anna isn't sure how she does it, but Rosa manages to make the bottle stop when it's pointing right at Charlie. She jumps to her feet and grabs Charlie's arm to stop him from running out of the room.

  "I get to kiss you, Charlie!" Rosa says. "I'm the birthday girl and I spun the bottle right at you!"

  Charlie scowls again, but he lets Rosa kiss his cheek. Rosa aims a quick glance at Anna as if to say, "I told you he likes me best!"

  Anna pretends not to notice the smug look on Rosa's face. Beatrice puts her hand over her mouth to keep herself from giggling but she giggles anyway. Patrick fidgets with his bow tie and inches closer to the door.

  Rosa hands Charlie the bottle. "It's your turn to spin it," she says. "If it points at me this time, you get to kiss me!"

  Charlie puts the bottle down. Anna ducks her head so she can watch him secretly. He's looking right at her, not at Rosa. Slowly he spins the bottle. When it stops, it's pointing at Anna.

  Though this is exactly what Anna hoped would happen, she's suddenly afraid to raise her head. She's never kissed a boy. She sees Charlie's feet come closer. She sees him stop.

  "Well, Anna," he says, "are you going to let me kiss you?"

  Anna stands up slowly. Charlie leans toward her, a big grin on his face. Very carefully, he kisses Anna's cheek. He smells sweet, like birthday cake and ice cream.

  "It's your turn, now." Charlie hands Anna the milk

  bottle. Before she spins it, she sneaks a quick look at the birthday girl. The scowl on Rosa's face makes Anna smile.

  Just as Anna is about to spin the bottle, Mrs. Schuman steps into the parlor. "Here are the clothespins, Rosa," she says. "I'm sorry it took me so long to find them. They were on a dark shelf by the coal bin. I can't imagine how they got there."

  Mrs. Schuman hands Rosa a basket full of clothespins. "Now you can play drop-the-clothespin-in-the-bottle," she says.

  Anna notices Rosa's red face. She has a good idea who put the clothespins on that dark shelf.

  When the party is over, Anna remembers to thank Mrs. Schuman for inviting her. Charlie thanks Mrs. Schuman, too, but he doesn't look at Rosa.

  As soon as he and Anna are outside, Charlie runs his hands through his hair and messes it up. Then he unbuttons his tight collar and pulls his shirt out of his trousers. "Now I feel like me," he says.

  Suddenly, without any warning, Charlie grabs Anna's hair ribbon and runs down the street with it.

  "Give that back!" Anna cries. "It's my best ribbon!"

  "Catch me if you can," Charlie shouts.

  Anna chases him but Charlie has always been able to outrun her. Before she can catch him, he dashes into his house and slams the door.

  Anna sits down on her front steps and gazes at Charlie's house. Her feelings are hurt. She thought Charlie liked her, especially after he kissed her, but now he's taken her ribbon and run into his house. Doesn't he know how cross Mother will be?

  Just then Mother opens the door. The very first thing she says is, "Why, Anna. What's happened to your ribbon?"

  "Charlie took it," Anna says, too angry to care whether she's a tattletale or not.

  "Oh, he did, did he?" Before Anna can stop her, Mother marches across the street toward Charlie's house. She doesn't even bother to put on her coat.

  Anna runs behind Mother, tugging at her dress. "Stop," she says, sorry she tattled. "Charlie will get a spanking if you tell his mother he took my ribbon."

  Mother keeps going. There's no stopping her when she's angry. Before she reaches Charlie's door, it opens and out comes Mrs. Murphy, dragging Charlie by the arm. In Mrs. Murphy's hand is Anna's white ribbon.

  Mrs. Murphy gives the ribbon to Anna and pushes Charlie forward. "What do you have to say to Anna, young man?" Mrs. Murphy asks Charlie.

  Charlie's face turns as red as Anna's face feels. "I'm sorry I took your ribbon, Anna," he mumbles.

  "It's all right, Charlie." Anna smiles at Charlie and then looks at his mother. "It was just a game," she tells Mrs. Murphy. "Charlie didn't mean to be bad. Please don't spank him."

  "You're too late," Charlie whispers to Anna. "She already did."

  "A little spanking never hurt anyone," Mrs. Murphy says. "Don't you agree, Mrs. Sherwood?"

  Mother sighs. "Just try telling Mr. Sherwood that," she says. "He doesn't believe in physical punishment, no matter what Anna does."

