The Mandie Collection (44 page)

Miss Prudence stood behind her desk and scowled at the two girls sitting before her. She cleared her throat. “I would like to know what you two were doing out of the house after ten o'clock last night,” she said, pausing to indicate the seriousness of the matter. “You know you are not supposed to be out of your room, much less prowling around the yard. Now, I want an explanation.”

Mandie decided she had to tell the truth and face the consequences. “Miss Prudence,” she began shakily. “We went outside, and then someone locked the back door so we couldn't get back in.”

“And what time was that?” Miss Prudence wouldn't give up easily. “Were you outside before or after ten o'clock?” she probed.

Celia tried to help. “Miss Prudence, we—”

Suddenly Aunt Phoebe appeared in the doorway, smiling at the girls. “Miz Prudence,” she interrupted, “dese heah chillun come to see me last night, and somebody lock dat back do'.” Aunt Phoebe fiddled with her apron. “It was aftuh ten o'clock 'fo' we got Cal roused up and got de key to open de front do'. Dese two was skeerd to death.”

The girls couldn't believe their ears.

“Aunt Phoebe, are you telling the truth?” Miss Prudence asked.

“Whut I say is de truth, Miz Prudence. Dey come see me, and somebody lock dat do', and it be aftuh ten o'clock 'fo' we gits dat front do' open.”

Mandie realized Aunt Phoebe was telling the truth in a somewhat twisted fashion. For some reason she was trying to keep them out of trouble, but Mandie felt guilty about it.

The old woman stood in the doorway, smiling. She didn't move to go or try to explain why she was there in the first place. She just stood there.

The schoolmistress didn't know what to say.

Then April appeared behind Aunt Phoebe.

Miss Prudence stood up straight and cleared her throat again. “All right, young ladies, I do not believe it's proper to visit Aunt Phoebe so late at night, but go on now to your classes. I do not want to hear of any more doings of this nature.” She turned to the Negro woman. “Aunt Phoebe, what did you want?”

The girls got up to leave. Mandie decided not to mention the disappearance of her clothes. She would tell Miss Prudence later when things calmed down. The schoolmistress didn't seem to remember that the girls had asked to talk to her. Mandie and Celia took their time leaving the office, hoping to hear Aunt Phoebe's reply.

“I jes' wanted to know whut you wants from de mahket today,” the old woman replied.

“Aunt Phobe, I'll have to see you later about the market,” said Miss Prudence. She nodded to the tall girl in the hall. “Come on in, April.”

Aunt Phoebe moved quickly down the hallway in the opposite direction from the girls. Then Miss Hope scurried into the office.

Mandie frowned at Celia. “Things are really popping this morning,” she said.

“Yes, and Aunt Phoebe sure popped us out of that one,” Celia added.

“I wonder why,” Mandie said as the girls walked to their classroom.

April sat in Miss Prudence's office, drumming her fingers on the arm of the chair.

Miss Prudence sat behind her desk and Miss Hope dropped into a chair at the side. “April, we asked you to come in here this morning because I wanted Miss Hope to hear what you told me about Amanda and Celia being out late last night.” She nodded to her sister. “It seems, however, that it was not their fault. Aunt Phoebe said that they were visiting her before ten o'clock and were locked out. They couldn't get back in until she unlocked the front door. Evidently that was
after
ten o'clock.”

Miss Hope leaned forward. “Is that what happened, Sister?”

“Yes,” Miss Prudence replied. “Aunt Phoebe stood right there and told me all about it, just now.”

“But that isn't so, Miss Prudence,” April argued. “I saw them with my own eyes. Mandie went outside first, and then Celia followed in a few minutes. It was after the ten o'clock bell.”

“Come now, April, we don't doubt Aunt Phoebe's word,” Miss Prudence told her. “You must be mistaken about the time.”

“No, ma'am. I was standing by the window in my bedroom, looking out. When I saw Mandie go outside I looked at the clock. It was ten-thirty. In a few minutes Celia followed.”

“Then your clock was wrong,” Miss Prudence said with finality. “You may go now so you won't be late for your class.”

