Where Old Ghosts Meet by Kate Evans

then the twinkle appeared and lit up her face.
    â€œâ€˜Now what am I supposed to do with the like of that?’ I said to him. He just shrugged his shoulders. ‘Wear it, I suppose.’ Where? That is what I wanted to say but I held my tongue. Well, I never did wear it.” She inclined her head towards Nora. “Not in public anyways, not for the longest while. But there was many a night afterwards when I’d be on my own, feeling a bit lonesome or maybe even a bit foolish, then I’d take out the hat and fool around with it. I’d pretend I was walking the streets of New York all swanky like or I’d be having tea at Government House in St. John’s or fancy I was parading on the deck of some ocean liner. I could be anyone I liked then, anyone I pleased, and be far from Berry Island.” There was a hint of defiance in her voice but she was chuckling softly to herself.
    â€œSo nobody knew about the hat except you and Matt?” Nora asked.
    Peg shifted, straightened her back and folded her arms at her waist. “No, girl, not for the longest while, until one night I had the hat out and in walked my sister Ellen and that was the end of it. ‘How can you hide such a beautiful thing? If you don’t wear it then I will,’ she said and wouldn’t give up on it. Well, shortly after that it was Lady Day on the island. That was a day in July month when all hands took a holiday from work for a bit of sport and fun. Back then it was a big day. There were games for the children and for the adults who wanted to be children and then a soup supper and dance at night. Well, nothing would do Ellen but that I wear the hat to the festivities. I took it along in my hand just to keep her quiet. That day, I believe every woman on the island tried on the hat and some of the men too! Soon I was wearing the hat, setting it off to one side like Matt had shown me and feeling right proud of myself.”
    â€œWas Matt there to see you?”
    The look on Peg’s face made Nora realize her error. Peg’s mouth had clamped shut tightly and her chin was now thrust forward, giving her a stubborn determined look.
    When the silence became too much between them, it was Peg who broke the tension. “No, he was not. He was gone then. I was alone.” Her head dropped and she began to stroke the thin cloth of her dress, making circular motions on her knee as if to soothe an ache.
    From where she sat beside her, Nora could see only the top of the bowed head. In one spot the straw was worn right through. The flower on the brim had fallen forward and hung limp by a thread. She wished with all her heart that she hadn’t been so thoughtless. She was trying to form an apology, to say she had meant no harm, when Peg lifted her head and took a deep breath. Her mouth was set in a determined line.
    â€œIt was all just a bit of fun to begin with and I paid no attention but about mid-afternoon a stiff breeze suddenly comes in off the water and took the hat right off my head. It took off across the meadow, jumpin’ and kickin’ about, pitchin’ down for a spell here and there.” She looked down at her hands again and began her little rubbing motion. “The children was all lined up to the side of the field for a race but when they saw the hat, they took off after it like a pack of dogs. It was the race of the day, many said after, with the mothers and fathers all riled up, shoutin’ and bawlin’, cheerin’ the youngsters on:
    â€œâ€˜After her, b’ys! That hat’s got a mind all its own, I’ll allow!’
    â€œâ€˜Look at her go! She’s caught a fair breeze; there’ll be no stoppin’ her now.’
    â€œâ€˜I believe she’s bound for New York!’
    â€œâ€˜Be the lard jumpins, I wouldn’t mind a spell there meself.’
    â€œâ€˜Hang on to yer drawers, Jimmy Slade, you’re not gettin’ clear of yer missus that