at a clump of brown grass and tossed it over her shoulder. “He said he was giving me more money in my paycheck.”
I smiled. “But that’s a good thing, Ruby Day. You’ll be making more money.”
Ruby Day started to shake her head in that wild way she had. Then she balled her hands into fists and punched her head like she was trying to kill her thoughts inside.
“Stop that,” I said with the same firmness my mama used with us kids. “Stop that this instant. There is nothing to be upset about.” Then I stopped because I remembered how I hated it when Daddy would tell me I had no reason to be upset. I certainly did have a reason on most occasions.
“I’m sorry. Tell me why it upsets you to have more money.”
“More to take care of, Luna. More to care about, and I don’t like caring about those things.”
I took her hands in mine and looked at her square in the face. “That’s why I’m here. To be next to you and help you.”
It took another minute or two, but Ruby Day settled down, and we went inside for corn and sliced ham.
The next morning I asked Mrs. Grady if I could talk to the class like I told Mama I wanted.
“Now why would you want to do such a thing?” She sat at her big oak desk and fiddled with pencils. “It’s your business isn’t it, Luna? Yours and your parents’.”
“Well, that’s just it. I had a talk with Mama yesterday while she was shucking corn, and that’s when the notion struck me to stand up in front and tell everybody. I figured it could maybe keep people from whispering about me and Ruby Day.”
Mrs. Grady shoved a pencil into her ratty nest of gray hair. “Go on, then. Say your piece, but don’t take too much time. We have a full schedule today.”
Mrs. Grady quieted everyone down, and I stood there with my back pressed against the blackboard. But my knees still knocked like two cymbals in a brass band. I thought for sure everyone could hear them.
“Now, class,” Mrs. Grady said. “Luna Gleason has something to say.”
I stared right at Francine, who was sitting all smug and tall. She wore a big red ribbon in her blonde hair that made me think of Christmas. I decided not to look at her as I spoke.
“I just wanted you all to know that I went to live with Ruby Day.” Some snickers wafted around the room, but I ignored them. “Because she needs me more than I need to be living at home right now. Mason—” I swallowed. “Mason died, and now she’s by herself, and Jesus said to help the widows and orphans, so that’s what I intend to do.”
Mrs. Grady stood up like she wanted me to sit down. But I stayed put and thought about my words some more.
“Sometimes a person has to follow Jesus—like the disciple fishermen.”
I swallowed and tried to hide my sweaty palms. “That’s all I got to say. Ruby Day needs me, and I would appreciate it if you all would stop calling her a retard or feebleminded. She didn’t choose to be born that way. Not like Francine chose to wear that … ostentatious bow this morning.” I liked to use big words like
ostentatious
and
serendipity
from time to time. It makes people think or even get out the dictionary.
Some of the kids laughed, and I will admit I enjoyed the moment before I sat down. I made sure I gave Francine a look.
“Thank you, Luna,” Mrs. Grady said. “Now please get out your geometry books and turn to page eighty-two. The isosceles triangle.”
CHAPTER 10
T hings got better after that. Ruby Day and I got into a routine, and I even started visiting Mama less. Somehow, Ruby Day managed to get Mr. Haskell to hire Lavinia back, and that made Lavinia start treating her better.
“She even made me a liverwurst sandwich for lunch the other day,” Ruby Day said. “And she brought me a cream soda.”
I was so proud of Ruby Day, and I knew Mason would be proud too.
About the second week of October, Ruby Day decided she should walk to the cemetery. I went with her. We brought flowers from the garden, and
I smiled. “But that’s a good thing, Ruby Day. You’ll be making more money.”
Ruby Day started to shake her head in that wild way she had. Then she balled her hands into fists and punched her head like she was trying to kill her thoughts inside.
“Stop that,” I said with the same firmness my mama used with us kids. “Stop that this instant. There is nothing to be upset about.” Then I stopped because I remembered how I hated it when Daddy would tell me I had no reason to be upset. I certainly did have a reason on most occasions.
“I’m sorry. Tell me why it upsets you to have more money.”
“More to take care of, Luna. More to care about, and I don’t like caring about those things.”
I took her hands in mine and looked at her square in the face. “That’s why I’m here. To be next to you and help you.”
It took another minute or two, but Ruby Day settled down, and we went inside for corn and sliced ham.
The next morning I asked Mrs. Grady if I could talk to the class like I told Mama I wanted.
“Now why would you want to do such a thing?” She sat at her big oak desk and fiddled with pencils. “It’s your business isn’t it, Luna? Yours and your parents’.”
“Well, that’s just it. I had a talk with Mama yesterday while she was shucking corn, and that’s when the notion struck me to stand up in front and tell everybody. I figured it could maybe keep people from whispering about me and Ruby Day.”
Mrs. Grady shoved a pencil into her ratty nest of gray hair. “Go on, then. Say your piece, but don’t take too much time. We have a full schedule today.”
Mrs. Grady quieted everyone down, and I stood there with my back pressed against the blackboard. But my knees still knocked like two cymbals in a brass band. I thought for sure everyone could hear them.
“Now, class,” Mrs. Grady said. “Luna Gleason has something to say.”
I stared right at Francine, who was sitting all smug and tall. She wore a big red ribbon in her blonde hair that made me think of Christmas. I decided not to look at her as I spoke.
“I just wanted you all to know that I went to live with Ruby Day.” Some snickers wafted around the room, but I ignored them. “Because she needs me more than I need to be living at home right now. Mason—” I swallowed. “Mason died, and now she’s by herself, and Jesus said to help the widows and orphans, so that’s what I intend to do.”
Mrs. Grady stood up like she wanted me to sit down. But I stayed put and thought about my words some more.
“Sometimes a person has to follow Jesus—like the disciple fishermen.”
I swallowed and tried to hide my sweaty palms. “That’s all I got to say. Ruby Day needs me, and I would appreciate it if you all would stop calling her a retard or feebleminded. She didn’t choose to be born that way. Not like Francine chose to wear that … ostentatious bow this morning.” I liked to use big words like
ostentatious
and
serendipity
from time to time. It makes people think or even get out the dictionary.
Some of the kids laughed, and I will admit I enjoyed the moment before I sat down. I made sure I gave Francine a look.
“Thank you, Luna,” Mrs. Grady said. “Now please get out your geometry books and turn to page eighty-two. The isosceles triangle.”
CHAPTER 10
T hings got better after that. Ruby Day and I got into a routine, and I even started visiting Mama less. Somehow, Ruby Day managed to get Mr. Haskell to hire Lavinia back, and that made Lavinia start treating her better.
“She even made me a liverwurst sandwich for lunch the other day,” Ruby Day said. “And she brought me a cream soda.”
I was so proud of Ruby Day, and I knew Mason would be proud too.
About the second week of October, Ruby Day decided she should walk to the cemetery. I went with her. We brought flowers from the garden, and
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