Heaven's Gate Bridge eight

Heaven’s Gate Bridge eight

Mrs. Miller was in the kitchen busy making a list of things that she would ask her husband to pick up. It was convenient that there was a store on the way home. Also she liked very fresh items for the meals that she would have this weekend. The kitchen smelled of coffee, eggs, and bacon. Each member who was not sick had a great appetite. For the nearly well members, oatmeal and apple juice would be in order. If Harriet was better she could try this also, but if not then she would have toast, apple juice and maybe tea. This seemed like a lot of work but since there was no school, Catherine and William could assist a little and Timothy could do more after he had taken care of Buddy.

Buddy was so excited with the food smell that he was scratching at the door. His little whimpers were almost driving her crazy but as if on cue, Timothy came down from his room and took Buddy out to run off some of that puppy excitement.

Mr. Miller was in the parlor reading his newspaper. He had surprised her with the bottles of milk already inside the ice box. He also told her what the boys had seen and that he would do some further investigations. Not too many people were out at this time so there was not a lot of extra noise. The only other problem was the slight nausea that accompanied her pregnancy. She was concerned because along with it she was feeling a little extra tired. In fact she could almost insist that she was beginning to itch a little. Of course she decided it was only because she had been thinking a lot of the measles lately. She would be so thankful when the doctor would declare all of the children healthy and back to normal.

“Well honey, there is just some interesting news in the paper today. Can you believe that suffragettes would bomb a church in England? They should know that they just don‘t understand things well enough to vote. Why if they voted, they might even begin the effort to try to run for office. A woman is just a gentle person. She is more suitable to do things in the home, have children and maybe teach, if she is single.” he said as he thumped the newspaper.

“I agree with you in some things, but if women are smart enough to be teachers, then don’t you think that they are smart enough to decide on things that concern them?” she said as she filled the pot with water to make the oatmeal.

As she waited for an answer, Catherine walked in. “Mother, Harriet is awake. She drank the water that I gave her and says that the itching seems to be better. I do hope that this means that I can go back to our room now.”

Frances put box of oatmeal down. As she left the room, she took the newspaper out of her husband’s hands. “I think I will want to see this when I have time later,” and put it on the table that was in the hallway. She knew that she and her husband would have in interesting time discussing the topic that was left hanging.

Frances entered the still dark room where Harriet had been secluded for the time that she had been sick. The room was a little warm and stuffy. On the table beside the bed was an empty glass, a pitcher, a picture in a frame and a lamp. On the bed with Harriet was her favorite Raggedy Ann doll that she had when she felt blue. Harriet looked like she had started regaining some of the color to her slender face. Her hair was still uncombed. Her hands were trying to straighten up the sheet and blankets on her bed.

Frances walked in and smiled at her beautiful little patient. “Harriet. How do you feel?” she asked in her nice voice.

“Mother, are you saying something? I can not understand you.” she said as a puzzled look came to her face.

“I asked you how you were, dear. Can you hear me?” responded Frances with a bewildered look. She knew that her voice was not generally loud, but she thought that she was understandable.

“No. I can’t hear you very well. I see your lips moving, but only a few sounds come out.” she said as she shook her head.

“You have been very sick dear. And you have been in bed for a long time. Maybe you have some fluids in your ears and need more rest.” said Frances as she picked up her daughter’s hand.

“What?” asked Harriet. “Please what are you saying?”

“I said you have been sick.” said Frances a little louder and slower. “Just rest and I will bring up something for you to eat. The doctor is coming this afternoon. He will check your ears.” as she pointed to her own ears.

“Oh,” replied Harriet. “I have been sick.” She started to get up out of bed, but stopped when her mother smiled and just gently pushed her back.

“I will bring up breakfast.”

“Okay. I do feel a little hungry.” Harriet responded as she grabbed her doll to hug.

Frances turned and left the room which almost started to spin in her head. On the outside of the room, she leaned against the door for a minute until the feeling left. As she started walking down the hall, she looked in on William, she saw that he had his clothes on and was making his bed. He even had his nice school clothes hung up to keep them from getting extra wrinkles.

“Well I think that my young man is feeling better. How about escorting you mother downstairs and going to the kitchen.”

“Okay mother. I want to say hello to Buddy. I hope that Timothy has been doing a good job in taking care of him. “ he said as he picked up his brush to fix his hair.

“I would say that Buddy is in good hands, but really needs two young men to keep him out of trouble.” she said with a smile.

“I think so too.” as he walked up to his mother and took her hand.

“Gee mother, your hand is very warm. Are you okay?” he asked with a look of concern.

“Yes, I am fine. I do a lot of work in the kitchen and it is nice a warm in there now.”

They both walked down stairs and into the kitchen. To her surprise, Mr. Miller had made the oatmeal and was starting to get the bacon and eggs ready.