Read Online Flowers in the Snow by Danielle Stewart - Free Book Online
Authors: Danielle Stewart
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pie is my favorite,” Betty squealed making a funny face at Alma.
“Don’t get too excited,” Alma shrugged. “Mama has a rule for everything, including pies. No eating pie until you know how to make the whole thing yourself.”
“Then I’ll be a fast learner.”
Chapter Six
Betty had a notebook tucked under her arm as she charged out of the woods, down the hill, and into Alma’s side door. She was out of breath as she stumbled through, but, like always, her adrenaline kept her from slowing down.
“I’ll never get used to you just barging through that door,” Alma groaned as she carried an armful of laundry to the table to start folding it. Betty knew she was expected to help so she grabbed a towel and got to work.
“I brought a notebook today so I can write stuff down. That helps me remember,” Betty said with a prideful smile.
“Mama will make a rule about that. She won’t want you walking around with book full of the stuff she’s told you. It won’t matter today though. I don’t know where she is.”
“What do you mean you don’t know where she is?” Betty asked, feeling frustrated she might not get what she came for.
“She was at school today, teaching like she always does. I saw her in the hallway twice on my way to recess. But then when I walked home from school, she wasn’t here. She must’ve had to stay after school for something,” Alma said with a casual shrug.
“Aren’t you worried? Something might’ve happened to her. We should go out looking.” Betty dropped the towel she was folding to the table and moved toward the little window at the front of the shack. She pushed aside the thick Army blanket they’d hung up as curtains and peered outside.
“You really are dense. My mama would whoop me seven ways to Sunday if I went out looking for her. She’d tell me she’s a big girl and can handle herself. She wants me right here after school. Just look at what happened last time I disobeyed. I nearly got my block knocked off by some hillbilly with a baseball bat, and I got stuck with you.”
“What happened? Why are you being so mean to me now? You’re the one who invited me in here that first day. You insisted your mama let me in.” Betty felt her cheeks pink as she was reminded Alma wasn’t quite as welcoming as Winnie had become. “Why don’t you like me? I’m nice to you. I don’t treat you like other white folks treat you. I help you with your chores while I’m here. I saved you, you should like me.” Betty had grown accustomed to not being liked. Her whole life she’d felt different from everyone around her. The best shot she had was wearing people down. Being around until they warmed up to her. But so far with Alma it hadn’t worked.
“It was easier before when I was just supposed to not trust any white person ever . That was the rule my mama gave me. Keep to myself. Be respectful. Apologize for being in the way. Now you’ve got me wondering which ones are the bad apples and which ones might be all right. I liked it better when I didn’t have to think about it.” Alma folded the clothes on the table quickly, looking like she’d rather be anywhere else. But Betty knew the tiny shack left nowhere to hide.
“Sorry for making you use your brain,” Betty shot back jokingly. “You should know, though, I’m not going anywhere. My plan is to keep coming here and keep trying to understand the world best I can. You don’t have to like me. You’d have lots of company standing in that line with you, ’cause most people don’t like me.” Betty kept her chin raised high as she folded the last towel. “I can even help you with your school work if you’d like.”
“I don’t need any help. I’m real good at fractions and history. I get perfect grades,” Alma shot back, lifting a brow and flashing her attitude.
“But you’re a year behind me. You can’t already be doing fractions. We just barely started them. My daddy told me your schools are way
“Don’t get too excited,” Alma shrugged. “Mama has a rule for everything, including pies. No eating pie until you know how to make the whole thing yourself.”
“Then I’ll be a fast learner.”
Chapter Six
Betty had a notebook tucked under her arm as she charged out of the woods, down the hill, and into Alma’s side door. She was out of breath as she stumbled through, but, like always, her adrenaline kept her from slowing down.
“I’ll never get used to you just barging through that door,” Alma groaned as she carried an armful of laundry to the table to start folding it. Betty knew she was expected to help so she grabbed a towel and got to work.
“I brought a notebook today so I can write stuff down. That helps me remember,” Betty said with a prideful smile.
“Mama will make a rule about that. She won’t want you walking around with book full of the stuff she’s told you. It won’t matter today though. I don’t know where she is.”
“What do you mean you don’t know where she is?” Betty asked, feeling frustrated she might not get what she came for.
“She was at school today, teaching like she always does. I saw her in the hallway twice on my way to recess. But then when I walked home from school, she wasn’t here. She must’ve had to stay after school for something,” Alma said with a casual shrug.
“Aren’t you worried? Something might’ve happened to her. We should go out looking.” Betty dropped the towel she was folding to the table and moved toward the little window at the front of the shack. She pushed aside the thick Army blanket they’d hung up as curtains and peered outside.
“You really are dense. My mama would whoop me seven ways to Sunday if I went out looking for her. She’d tell me she’s a big girl and can handle herself. She wants me right here after school. Just look at what happened last time I disobeyed. I nearly got my block knocked off by some hillbilly with a baseball bat, and I got stuck with you.”
“What happened? Why are you being so mean to me now? You’re the one who invited me in here that first day. You insisted your mama let me in.” Betty felt her cheeks pink as she was reminded Alma wasn’t quite as welcoming as Winnie had become. “Why don’t you like me? I’m nice to you. I don’t treat you like other white folks treat you. I help you with your chores while I’m here. I saved you, you should like me.” Betty had grown accustomed to not being liked. Her whole life she’d felt different from everyone around her. The best shot she had was wearing people down. Being around until they warmed up to her. But so far with Alma it hadn’t worked.
“It was easier before when I was just supposed to not trust any white person ever . That was the rule my mama gave me. Keep to myself. Be respectful. Apologize for being in the way. Now you’ve got me wondering which ones are the bad apples and which ones might be all right. I liked it better when I didn’t have to think about it.” Alma folded the clothes on the table quickly, looking like she’d rather be anywhere else. But Betty knew the tiny shack left nowhere to hide.
“Sorry for making you use your brain,” Betty shot back jokingly. “You should know, though, I’m not going anywhere. My plan is to keep coming here and keep trying to understand the world best I can. You don’t have to like me. You’d have lots of company standing in that line with you, ’cause most people don’t like me.” Betty kept her chin raised high as she folded the last towel. “I can even help you with your school work if you’d like.”
“I don’t need any help. I’m real good at fractions and history. I get perfect grades,” Alma shot back, lifting a brow and flashing her attitude.
“But you’re a year behind me. You can’t already be doing fractions. We just barely started them. My daddy told me your schools are way
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