CHAPTER XIV
THE LAND OF COUNTERPANE
Mimi ran her fingers up and down the crinkles of the blue and whitestriped bed cover. She made dents with her fists for lakes thensmoothed them all out and began again. This time she made a deepcurving gulley which was Green River flowing around Camp. The flatspace over her stomach was the open space around the flag pole wherethe campers had gathered as soon after reveille as they could slideinto their bathing suits. The small point she had pinched up with herfingers was the Lodge and the great bump her doubled up knees made wasthe Hotel far up on the hill above camp.
Chimes rang out in the distance, suddenly her knees collapsed and sheburrowed her flushed face in the pillow. A miniature earthquake hadleveled her make-believe land. Now it was raining on her pillow. What agreat god she was to build country and shake it down and wash away thedebris with rain.
After the deluge she was as alone as in the beginning. All of her bestfriends were gone. They had not been permitted in the ward to saygoodbye. When Nurse relayed their farewells from the corridor to thepatient some of the sadness melted away, but not all, not by any means.
She had begun all the make-believe nonsense to keep from remembering itwas Christmas and that she was sick-a-bed without her family, withouther chums. But it was no use. Stubbornly she put her mind back to her"Child's Garden of Verse." She said "The Friendly Cow," "Singing in theRain," "Sea Cups," and in spite of herself between each one she wouldrevert to "When I was sick and lay abed----"
The siege of flu had begun to look like an epidemic. There were sixsingle beds in a row in the Infirmary and this Christmas morning eachbed cradled a sick girl. Mimi, however, was the only one awake.
Ding, dong--ding, dong.
Mimi listened to the bells ring out. Perhaps they could do whattrying-very-hard and poetry had failed to do. But she gave up. Therewas no use trying to forget it was Christmas for all day there would bereminders. She must hope that somewhere in Leipzig Junior was dumpingthe contents of a bulging stocking on his bed instead of racing withher and winning by sliding down the bannisters to their usual tree athome. She hoped the gifts she had sent arrived in time. If it took aslong for things to go to Leipzig as it did for them to come from thereto America, the gifts would be late. Mimi knew that Mother Dear hadsent her something in plenty of time but so far no package had reachedher. As soon as Nurse would let her get up she would go to the PostOffice and ask them to send a tracer. She was that sure Mother andDaddy had not failed her.
Gray morning was peeping around the cracks of the window shades. Mimileaned over and eased her shade up the tiniest bit; at least that iswhat she intended to do but the shade slipped from her cold fingers andwent whr-r-r--zip--all the way to the top. Mimi shut her eyes againstthe sound, and when she opened them and looked out, wonder of wonders afairy world bade her good-morning. So softly the snow had fallen thatno sleeper had heard.
Nose against the pane, breath making fantastic wreaths on the glass,hands clutched as if praying, Mimi gasped in awe. Then because shecould never be unhappy long and because it was Christmas inside her, aWHITE Christmas, she sang out:
"Merry CHRISTMAS! Oh wake up, wake up, there is snow!"
Weak hands rubbing swollen eyes. Tousled heads rearing from pillows.Necks craned toward nearest windows.
"Merry Christmas yourself." "Snow." "Oh, SNOW!"
"Merry Christmas!" Nurse's clear, crisp voice rose above the others."What chance does an amateur Santa Claus have with all you girlsalready wide awake? I was outside in the hall hanging the last bangleson your tree when 'there arose such a clatter, I sprang to the DOOR tosee what was the matter'!"
"Our tree?" came the chorus.
"Yes, your tree. You don't think I'm mean enough to make you stay inbed and feast on orange juice instead of plum pudding without doingsomething for you?"
"May I come in?" It was Mrs. Cole in a fresh blouse and newly pressedskirt. She looked sweeter than Mimi had ever seen her. "MerryChristmas, girls. If you'll help me, Nurse, we'll roll the tree in."
It was not a large tree; a living evergreen growing in a wooden tub andriding into the sick room on a rolling white hospital cart-table. Mimihad passed it by the steps many times scarcely noticing but today,decked so gayly and glittering so magnificently, it was as new as thesnow. As they pushed the tree along the ornaments made an elfin jingle.
Yesterday Mimi had wished her bed were at one end of the ward or theother so that she could lie on one side with her back to illness andforget it. Now she was glad that she was in the center of the roombecause the tree, placed in the middle of the room, was at the foot ofher bed. If nurse had not made up the bed with tight square corners shecould wriggle her toes free and touch it.
