"Actually, I skipped first and second grades."

"Now that's impressive."

"Yeah, thanks to my great aunt Francine. She taught me to read. After that, I read everything I could get my hands on. I listened to the radio too. Then whenever my uncle Steven went into town, he'd pick up a newspaper. There was plenty to learn wherever I looked. And like I said, I read some about slavery, but until I left Watseka, I only saw pictures of... of..."

"Negroes?" Rose smiled. "And now here you are, related to a bus load."

"I guess I am." Emily chuckled, loving the idea of a sister, someone who would always be there for her. Haity's face appeared and then left in an instant of pain.

Rose stared at her intently. "You know, Emily, our great, great, grandparents came to San Francisco back in the 1800s because, basically, it was a good place for Negroes at the time, comparatively speaking at least. There were a number of support groups even back then that they counted on. I think their pride and determination put a lot of influence on the family that's been carried down through each generation, mother especially, I'm sure father too, but it's mother with all the push. Sometimes I wish she'd let up some and not always feel she has to show that she's worth her pay. You met her, didn't you?"

"Yes, she stopped to say hi, and then dashed off to start lunch."

Adah had come over in a bright yellow skirt and jacket with the most gorgeous lace collar. She was a tiny woman, not exactly beautiful, but very pleasant to look at; sophisticated was the word Emily had been digging for as she talked to her. She wore her hair pulled back, had on white pearl earrings, and a lovely hat worn off to the side with threads of yellow ribbon, and then black and white beads overtop. Emily believed she was friendly, even gracious. Although now that she thought about it, she wasn't convinced Adah was exactly thrilled to have a stepdaughter.

"Could be your mother's just preoccupied with work, full of ambition, and lots of energy."

"That sounds like her all right, and maybe that's why she's kept her job so long. She's a bookkeeper for a lawyer in town, and he expects a lot of her. She works long hours, and I'll tell you that woman is driven like I've never seen. Now I'm not saying having drive is a bad thing, but, well... I've given up on this, but I used to ask her if I was ever going to have a brother or sister. Her usual answer was that if she got pregnant, she'd lose her job and never get another like it. She's a good mother, she is. It's just that... well, she works too hard, overtime whenever she can. Sometimes I think her job is her life. She pushes me too, so determined I'll go to the best college, get the best grades, and get the kind of job that'll show what I'm made of." Rose heaved a sigh. "I hope you know what I'm trying to say. I want to go to college, I do, and I will. But... oh, I don't know why I'm telling you this, except that, well, I don't want you to think we're perfect and everything's going to be all hunky-dory."

Emily was grateful Rose was laying it all out there, but she apparently didn't know how good she had it. She gave her arm a squeeze. "I think I understand what you're saying. But Rose, it's not as bad as you think. I wanted to go to school and couldn't. I would've loved to have had a mother that would've been able to come home late."

"Oooh shoot," Rose moaned, "I'm sounding like an ungrateful brat, aren't I? And you're right. You are so right."

"This time, anyway. Hey, Rose, I was just wondering. How come Samuel...." She paused. "I mean, how come Father's driving that... car. It almost broke down on him this morning. I felt so bad. So what's going on?"

"Oh, that. It's just a temporary thing. He's been using mother's car some, and it's mine you're talking about. It used to be Father's, but he gave it to me when he bought his pickup. See, taking a bus out where we live is a big hassle, especially whenever I have to stay after school. How many sixteen-year-olds do you know that have their own car?"

"None, but that's not the point, Rose. I... I just don't want to put anyone out. I don't want to be a burden."

"One thing you have to remember, now that you're part of us, is that we stick together. You hear? Anyway..." Rose jumped to her feet. "The dinner bell went off five minutes ago, and I don't know about you, but I'm famished!"

They went arm in arm to join the rest of the family for lunch. From what Emily saw, she thought Rose was probably right about the family sticking together. Yet all she could think about was her trip back to Illinois; how uncomfortable it felt, having to put on an air now as if everything was just fine.

After lunch, the girls said their good-byes, and headed up to where their father was pacing alongside the old Chevy.

Rose stepped in front of him and looked him squarely in the face. "What's wrong, Father?"

He leaned back against the car, folded his arms, looking miserable. "So, Emily. Remember our discussion about the custody being turned over from Doctor Barnes to the police?"

"Yes, I remember."

"Well, it's in effect at six tonight. I just put a call in to Donna and she said that someone has already arrived at her place."

Rose took Emily's hand. "I tried to talk Mother into letting me go, but she doesn't want me to miss school. You know, college and all."

"And don't forget Emily," he added, "Adah will be there in the morning to ride along with you to the airport." He pulled himself from the car, adjusting the rear view mirror. "As soon as I drop you off, I'm afraid I'm going to have to head to the boat."

Rose slipped an arm around Emily. "I'll call every night."

"You guys. Stop this," Emily said. "I've accepted what's about to happen. I'm ready to go. Really, I am." Though she was far from ready, she couldn't stand to see them fumbling around trying to make her feel better.

At five-thirty the next morning, Emily woke to a loud banging. She slipped from her bed and went to the front door. Donna came from the kitchen, and when she saw who it was, she headed back in.

"Surprise," Rose said. "I'm going with you."

"Now don't tease me."

Rose picked up her suitcase and set it inside. "What do ya think this is?"

Emily looked around Rose out to the street. "Where's Adah?"

"She's already gone. You're stuck with me." She wrapped an arm around her shoulders and they headed for the bedroom.

Rose made the bed while Emily dressed and then finished packing. Then Rose lay back across the top covers.

"What changed your mother's mind?"

