Nancy and Plum

  Old Tom said, “Mrs. Monday doesn’t know the girls are here but she has called their Uncle John and I want to know if I should bring him up here.”

  Mr. Campbell said, “Of course, I want to talk to him.”

  Plum threw her arms around Mr. Campbell’s legs, buried her face in his overalls and cried, “No, please, don’t. He’ll send us back to Mrs. Monday’s. Please don’t send us back to Mrs. Monday’s.”

  Mr. Campbell patted her head and said, “Don’t you worry, honey, I’ll take care of you.”

  Old Tom rubbed his forehead and said, “Nancy and Plum, I’m only trying to help you. This will be your chance to talk to your uncle and tell him about Mrs. Monday.”

  Mrs. Campbell said, “If he has the gumption of a rabbit he’ll see how skinny and undersized they are.”

  Plum said, “And how worn out our shoes are.”

  Old Tom said, “How was that haystack anyway, girls?”

  Nancy wiped her eyes on Mrs. Campbell’s apron and said, “Oh, it was wonderful, Tom. Like sleeping on a cloud.”

  Plum said, “A cloud made of splinters.”

  Mrs. Campbell said, “What time do you think their uncle will get here?”

  Old Tom said, “Well, she just got hold of him and Central City’s a long way off.”

  Plum said, “Come on, Uncle Angus, let’s hurry and pick that chicken. If I have to go back to Mrs. Monday’s I’m going to eat that chicken pie first.”

  Nancy said, “Uncle Angus?”

  Plum said, “Yes, he asked me to call him that, didn’t you, Uncle Angus?”

  Mr. Campbell said, “Certainly did. Wish you’d call me Uncle Angus, too, Nancy.”

  Mrs. Campbell said, “And I’m Aunt Mary Ann from now on.”

  Plum said, “I think I’ll call Uncle John Mr. Remson.”

  Mrs. Campbell said, “Now listen. This is what I think we’d better do. We’ll all go about our business and enjoy ourselves as much as possible. Then when Uncle John and Mrs. Monday get here we’ll talk things over in a nice sensible way, without getting angry. I’m sure everything will turn out for the best.”

  Plum said, “What if Mrs. Monday lies? She always does, you know.”

  Mr. Campbell said, “We’ll handle that when the time comes. Now come on and let’s see how fast you can get the feathers off that chicken.”

  The chicken pie was perfection. Little bubbles of gravy came up through the pricks on the golden flaky crust. The inside was all big pieces of tender chicken, sweet new peas, tiny whole carrots, little white onions and rich fragrant gravy.

  Plum took her first bite and said, “Now I’m madder than I ever was at Mrs. Monday and Marybelle.”

  Mr. Campbell took his first bite and said, “I hate to say this, Nancy, but you’re a better cook than Mary Ann.”

  Mrs. Campbell said, “Good cooks are born that way, I always say, and Nancy is certainly one of the best.”

  Nancy was so happy and proud she glistened.

  It was unfortunate that just at this moment Uncle John, Marybelle and Mrs. Monday should have arrived.

  With a moan Plum looked out the window, saw Uncle John’s big car and began stuffing the chicken pie in her mouth. It was scalding hot and after each bite she had to gulp a swallow of ice-cold milk.

  Nancy said, “Plum, you’re being disgusting.”

  Plum said, “I dod care. Nobody’s goig to keep me frob eatig this chicked pie.”

  Mr. Campbell said, “That’s right, Plum, now is no time to stand on ceremony. Choke it down before they get here.”

  Mrs. Campbell said, “I’ll heat up what’s left and you can have it for supper, Plum.”

  Nancy pushed her plate away and said, “I feel kind of sick.”

  Mrs. Campbell kissed her cheek and said, “I know just how you feel, honey, but don’t you worry. Everything’s going to be all right.”

  Uncle John was very cool to Nancy and Plum and Mrs. Monday didn’t speak to them at all. Marybelle hissed at Plum, “Boy, you’re going to get it,” and Plum said, “So are you,” and stamped on her toe.

  Marybelle gave a shriek and said, “Aunty Marybelle, Plum stepped on my toe.”

  Plum said, “I’m terribly sorry, Mrs. Monday, I must not have been looking where I was going.”

  Mr. Campbell winked at Plum as they all filed into the parlor.