  Charlie draws in his breath loudly. "Lucky duck," he says to Anna. "You must have the best father in all of Baltimore."

  Anna smiles. It's true. Father is the best father in all of Baltimore. In fact, he's the best father in the whole world.

  "Come, Anna." Mother takes Anna's hand. "It's time to go home."

  "Hurry back," Charlie calls to Anna. "We'll play tag with Patrick and Wally."

  Mother holds Anna's hand tighter. "Wouldn't you rather cut out paper dolls with Rosa and Beatrice?" she asks. "They're such well-behaved children. Little ladies, both of them. That Charlie is a regular hooligan."

  Anna turns to wave at Charlie. She wonders what Mother would say if she told her she'd rather be a hooligan than a lady any day.

  5. Christmas Wishes

  IT'S THE WEEK BEFORE CHRISTMAS. CHARLIE AND Anna are looking at a Sears Roebuck catalog, their wish book. On one page is a picture of an Erector set.

  "That's what I want," Charlie says. "Nothing else. No mittens, no underwear, no warm stockings. Just an Erector set big enough to build this ferris wheel." He points to a picture of a boy playing with the ferris wheel he's made.

  "Did you tell Santa about it?" Anna asks.

  "Of course," Charlie says. "I wrote him a letter two weeks ago."

  Anna turns the pages in the wish book. What she wants is a doll with a pretty china face, a wig of real human hair, and jointed arms and legs, the kind that closes her eyes when you lay her down to sleep. She'll name her Clarissa or Penelope. Anna can't decide which name is prettier.

  Charlie looks at the dolls in the wish book and wrinkles his nose. "You should ask Santa for an Erector set, too," he says. "Then we could build things together."

  Anna stares at Charlie. "Erector sets are for boys."

  "There's no law that says a girl can't own one," Charlie says. "Just imagine the fun we'd have, Anna."

  Anna isn't sure she wants an Erector set but she hates to disappoint Charlie. "I'll think about it," she tells him.

  "Think hard," Charlie says.

  ***

  After supper that night, Father asks Anna if she's written her letter to Santa.

  "Not yet." She opens the wish book and shows Father the doll.

  "Very pretty," he says. "Is that all you want?"

  Anna turns the pages and shows Father the Erector set. "Do you suppose Santa would bring one of these to a girl?"

  "I don't see why not," Father says.

  Mother looks over Father's shoulder. "Surely you don't want an Erector set, Anna!"

  Suddenly Anna wants the Erector set more than anything she's ever wished for. "Yes, I do!" she says fiercely.

  Father chuckles but Mother frowns. "Please, Ira," Mother says. "Don't encourage this foolishness. Anna's a girl, a young lady. What use has she for boys' toys?"

  "I see no harm in it," Father says. "An Erector set will teach Anna how to build things, Lizzie. It's far more educational than a doll."

  Mother sighs. "We'll see," she says. "Santa may not think Anna needs an Erector set."

  Anna writes her list. She uses her best penmanship and is careful not to blot the ink or misspell any words. The doll is number one. The Erector set is number two. She adds candy, hair ribbons, paper dolls, and a book. It's a lot to ask for, but, as Mother said, Santa will decide what Anna needs.

  The days drag past slowly, slowly, slowly. Anna helps Mother clean the house. She polishes the silver. She buys presents and wraps them in her bedroom, keeping the door closed so no one will see what she's picked.

  Finally
it's Christmas Eve. Father brings home a tree taller than Anna. It's fresh and green. Soon the whole house smells like a pine forest.

  Anna and Mother help Father set up the tree. They put it in front of the parlor window so people on the street will see it as they walk past the house.

  They decorate the tree with big shiny glass balls and pretty ornaments from Germany. Father adds tiny candles. Anna wants to light them right away but the candles can be lighted just once—on Christmas night.

  All day Mother has been cooking. The house smells of roast turkey and sauerkraut, cranberries and sweet potatoes, sugar cookies, and fondant, a special treat made of sugar and cream, colored in delicate tints of green, yellow, and pink. They are so sweet they make Anna's jaws ache.

  Just as darkness falls, Mother's family begins to arrive. As they come inside from the cold, they stamp their feet and cry, "Fröhliche Weinachten! Fröhliche Weinachten!" Anna knows that means "Merry Christmas!"

  Soon the little house is crowded with aunts and uncles and cousins, so many Anna does not know all their names. They laugh and talk, sometimes in English, sometimes in German. They remember the old days before Anna was born.

