Chapter XII #3
Shifting her focus toward the box engraved with her initials, she decided to open it and take out her silver locket with its long chain.
She clenched it in her left palm while holding the frame in the other.
The locket had sat snugly in its box day after day since she had received it so many years ago.
Henry had urged her to wear it, but she had always been too afraid—what if she lost it?
She had argued with him at the time that if she had lost something so precious, she would have been devastated.
It was better to keep it safe and sound in her monogrammed jewelry box, rather that risk the chain breaking while she was out and about.
The memory of his disappointed face flashed before her eyes.
How foolish she had been. He had been so excited to give her this gift, and she had fretted it into an argument.
She replaced the frame in its position and undid the clasp of the necklace.
Moving over to her coat, she retrieved Henry's pocket watch.
She tucked his folded warning back into its resting place inside and slipped the chain through the metal loop of the watch.
As it slid down the chain, the watch came to rest against her locket.
She re-clasped the necklace and drew it on over her head.
Tucking it under her blouse, the cool metal of the two objects came to rest atop her breastbone. She placed her hand on top.
A loud pounding came from the front hall.
Mae smoothed her hair and straightened her wrinkled clothes.
She pulled open the door to a wide-eyed and frenzied Mrs. Kerr.
Wisps of her ash-blonde hair stuck out like straw from under her faded navy kerchief.
The lines about her tired eyes framed the heavy dark circles that stood in contrast to her pale complexion.
The only color being her red cheeks and nose from the cold February wind.
Her heaving bosom rose and fell at an alarming rate as she shrieked, “She’s gone!
She’s gone! Ye must get ‘er back, Mrs. Turner!”
Mae stood stupidly, her eyes roaming unfocused on the woman before her. “Excuse me?”
“The trains! They’re puttin’ ‘em on the trains!”
“Who? The orphan trains?” Mae tried to bring the conversation into focus.
“The bairns! The bairns at the Foundling…” Mrs. Kerr sucked in a deep breath and continued, “they’re all to be put on the trains headin’ West!”
“The Foundling? The Foundling House on East 68th? How do you know?”
“Aye! One and the same! I paid off the cook to tell me about how me Lily was gettin’ on.”
“All of the children?”
“A whole lot of ‘em. All ages…” The woman loosed a sob. “And me Lily in the mix… I saw ‘er… My sweet bairn… My love…”
“All ages?” Mae's eyes grew wide. “Where are they going? Which station?”
“Grand Central,” the bigger woman wheezed out. “They be bringin ‘em down to Grand Central this mornin’.”
Mae thought of Simon, then thought back to the police clerk.
…those orphan trains run pretty regular and boys of a working age go fairly quickly.
She shuddered. Had Father Cary gotten Simon’s transport expedited because of her outburst yesterday?
She had to move now, or Simon could be placed out before she had a chance to fight for him.
“We must go right now!” She grabbed her coat and purse from the rack while she slid into her shoes. They may not have much time.
She pushed past Mrs. Kerr and called over her shoulder, “C’mon!”
Mrs. Kerr shuffled back down the steps to street level and had to hustle to keep up with Mae.
Mae made straight for the El. If she were lucky, she could be at Grand Central in just under twenty minutes.
She heard the distant rumblings of the streetcar as she pumped her legs faster.
Mrs. Kerr hauled her heavier frame behind Mae as quickly as she could, but Mae noticed that she was beginning to fall back. “We must hurry!”
The streetcar approached their stop, and they both slowed down.
Mae's foot tapped relentlessly as she chewed her pointer finger.
The cuticle tore open with the fierce grinding of her teeth.
Blood suffused her mouth, and the metallic taste heightened her senses of the surrounding scene.
The other waiting people stared at her and Mrs. Kerr, mouths agape.
Mae could hear the wheezing and gasping breaths of the bigger woman as she bent over to put her hands on her knees.
The ding of the car sounded as it pulled to a stop in front of them.
Mrs. Kerr followed Mae into the car and collapsed into the seat next to her.
Mae watched the conductor make his rounds to collect the fares.
After dropping her nickel into his hands, she observed Mrs. Kerr sift through her pockets and drag out the fare one penny at a time.
The conductor’s hand remained outstretched as he stood bracing himself against the car while it rattled down the street.
Finally, as the last penny dropped into his hand, he shoved the transfer into her hand and turned abruptly to the front of the car until the next stop.
After stepping off, they rushed to the transfer car. Only a few more moments and they would be there. Would Simon still be there? Where were they sending them? She sent a little prayer up to Henry in her head. Let me get there in time…