Free Cathedral Windows by Clare O'Donohue

PLUME
    Published by Penguin Group
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    First published by Plume, a member of Penguin Group (USA) Inc. 2012
    Copyright © Clare O’Donohue, 2012
    All rights reserved
    REGISTERED TRADEMARK—MARCA REGISTRADA
    ISBN 978-1-101-61584-3
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Chapter 1
    It was the kind of scream that would have woken the dead if any were within earshot. Fortunately, the only people who could hear it were the third grade class at Archers Rest Elementary, and me.
    I walked over to the table Jacob Schultz was sharing with Emily Long. They were engaged in a battle to the death over a small blue piece of fabric.
    â€œI need it,” Emily yelled to me as she wrestled for control.
    â€œI saw it first,” Jacob yelled back.
    So much for the season of peace on earth and goodwill toward men.
    â€œIsn’t there more of this?” I asked.
    â€œIt’s the last of it.” Emily was on the verge of tears. “And it’s the perfect blue for what I want to do.”
    â€œWell, I saw it first.”
    â€œI know that, Jacob,” I said.
    â€œAnd Miss Nell, you said that we could pick our own fabrics for our square, and blue’s my favorite color so I picked that one. First.”
    I smiled, trying to seem patient and wise, neither of which were my strong points. But it had been my idea to bring quilting to the kids in town, by teaching a one-day class in each of the classes at the local grade school. Christmas was less than a week away, and judging by the construction paper garland, and the drawings of Christmas trees and dreidels, these were creative kids already in the holiday spirit. It should have been easy. My idea was that each student would hand-sew a simple nine-patch square that could be joined together to make a quilt, and each class’s quilt would be auctioned off in a week at the library Christmas Eve party, an annual event that raised money for various town needs.
    Someday Quilts was one of the sponsors, and my grandmother was chairwoman of the committee, so it was especially important we contribute as