"There!"
Nurse and Mrs. Cole stood one to either side admiring their handiwork.
"But no presents or mail until baths, temperatures taken all around,and breakfast."
Mimi knew Nurse meant exactly what she said and that no amount ofbegging would change her orders. Now if it were Mrs. Cole in charge....But she wasn't. Nurse's word was law and obeyed to the letter. So wasDr. Ansley's. Mimi tried not to show how impatient she was buteagerness danced in her merry blue eyes.
The hour finally came and for once, Mimi had more surprises than shecould stand. The last one was the biggest and it brought tears.
First the mail was distributed. Nurse did not call out the names. Shehad it all sorted and handed each girl a neat stack. Otherwise, shewould have read "Mimi Hammond" every other name for Mimi had as muchmail as all the others put together.
Now for the packages.
The first one handed to Mimi made her heart leap. FromLeipzig.--Careful not the tear the stamps, she ripped it open andlifted out three separate packages. She opened the lumpy one fromJunior first. Not a guess what it was. It didn't rattle or move about.What could it be? A peasant doll! Braided hair, crisp white cap, fullskirts held in place by a tight bodice. Precious! The doll would sit ontop of Mimi's trunk in the living room so that all who opened the doorof two hundred and seven could see and admire. And what could this onefrom Daddy be? Shake it. Feel it. No; guess again. Wrong both times. ABohemian necklace with a crystal pendant to wear to Christmas parties.Daddy liked every one well and gay. He must realize, too, that she wasgrowing up. This thin, flat package from Mother. Not as thick as a bookbut about that shape. Careful! Don't tear. A picture and what a sweetone! Mimi did not fully appreciate what she had until the letter cametelling about the trip to the Dresden Gallery to see Coregio's, "TheHoly Night," and the "Sistine Madonna." The print they sent Mimi was aHanfstaengel called "The Cherubim," artistically copying the littleangels who hover around the Virgin in the full picture of the Madonna.Beaming faces. Mimi loved them. What wonderful gifts from Leipzig!
Then the small packages. Stationery from Chloe with Tumble Inn handblocked in the upper left corner. Oh, these art students. Mimi'sfingers felt thick and clumsy as she untied Betsy's package. It did notlook neat but Mimi never judged inside by outside. An enviable blackand white sport belt to wear with her riding habit. Two plain sporthandkerchiefs from Madge with this verse printed on the card:
"Some hankies for show, Some hankies for blow; You know which to do When you have flu."
She hadn't realized how clever Madge was. Olivia had left sealing waxand a Sheridan signet. Dit's card was almost as good as a present.Under the greeting she had written, "To my Prep." At first glance Mimihad interpreted the back handed phrase as "To my Pup." She laughedaloud. She was reading the cards a second time. Surely that was all thepackages but she was wrong. The too big surprise was coming up thesteps now. Such a big box Mrs. Cole was having the janitor bring it up.Plop! He put it down beside Mimi's bed.
"That's right." Mrs. Cole was directing behind him. "That's the girl."
"Miss MIMI HAMMOND," the janitor read slowly.
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The only reason Mimi didn't guess was because, Christmas or any othertime she wore an air of expecting-something-nice-to-happen. So often itdid.
"Thank you."
This looked like a crate of oranges. She could make out from theexpress label that whatever it was, it came from Bowling Green. Grand!Then a wave of suspicion swept over her. This might be a prank. Not toomany years ago when Sue played in her first recital, Mimi herself hadthought up the joke of sending Sue a box of weeds. Sue, unsuspecting,had opened them before her friends and cried with embarrassment. Cometo think of it, Sue had left no present. Maybe----
"I'll pry the lid off, Miss," the janitor was saying as he reached inhis hip pocket for a hammer.
The squeak of the first nail drawn commanded silence. Every one in theroom who could be up out of bed hovered near. The others sat up andcraned their necks. Mimi with one hand held her robe together at thethroat and with the other was squeezing the end of the pillow behindher back into a tight ball. Hurry, janitor, hurry but don't get asplinter in your finger.
When he pulled the top off, the first thing Mimi saw was oranges, awhole half crate of them. It was a joke after all. Anyone with anysense would know that after four days of flu she never wanted to see anorange again. But what was under the red tissue covering the otherhalf? One hand to her head to guard against dizzying weakness, Mimipeeked under the red paper. Presents, a whole array of them daintilytied up in green cellophane with silver ribbons and stars; almost thegreen and white of Sheridan. Mimi's hands shook as she opened the notewhich lay unsealed atop the presents:
"A gift a day keeps the blues away."
