“Good morning, Ma’am. The children are overjoyed to see you as always.” Simone replied with equal cheer.
“If I am to be honest, I am just as happy to see them. How is their schooling going?”
“Oh, ma’am, these lovely children are always on their best behavior. Their minds are very sharp, and they love to learn.” Simone said proudly.
“Thatisgood news. I knew your gentle, patient manner would get through to them,” Gemma replied.
“Thank you, ma’am. Would you like to join us for the next class after the break?” Simone asked.
“I would, thank you,” Gemma replied. She looked over to the children laughing as Tess tried to catch them.
It Is a sight made sweeter by how they had come from their bitter start,Gemma thought, as emotions made her throat tighten up.
When she first met the children, Gemma’s first reaction was to hug them all and tell them what amazing children they were. The fact that their parents had been honest, hardworking people who had worked hard for every scrap of food was never considered enough by society to make them worthy. If the children had inherited land or held a title, they would have fought to adopt the children.
Can people be that cold?Gemma thought and when dismissed it from her mind. She knew herself well enough to know that if she dwelled on the subject too long, it would make her melancholy.
Simone rang a little bell, and the children heard it and came back to class. The wooden cabin had been built as a house that gave each of the children their room, and it had a kitchen and sitting area. The sitting area had been converted into a classroom.
There were desks with writing supplies inside them, chairs, and a big desk and chair for the teacher. The walls had an assortment of drawings stuck to them and almost covered the wood like wallpaper.
“Please, take my chair, ma’am,” Simone said as she went to her desk to pull the chair out.
“Thank you so much,” Gemma said as she sat down and waited for the lesson to start.
“Today we shall start our reading from where we left off yesterday,” Simone started, and the children opened their desks to get their books. “Harvey, would you start from paragraph three in chapter five?”
The young man was the oldest of the children and read the story well. Next, the oldest girl read, and Gemma felt proud that she did an even better job. When it came to the next child, she looked at the book nervously and then at Simone.
“I know you can do it, Angel. You do not have to be scared,” Simone said as she went to the child’s desk and came down to her height.
The young child smiled and looked at the book again. “The…the ra…rabbit is small a…and he is…soft,” Angel said and looked up to Simone.
“Oh, that is wonderful. Superb reading, well done.” Simone said as she hugged Angel. The child beamed up at her.
“Stacey, it is your turn now,” Simone said.
Stacey stood up and read a piece before it was her younger brother Michael’s turn and then lastly little Tess.
“Tess, would you kindly tell us what has happened in the story,” Simone asked and then came to stand close to Gemma. “She has not yet learned to read, and I believe she has trouble with words as her sister Angel does,” she said softly to Gemma.
“The rabbit lost his carrots and then he did find them,” Tess replied in her four-year-old way of speaking.
“Excellent Tess. Yes, the rabbit did lose his carrot and then found it. Now, he has met a snail who has lost his shell. Do you think he will find it again?” Simone asked, and Tess nodded enthusiastically.
Next, the children were asked to write a letter to any person of their choosing. Gemma quietly left while the children focused on their work.
“I will return by lunchtime with something to eat, Gemma whispered to Simone. Simone nodded in reply. Gemma loved cooking. To her, it was more than making food. It was about making a connection with people. You could better your health just by monitoring what you eat.
Gemma walked up the path that led to the main house. The first thing she did when she got home was to start preparations for lunch.
“Mrs. Whimbly, would you please bake a tart for lunch, best make it two or my grandmama will never forgive me,” Gemma asked the head cook.
“At once, ma’am,” Mrs. Whimbly replied. Gemma readied a basket full of food to take and eat with the children. She packed sandwiches and sweet pastries, while the tart was being made. Gemma then went searching for her mother. She would like to get her knitting further along than what it was. Autumn was quickly giving way to winter, and Gemma wanted to have the scarves, mittens, and socks ready in time.
Gemma found her mother sitting on the patio with tea next to her on the table and her knitting in front of her.
“How are the children?” her mother asked as she put her knitting needles down.
