Anne Pence Davis

“ We all love you, no matter who your Mother and Father were.”
“I know they were fine, too, Mimi. But it’s this awful suspense of not knowing. I might have brothers and sisters and pass right by them any day and not know them. My mother must be tortured imagining horrible things have happened to me. I’d—I’d rather—believe—she is dead than that she has worried about me all these years.”
The letter which Mimi had quickly thrust in her belt when she took Chloe in her arms, crackled as the two girls sat down on the bed. ”

“ Chloe said proudly. It was fine to have a family.
“Where is she?” Mimi wanted to know. She’d like to see Aunt Marcia. She wished she had the nerve to ask her some questions. Was she a large, slow moving woman? If you called her Aunt Freida suddenly as if by mistake would she flinch?
“Gone. We went out to dinner and a movie with her and spent the night at the hotel with her. She left on the early train and sent us home in a taxi.”
“That makes us even,” Betsy said. “What are we going to do all day. This is only Friday and there’s tomorrow, too.” ”

“ The print they sent Mimi was a Hanfstaengel called “The Cherubim,” artistically copying the little angels who hover around the Virgin in the full picture of the Madonna. Beaming faces. Mimi loved them. What wonderful gifts from Leipzig!
Then the small packages. Stationery from Chloe with Tumble Inn hand blocked in the upper left corner. Oh, these art students. Mimi’s fingers felt thick and clumsy as she untied Betsy’s package. It did not look neat but Mimi never judged inside by outside. An enviable black and white sport belt to wear with her riding habit. ”

“ The striped runners of wandering jew falling over the edges of the hanging baskets brushed her hair as she ducked under and her swinging arm almost knocked a fern pot from its pedestal, for Mimi had jumped on to the porch neither from the porte-cochere nor the front steps. With Von barking boldly at her heels, she had cut across the lawn and leaped on to the porch to Mammy—Precious old Cissy, who this instant hugged her close, and the next was holding her at arm’s length saying:—
“Lan’s sakes alive, Miss Mimi, yo sho is brought home a good crop of freckles and this newfangled sun tan both!” ”

“ It was more fun to tease girls who resented it and had to battle themselves to remain good sports. Mimi felt like a martyr but she gritted her teeth and bore the persecutions.
This was a week Mimi never forgot. She completed her schedule, became acquainted with her teachers, tried out for soccer and tennis. Sue tried out for orchestra and was assigned second violin. Chloe began spending all her spare time in the library or better, the art studio. Betsy tried out for the same things Mimi did. She was good at them. Her chances for soccer looked better than Mimi’s. ”

“ DEATH BELLS “Madge?” Mimi said, putting her arm around her. She was wide awake now. “You’re shaking like a leaf.”
“I—know—it but I can’t stop. Every time I close my eyes I hear them—thump—thump—thump. Oh Mimi it’s awful! You don’t know unless you’ve heard them.”
“What’s up?” Betsy whispered. She scrawled over Jill and poked her head between theirs. “Am I missing something?”
“Sh—sh—” Mimi said to Betsy, but she had her arm around Madge, patting her shoulder. “Madge—er, Madge doesn’t feel well.” ”

“ Mimi, of course, had a beautifully tailored habit. She had taken good care of her patent leather boots. The other girls had jodphurs, so by exchanging blouses and sweaters a few times they managed to fit themselves out becomingly. Chloe had the worst time of all. Everything she had on but her jodphurs was borrowed. She had never been on a horse in her life. She wasn’t too keen on the idea but tried not to show how she felt, Mimi guessed. ”

“ How grand to see an artist who was, withal, such a man. Mimi’s mind kept hopping to tennis racquets and other sporting goods which had made his family famous. Then she would come back to the music. Several times she checked down the program to see how much longer it was.
She knew exactly how to act at the reception which followed. Only the music students were presented to the artist and Mimi felt she shouldn’t barge in on that. She had been very lucky to get to usher. She did, however, go down the receiving line and chatter with many of the college girls. ”

“ At the foot of the stairs the two girls turned right and back. Mimi ran on tiptoe left and back to meet them under the stairs. She crouched down behind a large trash container and waited. Betsy’s flashlight was playing against the wall.
“There’s the buzzer,” she whispered. “Give me a minute to get back to the foot of the stairs so you can find me by the light and so we can run.”
The alarm buzzer was right over Mimi’s head. She could reach up and touch it herself. But she had decided on her course. Better to scare one girl or two girls out of their wits, than turn the whole school inside out. ”