  When they were seated, Uncle John said, “Nancy and Pamela, I was very distressed to hear of your running away. Most inconsiderate of you. You have caused Mrs. Monday worry and you have certainly upset me. I trust such a thing will never happen again.”

  Plum said, “It certainly won’t because we will never go back to Mrs. Monday’s.”

  Uncle John said, “You will go back to Mrs. Monday’s.”

  Nancy said, “But, Uncle John, you can’t send us back there! You don’t know how awful she treats us.”

  Uncle John said, “All children must have discipline. You know that, Nancy. Discipline is part of training and I am paying Mrs. Monday to train you.”

  Plum said, “Is taking away our supper and making us wear shoes with holes in them training?” She held up her foot for Uncle John to see.

  He looked at the hole and turned to Mrs. Monday.

  She laughed and said, “I told you, Mr. Remson, that Nancy and Plum chose special little costumes for this act they are putting on. You saw their lovely clothes, and their many pairs of new shoes.”

  Plum said, “That’s not true, Mrs. Monday. We don’t have any lovely clothes or new shoes and you know it.”

  Uncle John said, “Pamela, I will not tolerate such impudence. With my own eyes I saw yours and Nancy’s entire, very complete wardrobes. Now I am tired of this nonsense. Get in the car and we will go!”

  Mr. Campbell said, “Mr. Remson, are you sure of your facts?”

  Uncle John said, “I certainly am.”

  Mr. Campbell said, “Has it occurred to you that well-cared-for children are not as thin and undersized as Nancy and Plum?”

  Mrs. Monday said, “Nancy and Pamela are extremely spoiled children, Mr. Campbell. They like to eat nothing but sweets, which accounts for their slight bodies.”

  Uncle John said, “Their mother was also small and very slender. Size is hereditary.”

  Nancy said, “Uncle John, did you look at the other boarders at Mrs. Monday’s? They are all little and skinny, too.”

  Uncle John waved his hand in the direction of fat Marybelle and said, “That is an obvious untruth, Nancy. Now I have had quite enough of this arguing. Mr. and Mrs. Campbell, I will send you a check for your trouble.”

  Mrs. Campbell, her cheeks flaming and her eyes flashing, said, “We don’t want anything from you, Mr. Remson. Nancy and Plum were no trouble.”

  Mr. Campbell said, “You must be very anxious to be rid of your nieces, Mr. Remson.”

  Uncle John said, “I know very little about children but I have spared no expense in caring for Nancy and Pamela. It is my opinion that Mrs. Monday is doing everything in her power to give them a good, normal home.”

  Plum, who was crying, said, “If good, normal homes were like Mrs. Monday’s every child in the world would run away.”

  Mr. Remson said, “Pamela, you are not only ungrateful but very rude. Apologize to Mrs. Monday.”

  Plum said, “I won’t apologize to Mrs. Monday and the next time I run away I’m going to Africa.”

  Mrs. Monday turned to Uncle John and said, “You see, Mr. Remson, I have a real problem in these children.”

  Nancy, who was also crying, her head buried in Mrs. Campbell’s lap, looked up and said, “Mrs. Monday, you don’t tell the truth and your heart is going to turn pure black.”

  Plum said, “What heart?”

  Uncle John said, “I’ve had enough of this and I must get back to the city. Nancy and Pamela, go out to the car. You will sit in front with the driver.”

  Nancy and Plum threw their arms around Mrs. Campbell and said, “Good-bye, Aunt Mary Ann.”

 
Mrs. Campbell patted them and whispered, “Don’t you worry. We’ll work this out some way. Go along with them quietly now and remember we’ll help you.”

  Nancy said, “You keep our treasures, Aunt Mary Ann.”

  Plum said, “And save my chicken pie for me.”

  Then they hugged Mr. Campbell and he patted them and whispered, “Don’t worry, we’re smarter than Mrs. Monday. We’ll figure something out.”

  Plum wailed, “But I never got to milk the cow.”

  Mr. Campbell said, “You will, Plum. Soon, too.”

  After they were settled in the car and were driving along toward the Boarding Home, Nancy said to Plum, “Remember yesterday morning how beautiful we thought this road was?”

  Plum said, “It looks ugly and dreary now.”

