10. Chapter Ten
Chapter Ten
A mile down the road, the car came to the village, driving smoothly past all the familiar places. Since Jane had come to the home, she’d only seen the village when walking to a specific destination, and usually she’d been keeping track of the other girls and not paying attention to the buildings. Driving by was a new experience. Jane pressed her nose against the glass, taking it all in. First came the church, and then there was the school building and adjacent schoolyard. Beyond that was a row of small businesses, including the butcher shop and bakery. Next came the post office.
The Rolls-Royce drove slowly down the middle of the village, attracting attention. Some children having a snowball fight paused to watch it drive by, while others walking on the sidewalk pointed and stared.
On the outer edge of the community, they passed the local tavern, the Mule. She’d never actually ventured that far into the village, but she’d heard all about this place. Prohibition had been over for two years now, and in that time it had developed quite a reputation. One of the newer girls had often gone to the Mule to retrieve her father and had witnessed some terrible things firsthand. She’d regaled the others with stories of fistfights, broken bottles, and men toppling off bar stools. It sounded like an awful place for anyone, much less a child.
Leaving the village, they drove past farm fields, and Jane felt her anxiety melt away. The feeling that she’d done something wrong was still there, lingering in the background, but it was fading with every mile. She’d only done as instructed by Miss Sheridan. Also in her defense? When she’d broached the subject, Eddie claimed to know what was going on. Perhaps this was some kind of Christmas exchange scheme? Unlikely, but then again, the whole thing was bizarre. Swept up in this situation, she felt uneasy. Getting a break from the home for a few hours did have some positives, though. The girls might feel temporarily abandoned, but Mary often left to visit her aunt, while Jane had never had a holiday from the home since the day she’d arrived. This outing might only last another hour or two. Certainly she’d be going back very soon.
On the seat next to her was an empty basket and a small plaid blanket. Jane took the blanket and covered her lap, tucking it in on each side. Her window was frosted on the inside, so she scratched at it with a fingernail, clearing a small opening, then gazed out at the farm fields. “How long is the drive?” she asked .
“Still an hour.” She heard Eddie sigh. “Believe me, I’m driving as fast as I can.”
“I know you are. Thank you.”
He glanced back. “Are you feeling well?”
“Yes, thank you. Why do you ask?”
He shook his head, returning his attention to the front windshield. “Just making sure there’s not exhaust coming up through the floorboards.”
“Goodness. Does that happen sometimes?”
“It never has before.”
“Oh. I see.” Rich people could be so confusing.
By the time they reached the city, the heater had done its job. Jane watched in awe, taking in the dense traffic, tall buildings, and crowds of people coming and going along the sidewalks. “What’s that up ahead?” she asked when Eddie stopped at an intersection.
“Where?”
“That line of people?” A line of one person after another stretched down the block and around the corner. Most of them were men, but in the back of the line Jane caught sight of a weary woman wearing a man’s gray coat with a scarf tied under her chin. She held the hand of a little boy about three or four. Next to her stood two older girls, one of whom didn’t have a coat on at all. She wore a dress she appeared to have outgrown, and she hugged herself as if her folded arms would keep her warm.
Eddie said, “It’s a soup kitchen. Sometimes they hand out food for folks to take home. ”
“What kind of food?”
“Canned goods. Occasionally they have bread or vegetables. It varies.”
“So these people are hungry?”
“I imagine so. No one would stand out in the cold otherwise.”
As Jane watched, the mother of three turned her head, revealing the exhaustion etched on her face. “They all look so miserable.”
“That they do. There’s a depression going on, in case you hadn’t noticed.”
Inexplicably, an urge came over Jane. Later, she couldn’t quite explain the impulse. At the time, it seemed the only thing to do. “Can you wait, please?” She grabbed the bag of leftover candy canes and the plaid blanket and exited the car. As she slammed the door behind her, she heard Eddie voice an objection, but she didn’t stop to find out what he’d said.
She approached the woman and said, “Excuse me, ma’am. May I give your children some candy canes?”
The older girl’s expression lit up with joy. “Can we, Mother?”
The mother looked guarded. “I don’t have any money.”
“I’m not selling them,” Jane said. “It’s a Christmas gift. I’d like to give them to you.”
Her eyes widened. “Well, if they’re free, then yes, they would like that very much.”
Jane handed each of them a candy cane, including the woman. “Merry Christmas to all of you. ”
The mother’s eyes welled up with tears. “Merry Christmas to you too, miss. You’re an angel here on earth. Children, what do we say?”
They responded with a delighted chorus of “Thank you!”
Jane wrapped the plaid blanket around the shoulders of the girl without a coat. “This should help you stay warm.”
“Can I keep it?” Her big brown eyes were hopeful.
“Yes, it’s yours now. A gift.”
The child said, “Oh, thank you! It’s so soft.”
“You’re welcome.” She heard cars honking from the street. Eddie hadn’t moved, and the vehicle was now blocking traffic. “I have to go now. Merry Christmas!”
“Merry Christmas!” they called out in unison.
She scrambled over the snowy walkway back to the car. As soon as she was safely inside with the door shut, Eddie drove away. A few blocks later, he spoke. “That was very kind of you.”
Jane said, “Will it be a problem that I gave away the blanket?” That was her only regret. It hadn’t been hers to give, and she didn’t have the money to replace it.
“A car blanket? There are a dozen more like it stored in the garage. It won’t be missed.”
He said the words so casually, and yet, Jane thought, the blanket that wouldn’t be missed made all the difference in the world to one cold child.