Sweet Little Thing

Prologue

If only my backpack were larger, it would be easier to hide the items I was given today. It was sweet of them to give me something. I loved the pink teddy bear, its red heart saying, “Be Mine.” It was soft and pretty. I’d never had anything like it. The chocolate candies and heart-shaped necklace were nice, but the bear was my favorite. I had it shoved down into my bag so that not even its head could be seen. The other things were sticking out some. I hadn’t been able to zip my backpack up completely.

The hard part was hiding the presents while riding the bus back home. I was afraid someone would take them from me. I’d already prepared myself to hand over the necklace and chocolates first if Harriet Boyd saw my things. She was six inches taller, with a constant scowl, and I was sure even the bus driver, Ms. V, was frightened of Harriet.

Getting home with the teddy bear was my ultimate goal. The other things I could part with if I had to. Davey Eaton was cute, rich, and popular. I imagined this bear cost him a lot of money. It didn’t look like the ones I’d seen at the pharmacy or grocery store Valentine’s displays. It was special. The kind of special I’d never gotten before. That meant I had to keep it close.

The three different boys who had given me gifts today were all very nice. I had known they liked me, but I hadn’t expected all three to give me something. Momma said not to worry about boyfriends, I was too young. But after getting these gifts, I thought I might need to pick one. At least that way, they’d stop fighting over who sat by me at lunch.

I glanced around quickly. Being careful not to make eye contact with Harriet because she would attack. Her voice was so loud I could tell without looking she was a few rows behind me. She was taunting another girl about her hair.

Harriet hadn’t bothered me too much this year. There was a girl who sat three rows back. She had red hair, and her teeth poked out a little. Harriet was mean to her. I wished I was bigger or older. That way, I could take up for the girl. Seeing as I was neither of those things, there was nothing I could do to make Harriet leave her alone. And today I had a teddy bear that needed to get home safely.

The bus slowed to a stop at my trailer park. I’d made it. My gifts would survive. I looked back at the girl Harriet was harassing. I wanted to say something, to help her, but the bear in my backpack kept me from doing anything. . . not that it would’ve mattered.

I quickly exited the bus and hurried down the gravel road. It was lined with oak trees and empty beer cans. The grass was overgrown, and ant beds were piled high on each side of the gravel path. I had to make sure to dodge them. Stepping in one of those beds could get you in a real bad fix.

The single-wide trailer we called home was a faded blue color. The siding was cracked, allowing the wind to blow through the walls. The roof worked just fine, though, and Momma always said we were right as rain with a roof over our heads.

When I stepped into the grass that brushed against my knees, the front door of our trailer swung open: “Beulah!” my twin sister’s high-pitched voice carried out over the yard. She wasn’t going to school yet, although she was one minute older than me. Momma said she wasn’t ready. Not now, but in a few years. I worried she’d never make it at school. Momma said there were special classes for kids like Heidi to attend. I hadn’t seen these special classes yet, but I hoped Momma was right. Heidi wanted to go to school. She asked me about it all the time.

“I have you a surprise,” I told her. She ran out meeting me halfway to throw her arms around my neck. Heidi was my favorite person other than momma. No matter what, Heidi was happy. Heidi loved me when I was having a bad day, even when I acted ugly.

She clapped her hands and squealed with delight. “What?” she asked. “Tell me!”

I liked making her giddy with excitement. I knew the moment I was given this bear today that Heidi would love it even more than I did. I slipped my hand into the overstuffed backpack and pulled the bear out to show her. Like I imagined, her eyes lit up. Heidi grabbed it, hugging it tightly.

“For me?” she asked, her eyes wide.

I nodded. “Yes, for you. Happy Valentine’s Day,” I said, although I knew she didn’t understand. Where I had gotten the teddy bear or the holiday wasn’t important to Heidi.

She hugged it, tucking its head underneath her chin, her smile so big that it spread across her face.

“I love you, Beulah,” she said it like a declaration she wanted to make sure I heard.

“I love you the most,” I replied making her giggle.

No matter what was wrong in the world, Heidi’s sunny personality was infectious. She couldn’t go with me to school or read the books that I brought home. We were different in many ways. Heidi wasn’t a regular little girl. She was a special angel God had sent to our family. I knew that was true because Momma said so, and Momma never lied.