The Little Sparrows (3 page)

The pastor told Jody he would see her and her parents at church tomorrow, and he and his family walked away.

Jody sat down on the bench again, took her licorice stick out of her purse, and went back to her people watching.

A short time later, she saw her father riding down the street toward her. As he pulled up to the hitch rail, he looked at her and smiled. “Get your shopping done, honey?”

“Sure did,” she said, putting the last piece of licorice in her mouth and rising from the bench. “I already loaded the sacks into the canvas bag.” She ducked under the hitch rail and mounted Queenie. “Pastor Forbes and his family came by, Daddy. Paul has an appointment with the dentist.”

Sam screwed up his face. “I’m glad we have dentists in this world, but I sure don’t like to go to them.”

“I never met anyone who likes to go to the dentist.”

As father and daughter headed north on Main Street, they soon found themselves drawing near the railroad station. They saw that the coal train was gone and a passenger train stood in its place.

Jody’s attention was drawn to a long line of children who were standing on the depot platform next to the train. Men and women were talking to them. “Daddy, look! It’s one of the orphan trains.”

“Sure enough. I read the announcement about this train in the
Cheyenne Sentinel
last week. It told that the train would be in
today for prospective foster parents to pick and choose the orphans as they wished.”

“I’ve heard you and Mommy talk about the orphan trains at times, Daddy, but I never understood about these foster parents. Do they adopt them legally after a while?”

“Well, from what I’ve read, most of them remain foster parents, even though the plan is to raise them until they are adults. But some do adopt them right away. They simply go to a local judge to get it done.”

“Well, Daddy, here’s your chance to get that boy you’ve always wanted!”

Sam laughed. “Tell you what, Jody Ann Claiborne, since you’re such a tomboy, that’s enough! I don’t need a boy.”

“Then I guess I’m not going to be replaced.”

“You’re sure not!”

“Daddy …”

“Yes?”

“Could we go in there to the depot and just watch for a few minutes?”

“Why, sure. Since my meeting with Mr. Wilson was shorter than expected, we have time.”

They left their horses at hitching posts in the depot’s parking lot and moved up to the platform beside the train. Jody’s eyes were wide as she beheld the scene from close up. She quickly counted sixty-three children in the line. Adults were moving slowly along the line, looking them over, and talking to them.

The children ranged in age from about four or five to their mid-teens. The boys were dressed in black or gray suits with white shirts and neckties, and the girls were in red or blue dresses that were all styled similarly. The hems of the dresses came down to the tops of their black lace-up boots.

Jody noticed similar expressions on the pinched faces of both
boys and girls. The apprehension they felt showed in their eyes, and it was obvious that turmoil was racing through their hearts as they stood as spectacles on display before the adults. They fidgeted and continuously watched the faces of the adults who were taking measure of them.

Young as they were, some of the children looked beaten down with wary eyes that appeared much too old for their age. Some of the older boys tried to mask their fear with a facade of bravery while the older girls often glanced at each other, eyes round and huge as they felt the gaze of the scrutinizing adults on them.

Jody’s tender heart went out to them and her green eyes filled with tears. She looked up at her father. “Daddy, what will happen if the train arrives at its destination on the West Coast and no one takes them?”

“Well, sweetheart, from what I’ve read about it in the newspapers, the children that are not chosen are taken back to the Children’s Aid Society in New York. Some of them are so discouraged that they go back to the streets. Others wait till they can get on another orphan train and try again.”

“Do the ones who are chosen always get into good homes?”

Sam shook his head. “Unfortunately, no. Though the Children’s Aid Society people don’t like it, many of the boys and girls are chosen just to be made into servants and field hands. And some of those are abused. It’s so sad. If this is a typical group, some of those you see right here are not actually orphans, but have run away from homes in New York City where they were mistreated and abused. And then they end up in homes just like the kind they had run away from.”

Jody wiped tears from her eyes. “That’s awful, Daddy.”

“Yes, but thank the Lord, the majority of the children do find good homes where they are loved and given the care they deserve. I’ll tell you, sweetie, life on those New York streets is appalling
and very dangerous. At least those who are chosen—even if it is to be servants and field hands—will have food and clothing supplied, a warm, comfortable bed at night, and many of them will be sent to school.”

