Margaret and I had barely arrived back in Cutter Gap with enough time to start school. As it was, we only had the first few weeks planned. We would work hard this weekend, I was sure. However, we were still waiting for the children. We sat on the front steps together, talking. I marveled at the hand of God in her life. She was excited, like it was her own first day of school. I suppose, in a way, it was.
The children came nearly all at once. I was overcome by their greetings, flowers, projects, questions, and gifts.
"We shore missed ye, Miz Christy!"
"Teacher, ya think I gotta leave Scalawag at home 'gain this year?"
"Miz Christy, ye look right prettified this mornin'."
Rob Allen and John Spencer had poems and songs, respectively, that they wanted to share with me. I told them they would have to stay after school but I would love to hear their works. I informed Creed Allen that under no circumstances would Scalawag be allowed in my school until Recitation Day, which he mischievously grinned at.
"Why, Miz Christy, he's already here," Creed Allen.
So, for yet another year, Scalawag would be there for opening day and recitation day.
As Margaret and I headed to the front of the school, I said quietly, "Try to not show Creed Allen you're amused by what he does or you won't live in peace."
Margaret smiled, her dark eyes sparkling. I felt very sure of myself this year. Not only was it my second year but I had Margaret to back me up. I had more students but another teacher and the one person made all the difference in the world. I knew that from when David had helped me.
I introduced her as "Miss Margaret" and told them she was going to be teaching this year with me. Margaret was not on salary and I knew that was a gracious move on her part. She knew the mission was stretched for money and did not want to ask for money, I suppose. So she was relying on the mission house to take her in, working off her board fee by helping me with the children. Then, also, she was depending on Miss Alice. The mission and her mother were two things Margaret had resented all her adult life. That she was now leaning on both of them was only the hand of God at work. She let go of her resentment.
The morning went extremely well. They were a little rambunctious but that was all right. It was the first day. Margaret and I were only passing out books and introducing the objectives of this year, anyway. She was a huge help to me. While I had thought Margaret would never be anything significant to me, I now was beginning to wonder how I had stayed sane without her. There were so many children! And I had never really noticed it was excessive. Not after my first month.
During recess, Margaret and I sat on the steps together. It was wonderful having an adult there with me. I loved the children but Margaret was a companion and a friend. We shared lunch, talking over it and both of us declining invitations to play. Until the last invitation. We had just finished eating and Margaret and I both went to play with the children.
Watching her out of the corner of my eye, I saw she was getting the joy of the children.
The children lingered in school that first day, reluctant to leave. I only wished I had enjoyed school that much! They all were immediately drawn to Margaret. I had wondered how they would react to another teacher. I was glad they liked her. And she liked them, too. She saw them as children. She did not turn up her nose to them as she had before when she lived here. Through God's grace, she saw the beauty of the children beneath their dirty faces, in their hearts.
I discovered that Margaret was both poetic and musical so she was extremely helpful to Rob Allen and John Spencer. She worked with them at the same time, suggesting that they maybe work together to come up with a song. Margaret was enthusiastic about the idea, acting much like an excited child herself. I smiled to myself, my heart brimming with joy.
It was a perfect first day. Nothing had gone wrong. The unpredictable had been easily handled, and with humor. There was discord but it was not out of control. With two women and over seventy students in a room on a September day there were bound to be energetic children.
I was working with Margaret when Miss Alice came. Margaret and I were laughing over a story I told her about Creed Allen when we caught sight of the Quaker missionary in the doorway. I smiled and greeted her. "Miss Alice, good afternoon."
I saw peace and absolute rapture in her calm eyes. It seemed that life was flowing into everyone lately. My friendship with Margaret made me forget my own troubles temporarily and the children also put life and laughter into my heart. Seeing Miss Alice feel the same thing over her daughter's change was heartwarming. "The children did not seem ready to go home today," Miss Alice said after smiling at us both. "Thee must have all had a wonderful day."
"It was," I replied. "It couldn't have gone better."
Miss Alice smiled gently, but I could see she was happy about the successful beginning of a school that had been such a risk. We were in our second year, too. "Miss Huddleston, will thou, perhaps, excuse Margaret?"
I rose immediately, knowing exactly where I belonged. It was not here. "No, stay," I said. "I promised Ruby Mae a walk, anyway."
Leaving the schoolhouse, I glanced back. Alice was going forward to her daughter. I silently prayed as I walked that their relationship would be mended. Margaret and I had become friends and I had thought that was impossible. But I could tell we were going to be close friends. I prayed and wished the same for Miss Alice and her daughter.
I felt hope. It was a beautiful day and the beginning of a new school year. Although it was September, it felt like spring, like everything was starting anew.
I remembered another change, one I did not like. My relationship with Neil MacNeill had changed for the worse. That change was not welcome. I felt such pain thinking about him and Margaret, though. It was a pain that overcame my love. Perhaps I was blocking my love for him, afraid to get close.
My romances had never turned out well. David and I had the best outcome. We were working towards being close friends and were already fairly good friends. He had matured after our romance ended. I believe he realized, when he withdrew his proposal, that life was not all about marriage and showing sympathy for people in poverty. It was a cheerful ending with David Grantland.
I felt that a romance with Neil MacNeill would not bring so positive an outcome. His previous marriage, in its entirety, hurt me. The intimacy that was still foreign to me had been experience between my newfound friend and the man I had come to think of as one of my closest friends. Physical aspects of their marriage aside, the whole situation was foul. I did not think I could get over it. I did not think I had that kind of grace in me.