Read Online The Wooden Chair by Rayne E. Golay - Free Book Online Page B

fighting. We call it the Continuation War, because Finland isn’t in World War II, the big war in Europe.”
    Sounds from the radio caught her attention. Pressing fingers against Grandpa’s lips to still him, she tilted her head, listening with rapt attention.
    “Boum, boum, boum boouum.” After the short bass passage of music, a male announcer came on amid some static. “This is Voice of America. ”She listened, caught the words “war” and “Finland” and “help,” but didn’t understand everything. “What’s the man saying, Grandpa?”
    “It’s a news bulletin. He says the war in Finland is over, that America will send Care parcels to Finland because we have so little food.”
    “Oh.” Eyes lost in the driving rain outside, she thought. “That’s very good. I love America.”
    Grandpa only hugged her in response.
    The hand that squeezed his was a little damp as she gazed at him. “If the war is over Papi’s coming home, isn’t he?”
    “Soon, Leini. I don’t know when, but it won’t be long. The great thing is we can all go home to Helsinki.”
    “We can? When? Today?” She didn’t quite remember Helsinki. Now home was Veteli and Whitey and running free in the meadows.
    Grandpa hugged her close. “We’ll leave as soon as we’ve packed our things. In a few days, I think.”
    * * *
    Everywhere Leini noticed cartons and suitcases. She watched as Grandpa and Grandma Britta rushed here and there, carrying things to stuff into the already full bags. Mamma moved slowly, her tummy so big Leini thought it would burst.
    In the evening, Leini lay in bed munching on an apple. She was thirsty. The usual water glass wasn’t on the bedside table. She wondered if she dared ask for a drink now that Mamma was already upstairs, getting ready for bed.
    “Mamma,” she said in her softest voice. “I’d like a glass of water, please. I’m thirsty.”
    Mamma shook her head. “You can’t drink after you’ve just had an apple.”
    “Why not?”
    “Stop asking questions. Because you ate the core, the water will make the seeds swell in your stomach. Then you’ll have a tummy as huge as mine.” She patted her round belly beneath an ankle-length nightgown. Placing Maia on the pillow next to Leini’s head, Mamma pulled the covers over her shoulders.
    “We’re leaving tomorrow for Helsinki. It’s going to be a long trip, so go to sleep.”
    Leini kept turning, too worried to settle. The tight covers came undone and twined around her legs. She was afraid that the apple seeds growing in Mamma’s belly would get very big. She couldn’t imagine what would happen to Mamma then. Is she going to blow up? Leini couldn’t sleep, she was so afraid for Mamma. She kept twisting and turning, the sheets getting all tangled.
    Then a thought startled her to stillness. Mamma will get on the train and not take me with her. She will lose me as before. Tears she couldn’t stop soaked into the pillow.
    Leini pressed her hands together in prayer, but could only whisper, “Please God…” not knowing what she wanted to say. Then she remembered she wasn’t alone with Mamma. Grandpa and Grandma Britta are here! They won’t forget me, they won’t let Mamma leave me. That’s for sure. She breathed easier, the thought calming her. “Thank you, God, for Grandpa and Grandma Britta.” Her mind turned to all the things she wanted to take with her to Helsinki, the things she was going to show Papi when he came home from the war, sometime soon now.
    The next morning, Leini only had a few things to pack. Grandma Britta helped her fill a small carton with her one coloring book, the pencils along with some dried flowers she kept between sheets of newspaper, and a smooth, shiny stone in the shape of a heart she found by the pond. Also, all the paper dolls and their clothes Grandma Britta had helped her cut out and the box of chocolates Karl gave her, now empty, even the smell gone.
    “I must take along all the photos Grandpa took