  And it did, too. Dark clouds had gathered and hung low, their black shadows lying on the valley like shrouds. The wild roses had hidden their heads, the buttercups had closed up tight and even the black-eyed Susans turned their faces away as the long black car went past. By the time they reached the Boarding Home, a wind had come up, big splatty drops of rain were falling and the day had turned to dusk.

  As they got out of the car, Uncle John said, “I understand you won the spelling match at school, Pamela.”

  Plum did not answer.

  Mrs. Monday said, “Sulking. Another one of their bad habits.”

  Uncle John said, “Did the new dress I sent you fit all right, Nancy?”

  Nancy said, “We have never gotten anything from you, Uncle John. Not even a letter.”

  Mrs. Monday said, “Nancy, it is wicked to tell falsehoods to your uncle. Now, my dear, dear Mr. Remson, I know how eager you are to get back to the city, so we won’t take up any more of your time.”

  Uncle John said, “Good-bye, Nancy and Pamela.”

  Nancy and Plum turned and looked at him. Their eyes were as cold as frost and they said not one word as they turned and went up the steps of the Boarding Home.

  Mrs. Monday shook hands with Uncle John and then hurried through the rain and into the house. Uncle John’s car drove off, its red taillights in the gloom like two evil eyes.

  Nancy and Plum were waiting for Mrs. Monday in the hall. She said, “Come along with me. I have moved you. I’ll show you to your new room.”

  She took them to the third floor and down the hall to the trunk room.

  “I had Tom move all the trunks and boxes to the attic,” she said. “From now on this will be your room and you will be locked in.” There was a large new lock on the door. Mrs. Monday unlocked it with a little key she wore fastened to a slender silver necklace.

  The trunk room was very dark and their little iron bed against the brown wall looked like a prison cot.

  Mrs. Monday said, “Because of the sloping ceiling, your bureau wouldn’t fit in here, so you will use that box.” She pointed to a plain wooden box in which Nancy and Plum’s meager collection of clothing had been dumped carelessly.

  She said, “I think it would be a good idea for you to stay up here and think about what naughty and inconsiderate little girls you have been.”

  Nancy and Plum just looked at her. She went out, closing and locking the door after her.

  Nancy walked over and stood by the window. A jagged flash of lightning pierced a black cloud like a flaming dart. Big fat clouds bumped into each other and grumbled menacingly. The rain on the roof sounded like hundreds of woodpeckers. Raindrops hit against the window and rolled down the glass like tears. Nancy watched them and as she watched matching tears rolled out of her eyes and down her cheeks.

  There was another grumble from the clouds, this time much louder. Lightning lit up the little room.

  Plum said, “You don’t scare me, you old lightning bolts. Nothing scares me any more.” Then she threw herself down on the bed face down, and Nancy could hear her sobbing even above the whining wind, the thrumming rain and the growling thunder.

  12

  Chicken Pie and New Shoes

  BACK AT THE FARM, Mr. Campbell hurried around feeding the animals and getting them under shelter. He was so angry that he slammed doors, shot the bolts and banged water buckets and feed pails until it sounded like the Fourth of July.

  Nellie and Herbert, the horses, put their ears forward and looked at him in amazement. Wild Rose and Susie, the cows, got scared, switched their tails and tried to jerk their heads out of their stanchions. The chickens went, “Waaaak, waaaak, waaaak!” and flew straight up in the air. The geese said, “Hissssssssssssssss,” and ran with their heads forward and their wings up like fat ladies holding up their skirts and running to get out of the rain. Only the pigs didn’t care. “Slurp, slurp, gulp,” they said, up to their eyes in their food and not caring whether Mr. Campbell shot their dinner at them out of a cannon or hit them on the head with it, just so there was plenty.

  In the house, Mrs. Campbell slammed the ice-box door, banged the lids on the stove, thumped the churn, whacked the butter into pats with the paddle and said to herself, “That woman. That awful woman!”

  That night after supper as she took out the quilt she was piecing, she said, “Angus, we have to do something. Right now!” She bit off a piece of thread angrily.

  Mr. Campbell lit his pipe, blew a big thick smoke ring and said, “I was so furious after they left I could barely control myself, then after I’d worked out my anger on the feed buckets and a few doors I got to thinking. What we have to do, Mary Ann, is to prove that Mrs. Monday is not telling the truth. That she doesn’t give her little boarders good or kind care. That she has deliberately deceived Uncle John. But how?”

