Once in Every Life

Katie squeezed the doll harder. Her lower lip trembled. She opened her mouth to speak, but nothing came out. Savannah understood perfectly. What was there to say? "You better set the table. She'll be in any minute." Katie flinched at the reminder, then nodded. Slowly,

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mechanically, she went to the dresser and started gathering the plates and cups. Her feet shuffled softly across the floor as she went back and forth from the dresser to the table. Silverware and plates clanked in her wake.

Savannah felt tears rise in her throat, and she turned quickly back to the stove before Katie could see her weakness. Please don't call her stupid, Mama. Please ...

The kitchen door swung open. "Hi, kids."

Savannah spun around and saw her mother standing in the doorway. Smiling, Mama whipped the shawl off her shoulder and flung it over the nearest chair. "Wow, something smells great. What are you making?"

Savannah stared at her mother's smiling face in confusion. They had gone to talk to Miss Ames, hadn't they?

Katie eased toward Savannah and disappeared behind her skirts.

Savannah forced an uncomfortable smile. "It's rabbit, Mama. Your favorite."

She frowned. "I eat bunnies?"

Savannah hesitated. "Not bunnies, rabbits."

"Oh." Mama pressed a hand to her stomach and said weakly, "Great. Thanks."

Savannah couldn't wait another second. She had to know what happened at the school. "H-How did it go?"

Mama's smile faded. She looked at Savannah through suddenly narrowed eyes, and Savannah felt a wave of sick

fear.

"You're trying so hard to be grown-up," Mama whispered. Then she smiled, a soft, loving smile that made Savannah want to cry, it was so pretty. "It went well, I think."

"It did?" Katie squeaked behind her.

"Come here, Katie." Mama held out her hand.

Katie peeked her head around Savannah's arm. "Do I have ta?"

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She nodded.

Katie inched her way out from behind her sister. Savannah grabbed Katie's hand and stopped her for a second. "You ... you ain't gonna ... punish her, are you?"

Mama paled and squeezed her eyes shut, and when she opened them again, they were filled with tears. "Oh, God ..." She hurried across the room and dropped to her knees in front of them, taking Savannah's hands in hers. "Everything is going to be fine. I promise. I had a long talk with Miss Ames, and I think we've figured out a way to help Katie."

Savannah felt as if the world had been lifted from her thin shoulders. The tears she'd held back for so long stung her eyes. "I?I tried really hard to help her."

"I know you did. It's not your fault she can't read." "It ain't hers, either," Savannah said defensively. "I know that." "You doT

Mama smiled and stood up. "Yes, I do. Now, come on, Katie, we're going to have a talk. Savannah, you watch Caleb till we get back."

Tess took Katie by the hand and led her to the door. There she stopped, and turned back to Savannah. "You helped her the most, you know, just by loving her."

Savannah felt a surge of pride and love so strong, she didn't care if she did cry. Tears rolled down her cheeks and burrowed into the corners of her mouth. For once, they tasted good. Clean. "Thanks."

The evening was cool and crisp and stained lavender by the setting sun.

Tess and Katie walked down the porch steps and up the road, veering off into the tall grass at the top of the hill. "Where're we goin'?"