The instructions followed. There was one package to be opened eachday beginning now, Christmas, and every day thereafter until theholidays were over. The presents were labeled by days. She would findno cards as they had been bought by them all. The signatures whichfollowed, Mimi kept and a year later they were the first page of theautograph book she prized so highly. Sue had planned the box, ofcourse. She had rushed home breathless with the news that Mimi wasquarantined. Dottie had taken charge (Mimi could picture her orderingthe others around) and under Miss Jane's supervision the gifts hadbeen assembled. Racing down the list of names Mimi's eyes clouded. Around tear splashed down and blurred the second name. She read, MissJane and Dick, Dottie, Jean, Margie, Sue, Miss Millie, and the lasttwo surprised her most of all--Honky and Mammy Cissy. Bless theirhearts! She had had none of Tiny Tim's spirit when she awakened, butnow she was so touched by the thoughtfulness of her friends that shewanted to say aloud. "God bless you everyone. Bless Mother and Daddyand Sonny," she tagged on at the end as if it were her bedtimeprayer. Dottie had rounded them up to make the days come outcorrectly. One-two-three-four-five-six-seven-eight--eight days andSue would be back knowing a thousand things Mimi was eager to findout.
How the days ever would have gone by without a daily surprise Mimi didnot know. That certainly helped. She had been like old King Colecalling for his pipe and calling for his bowl. The difference was Mimicalled for a "'sprise" and Nurse brought one. Now that she was better,writing letters of thanks filled much of her time. She used Tumble Innstationery and sealed the envelopes with green wax imprinted with anold English "S." Something else happened that helped more than that.Miss Millie paid her a "pop call"! That capped the climax.
Mimi had been sitting in a big chair all wrapped up in her bathrobestudying. Yes, studying. But alas that Source Book. Every time shesettled down to outside reading something happened.
"Pahdon Mah southe'n accent but is you all studyin'?"
Head around the door one second asking, the next entering andhugging Mimi, flu and all. That was Miss Millie,next-to-Miss-Jane-the-best-counsellor-in-the-world.
Blam!
Source Book to the floor--
"Millie--Oh--Millie! Am I seeing things?"
"No, 'tis I, Millie, former skipper of the Cuckoo's Nest on Green Riverand now the most dignified member of the faculty 'way down yonder whereI teach."
It wouldn't be Miss Millie if she wasn't clowning.
"I hardly recognize you without your silly sailor hat but oh, Millie!Tell me the news. Where have you been? Where are you going? And thatrudest question of all, how long can you stay?"
"Large order but I'll try. I have been in Bowling Green for Christmas,am en route to the high school where I earn my daily bread, can stayhere fifteen minutes. There is a taxi waiting at your door now. Hepromised to get me to the train in plenty of time. If I stay a secondpast my allotted fifteen minutes he is to begin blowing and not stopuntil I appear. One way for a homely girl to cause a panic."
"Millie, you're not homely. You look wonderful to me. I never was soglad to see any one! Don't waste a minute. Tell me everything. How isMiss Jane?"
"You should see her apartment. The McIntosh's moved out of Mrs.Herold's house so Jane has her own apartment but she still lives athome. She has everything Early American. Maple beds pegged togetherinstead of screwed or nailed. An elegant Chintz chaise longue with softpillows. You just sink down to heaven in it. I had tea with Jane andsat on it. She says that after supper she and Dick scramble for it butusually end up by _both_ of them sitting on it. She looks prettier thanshe ever did in her life--rested, fresh and has more pep! She's beenmaking curtains, made a tufted candlewick bed spread, and now ishooking a rug--whatta' gal!"
"Isn't she though?"
One by one Mimi went down the list. How was each? Who gave parties?What was served? What was worn?
When Millie sprang up and jerked her hat forward at the first honk ofthe taxi, there were still things left unsaid.
"Muchas gracias--er-r-r--for the presents," Mimi added in English--"andadios."
She was grateful for the presents and she hated to say goodbye. But ithad been an interesting visit. Next to the excitement of opening allthe presents, Millie's "pop call" was the high light of the holidays.One can weary even of holidays but they would soon be over now. Nursehad promised Mimi she could meet the trains and she could hardly wait.
"Imagine me, me of all people, anxious for holidays to end, but I am,Nursie, I sincerely am."