Anna on the Farm Read online

  "Let the poor things go now," Aunt Aggie calls, "and come to bed."

  Anna hesitates. She wants to take the jar to her room. The fireflies would keep the night from being so dark. Shielding the jar to hide the light, she walks slowly toward the house.

  "Hey," Theodore yells, "you can't take them inside. Didn't you hear what Aunt Aggie said?"

  Anna notices Theodore hasn't freed his fireflies, either. "I'll let mine go when you let yours go," she says.

  "I bet mine fly higher than yours," Theodore says.

  Standing side by side, Anna and Theodore unscrew the tops from their jars. Out stream the fireflies, mixing with each other as they escape into the night. Neither Anna nor Theodore can tell whose fireflies fly higher.

  Aunt Aggie calls again from the porch. Anna and Theodore race each other into the house. They reach

  the door at the same time and bump into each other so hard they stumble into the hall.

  Uncle George grabs the straps of Theodore's overalls and pulls him aside. "Where are your manners, Theodore?" he asks. "A gentleman always lets a lady go first."

  Theodore scowls. "Anna ain't no lady," he mutters, "and I ain't no gentleman."

  Uncle George shakes his head and leads Theodore to the pump for a good scrubbing. Aunt Aggie takes Anna's hand and they go upstairs together.

  Anna washes her face and hands in a bowl of water on the nightstand. When she's ready for bed, Aunt Aggie says good night and tucks her under the sheet. "Sweet dreams," she whispers and blows out the kerosene lamp.

  Anna watches her aunt leave the room. She listens to her go downstairs. Outside in the dark, leaves rustle and insects chirp.

  No streetcars clang, no horses clip-clop past the house, no carts rattle, no motorcars chug-chug-chug up the hill, no footsteps pass beneath her window. Worst of all, Father and Mother are not sitting just outside on the front steps with Uncle Henry and Aunt May and Fritzi, the big white dog. Anna cannot hear Father's quiet chuckle or Uncle Henry's loud guffaw. She cannot hear Mother and Aunt May whispering secrets in German.

  Then Anna remembers what she and Father promised to do. Quietly she slips out of bed and tiptoes to the window. The moon smiles down at her from high in the sky. Anna smiles back. At this very moment, far away in Baltimore, Father and Mother are looking at the exact same moon. They are thinking of Anna. They miss her just as much as she misses them.

  Anna blows a kiss at the moon for Father and Mother. She imagines the moon carrying her kiss across the fields and woods, across the city rooftops, all the way to Anna's front steps on Warwick Avenue. It will fall down from the sky as softly as the first snowflake and land on Father's cheek.

  Anna touches her own cheek to catch the kiss Father has just sent to her. Then she goes back to bed and snuggles under the covers. Soon Anna is fast asleep.

  FIVE

  Chores

  WHEN ANNA COMES DOWNSTAIRS THE NEXT morning, Aunt Aggie has breakfast ready for her and Theodore. Pancakes with lots of syrup and bacon fried nice and crispy, just the way Anna likes it.

  "Tell Anna what she has to do," says Theodore, talking with his mouth full of mushy pancakes. Syrup dribbles down his chin. Even though it's very early, his hands are already dirty.

  Aunt Aggie gives Theodore a second helping of pancakes and offers more to Anna.

  Anna shakes her head. "No, thank you," she says, "I'm full." Although she doesn't ask, she wonders what Theodore wants her aunt to tell her.

  "Tell her," Theodore says a little louder.

  "Well," says Aunt Aggie with a smile, "I know you're a guest, Anna, but I'd like you to help Theodore do his chores. That way, you'll both be free to play when you're finished."

  Too surprised to say anything, Anna stares at her aunt. Help Theodore? Anna has never heard such a terrible idea. Besides, she doesn't want to play with him.

  "It's the fair thing to do," Theodore says. "If I have to work, you should, too."

  "But I don't know anything about farms," Anna says. "How can I do chores?"

  "City slicker," Theodore hisses.

  Aunt Aggie frowns at Theodore. "Now, now, I won't have you calling each other names."

  Turning to Anna, she says, "The first thing Theodore does every morning is feed the chickens and gather their eggs. You can do that."

  That doesn't sound too bad. Chickens are soft and feathery, nothing to be afraid of. But what if they don't like people to take their eggs?