“ The caterer knew it was a work of art but it was Mammy in her new black uniform and crisp white organdy apron and cap who, after the ceremony, would carry it in with candles flickering, place it in the center of the table and hand Miss Jane the silver cake server.
There was a green bank of luxurious ferns before the living room fireplace forming an altar. Even now, the florist’s helper was lighting the tall cathedral candles on either side. The white satin stool for the bride and groom to kneel on was placed just so. There was a profusion of cut flowers everywhere. ”

“ When they piled out of the taxi Jack bought them something else—cute little footballs dangling on black and yellow satin ribbons!
“Wait ’til Sue and Chloe see these!” she said to Betsy as they followed the usher down to their seats.
“Be sure and save your program, too,” she said to Betsy. “Watch me and if you see me chewing mine or tearing the corners off, slap my hands.”
But Mimi forgot even her own program when the team came out. The running, kicking, passing fascinated her. It wasn’t the first time Mimi had wished she were a boy. ”

“ Betsy hated uniforms worse than Mimi. She had worn them a longer time.
“Omigosh!” Sue gasped. “I nearly forgot! They saved your trunk, Mimi—lock, stock, and barrel——”
“Why Sue! If you’re kidding, I’ll never speak to you again!”
Why that would be too wonderful! Of course the cherubs weren’t in it, or her racket; but her diary was. She’d had plenty of “undies” and hose and a dress or two and goodness knows what else. The strangest things get in the funniest places, especially in trunks. ”

“ Mimi clapped loudest.
“I am going out to Wildwood today to see for myself how the ice looks. In the meantime all girls interested in ice skating sign the sheet on the bulletin board. Only those girls who are well and warmly dressed will be permitted to go. This is not a definite promise but know this. I want to go as badly as you do, maybe more.”
Mimi never doubted the weather man an instant. She felt sure, too, that Miss Bassett would not have mentioned the party at all unless she was practically sure the ice would hold. Mimi’s worry was not the temperature, it was getting some ice skates. ”

“ Five minutes after the daring visit to College Hall, sugar and water and cocoa fudge was boiling away in the chafing dish which stood in the bottom of the bathtub. Mimi was stirring away, foamy brown bubbles. She mustn’t let it boil over, not waste a precious drop——
“Want a cup of water to test it?” Chloe asked.
“Shoot no,” Mimi answered. “I can tell by the way it boils when it’s done. When it begins to boil heavy and the bubbles spit little balls, it’s ready to beat. Can I wait or can I wait?”
Betsy in the meantime had greased a platter with cold cream. ”

“ All the girls knew about Chloe’s family was that her allowance came from her Aunt Marcia. Bad as they wanted to know, they did not ask. Maybe her parents were divorced. Her mother must have been so beautiful that men might have kept on falling in love with her.
“Guess I’d better go,” Madge said putting the top back on the peanut butter jar. She had been eating and hoping Chloe would leave as Sue had but Chloe seemed settled for the afternoon. “Please, don’t mention anything I’ve told you.”
“Certainly not.”
Giving Mimi an impetuous hug she hurried out.
“Isn’t she queer?” Mimi said to Chloe. ”

“ Betsy and Sue were out the door.
“Gee! I’ve been thinking about Daddy and Mother so much since I got hurt,” Mimi confided as she and Chloe huddled on the bathroom floor in the dim light. “You’d love my Mother and Daddy. They’re keen! My Daddy is the best doctor in the world and Mother is a darling. When they visited me at camp this summer all the girls raved over them. ”

“ Mimi was stretched out on the window ledge in the gym when she heard two girls talking below her outside. She recognized Betsy’s voice immediately. It was tense with repressed excitement. After becoming interested in their plot, Mimi peeped over the ledge and recognized Magdalene.
“This has been the tamest green cap week I ever heard of,” Betsy was saying.
“It sure has and it ends tonight.”
“Wish we could stir up a little excitement. Don’t you remember last year we rolled that trash can down the stairs, nonstop flight from third floor to basement, at midnight?” ”

“ She lingered under the big maple tree where she had studied on sunny days. She inspected the partially completed swimming pool as carefully as a contractor. Not next year, but some year, she would take swimming instructions here and she wanted it just so. She hoped Miss Bassett would be teaching advanced swimming when she returned. She must take another last look at the gym.
To her delight the door was unlocked and she could enter. No doubt some faculty member had been showing it to visitors. The big empty gymnasium was not lonely to Mimi. She loved it. ”