April stood and shrugged her shoulders. “All right. If you don't believe me—” She left the room.

April got as far as the stairway and then turned back, tiptoeing next to the wall. She wanted to eavesdrop on the two schoolmistresses. There was definitely something going on here. She was positive she had seen the two girls go out after ten o'clock, and she intended to hear what the two women had to say about it.

“Sister, do you really believe Aunt Phoebe?” Miss Hope asked.

“Well, I hope she's telling the truth,” Miss Prudence replied. “I'd hate to think she was lying for the two girls.”

“According to April, Amanda seems to be a born trouble maker.”

“I know her mother is a lady,” Miss Prudence mused. “But her father had savage blood. I do hope that wild streak is not going to assert itself in Amanda.”

April's ears perked up. She grinned to herself. So Mandie was a half-breed. None of the girls in the school would have anything to do with her if they knew she was part Indian. April would spread the word. This was her chance to get even.

She hurried to her classroom. Since class had already begun, April slipped quietly into a seat near Mandie and watched her.

Mandie always felt uncomfortable when April stared at her. When Miss Cameron asked Mandie a question, she didn't answer.

April leaned over and whispered just loud enough for Mandie to hear. “Hey, half-breed, teacher is asking you a question!”

Mandie's face burned when she realized the girl was talking to her. She crossed her fingers to control her anger.

Looking up at the teacher, she apologized. “I'm sorry, Miss Cameron, I didn't understand the question.”

“Please, Amanda, keep your attention on the lesson or you'll never learn anything,” the teacher rebuked. “Now I asked you, who became president when Abraham Lincoln was assassinated?”

“Why, the vice-president, Miss Cameron,” Mandie said.

All the girls laughed.

“Class, please remember your manners,” the teacher scolded, tapping the desk with her pencil. “Now, Amanda, of course the vice-president became president, but what was his name?”

“Oh, Andrew Johnson, ma'am. That was the only way he could ever get to be president.” Mandie saw her chance to get back at April for calling her a half-breed. “He was from Tennessee but he was a traitor. I guess the North would take anybody—even a traitor.” Mandie hoped April got the slur at her Yankee mother.

She did. In a louder whisper, April repeated her accusation. “I know your father had savage blood.”

The girls within hearing distance gasped.

Miss Cameron dismissed the class, and the girls filled the hallway. Mandie waited in the hall for April to come out of the room. She was the last one out.

Forgetting all her resolutions to not argue with April, she walked up to the tall girl, put her hands on her hips, and announced, “My grandmother was a full-blooded Cherokee, and I'm proud of it. I'm part Cherokee because that's the way God made me.”

A hushed whisper ran through the crowd.

April turned to the other girls and spoke. “Did you hear what she said? She admits to having Indian blood. What do you think of that?”

Just then Miss Prudence came down the hallway. She couldn't hear the conversation, but April and Mandie seemed to be arguing about something. She walked up and stood between them.

“Into my office, both of you. Immediately!” she commanded.

Everyone gasped and moved away.

But Celia, who had heard everything, came to Mandie's side. “I'll go with you, Mandie,” she offered.

“Thank you, Celia, but this is between April and me,” she told her friend. Mandie silently followed Miss Prudence and the tall girl to the office.

Taking her place behind her desk, Miss Prudence sighed in exasperation. “Now sit down like two ladies and explain what you were yelling about in the hallway,” the schoolmistress demanded.

The girls sat down but neither said a word. April stared at Mandie, hoping to scare her into silence. Mandie didn't want to be a tattletale.

After several minutes Miss Prudence spoke again.

“I asked both of you a question and I expect an answer. What were you yelling about?”

Mandie fidgeted in her chair but did not answer. April kept staring at her, ignoring the question.

“Speak! Now! If I have to call in the girls who overheard this argument, you will both be expelled from school,” Miss Prudence warned them.

Mandie was worried. She either had to tattle on April, thereby getting her into trouble, or else not tell and get expelled from school.

Mother would be too hurt
, she thought.
I have to explain the situation. I'm sure April won't
.