  After breakfast, Anna follows Theodore outside. The chickens live in a little whitewashed shed inside a wire fence. Three or four brown hens peck in the dirt, clucking to themselves. They have long yellow legs and big feet with sharp toenails. They tilt their heads and stare at Anna with beady eyes. They do not look as friendly as Anna had hoped.

  Theodore opens the gate and goes inside, but Anna hesitates. She's used to pigeons but not birds the size of these.

  Theodore grins. "Scaredy cat."

  "I am not." Anna steps into the chickens' yard, and Theodore hands her a bucket of feed.

  "Scatter it on the ground," he says.

  The chickens scurry around Anna's feet pecking at the grain. She wishes she'd put on her shoes. What if the hens mistake her toes for food? Their beaks are so sharp. And their eyes are so wicked.

  "Go inside the coop and get the eggs while the chickens are eating," Theodore says. "And don't break any."

  Anna picks up the basket by the door and goes inside the hen house. She wrinkles her nose. Chickens smell worse than pigeons.

  Just as Anna reaches for an egg, she hears a loud rustling sound in a dark corner. Before she understands what's happening, a huge bird flies at her, wings flapping. Its beak is sharp and pointed. It has claws.

  Anna screams and throws the egg basket at the bird. She runs toward the door, but it slams shut in her face. Above the cackle of the bird, she hears Theodore laughing.

  "Let me out!" Anna shrieks, but Theodore leans against the door and holds it shut. The bird flies at Anna's head. She covers her face with her hands, sure the bird will peck out her eyes. She feels its wings beat against her, she feels its claws and its beak.

  "Aunt Aggie!" Anna cries. "Uncle George! Help, help!"

  Suddenly, Anna hears a shout. The door flies open and Aunt Aggie rushes into the chicken coop. She hurls a bucket of water at the bird.

  "You ornery old critter!" Aunt Aggie yells. "I swear I'd cook you for Sunday dinner if you weren't so tough!"

  The rooster flies up to a rafter and crows.

  "Don't be so sure of yourself," Aunt Aggie tells him. "There's always the stew pot!"

  Anna runs out of the chicken coop. The hens look

  up from the dirt and regard her with their wicked eyes. Theodore is nowhere in sight.

  Aunt Aggie puts her arm around Anna. "I should have warned you about the rooster, but I didn't dream Theodore would play such a mean trick on you. Just wait till I get my hands on that rascal!"

  Anna tries to stop crying. "Are you going to spank him?" she asks.

  Aunt Aggie scowls. "Why, I suppose I'll leave that up to George."

  Anna brushes away her tears. Although she has never had a paddling herself, she's sure that's just what Theodore deserves.

  "Come inside and sit a spell," Aunt Aggie says. "You look plum tuckered out."

  When Uncle George comes home for noontime dinner, Anna is sitting on the front porch with Aunt Aggie, sipping a glass of lemonade. By now she's almost forgotten her encounter with the rooster, but Aunt Aggie hasn't.

  "Theodore locked Anna in the chicken coop with the rooster," she tells Uncle George. "I think you should give him a spanking."

  Uncle George wipes the sweat off his forehead and takes a glass of lemonade from Aunt Aggie. "You want me to spank the rooster?"

  Anna giggles, but Aunt Aggie looks cross. "You know perfectly well what I mean, George Armiger. Theodore treated Anna very badly. That rooster scared the poor child half to death."

  Uncle George looks around. "Whe
re is Theodore?" he asks.

  "I haven't seen hide nor hair of him all morning," Aunt Aggie says. "Which means he never finished his chores. The garden hasn't been weeded or watered and the eggs haven't been collected."

  Uncle George sighs and sips his lemonade. When he is finished, he hands the empty glass to Aunt Aggie and walks to the porch railing.

  "Theodore!" he shouts. "You come here this minute!"

  Uncle George's voice is so loud it echoes from the side of the barn, but Theodore does not appear.

  Uncle George calls again, even louder this time. The chickens pecking in the yard look up and squawk. Uncle George's dog barks. A crow caws. The rooster crows.

  Finally, Theodore comes creeping out from behind the barn. When he reaches the porch steps, Uncle George grabs his overall straps and lifts Theodore clear off the ground.

  "What is this about the rooster?" he bellows in Theodore's face. "You frightened Anna! Is that the proper way to treat a guest?"

  Giving Theodore a little shake, Uncle George whacks him on the rear end with his big hand. Clap! Theodore winces. Anna winces, too. Maybe it would have been better to spank the rooster, after all.

