zortrana (zortrana) wrote in qaf_bunnies, @ 2008-06-03 19:49:00 |
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Current mood: | dorky |
Little Twink on the Prairie-Chapter Two
With the spring hay in and the crops and garden planted, it was time for Justin and Molly to go back to school. Molly was looking forward to it, and Ma was glad they were getting schooling again, but Justin felt curiously nervous about going back into town. In a way he couldn’t wait to see Mr. Bruckner or the taller Kinney boy again, but in another way, Justin’s body had become more and more unruly when thoughts like that crossed his mind. Half-pint hoped fervently that Pa and Ma hadn’t noticed how long it was taking him to put the cow in the barn at night. Justin resolved to keep his mind on his studies and his hands off his …
“We’re here!” Molly announced, snapping Justin out of his thoughts.
Timidly they went into the schoolhouse freshly built next to the vacant lot on the edge of town. A tall, lovely blonde in a very fashionable dress was seated at the teacher’s table. That was Miss. Peterson, the school marm. Pa had told them that she was from back East and had many fine clothes and ways. “But I guess she couldn’t get a husband back home and so her folks sent her out here where the menfolk might not be so picky.” Pa had concluded.
“Craig!” Ma had said, shocked. “I’m sure that’s not what brought her out here.”
Miss Peterson smiled at the
“Oh yes, ma’am,” Justin assured her. He did indeed know every word of it.
“Well, we’ll start you in the Fifth Reader, then. You may take a seat.” Miss Peterson smiled again.
Justin looked around and realized he would be one of the oldest kids in school which meant he got to sit in the very back row! On the right side, the last row was occupied by a pretty girl with curly hair escaping from her braids. So Justin took the last bench on the left and put his slate board on the table in front of him.
Molly took a seat two rows up with another young girl and they were already whispering together. Justin smiled; Molly always could make a friend anywheres.
“School will come to order.” Miss Peterson announced and the students sat up alertly. Just then the door opened and everyone looked to see who had arrived late on the first day of school! A fancy-dressed boy and girl walked in, noses held in the air. Half-pint sat stock-still in horror. It was Nellie and Willie Oleson! The horrible children that had been so mean to Justin, Molly, and even their old dog, Jack, back on the banks of Plum Creek! Whatever were they doing here?
Miss Peterson took their names and told them to take a seat. They didn’t even get in trouble for being late! Justin fumed. Willie flopped into the bench in the row right behind Molly, and Nellie kept walking until she stood next to Justin. “This seat will do nicely.” she announced.
Shocked, Justin looked to Miss Peterson. She smiled again and said, “Justin, will you move over for our newest student.” Half-pint couldn’t believe it. He was there first and Nellie was going to get his seat! The best one in the school! He was furious and then he caught the eye of the curly-haired girl on the other side of the aisle. She slid over and patted the seat beside her.
“I’d rather move over there.” Justin told Miss Peterson and went over and sat down next to the curly-haired girl. Nellie tossed her golden corkscrews and sat down, smirking at getting the best seat all to herself.
The rest of the morning was uneventful; Ma’s schooling had kept Molly and Half-pint more than able to keep up with the town children. At lunch, Justin got to know his seat partner, Daphne Ida Chanders. He thought she was delightful and they soon became fast friends.
The next few days of school passed by quickly. The
Justin was saddened by one thing though. In all the days of coming into DeSmet for school, he had not seen the Kinney boys. Finally, over one of Ma’s fine suppers, he got up his courage and mentioned to Pa that he hadn’t seen the Kinney boys’ horses in town.
Pa chuckled, “You and your horses!” he said. “One of these days, you will be going on about the girls instead of the horses!”
“Craig!” Ma said, shocked.
Pa cleared his throat and went on, “Anyway, that taller Kinney boy is homesteading in addition to having the grain store in town, so I reckon he’s got those dream horses of yours out working the land.”
With that knowledge Justin stopped watching out for Manly Kinney and his horses so much and concentrated again on his schooling. He made sure to walk on the other side of the street whenever Mr. Bruckner was working out in front of his shop, sweat glistening on his bulging muscles. It seemed like life on the prairie was going to be good for the
Willie Oleson would not leave poor Molly alone in school. He pulled her braids and even dipped them in the ink well. He made funny noises whenever it was Molly’s turn to recite. Miss Peterson just turned a blind eye to the whole thing. Justin told Willie to leave Molly alone and the spoiled brat just ignored him. The whole thing finally came to a head one day when just as Molly was preparing to sit down after working her math problems on the board, Willie yanked the bench back and Molly landed on her bottom. The class laughed and Molly was struggling to hold back tears. Miss Peterson just looked at Willie and said, “Now, now, birds in their little nests agree.”
The last thing Half-pint remembered before his fist hit Willie’s jaw was that Miss Peterson sure didn’t know much about birds.
Needless to say, Miss Peterson expelled Justin for the day and he headed out into the early afternoon, Molly forlornly watching him go. The blond just started walking, realizing that there is no comfort anywhere for someone who dreads to go home. He didn’t even notice the wagon approaching until the horses were next to him. He looked up stunned, his heart racing.
“Where you headed?” Manly Kinney inquired.
“No place special,” Justin managed to reply.
Manly Kinney smiled a slow, lazy smile that made Justin’s pants suddenly incredibly tight. “I can change that,” he said.