Mandie sat up straight. “Miss Prudence,” she began, “it all started when April called me a half-breed. She said, ‘I know your father had savage blood,' and then—” Mandie stopped abruptly.

Miss Prudence's face had turned beet red, and she was gasping for breath. She realized that April had overheard her conversation! Miss Prudence sputtered, trying to think of something to say. She
certainly couldn't admit her part in this. Mandie's mother would come to take her daughter home, and the school's reputation would be ruined.

Mandie anxiously leaned forward. “Miss Prudence, are you all right?”

April sat back in her chair, enjoying the scene.

“What? Oh, yes, yes. I'm fine,” Miss Prudence replied. She didn't dare look at April.

“Didn't you know that I'm part Cherokee?” Mandie asked.

“Of course I did, Amanda. I knew your father.” The schoolmistress regained her composure and then spoke to the other girl. “April, you will apologize to Amanda, and you are immediately suspended from school for ten days. I will send for your mother.”

“Send me home if you like, but I will not apologize to Amanda,” April sneered. “It's all true. My mother might not even be at home. She was supposed to visit her family in New York after she left me here.”

Mandie was sorry that April had to be suspended, but hadn't she brought it upon herself?

“We'll find your mother,” Miss Prudence told her. “In the meantime, all your social privileges are cancelled. You will be allowed out of your room only to attend classes and for meals. Remember, you must remain in your room at all other times.”

“But the party is tomorrow night,” April objected.

Mandie realized how disappointed the girl must be, but she couldn't help feeling some satisfaction that April was being punished.

Miss Prudence stood. “You will not attend the social under any circumstances,” she said. “You will be confined to your room.” She paused for a moment. “You may go to your classes now. I will let you know when we have contacted your mother, April. And Amanda, I will do my best to restore order after that terribly unfortunate incident,” she said.

“Thank you, Miss Prudence,” Mandie replied.

At the noon meal the schoolmistress stood before all the girls in the dining room and rang the tinkling silver bell next to her plate.

“Young ladies,” she began, “the unladylike conduct of one of our students has come to my attention. I am sure some of you heard April Snow call Amanda Shaw an unladylike name.” Miss Prudence cleared her throat and continued. “This is a serious offense, and therefore, April has been suspended for ten days.”

The students gasped and loud whispering instantly filled the dining room.

Miss Prudence rang the bell again. “As soon as April's mother can be contacted,” she continued, “April will be forced to leave the school for ten days. At the end of that time we will decide whether we would like to have her back. Meanwhile, she is confined to her room except for classes and meals.”

All the girls turned to gaze at April, but she didn't seem to notice. April was staring into space, ignoring the whole scene.

Miss Prudence went on. “I want to state here and now that there will be no more of this type of behavior. Everyone is to forget what was said. If I hear of any of you even discussing the matter, you will be liable for suspension, also.”

Mandie and Celia looked at each other in shock. Mandie was confused. She felt relief that April was leaving, but she hadn't meant to cause her so much trouble. Still, she did have to tell the truth. There was no way around that.

But now April really had a reason to be angry with Mandie. What if they couldn't reach her mother for a few days? April could have plenty of opportunities to get even.

CHAPTER SEVEN

MORE NOISES IN THE NIGHT

The girls had worked hard decorating the huge barn in the backyard for the party.

They made paper lanterns to hang across the lawn and inside the building. Bright, twisted streamers stretched overhead. Long boards lying across two sawhorses became tables with white bedsheets serving as tablecloths. Dozens of chairs, stored in the loft, were brought down and cleaned. At one end of the barn was a stage used for school plays. For the evening's event, the girls decorated it with magnolia leaves and flowers from the garden. Oil lamps hung in safe places to be lit when needed, and a three-piece minstrel show had been engaged to perform.

Each girl daintily lettered two place cards for the table—one with her name and one for the boy who would be her partner. There were gallons of lemonade in the kitchen and the hand-cranked ice cream churn stood ready. The girls had been helping prepare the food all week. They were even allowed to do a little experimenting. There was more food than they could possibly eat, but anything left would be taken to the local orphanage.