  "Tell Anna you're sorry," Uncle George orders.

  Theodore hesitates. Uncle George raises his hand again. Without meeting Anna's eyes, Theodore quickly says, "I'm sorry."

  He doesn't sound sorry and he doesn't look sorry, but no one notices this except Anna.

  "Where's my dinner, Aggie?" Uncle George asks. "I'm starved. Spanking a child is mighty hard work."

  After a big meal of corn and ham, Uncle George leans across the table and stares hard at Theodore. "From now on, you'll do your chores by yourself. Anna is our guest. She doesn't have to help you."

  Anna can't help smiling at Theodore. He kicks her under the table. Anna opens her mouth to tell Uncle George, but Theodore gives her such a wicked look she takes another bite of her biscuit instead. There's no telling what Theodore might do the next time she's alone with him.

  SIX

  Getting Even

  THAT AFTERNOON, ANNA SITS DOWN IN THE SHADE of a big tree with a book she brought from home, but instead of reading, she watches Theodore work in the garden. The sun beats down on his blond hair. It beats down on the tomato plants and the marigolds. It beats down on the beans and the squash. Theodore looks hot and tired and grumpy.

  It serves him right, Anna thinks.

  Theodore turns his head and catches Anna watching him. He makes a face even uglier than his natural everyday ugly face. Anna sticks out her tongue and makes a rude noise. At the same time she bunches her legs under her, ready to jump up and run if she has to.

  But Theodore spits in the dust and turns his back on Anna. For some reason, this makes Anna even madder than the face he made. She wants to get even with him for locking her in the chicken coop with the rooster, but she can't think of what to do. That's when she notices the watering can Theodore has been using. What if she sneaks up behind him and pours water on his head?

  Anna presses her hand to her mouth to keep from giggling. She's never done anything quite so bad, but even if Uncle George spanks her for it, Anna doesn't care. She wants to play a trick on Theodore. He deserves it.

  While Theodore bends over the weeds, Anna tiptoes across the grass and picks up the watering can. Holding her breath, she creeps as close as she dares and lifts the watering can high. Out of the spout comes a shower of water that drenches Theodore's hair and overalls. He lets out a roar of anger, but Anna is already running as fast as she can toward the house.

  She dashes inside well ahead of him and slams the screen door in his face. Then she scoots behind Aunt Aggie, who is stirring a pot on the stove.

  Aunt Aggie stops stirring and stares at Theodore. "Stay where you are," she says, stopping him on the threshold. "You're all wet. Don't you dare put one muddy foot on my clean kitchen floor."

  "Anna dumped water on me!" Theodore yells. His face is red with either anger or sunburn. Anna can't tell which.

  Aunt Aggie turns to Anna, but before her aunt can ask any questions, Anna says, "Poor Theodore was so hot. I thought the water would cool him off." It's hard for Anna to speak without laughing.

  Aunt Aggie frowns. "Do you think I was born yesterday, Anna Sherwood?"

  Now Anna's face turns red. "I was just trying to be nice," she fibs, still hoping to stay out of trouble.

  "I don't believe that," Aunt Aggie says sharply.

  "It's Theodore's fault," Anna mutters, feeling sulky. "He started it when he shut me in the chicken coop with that rooster."

  Theodore scowls at Anna through the screen door. Turning her head to hide her face from Aunt Aggie, Anna crosses her eyes and sticks out her tongue. Theodore makes an even worse face.

  "Shame on you, Theodore," Aunt Aggie says. "Suppose your face freezes like that?"

  "Suppose hers does?" Theodore points at Anna.

  Aunt Aggie looks at Anna. "Did you make a face at Theodore?"

  Anna fidgets with her overall straps. Theodore is ruining her vacation. He's worse than Rosa.

  "Why does Theodore have to be here?" she wails.

  Before Aunt Aggie can stop her, Anna runs upstairs to her hot room and slams the door. She throws herself on her bed and cries.

  A few minutes later, Aunt Aggie opens the door and sits down on the bed beside Anna.

  "I want to go home," Anna sobs.

  "Now, now," Aunt Aggie says, stroking Anna's long hair. "You've only been here a day. Why don't you try to stick it out till Sunday?"

  To Anna, Sunday is years and years away. She'll be an old lady by the time it comes. Her hair will be white, and she'll walk with a cane like Rosa's grandmother. "I want to leave now," she insists.