  After dinner, Grandfather Reuwer produces a bottle of homemade dandelion wine. The more he drinks, the more he talks. When Grandfather Reuwer begins telling stories that make him cry, a visiting entertainer gets out his accordion and sings. Beside him is a large chart on which the German words to the songs are written. Everyone gathers around and sings in German, even Anna. She hopes she'll remember the words, but as soon as the man turns the page, she forgets the song she just sang.

  When all the songs are sung, the whole family goes to Midnight Mass at Saint Gregory's Catholic Church. This is the first year Anna has been allowed to stay up so late. She walks down the sidewalk holding Father's and Mother's hands. The street is unfamiliar in the dark. The air smells of snow and the wind is cold. All over the city, church bells are ringing. The chimes come from many directions. It's as if the bells are ringing in heaven, Anna thinks.

  The church is warm. The light is soft and golden. Pine boughs garland the altar. In the crèche, Mary and Joseph kneel beside the manger, gazing at baby Jesus. He lies on his back, wrapped in swaddling clothes, his arms spread wide. He smiles at Mary and Joseph. Like Anna, baby Jesus is an only child.

  After mass, Father carries Anna home. She is too tired to walk but not too tired to look for Santa's sleigh in the sky. Even after Father puts Anna to bed, she watches for Santa. Just before she falls asleep, she thinks she hears sleigh bells.

  On Christmas day, Anna wakes up before Mother and Father. She lies in bed for a while waiting for them to get up. Finally she tiptoes to the top of the steps. All is quiet downstairs. The hall is still dark.

  Anna is afraid to go to the parlor by herself. Suppose Santa has forgotten her? Suppose she's been naughtier than she thought? Suppose all she'll find under the tree is a bundle of sticks or a piece of coal?

  Behind her, Anna hears footsteps. She turns and sees Father coming toward her. "Merry Christmas, Anna," he says.

  "Merry Christmas, Father!" Anna runs to him and gives him a big Christmas hug and kiss.

  "Shall we go downstairs and see what Santa has brought?" Father asks.

  "What about Mother?" Anna asks. "Shouldn't we wait for her?"

  "Here I am," says Mother. "Fröhliche Weinachten, Mädchen!"

  Holding her breath, Anna slowly opens the parlor curtain. She keeps her eyes closed for a moment, scared of being disappointed. Her heart beats so fast she thinks it might fly out of her chest.

  Finally Anna dares to look. The doll she's wanted for so long sits in a brand-new wicker carriage, smiling at her. She's wearing a dress just like the one Mother has made for Anna to wear today. Under the tree, Anna finds a soft, warm beaver hat and muff for herself, and smaller ones for the doll. She also finds paper dolls and the book she hoped for, Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm. In her stocking are hair ribbons, a big juicy orange, chocolate candy wrapped in shiny foil, and a pretty little gold ring for her finger.

  But where is the Erector set? Anna crawls under the tree, thinking it must be hidden there, but she doesn't see it. She glances at Mother and Father. They smile at her.

  "Santa has been good to you, Anna." Mother says.

  "Yes, indeed he has," Father agrees.

  No one says a word about the Erector set. Anna forces herself to smile. It would be ungrateful to complain, but she's very disappointed. Charlie will be disappointed, too.

  Father gives Mother her present, a Victrola and records of her favorite opera singers. Mother gives Father six handmade shirts, stitched as neatly as the dresses she sews for Anna.

  Anna gives Father a soft wool scarf to keep his neck warm on cold walks home from the trolley stop. She gives Mother lilac perfume.

  Father likes his scarf so much he insists on wearing it to breakfast. "My neck is cold," he says.

  Mother dabs a few drops of perfume behind her ears and on her wrists. The sweet smell of lilacs mingles with the waffles Mother has cooked.

  All day long Father's relatives come and go. His brother, Anna's uncle Harry, comes with his wife, Aunt Grace. Father's sister, Anna's aunt Aggie, comes all the way from the farm with her husband, Uncle George. His aunt, Anna's great aunt Emma Moree, arrives in a horse and carriage. When the relatives come through the door, they say, "Merry Christmas." Like Father, they do not speak German.

  Uncle Harry hands Anna a big box wrapped in splendid red and green paper. "Merry Christmas," he says. "This is from all of us. We hope you enjoy it, Anna."