Jody ran her misty eyes over the line of children. “Daddy, I wish we could take them all home with us.”

Sam put his arm around her shoulders and drew her close to his side. “I do too, darlin’. I do too. But we can’t.”

“I know, Daddy, but it doesn’t keep me from wishing.”

W
hile Sam and Jody Claiborne observed the proceedings on the depot platform, they spotted a couple named Hap and Margie Lakin, who owned a small ranch near the
Circle C
. The Lakins were in the line of prospective foster parents, talking to the children and looking them over.

“What do you think of that, Daddy?” asked Jody. “Hap and Margie are looking for a foster child.”

“Well, she did have that miscarriage two years ago, and another one last year. Maybe the doctor told her not to try having any more babies.”

“I imagine that’s it.”

Father and daughter continued to watch the line. One by one, couples were choosing a boy here, a girl there, and the Children’s Aid Society men and women in charge of the orphans were questioning the prospective foster parents. Papers were being signed on clipboards, and couples were walking away with the children they had chosen.

Jody elbowed her father. “Look there, Daddy. Hap and Margie have been talking to that little girl for several minutes. I think they’re interested in her. I heard the girl say she is nine years old.”

At that instant, Hap spotted Sam and Jody and smiled at them. Margie asked him something, and after he had answered her question, he gestured toward Sam and Jody looking on. Margie looked at them, gave them a tiny wave, then went right back to talking to the little girl.

Jody noticed that standing right next to the nine-year-old was a girl a couple of years younger, who strongly resembled the nine-year-old.

Jody elbowed her father again. “See that little girl right next to the one Hap and Margie are talking to, Daddy?”

“Uh-huh. Looks a lot like her. Has to be her little sister.”

“That’s what I was going to say.”

At that moment, Hap motioned to one of the women sponsors nearby, who was not occupied at the moment. “Ma’am! My wife and I are ready to sign the papers.”

The woman stepped up. “You want to take both Lorraine and Maisie, I assume.”

Hap leaned toward Margie, and they talked in a low tone.

The sisters watched as Hap and Margie had their private talk. Maisie tugged at Lorraine’s sleeve and rose up on her tiptoes. Lorraine kept her eyes on the Lakins as she bent her head toward her little sister in order to hear what she so desperately wanted to say to her.

Maisie whispered, “Sissy, are they gonna take both of us? They haven’t talked to me.”

A troubled look claimed Lorraine’s features. “I would think so, honey. I told them you’re my sister.”

“Then why haven’t they talked to me?”

“I don’t know. I—”

The Lakins were now speaking to the woman with the clipboard.

Fear touched Lorraine’s heart. She looked on, eyes wide.

The woman was now asking questions, and when she finished, she handed the Lakins the clipboard and a pencil, so they could sign the papers. Both put their signatures on the papers, then Margie handed the clipboard back to the woman. She made sure the signatures were at each place as directed, then turned to the oldest girl. “Lorraine, this nice family is taking you home with them.”

Lorraine frowned. “You
do
mean both of us, don’t you?” she asked in a low whisper, her eyes hopeful.

Maisie was able to pick up her sister’s words, and her eyes went to the woman. “No, dear. They are only taking you.”

“But—but—”

“We can’t take both of you, honey,” Margie said softly. “We just can’t afford to take in two mouths to feed.”

Suddenly, Maisie threw herself into her sister’s arms and burst into tears. “I have to go with you, Sissy! Please, please take me with you!”

The Lakins exchanged glances, each showing a helpless look.

The woman with the clipboard bent down and stroked the face of the seven-year-old. “Maisie, honey, don’t cry. I’m sorry you and Lorraine will have to be separated, but it often has to be this way. Mr. and Mrs. Lakin just can’t afford to take in both of you.”

Jody Claiborne bit her lips and took hold of her father’s arm. “Daddy, this is awful. That poor little Maisie must have already lost her parents, and now she is losing her sister too!”

Sam pulled Jody close and said in a low voice, “I read in the newspaper that quite often brothers and sisters are separated when they are chosen by foster parents. It is better than the children living on the streets of New York in squalor, starving to death or freezing to death.”

