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Show Nettie, Page 9 those operas or ballets and we'll go down to the bay and watch all day while ships come in from all over the world." Frank shared Nettie's huge hunger for new places and travel and excitement. Together they would walk hand in hand, Frank doing most of the talking, but Nettie nodding in agreement and exclaiming as Frank's words built images of faraway places. Her eyes would glow as the present melted away and tall buildings or ships and dressed-up ladies and gentlemen appeared in her mind's eye. "Oh, Frank, do you think we'll ever see anything besides Almy?" "We can sure try, Sissy. It never hurts to dream a bit, does it?" Nettie vowed it would be more than a dream. The summer of 1899 had rolled on heavy with heat and sometimes thick with dust blown by the wind. The canning chores took up most of Mama's time and Nettie often kept Alice and Clarence busy or helped Mama in the kitchen. When school began again it was a welcome change for Nettie--it freed her from the constant baby tending chores, at least for part of the day and she enjoyed the escape into a world of travel and changes of scene through her school books. Though Nettie enjoyed school, her teachers never seemed quite satisfied. It was as though they expected more from her than she was able to perform. Perhaps her size had something to do with it. Though only seven, Nettie was often mistaken for a nine- or ten-year- old. In school one blustery, winter day, Nettie sighed and glanced out of the window. What she saw brought her out of her seat and rushing to the window to get a better look. Papa and Brig were driving the wagon |
