Free American Dreams by John Jakes Page B

Papa's reverting to his old self. He orders everyone about according to what he thinks is right, and when they don't obey like dutiful little soldiers he rejects them, freezes them out with his glaring and huffing.'
    Eastbound
    47
    'I'll admit your papa is a complicated man. Difficult to live with sometimes.'
    'Difficult?
    The word is impossible. I should have left months ago, as soon as he recovered.'
    'Is there nothing I can do to change your mind?'
    'Nothing. Carl's taking me to the depot, you won't have to bother.'
    'Bother? You are my child, my only girl.'
    'Well, don't worry, your only girl will be fine in New York City.' Fritzi said it with much more confidence than she felt. She yanked the leather bag open and folded a skirt into the bottom, lined with buff-colored leather.
    lisa dabbed her eyes with her handkerchief. 'I have gifts for you.'
    'Mine are under the tree. There's a plaid muffler for Papa, I'm sure he'll burn it or throw it in the trash.'
    'You judge him too severely' ,
    'I don't think so.'
    'You must take your presents. Wait.'
    Fritzi went on packing. Moments later lisa returned with two white boxes, a large one imprinted with the name of the Fair Store and a smaller one, about six inches square, from Field's.
    'Here, open them. Please.'
    Giving her mother a look that mingled affection and melancholy, Fritzi pulled the red ribbon off the larger box, unfolded the tissue paper.
    'Oh, Mama, how handsome.'
    'A winter coat. You need a new heavy coat whether you're here or in that terrible city.'
    Page 58

    Fritzi lifted it by the shoulders, admiring it. The coat was dark-brown cheviot, with a small black and brown plaid. The body of the coat buttoned all the way down the front with pearl buttons. The lining was bright yellow silk. A velvet collar ornamented the double-breasted cape.
    'I guessed at the length, sixty inches,' lisa said.
    Fritzi held it against herself, secretly pleased. If her father had given it to her she'd have refused it, but she could compromise herself because it was from her mother. She was sensible enough not to want to freeze all winter; her old coat had been bought for the milder South.
    'Perhaps the other gift will be useful as well.'
    Fritzi opened the Field's box, discovered two white pads nested there.
    She poked one; it was stuffed with a spongy material. lisa said, 'They call them gay deceivers. You pin them inside your--'
    48
    Dreamers
    'Yes, Mama, I get the idea.'
    'You really don't need them, of course.'
    Fritzi dropped the pads into the trunk tray and hugged her mother.
    'You're terrible with fibs. Of course I need them. Thank you.'
    Holding the embrace, she felt tears welling, forced them back. When sentimentality, or the uncertainty of her future, prompted her to start unpacking again, she only needed to imagine the face of Joe Crown as he turned away from her on the dance floor. It put iron back into her spine.
    At the depot, amid travelers setting out on holiday journeys, Fritzi said goodbye to Carl and her mother. She was wearing her new brown coat and a scarf tied over her hat to protect her ears. Under one arm she had a round tin of lisa's Pfefferkuchen, ginger-flavored Christmas cookies in the shape of stars and hearts and rings.
    A freezing wind blew through the train shed, dispersing the steam billowing from under the cars. Carl walked up the platform to deliver her trunk and leather bag to the freight car. lisa said, 'You must let me know at once that you are safe and settled. Telegraph collect.'
    i will if you insist, Mama.'
    'Yes, otherwise I won't sleep for weeks. Oh! Hat pins! Do you have enough hat pins? In case you're molested on the street?'
    Page 59

    Fritzi laughed. 'Yes, I have a supply.'
    'Then I have one more thing to give you.' From lisa's handbag came a sealed white envelope. Fritzi turned the envelope in her gloved hand.
    'What's this?'
    'One hundred dollars.'
    Fritzi shook her head. 'No, I can't. I am going to succeed in New York without taking one