Free Wind Song by Margaret Brownley Page B

that the second room be used for a museum. Like the one in Washington."
    "Good grief!" Mr. Boxer gasped. "You want to build a Smithsonian Institution in Colton?"
    "Not exactly. Our museum would be much smaller. Considerably so."
    "What would you put in the museum?" the mayor asked. It was obvious by the way he rubbed his palms together that the idea interested him.
    "Artifacts. Fossils. Animals."
    "Animals?"
    "Mounted animals that are native to the area. I've only been here one day. Even so, I've noticed a great variety of plants and wildlife."
    "I think it's a wonderful idea," the mayor said. "A museum could make Colton a tourist attraction. I can see it now. Hundreds, perhaps thousands of men, women and children lining up for a tour."
    Maddie thought the mayor was a bit optimistic about the appeal of such a museum, but she decided it was to her advantage to let the man have his dream.
    "And," the mayor continued, "if we put the museum on this side of the school, it would provide a barrier between the school and the jailhouse."
    "A perfect solution," Mr. Boxer concurred. He was clearly relieved that the placement of the school had been resolved.
    Everyone but Mr. Weedler, who looked bored with the idea, nodded in agreement.
    Maddie was far from convinced that the problem had been resolved, but seeing that the others had agreed to the museum, she decided to let the matter drop. "How long do you think it will be before I can begin teaching?"
    Mr. Boxer did some quick calculations before replying. "Shouldn't be more than a few weeks. Once the loans are approved, families should start returning to the area. As soon as we have enough workers, we can start building."
    "A few weeks?" Maddie's spirits dropped. After paying Mrs. Gray, she had no money left.
    "Wait a minute!" This was from the mayor. "What if we move the school over by the…"
    Sensing that another lengthy discussion was about to unfold, she took her leave. She was tired and hungry. The men stood and thanked her for her contributions to the discussion.
    The mayor looked especially pleased, and his checkered vest expanded outward. "Yesiree. A museum is exactly what we need."
    Maddie walked the short distance back to Mrs. Gray's house.
    A metal watering can in hand, the woman looked up when Maddie approached. "Did you find Mr. Boxer, luv?"
    "Yes, thank you. I did find him. Unfortunately, I did not accomplish what I intended to. I'm afraid Mr. Boxer is rather mule-headed."
    "Oh, dear. Reminds me of my dear departed husband, Harry. Talk about mule-headed. Why the doctor had to declare him officially dead three times before Harry would lie still."
    Maddie stared at the woman in horror. "How awful."
    Mrs. Gray shrugged. "Come on inside, luv. You can rest while I fix us both a spot of tea."
    Maddie accepted the offer gratefully. She felt tired and discouraged and very much alone.
    The parlor was so filled with furniture that some sidestepping and moving of tables and chairs were required to forge a path to the dining room.
    "I agreed to store the furniture of some of those poor, dear people who lost their homes in the fire," Mrs. Gray explained.
    "That's very generous of you." Maddie stepped over a footstool, ducked beneath a hat rack and plopped herself on one of the Queen Anne chairs next to the table.
    The tea picked up her spirits, and the teacakes were delicious. She was convinced that a hot bath and a good night's rest would restore her optimistic outlook.
    "Your room is opposite the necessary room."
    Thanking Mrs. Gray, Maddie took her leave. She climbed the stairs to the second floor and opened the door to her room.
    It surprised her to find a man lying on the bed, snoring. A quick glance around the clothes-strewn room indicated that he'd been there for some time. She quietly closed the door. Not wanting to chance walking into the wrong room again, she hurried back downstairs to find Mrs. Gray.
    The woman seemed surprised that Maddie had trouble finding her room.