Free Forgetting Tabitha: An Orphan Train Rider by Julie Dewey Page B

her. My tattered picture was safely tucked away in my top dresser drawer and I was tempted to pull it out and share it with Edna.
    Sensing my distress, “Why don’t you call me Edna for now okay, dear? Perhaps later we will settle on a special name for me.”
    I nodded in agreement. “We are supposed to forget, but I can’t say as I want to. I’m sorry, ma’am.” My knuckles tightened around the blanket and a small hole appeared where I was digging my fingers in anxiety.
    Instead of getting scolded, Edna pulled me in for a grandmotherly hug. “I would never expect you to forget your family, Mary. Every step you have traveled has led you to us and we couldn’t be happier,” Edna smiled as she held me to her bosom.
    I stood up from Edna’s embrace and opened my dresser, sifting through underwear until my hands found the photograph. I held the shreds out for Edna who pieced it together without any trouble.
    “Oh my,” Edna clutched her chest, “your mother is just beautiful! And you look just like her!”
    “Really, Edna, do you think so?” I asked.
    “I certainly do, it’s not just the hair, but look at the eyes, and your smile, why it’s exactly like hers. What was her name?”
    “Her name was Maura Anne Salt,” I stuttered.
    “Well, I wish to say a special thank you to her every night in my prayers. Will that be okay with you?” she asked.
    I assured Edna that it was okay and thought about her name, Maura and Mary weren’t so different. Yet the name “Mary” still felt uneasy to me; it wasn’t my real name after all. But for Edna I would try to accept it and her.
    “Do you like it here Mary, with us?”
    “O, Edna, I do, I really do.” I said earnestly. “I can’t think of a better place for me, or Eddie.”
    Sarah and Samuel were smitten with Eddie. He still clung to me and cried for me to kiss his boo boos but more often now he could be distracted with new trucks and wooden toys. The first few days he and I shared a bed at Edna’s but by day three Eddie hugged me goodbye and went home with his new family who only lived one block away. I saw him for our breakfast meals; the sisters donned their aprons and cooked up a storm, feeding us johnnycakes with real maple syrup and chocolate pieces shaved on top. Eddie was cheerful and energetic and Sarah proved to be very patient with him. His cough was better for the time being and I hoped it didn’t prove to be too much trouble in the future.
    After several weeks of living with my new family I became accustomed to our routines and rules of which there were few. I accompanied Edna on her daily errands and spent time in the local library where she volunteered. She allowed me to read from the children’s section and I wished I could bring one or two books home to share with Edmund. But the library did not yet have a system in place to circulate books. Once Edna realized how well I could read she decided I was settled enough into my new life that I could begin attending the elementary school in the city. In preparation we bought a new notebook and canvas bag to carry it in, two pencils, lunch pail and several new pairs of shoes to match my dresses and ribbons for my hair. For my first day I was to wear a cream colored dress with smocking across the bodice and red ribbon at my waist. My stockings were cream and my shoes were patent leather. A matching red headband was made to hold my hair out of my eyes. I was nervous because I had missed an entire year of learning, but I was also excited to make friends and to wear my new outfit, although I didn’t think the light color of my dress was practical for a child to wear. Mama and I always wore darker colors that didn’t show our stains.
    Edna assured me I would like Miss Kate and after making proper introductions my first day she left me in her care. There were six rows of six wooden desks and chairs, making for thirty six students in my classroom. I was assigned a seat in the second row on my first day