Read Online A Family Apart by Joan Lowery Nixon - Free Book Online

hesitated at the door to the boys’ room, but Mike shoved her, and she stumbled inside to find the room empty.
    “The other children have already bathed,” Mrs. Minton said. “There’s plenty of hot water in the tub, and be sure to wash well behind your ears. You’ll find clothes and shoes in all sizes on the shelves along the far wall. If you want any help, just call.”
    “We won’t need any help!” Frances said quickly.
    “Then I’ll lend a hand to the girls. As soon as you’ve dressed, just open the door, and I’ll return,” Mrs. Minton said. She shut the door behind her as she left.
    “Being as we’re all boys, shouldn’t we all get into the tub together?” Mike asked with a grin.
    “Unless you’d like another bloody nose, which I could well give you, you’ll sit with Danny and Petey on that bench, backs to the tub, until I’ve finished,” Frances said with such determination that Mike put a quick stop to his teasing.
    After the baths, the children searched through theclothing to find clothes and shoes or boots that fit. Petey, Danny, Mike, and Frances were finally outfitted in dark woolen pants and jackets, collarless cotton shirts buttoned under their chins, dark stockings, and high, side-buttoned boots. Because Petey was so young, his shirt had a collar and a wide, navy-blue bow. They opened the door, and Mrs. Minton returned to comb and trim their hair. When she was finished, she lined them up and beamed at them.
    “You look wonderful” she said. “Now come and see your lovely sisters.”
    Frances and the boys followed her into the next room where Peg and Megan were perched on chairs. “Look at me!” Peg cried. “Look at my beautiful blue dress!”
    Frances caught Peg in her arms. “I once saw a girl wearing a coat that was this very shade of blue,” she said. “You’re every bit as beautiful as she was.”
    She turned to Megan. “And you’re a real beauty in that dark red dress, Megan.” Frances sadly wondered how she would have looked wearing a proper high-waisted dress and pantalets, with a ribbon tying back her hair.
    But Megan blushed and ducked her head. “You don’t have to say that, Fr-Frankie. You know I’ve always been plain.”
    “Well, you’re not plain now,” Frances said firmly. She took Megan’s hand and pulled her to her feet. “I just noticed—your eyes are as big and blue as Petey’s.”
    Mrs. Minton patted Megan’s shoulder. “Wait right here, children. I’ll be back in just a minute.”
    As she left the room Peg said proudly, “I have new shoes.”
    Petey’s mouth curled down abruptly. “I don’t likeshoes,” he complained. “My toes can’t wiggle, and my feet can’t breathe.”
    Mike picked Petey up and laughed. “Feet don’t breathe! Besides, my fine lad, you’d better get used to shoes, because where you’re going everybody wears shoes.”
    Petey began to whimper. “I don’t want shoes. I want Ma!”
    Peg’s lower lip jutted out. “It’s Mike’s fault that we’re here.”
    Stricken, Mike stared at Peg, but Danny shoved her, almost knocking her off-balance. “Don’t ever say that again!” he shouted.
    Megan stepped forward, holding Peg protectively. “Leave her alone, Danny! She’s upset.”
    “I’ll not have her blaming Mike! And don’t you, either!”
    “Stop yelling at me!” Peg demanded.
    “I’m not yelling!”
    “You are so!” Megan said.
    “Stop it, all of you,” Frances said. “It’s not Mike’s fault that we’re here, and I’ll not hear another word of blame from a one of us.” She met the gaze of each of them in turn. “We’ll have to stick together, come what may, and that’s the all of it.”
    For a moment there was silence. Then Danny murmured, “You sounded just like Ma.”
    Frances gulped back the sob that rose in her throat. Without a word Megan reached for her sister’s hand, and Frances gratefully took it.
    Mrs. Minton returned and led them all to a large room in which children of all