What the Moon Said by Gayle Rosengren Page B

“Go find Pa.”
    Bethany looked as bewildered as Esther felt. “I guess I’ve got to eat now,” Esther told her friend. “But I’ll see you after lunch.”
    â€œWe are not staying,” Ma cut in firmly. “Now, do as I tell you.”
    Confused and upset, Esther went. What had happened to Ma? She’d been so happy one minute, and almost angry the next. It didn’t make any sense. Tears blurred Esther’s eyes and she stumbled more than once as she searched for Pa. Surely Ma hadn’t meant it when she said they weren’t staying. They couldn’t leave yet. They’d just arrived!
    She found Pa fishing in a shady cove not far down the shore. Walter was digging with a stick nearby. “Pa, Ma sent me to tell you it’s time to eat,” Esther said.
    Pa’s forehead wrinkled. “So soon?”
    â€œAll of a sudden she’s in a big hurry to eat and go home,” Esther said miserably.
    â€œI don’t want to go!” Walter cried. He dangled a worm up for Pa to see. “Look, Pa, I got another one!”
    â€œVery good, Walter. Put it in the can with the others and come. It is lunchtime.” Pa pulled his line from the water and picked up two fish from the grassy bank. He patted Esther’s shoulder. “I will talk to Ma.”
    But Pa could not change Ma’s mind. Neither could the Heggersmiths and Nielsons. “I have a bad headache,” she told them. Esther blinked in surprise. She hadn’t known Ma wasn’t feeling well.
    â€œIt’s not fair,” Violet said as she and Esther shook crumbs from the quilt after lunch. “Peter asked me to be his partner in the three-legged race.”
    â€œGames?” Esther wailed. “There are going to be games?”
    â€œAnd fireworks,” Violet added bitterly. “Mr. Heggersmith sets some off every year.”
    Esther wanted to sit on the ground and howl.
    The ride home was a silent one. No one but Ma had wanted to leave. Now they just wanted the ride home to be over. Pa tried to whistle once, but the song trailed off before he’d gotten out more than a few notes. His heart plainly wasn’t in it.
    Esther could understand that easily enough. Her own misery was so keen, her chest actually hurt with the strain of holding sobs inside. She was only thankful that she had managed to slip away long enough to say good-bye to Bethany. “I’m sorry about the way Ma acted,” she had apologized. “She’s got a bad headache.”
    Good-natured Bethany waved off Esther’s apology. “It’s all right. But listen to the great idea I had—and Mama says it’s fine with her. You can come for lunch, and after, we can pick raspberries. Our bushes are loaded.” Bethany was dancing from foot to foot in excitement. “Wouldn’t it be fun to have a whole afternoon together?”
    Esther’s spirits had risen considerably. “Yes! I’ll come for sure if Ma will let me.”
    â€œMama said to come Wednesday at noon if you can,” Bethany told her.
    So the plan was made. And thinking of it was all that kept Esther from crying on the hot ride home. When they got to the farmhouse, she stopped on the porch to greet Mickey. But Ma called, “Esther, come here.”
    Ma’s voice sounded funny. Was she angry at Esther? Esther hurried inside. “Yes, Ma?”
    Ma was unpacking the picnic leftovers. She barely glanced at Esther. “You will stay away from the Klause girl from now on,” she said.
    She said it quite plainly, so Esther knew she hadn’t misunderstood. But she could not believe Ma would say such a thing.
    Pa walked in carrying the two fish he had caught. Esther looked to him for help. But he shook his head. He would not go against Ma.
    â€œB-but why, Ma?” Esther finally managed. “Why do you want me to stay away from Bethany?”
    â€œBecause she is marked,” Ma said.