Editor’s Note: This is an ongoing series which runs each Thursday morning titled the Richland Chronicles, by author Paul Lintern. It is set in the 1860s and tells the story of Richland County through the eyes of young people. The books are available from Lintern for $25 a set, tax and shipping included. Each book is about 120 pages written for intermediate readers (4th grade) with local illustrations. Volume I is Amelia Changes Her Tune. Volume II is Isaac and Wolf Paw Find Their Home. Volume III is Autumn Keeps Her Secret. Volume IV is Mr. Gamble Starts a School. Volume V is Jacob Blows his Horn. Volume VI is Cassie Fights the War.
“Do you think it’s going to be hard for Lilly and Ivy to grow up in the Pleasant’s home?” Cassie asked no one in particular as the family started home.
“Why do you ask that?” Mrs. Zimmerman asked.
“I just wondered. They were rushed out of the only place they knew, their parents died, they never met the Pleasants until they arrived there, they have an older brother and sister now and they may never see anyone else they used to know.”
“Well, I don’t know how to answer that, but I wonder if we have someone here who can,” she said.
Hmmm. Whoever could she be talking about? So what do I say?
“Of course it’s hard. It’s all hard,” Emilene heard herself say.
“Oh Emmy, it didn’t even occur to me that you…” Cassie said.
“I hate every minute. I don’t know why this all happened. How did I get stuck here? Who’s idea was it to take away my family? I don’t belong here. You don’t even like my goat, and he’s all I have left,” Emilene sobbed.
Oh, I’ve said too much.
“Stuck here? You think you’re stuck here?”
“Now Jacob…”
“No, Mama, she doesn’t need to talk to us that way. We have been very nice to her, given her everything we could, and she’s stuck with us?”
“You will be quiet right now, Jacob Zimmerman. Not another word until you consider everything you have said and want to say,” Mr. Zimmerman said.
“Me?”
“I said that is enough!”
With that, he pulled the reign back and pulled Maggie to a stop, in the middle of Fourth street. He turned to Emilene.
“Dear Girl, we decided to ask you into our family because we knew what had been taken from you. We know a little of what you are going through because everybody has to go through this in their own way, but Lord, you have had to do way too much. We know that.”
You couldn’t possibly know that.
“But we are not inviting you into our family because we pity you. We want you here so we can love you and be better because you are part of our lives,” he said. “That older brother may be a lunkhead sometimes, but he is a good boy and becoming a good man, and if you will put up with the things he is shortsighted about, you will find him to be a wonderful part of your life.”
His father shot a stern look and a wink at Jacob, who just stared back uncertainly.
Lunkhead. Good one.
“And you have a beautiful older sister that will help you grow into a wonderful woman, along with her, if you give her the chance.”
I’m not going to cry. I’m not going to cry.
“You do not have to call us mother and father, mama and papa, or anything like that, if you don’t think you can, but even if you can’t, we have promised your mother and father in Heaven that we will do our best to guide you and love you through these very hard days ahead.
“Do you understand?”
Emilene slowly nodded her head.
I don’t understand how you can just be so nice to me. I haven’t been nice to you.
“I … I’m sorry for what I said. I want to feel like I belong. You have been very nice to me. I just don’t know what I’m doing.”
“I actually do like having a sister,” Cassie said.
“It can be better than having a brother.”
“Hey,” Jacob said. “You know, a kid sister can be more fun than a twin sister.”
“Hey,” Cassie shot back.
Emilene smiled briefly, still looking down.
They are trying real hard.
Mr. Zimmerman started Maggie forward again.
“This is new for all of us,” Mrs. Zimmerman said. “We just know there are a lot of children who suddenly have lost a father, and many who are now orphans. If God gives us the ability, the opportunity, to include another child in our brood, so be it.
“But this isn’t about us adding anyone to our family, this is about us adding you.
“We want you to be part of our family. You can be a Zimmerman if that helps, or you can keep your birth name — Meyer — if that makes it easier for you.”
Zimmerman. Meyer. Zimmerman. Meyer. Zimmerman. Meyer.
“What about both? Could I be Emilene Meyer Zimmerman?”
She saw her new parents look at each other and nod, then smile.
“That sounds like a plan,” Mr. Zimmerman said.
“We could call her by her first two names whenever it is convenient, and add the Zimmerman when it is official,” Cassie suggested.
“Emilene Meyer. That sounds like you are in trouble. Emilene Meyer, you come her this instant,” Jacob said in his best Mama voice.
“Sounds like you have experience in hearing that,” Mama replied.
“That’s me, Mr. Experience,” Jacob said.
Even Jacob doesn’t stay mad for long. What’s wrong with me?
“I truly am sorry,” Emilene said. “It really is okay, Kid,” Jacob said. “We all have to be allowed to say what we really think and to be forgiven when we really need it.”
“Some more than others,” Cassie smiled.
I supposed having a sister can be a good thing.