  "But the church supper and dance is Saturday night," Aunt Aggie says. "Surely you don't want to miss that!"

  Anna takes a deep breath and sees visions of crispy fried chicken, corn on the cob dripping with butter, all the iced tea she can drink, baked beans, cole slaw, sweet green pickles, soft rolls, homemade ice cream, chocolate cake, blueberry pie. Anna's mouth waters so much her jaws ache.

  "Are you going to make your special potato salad?" she asks her aunt.

  "I most certainly am!" Aunt Aggie gives Anna a hug. "I might even bake a fresh peach cobbler."

  Anna hesitates. Potato salad and peach cobbler are two of her very favorite foods. "Will Theodore still be here?" she asks slowly, hoping, hoping, hoping her aunt will say no.

  Aunt Aggie nods. "Yes, he will."

  Anna makes a face without meaning to. "I thought his mother and father might be coming to get him soon."

  "Anna," Aunt Aggie says quietly, "there's something you should know about Theodore."

  "I already know all I want to know about him," Anna says. Taking a deep breath, she adds, "He's mean, and I hate him."

  When Aunt Aggie sighs, Anna feels bad. "Theodore hates me, too," she says quickly. "That's why he shut me in the chicken coop and stole my ribbon and made me rip my dress and called me a city slicker."

  "Theodore has had a difficult time lately," Aunt Aggie says slowly. "Things have been hard for him."

  Aunt Aggie pauses. The room is so quiet Anna can hear a bee buzzing against the window screen.

  "Theodore's an orphan," Aunt Aggie says at last. "That's why he's staying with us. Uncle George is his guardian."

  Shocked, Anna draws in her breath so hard she almost chokes. "Theodore's mother and father are dead?"

  Aunt Aggie nods. A breeze stirs the hot air, bringing the smell of roses through the open window.

  Anna slides closer to her aunt. She doesn't want to think about losing her father or her mother, but if something did happen to them, she'd be mad, too. Mad enough to lock someone in a chicken coop. Mad enough to make faces. Mad enough to be rude.

  "What happened to them?" Anna whispers.

  "His father caught pneumonia and died two years back," Aunt Aggie says. "And his mother—well, she never was a strong woman.
She died of a fever in the spring."

  Aunt Aggie takes Annas face between her two small hands and peers deeply into her eyes. "Promise to be patient with Theodore," she says. "The child is hurting something awful."

  Anna promises. But it won't be easy. Even though she feels sorry for Theodore, she doesn't like him. Anna supposes she must be a very hardhearted girl. The heroines in her books would forgive Theodore at once and be endlessly kind to him. Elsie Dinsmore, for instance. Or Pollyanna. Too bad Anna isn't more like them.

  After a while, Aunt Aggie pats Anna's hand. "Would you like to cool off in the farm pond?"

  "How can I go in the water? I didn't bring my bathing costume," Anna says sadly.

  "Oh, for goodness sake," Aunt Aggie says. "We're not going to a public beach. You can wear your drawers."

  "Go outside in my underwear?" Anna stares at her aunt, truly shocked. "What will people think?"

  Aunt Aggie laughs. "You silly goose. Who will see you?"

  "Theodore," Anna mutters.

  "He'll have his drawers on, too," Aunt Aggie says.

  Suddenly, Anna feels very daring. Hasn't she been wearing overalls for two days and going barefoot and doing all sorts of unladylike things? Why not go swimming in her drawers? On a hot day like this, it would be fun to play in the farm pond.

  "Promise you won't tell Mother," Anna begs.

  Aunt Aggie promises. Lifting a long strand of Anna's hair, she says, "Suppose we braid this to keep it out of your face?"

  Anna bites her lip. "Mother never braids my hair. She says my face is too long and narrow and my ears stick out. I'd look ugly."

  "Fiddle faddle." Aunt Aggie takes Anna down the hall to her room and divides Anna's hair into two neat braids. When she's finished, she ties the ends with yarn from her sewing basket and leads Anna to a mirror. "There," she says. "You see? You aren't a bit ugly."

  Anna studies her reflection. No matter what Aunt Aggie says, Mother is right. Her ears stick out and her face is long and narrow. To be pretty, Anna should be pink-cheeked and plump, not pale and thin. Her hair should be blond and curly, not brown and straight. She should look like Rosa. Mother is always praising Rosa's blond curls and plump little hands, her bright blue eyes and her dimples. Just thinking about Rosa makes Anna grit her teeth.