Jody shuddered, shook her head, and fixed her gaze on little Maisie as Lorraine put an arm around her. “Honey, please don’t
cry. This is the way it has to be. I have to go with these people. You heard what Mrs. Jackson said.”

“But I want to go with you!” wailed Maisie.

Lorraine cupped Maisie’s face in her hands. “Honey, someone will take you and give you a good home. I promise.” Tears were now streaming down Lorraine’s cheeks. “I love you, Maisie. I don’t want to leave you, but I have to go with these people. I don’t have a choice. It’s the rule.”

Lorraine stepped back and felt Margie take hold of her hand. “We need to go now, dear.”

Hap was looking on, his face pinched as his heart went out to Maisie. “Yes. We need to go.”

Margie kept Lorraine’s hand in hers and led her away, with Hap at her side.

Maisie was sobbing.

When the Lakins and Lorraine had taken a few steps, Lorraine looked back over her shoulder for one last glimpse of her little sister.

Maisie drew a shuddering breath and reached her thin little arms toward Lorraine. “No, Sissy! You can’t leave me! Please don’t leave me-e-e!”

Maisie broke from the line and ran after her sister. Mrs. Jackson saw it coming and intercepted her. She took her up in her arms and held her close. “No, Maisie, you can’t go with your sister. You must stay in the line.” As she spoke, she carried the child back to the line and placed her between two boys. “You stay, here. Someone will choose you soon and take you home with them.”

Maisie wept as if her heart was going to break in two.

Jody dashed from Sam’s side and ran to Maisie. She put her arms around her, and with tears flowing from her own eyes, said, “Maisie, my name is Jody Claiborne. Please don’t cry. My Daddy
is here with me. I’ll ask him if we can take you home with us.”

Sam’s head bobbed and he blinked his eyes.

“But I want my Sissy!” sobbed Maisie, looking past Jody to the spot where Hap and Margie Lakin had now stopped a short distance away with Lorraine between them. They were watching the scene. Lorraine’s entire body shook as she wept and wiped tears.

Hap shook his head. “Margie, we can’t do this. We’ll just cinch our belts up tighter and take Maisie too.”

A smile broke over Margie’s face. “Oh yes! We’ll do that!”

Lorraine gasped. “Really? You’ll take my little sister, too?”

“We sure will,” said Hap. “Come on.”

As the three of them headed back toward Maisie, Hap called to Mrs. Jackson, saying they would take Maisie.

Margie took Maisie up in her arms and set her teary eyes on Jody. “Honey, I appreciate your kindness to Maisie. Thank you.”

“Yes, thank you, Jody,” said Hap.

Lorraine smiled at Jody. “That was nice of you.”

Hap said, “Lorraine, Maisie, as you heard her say, this young lady’s name is Jody Claiborne. She and her parents live on a ranch near ours. You’ll get to see her often.”

Lorraine surprised Jody by hugging her. “We’re already friends, aren’t we, Jody?”

“We sure are!”

Sam was now at Jody’s side. He put an arm around her shoulders and squeezed her tight. “You’re Daddy’s special little girl, darlin’. I think if Hap and Margie hadn’t changed their minds, you’d probably have talked me into taking Maisie home with us.”

Jody smiled up at him.

The Lakins laughed, and Hap said, “I think she probably would’ve, Sam.”

Jody grinned. “I sure would have tried, Mr. Lakin.”

Mrs. Jackson obtained signatures from Hap and Margie and
quickly finished the paperwork.

“Okay, Margie and girls,” said Hap, “let’s head for the ranch. Jody, Sam, we’ll see you later.”

As the Lakins walked away with the girls between them, it was a sweet picture to behold, and tears formed again in Jody’s eyes while she stood there, watching them. Maisie was chattering happily and doing a skip while holding on to her big sister’s hand. Hap and Margie smiled at each other.

When they passed from view, Sam looked down at his daughter with admiring eyes. “Jody, I’m so proud of you. I appreciate the love you always show to others.”

She said softly, “You and Mommy taught me.”

When father and daughter put their attention once again on the orphans, they saw that the sponsors were ready to put the children back on the train. One of the men said to the others, “Well, we’ve still got fifty-one to place in homes on down the line.”