Free Snow Apples by Mary Razzell Page A

children. You understand?”
    I couldn’t believe he had said the words. Didn’t believe he could even think them. But I stared at the wall and said, “Yes.” The kitchen clock ticked away like a bomb. “I’m sorry.”
    *  *  *
    I was glad to be back at school. I had gained new status being Nels’ girlfriend. The other girls went out of their way to talk to me, and the halls were filled with our chatter. Bookkeeping was being offered for the first time, and there was a rumor that our school might get three typewriters for a typing course after Christmas. I signed up again for the basketball team.
    Dr. Howard and his wife Mollie came to the school to test our eyesight and check our teeth.
    â€œWell, Sheila,” Doc said, poking at my tonsils with the flat surface of a tongue depressor, “are those brothers of yours still riding horses?” I mumbled around the tongue depressor. “You’re going to have to see a dentist soon. There are a few cavities starting.” Doc swiveled around in his chair and noted it on my health card. “Ever think of taking a part-time job?” he asked, continuing to write.
    â€œWell, I—”
    â€œMollie here and I would like to have a young girl come in Saturdays. Answer the telephone, give us a hand with dressings, that sort of thing. Would you like that?
    The chair creaked. He turned back and waited for me to answer.
    Would I like that? He took one look at my face and said, “Then it’s settled. When would you like to start?”
    *  *  *
    There was no dentist on the peninsula, which meant going into Vancouver and staying overnight. My mother did not approve.
    â€œWhy do you have to get your teeth fixed, anyway?” she asked. “I lost all mine when I was thirteen because I had to drink an iron tonic. They said it was because I was so sickly. But it took all the enamel off my teeth, and they had to pull them all out. Why should it be any different for you?”
    â€œBut, Mom! That was Ireland, a long time ago. That doesn’t happen anymore.”
    â€œI don’t know where you get your ideas from,” mymother said, her voice angry. “You seem to think you deserve more than I did. I have no money to fix your teeth. You’re too vain as it is, curling your hair, always looking in the mirror. Just like your father. Bad enough to have one of you in the household!”
    But I had my own money to pay the dentist, and I was determined to go.
    Nels didn’t like the idea of me going to Vancouver and staying overnight at a hotel.
    â€œListen, Nels. I’ve got to go to the dentist. And there’s no other way to do it.” We had been to the Harvest Dance and had parked on the wharf at Gibson’s to look at the harvest moon. I moved closer to him and touched his hand. “I’ll be back on the Friday night boat. We can still go to the dance on Saturday night.”
    â€œI don’t like it!” He sat well over on his side of the seat and put his arms up so that his elbows were resting on the steering wheel.
    I moved back to my own side.
    â€œWhat don’t you like about it? I don’t understand.”
    â€œSixteen-year-old girls don’t stay at hotels alone. Any guy finds out, you’re in trouble.”
    He stared ahead at the wharf, ignoring the orange moon that had climbed high over the mountains on the mainland.
    â€œNels, you don’t need to worry about me. After all, my father is going to get me the hotel room. Are you going to meet me when I come back? On the Friday night boat?”
    â€œI don’t know. Maybe I’ll go to the show myself. Or take another girl.”
    â€œOh, Nels!” I could see by the set of his jaw that he wasn’t joking.
    He turned the ignition key.
    â€œI don’t want to be made a sucker of, Sheila. Just don’t forget that.”
    *  *  *
    My mother still hadn’t