  The relatives gather around and watch Anna untie the shiny bow. She thinks it must be a new tea set for her dolls, but when she tears off the paper, Anna can hardly believe her eyes. Her aunts and uncles have given her the Erector set she wants so badly.

  "Thank you, thank you!" Anna puts the box down and jumps to her feet. She hugs Uncle Harry and all the others and they hug her back.

  Mother shakes her head. "What will Anna do with such a thing?" she says with a smile.

  "I'll build a ferris wheel," Anna cries. "Me and Charlie—we'll do it together!"

  "Charlie and I," says Aunt Grace. "Charlie and I will do it together."

  For a moment, Anna thinks Aunt Grace wants to help her and Charlie build the ferris wheel. She's too surprised to say anything—which is lucky, because she quickly realizes that Aunt Grace is correcting her grammar, not offering to help build the ferris wheel.

  "Charlie and I," Anna says with a smile. "Charlie and I will build the biggest and best ferris wheel in the world!"

  As the day ends, the relatives gradually leave. Snow falls softly, whitening the city streets and sidewalks. Father lights the candles on the tree. He turns out the gas lights. He winds up the new Victrola and plays "Stille Nacht" for Mother. It's his last Christmas surprise, "Silent Night," sung in German.

  Anna sits on the sofa between Mother and Father. Father sips a glass of dandelion wine. Mother eats a piece of chocolate from her favorite shop, Page & Shaw's.

  Anna hugs her doll. "This is the best Christmas ever," she says.

  "You say that every year," Mother says.

  "And every year it's true," says Anna.

  6. Anna's Birthday Surprise

  IT'S THE MIDDLE OF JANUARY. ANNA AND CHARLIE are sitting on the parlor floor, building a tower with Anna's Erector set. They cannot make a ferris wheel because they do not have enough pieces. Santa didn't bring Charlie an Erector set. He brought him mittens, socks, a scarf, and a warm hat instead. Charlie's mother says Santa knows what's best for Charlie but Charlie isn't so sure of that.

  "Santa didn't bring me an Erector set, either," Anna reminds Charlie. "My uncles and aunts gave it to me."

  "Maybe Santa ran out of Erector sets," Charlie says glumly.

  "That must be it," Anna agrees. "Santa's elves couldn't make enough for everyone this year. You'll get your set next Christmas."

  Anna and Charlie work quietly
for a while. Then Charlie says, "Your birthday is next week. Are you having a party?"

  Anna shakes her head. She has pestered Mother for days but it has done no good. Mother will not say yes to a party.

  Charlie looks as disappointed as Anna feels. "That's too bad," he says. "I heard Rosa tell Beatrice it's your turn to have a party. She says she won't invite you to her party next year if you don't invite her to a party at your house this year."

  Anna frowns at Charlie. "That's not fair," she says. "It's not my fault Mother won't let me have a party."

  "Don't get cross with me," Charlie says. "I'm just telling you what Rosa says."

  "Rosa is a boring, stuck-up snob," Anna says. "I don't care if she never invites me to another party. In fact, I won't go, not even if she gets down on her knees and begs me."

  Charlie agrees. "I won't go either. Rosa might kiss me again." He makes a face.

  Anna giggles, but she hopes Charlie doesn't feel the same way about kissing her.

  After Charlie leaves, Anna puts away her Erector set and goes to the kitchen to find Mother. "Rosa won't invite me to her birthday party if I don't invite her to my birthday party," she tells Mother.

  "That's just as well," Mother says. "We won't have to buy her any more presents."

  "But, Mother—"

  "Anna, I've told you over and over again that you cannot have a party. If you ask once more, Father and I won't celebrate your birthday at all. There will be no gifts for you. No cake. No ice cream."

  Anna knows Mother means every word. Feeling sad, she goes to the parlor and sits in Father's chair, her favorite thinking place. While Mother moves around the kitchen preparing supper, Anna stares out the window. The winter day is ending. Across the street, the housetops and chimneys are black against the sunset. They look as if they've been cut from paper and pasted onto the sky.

  Slowly an idea forms in Anna's head. Mother will be very cross, but Anna doesn't care. She must have a birthday party. She absolutely must.

  The next day Anna has a piano lesson at Madame Wehman's house. When it's over, she walks down North Avenue to the five-and-dime and buys a small box of pretty stationery. It costs her five cents, half of the dime Father gives her every Saturday for spending money.