“ Mimi leaning against the rail, Von pressing against her knees. No proud head nuzzling against her shoulder, no welcoming neigh, no pawing. Daddy wouldn’t sell King without asking her; Mimi knew that, but King was a valuable horse and Daddy might need the money to go to Germany. He couldn’t take the horse with him. She couldn’t take him to Sheridan—or could she? Boarding horses out a whole winter was dreadfully expensive. ”

“ All her interest was simmering in a bean hole at Wildwood. She did do one thing that was fun. After the sing song she linked arms with Betsy and they strolled up and down the hall passing and repassing the open double doors into the parlors. They were looking in on the Friday night “dates.”
“Even if I could and some boy wanted to come, I wouldn’t have a date like that for anything.”
“You won’t have one because you don’t like boys.”
“Yes, I do,” Mimi declared. “Better than girls in lots of ways, but if you mean I’m not boy crazy, thanks. I’m not and hope I never am.” ”

“ Betsy was pointing to the rows and rows of Ward-Belmont girls.
“I can almost see Mrs. Cole! Betsy, you old meanie!”
The rain held off until the show between halves was over. Mimi would be thankful for that always. This was her first big game and the show of the Pep Squad and the band was a brand new thrill. Marching feet, martial music, perfectly timed yells. Mimi could not keep her eyes from the cheer leaders. She watched their every move. When she got back to Sheridan she would try some of those antics herself. Forming of the great V and the singing of “Alma Mater” took Mimi’s breath. ”

“ She would test her disguise. Slow feet stepping down, down, down. Hurried feet stepping up, up, up. They met. Olivia brushed past and did not recognize either of the girls. Mimi breathed easier. However, it wasn’t a fair test, for Olivia was mumbling: “The drawbridge dropped with a surly clang, and over it a charger sprang, bearing the maiden knight, Sir Launfal.”
Mimi should be studying too. She had memory work piling up again.
“Olivia didn’t know us,” Betsy was whispering with a sigh of relief. “You go on out and walk slowly and I’ll catch up with you before you get out the drive.” ”

“ The fireman’s voice was kind and soothing but Mimi pulled and jerked. Feeling her resist and believing she was out of her head from fright, he lifted her in his arms. Mimi kicked her legs and screamed. All eyes centered on the struggle. Mrs. Cole rushed over and hugged Mimi, fireman and all! She was crying.
“I’m going back, I tell you!” Mimi screamed, shoving Mrs. Cole away. “Mrs. Cole! Betsy! Madge! Jill!—the girls on the roof!” ”

“ I’m so thrilled to be asked but the Ruskins want Sue and the Delphians want Chloe and Betsy is already a Ruskin. I hate to see our suite family split up. Maybe I won’t join either. They seem silly, in a way; the Ruskins bragging on themselves and slurring the Delphians and the Delphians slurring the Ruskins and bragging on themselves. But the pins are perfectly precious! Solid gold with tiny pearls.
There really is some one coming—
“Anybody home?” Madge called at the door of two hundred and nine.
“Just me,” Mimi answered hastily hiding her diary in the top drawer of her wardrobe trunk. ”

“ Every bride must wear:
‘Something old, something new,
Something borrowed, something blue.’ And you see Miss Jane, that’s all of them. Oh, there goes the music——”
Before she finished talking, Jean and Margie had started. As soon as they turned the landing, Dottie and Mimi fell in to the measured step. Holding their bouquets tightly against them and counting, listening carefully for the accent of the music and—trying to go slowly—the bridesmaids descended to the living room. Their tiny high heels made prints on the soft satin laid over the carpet. ”

“ On she ran and then down, down, down the back flight of stairs to the basement. With a steady hand she threw the alarm switch.
Not until after the fire was over did Mimi understand the risk she ran. The janitor’s part of the basement where all the bells were was under the kitchen! But none of this now; she had still another task. She must rouse the girls. She knew how soundly some of them slept. She had seen Betsy sprawl across the bed after a soccer game and sleep through noise which Cissy would say was “loud enough to wake the dead.” No one must be left asleep now. No one! ”

“ Sheridan,
We’ll love Thee till we die! Afterwards, Mimi wondered how they ever lived through it all—cleaning up after the wedding, putting slip covers over the living room furniture, packing away blankets in moth proof containers, putting linens in the cedar chest—the frenzy of shopping and sewing—the packing.
The nicest thing happened to Mimi during those busy days. Mother bought a small new light-weight trunk and gave Mimi her big wardrobe one. Mimi had always wanted a wardrobe trunk but she hadn’t hoped to have one of her own until she was ready for college. ”