Threads and Flames by Esther Friesner Page B

the trip to Bremerhaven, and no one willing to help me with all of our things, and so many stairs to climb once we were on board!”
    â€œAnd then this bad weather,” Raisa added, patting the woman’s shoulder. “You’re not the only person who can’t be up and about today.”
    â€œI hope you’ll be able to eat a little something,” Zusa put in, setting down the pails. “It might settle your stomach.”
    â€œI’ll try,” the woman said, but she made no move to let go of her child or to reach for the pail full of oatmeal.
    â€œIt’ll be easier if we look after Brina for you,” Raisa volunteered. “We can give her her breakfast over by our bunks and take care of her for the rest of the day.”
    The woman’s arms closed more tightly around her daughter. “Oh, I couldn’t! She’d be too much trouble for you, Miss—Miss—”
    â€œI’m Raisa and this is Zusa. She won’t be any trouble at all. In fact”—she offered the weary mother a reassuring smile—“taking care of her will keep us out of trouble. Honestly, you’d be doing us a favor.”
    â€œThis is so kind of you.” Brina’s mother held her child close and spoke to her. “Will you go with them, sweetheart? You’ll have fun.” Brina looked from her mother’s pale face to Raisa and Zusa, then gave the slightest nod. “That’s my good angel.” Her mother urged her gently out of the bunk. “Now, you behave nicely while you’re with them and do as they say. I love you.”
    â€œI love you, too, Mama,” Brina said, giving her mother one more hug before offering her tiny hand to Raisa.
    The girls took Brina’s meal pail with them and went back to their bunks. Brina had a healthy appetite and made short work of the oatmeal. The rest of the day was spent playing games, singing songs, and sharing stories. Brina’s eyes sparkled with joy, though Raisa couldn’t help but notice the faint shadow of fear lingering on the child’s face.
    She’s in a strange place, going somewhere she can’t even imagine, and her mother’s not well. She must be scared half to death, she thought. Poor little one; I have to make it better for her. Aloud, Raisa asked, “Would you like to go look at the ocean, Brina? Maybe we’ll see fish or birds.”
    â€œAre you sure we should take her out on deck?” Zusa asked. “It’s still pretty rough.”
    â€œWe’ll put on her life preserver, and we’ll both hold her hands the whole time.”
    â€œIf she’ll let me,” Zusa said. “You’re the one she likes. She must be able to tell you’re the one who knows how to be a good sister.”
    â€œDon’t tell me you’re jealous,” Raisa teased.
    â€œNot at all. Here.” Zusa thrust the empty meal pail into Raisa’s hands. “Big sisters get to do the washing.”
    Raisa left Brina in Zusa’s care while she went to clean the pail. On her way back from the washing facilities, she decided it might be a good idea to pick up the child’s life preserver and take care of her mother’s meal pail at the same time. She threaded her way back to Brina’s berth and found the mother sleeping, her breakfast untouched. Raisa cast her eyes around until she found Brina’s life preserver on the upper bunk, then hesitated a while, debating if she should trouble the sleeping woman with questions about whether she wanted the cold oatmeal left for her or cleared away. In the end she decided that the woman needed sleep and left her.
    As soon as Brina saw Raisa coming back, she broke away from Zusa and ran to hug her. In spite of her protests about not caring if the child played favorites, Zusa sounded a little cranky when she remarked, “She’ll need a coat, too, if we’re going outside.”
    â€œI don’t know