  Mrs. Campbell said, “Well, how?”

  Mr. Campbell said, “I haven’t figured it out yet.”

  Mrs. Campbell said, “Well, I have. Tomorrow morning, right after breakfast, I’m going into town to see Miss Appleby. She knows Nancy and Plum and she knows how Mrs. Monday used to keep them home from the library for punishment. Then I’m going to see Miss Waverly and I’m going to ask them both to go to Central City and see Uncle John.”

  Mr. Campbell said, “If and when we are able to convince Uncle John that Mrs. Monday is not fit to take care of Nancy and Plum, what then?”

  “Why,” said Mrs. Campbell, “they are coming here to live, of course.”

  Mr. Campbell smiled and said, “I hoped you’d say that. I used to dream of having a little girl and in my dreams she was always just like Plum.”

  Mrs. Campbell said, “And I’ve always dreamed of having a little girl and in my dreams she was just like Nancy.”

  Mr. Campbell said, “Of course, I love Nancy too, but Plum is so good with animals and she has so much spirit.”

  Mrs. Campbell said, “Of course, I love Plum too, but Nancy is so little girly, so gentle and dreamy.”

  Mr. Campbell said, “We couldn’t be better satisfied if we’d had them ourselves.”

  Mrs. Campbell said, “They’re heaven sent, that’s what.” She stopped her sewing and stroked the cat and her eyes were brimming with tears.

  The next morning early, Mr. and Mrs. Campbell got in their old blue sedan and headed for town. The storm had settled the dust and the whole countryside was clean and fresh and sweet smelling from the rain.

  When they got to town, they drove straight to the library. Miss Appleby was very glad to see them and started to tell Mrs. Campbell about two very good new novels that had come in but Mrs. Campbell cut her short. She said, “Miss Appleby, we’ve got to have your help and we’ve got to have it today. Can you get someone to take your place?”

  “Certainly,” said Miss Appleby. “Miss Warren will substitute for me any time. But what in the world is the matter?”

  Mr. and Mrs. Campbell told her about Nancy and Plum running away, about their coming to their house, about Uncle John and Mrs. Monday. Before they had half finished, Miss Appleby said, “Don’t tell me any more. I’m already so mad I’m about to burst.”

  Mrs. Campbell said, “Well, what I want you to do is t
o get hold of Miss Waverly and the two of you go into Central City and see Mr. Remson and tell him the truth. Make him listen. Make him realize that Mrs. Monday is deceiving him. Tell him about Nancy and Plum’s school clothes. Tell him about the program and the holes in Plum’s shoes and Nancy having to wear a tree costume. Tell him how hard they have to work. Tell him that they spent last Christmas in a barn all alone. Tell him that they have never had enough to eat since they went there. Tell him how Plum mailed Nancy’s letter. Tell him that it might be a good idea if he asked Nancy and Plum to describe the wardrobes of clothes they are supposed to have and to list the gifts he has sent them and that Mrs. Monday swears they have received.”

  Miss Appleby said, “Oh, Mary Ann, what if Miss Waverly isn’t here? She was supposed to visit her brother in Florida and I’m afraid she has already left.”

  Mrs. Campbell said, “Call her on the telephone, right now, and see.”

  Miss Appleby did and Mrs. Wentil said that Miss Waverly had just that minute gone but she would try to catch her. She said that she would call back.

  While they waited for the call, Miss Appleby sent Mr. Campbell over to get Miss Warren, then she and Mrs. Campbell went on with their plans.

  Miss Appleby said, “Imagine those two poor little things having to sit there while that unscrupulous woman told their uncle they were sulky and ate nothing but sweets.”

  Mrs. Campbell said, “I was tickled to death when Nancy told Mrs. Monday she didn’t tell the truth and her heart would turn black and Plum said, ‘What heart?’ ”

  Miss Appleby said, “What makes me so furious is that two such unusually brilliant and sensitive children should be in the care of such a stupid and insensitive woman.”

  Mrs. Campbell said, “Plum told her uncle that she wouldn’t stay at Mrs. Monday’s and the next time she ran away it would be to Africa.”

  Miss Appleby said, “And for Mr. Remson to believe that awful Mrs. Monday. Of course, he couldn’t care anything at all about those children or he would never have put them in Mrs. Monday’s in the first place. One look at that spiked fence would have been enough for me.”