explains why you Rebels aren’t as bright as we are,” Florence retorted, knowing her comment would be taken with the humor it was meant to carry.
Janie shrugged. “Bright enough to make an A on my first physiology exam,” she said playfully, immediately regretting her words when she saw her friend’s expression.
Florence scowled. “Oh sure, rub it in my face.” Her eyes showed discouragement. “I studied my heart out and I still struggled,” she admitted. Then she grinned as she ate a spoonful of soup, followed by a chunk of bread slathered with butter. “Not that it seems important right this minute.”
Janie felt a tug of sympathy. She knew how hard Florence studied. She also knew Florence envied how easily Janie’s grades came to her. “Don’t feel badly,” she said quickly, her voice thick with remorse.
Florence waved her hand casually. “I don’t. I may have difficulty taking tests, but I stayed later today because I’ve been asked to assist Dr. Anderson with some of her patients in the clinic. It seems my natural abilities are outshining my dismal academic record.”
“That’s wonderful!” the three women cried in unison.
Florence shrugged, only her eyes showing how excited she was. “I can’t believe I’m going to say this, but I almost miss the war. No one seemed to care about my credentials when I was out on the battlefield.” Instead of serving in the city hospital, Florence had gone out onto the battlefields, treating wounded soldiers until they were carried back to the hospital. There was no telling how many lives she saved. She had wanted to be a doctor since she was old enough to understand what they did.
Janie understood. “I know just what you mean. Carrie and I worked as a team at Chimborazo. She got to do more than I did, but none of the soldiers questioned our abilities. They were simply glad we were there to help them. At the beginning of the war, people were horrified that we were practicing medicine. By the end of the war we were almost viewed as heroes.”
Elizabeth stood abruptly. “That reminds me. A letter came for you today. I think it’s from Carrie, the mystery lady we hear about all the time.” She walked over to the counter, filling her bowl with more soup before she returned with the letter.
Janie eyed it with anticipation but merely stuffed it in her pocket.
“You’re not going to read it now?” Elizabeth asked, disappointment obvious in her voice.
Janie shook her head. “I like to read them slowly and savor them,” she replied, not trying to explain that each letter felt like a hand reaching out from home. Carrie was the closest thing to a sister she had ever had. She missed her every single day and could hardly wait until she arrived in the spring. Right now, with cold wind whistling at the windows, it seemed a lifetime away. She knew they were in for more months of brutal cold.
“What is the plantation like in the winter?” Alice asked.
Janie smiled. Plantation life was something all of them were curious about. None of them had ever been to the South. They had sat mesmerized when Janie described the unique relationship Carrie, Rose, and Moses had. All of them had served in the abolition movement and truly believed all slaves were treated badly. Janie was careful not to downplay the horrible conditions many slaves had lived under, but she also wanted them to understand all southerners didn’t feel the same way.
“I don’t have a lot of firsthand experience,” Janie admitted. “I only visited once in the winter. The rest of my time there was in the summer and fall, but Carrie has told me about it. Things move more slowly, but there is so much to be done to be ready for the spring. The year I was there, we had a deep snowfall.” Her eyes softened with the memories. “It was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen. I grew up in the city and had never seen undisturbed snow like that.”
The other three women nodded their understanding.
Janie shrugged. “Bright enough to make an A on my first physiology exam,” she said playfully, immediately regretting her words when she saw her friend’s expression.
Florence scowled. “Oh sure, rub it in my face.” Her eyes showed discouragement. “I studied my heart out and I still struggled,” she admitted. Then she grinned as she ate a spoonful of soup, followed by a chunk of bread slathered with butter. “Not that it seems important right this minute.”
Janie felt a tug of sympathy. She knew how hard Florence studied. She also knew Florence envied how easily Janie’s grades came to her. “Don’t feel badly,” she said quickly, her voice thick with remorse.
Florence waved her hand casually. “I don’t. I may have difficulty taking tests, but I stayed later today because I’ve been asked to assist Dr. Anderson with some of her patients in the clinic. It seems my natural abilities are outshining my dismal academic record.”
“That’s wonderful!” the three women cried in unison.
Florence shrugged, only her eyes showing how excited she was. “I can’t believe I’m going to say this, but I almost miss the war. No one seemed to care about my credentials when I was out on the battlefield.” Instead of serving in the city hospital, Florence had gone out onto the battlefields, treating wounded soldiers until they were carried back to the hospital. There was no telling how many lives she saved. She had wanted to be a doctor since she was old enough to understand what they did.
Janie understood. “I know just what you mean. Carrie and I worked as a team at Chimborazo. She got to do more than I did, but none of the soldiers questioned our abilities. They were simply glad we were there to help them. At the beginning of the war, people were horrified that we were practicing medicine. By the end of the war we were almost viewed as heroes.”
Elizabeth stood abruptly. “That reminds me. A letter came for you today. I think it’s from Carrie, the mystery lady we hear about all the time.” She walked over to the counter, filling her bowl with more soup before she returned with the letter.
Janie eyed it with anticipation but merely stuffed it in her pocket.
“You’re not going to read it now?” Elizabeth asked, disappointment obvious in her voice.
Janie shook her head. “I like to read them slowly and savor them,” she replied, not trying to explain that each letter felt like a hand reaching out from home. Carrie was the closest thing to a sister she had ever had. She missed her every single day and could hardly wait until she arrived in the spring. Right now, with cold wind whistling at the windows, it seemed a lifetime away. She knew they were in for more months of brutal cold.
“What is the plantation like in the winter?” Alice asked.
Janie smiled. Plantation life was something all of them were curious about. None of them had ever been to the South. They had sat mesmerized when Janie described the unique relationship Carrie, Rose, and Moses had. All of them had served in the abolition movement and truly believed all slaves were treated badly. Janie was careful not to downplay the horrible conditions many slaves had lived under, but she also wanted them to understand all southerners didn’t feel the same way.
“I don’t have a lot of firsthand experience,” Janie admitted. “I only visited once in the winter. The rest of my time there was in the summer and fall, but Carrie has told me about it. Things move more slowly, but there is so much to be done to be ready for the spring. The year I was there, we had a deep snowfall.” Her eyes softened with the memories. “It was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen. I grew up in the city and had never seen undisturbed snow like that.”
The other three women nodded their understanding.
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