"About me going? Well... Right after you left yesterday, her and Grandmother got into a heated discussion. Thank God, Grandmother won. Like I was telling you at the picnic, Mother's always concerned about my college plans. Already decided I'm going to Wilberforce. That's the college Aunt Bernice graduated from. Father thought of going too, but then... Guess he had another calling."

"Fishing."

"Yeah, I think it pulled him back. That was after he... well, after he met your mother."

"He told me how they met, but not how he ended up in Illinois."

"Let me see, I think... yeah he was nineteen at the time. He was still thinking about his future when he got word of a farmer in Illinois who was looking for help. I think he was looking for some excitement when he hitchhiked across country. He got there too late though and that's when he ended up on your grandfather's farm."

"And met my mother. So, did he ever make it?"

"You mean to college? Nah. After he left Illinois he got the job working on his uncle's fishing boat, and he's done that ever since. He loves the sea."

"I guess that's the important thing. Have you decided what you're going to study?"

"I'm leaning toward lawyer, maybe even politics, I'm not sure yet. Oh, that reminds me, last night your lawyer called and told Father there's a couple that's going to let us stay in an apartment above their garage. There's a kitchenette. And they're even going to bring up a television. Hey. We can whip up a tuna casserole, maybe a chocolate cake for dessert, and then watch Wagon Train."

Emily picked up a handful of socks from the bed and gently placed them into a suitcase. "You make it sound like a vacation." She smiled at Rose. "But then again, it does sound like fun."

"That's the spirit, Sis. Say, speaking of food, I think I smell bacon."

"Go on and eat. I'll be right in."

Five minutes later, Emily walked from her bedroom with the same bag she'd carried on her journey from Illinois, along with a small suitcase her father bought her. When she placed the luggage next to Rose's, she noticed there wasn't a sound from the kitchen. It was too quiet, and it was nerve-racking. Her grandmother use to say that you could always tell when a storm was brewing by the uncanny calm in the air.

"Better come eat some breakfast!" Donna called.

"I'm not really hungry," Emily said as she walked in. The two women sat at the table. Donna had pulled some magazines and diagrams for the backyard makeover, and Rose was eating and looking them over. The officer leaned against the counter, drinking coffee.

"Let me dish you up a little something, anyway," Donna said, moving to get up.

"No, that's all right. I've got it."

Donna settled back, and Emily filled her cup then stood against the counter, kitty corner from the officer. She glanced at him several times, hoping for a smile or something to ease the tension. They were going to be together for the next six or seven hours so, why not? She noticed his nametag read Douglas.

He glanced at his watch, pulled a card from a pocket, flipped it over, and then stuck it back in. He sipped his coffee, looked at his watch again, but never at her.

Finally, he set his coffee down, stepped from the counter, and looked at Emily without really looking at her. "Time to go."

Donna got up, and cleared a few things off the table, touching Emily's shoulder as she passed. Rose jumped up and went to her, put an arm around her as they walked to the front door and picked up their suitcases.

"You'll do just fine," Donna said, as they headed up the sidewalk. "Just remember all the people that believe in you."

Emily looked back as she got in the car. She always laughed to herself at how tough Donna came across; but it was obvious her heart was made of gold. "Thanks, I'll remember that."

CHAPTER FORTY-SEVEN.

They walked into the terminal at the San Francisco airport where they would catch a flight to the Midway airport in Chicago. When their flight departure was announced, Officer Douglas escorted the girls outside, ordering them to stay back until all the other passengers were onboard.

Emily stood on the tarmac staring at the plane, with an arm wrapped around her bag. She felt the notebook through the cloth and thought of the bird on the cover with its beautiful white wings like soft pillows waiting, always waiting, to carry her from her troubles.

As the last passenger headed up the steps, Emily felt beside her. "Let's go," he said. "We don't have all day."

Rose took her hand, and Emily felt the tension and the sweat in her palm. It warmed her and yet made her feel sad to see how hard her sister was trying to help keep her spirits up.

"You know, Rose," she said, looking up at the white plane with its red and blue strips. "I've always wondered what it would be like to ride on one of those." Her throat was so dry it didn't come out as cheerful as she intended.

Rose looked over, raising her brows. "Oh, me too, me too." She gave Emily's hand a squeeze, and they smiled at one another, stretching their lips out as far as they would go.

The officer motioned Rose to go first, and then followed Emily up the steps. Inside, the plane was like a tunnel, not exactly cozy, leaning toward cramped, everyone already seated, staring at the trio as they passed. The tension was overwhelming, and Emily figured Rose must have felt it too because all of a sudden she whipped around and grabbed her by the elbow.

"This won't be so bad," she whispered happily. "I hear there's a snack once we're up in the air."

"That'll be nice," Emily said, trying to sound even more excited. "And it's free... well for me anyway." Another big smile.

"The important thing is that we're sharing the experience together, don't you think?" Rose bent to get a better look out the window. "And on such a beautiful day."

Emily cringed to think how she would be reacting if Rose hadn't come along. She cracked another smile when she realized how much they were alike, trying to make the best of things, and joking around, pretending they didn't want to cry.

"All right you two, all the way to the back," the officer said.

They exchanged a what-a-grouch look and kept walking.

When they reached the last row, Rose offered Emily the window seat, and Officer Douglas sat across the aisle.

As a stewardess laid out safety procedures, the engines rumbled to a start. The cabin was silent except for the whine of motors and the purr of fans as they taxied from the building. They slowed, turned into position, and then stopped.

Emily leaned toward the window as they began to move again, quickly picking up speed, the world passing in streaks and flickers. Then the plane lifted, moving swiftly, further from the earth until they leveled and the roar of the engines faded to a hum.

The stewardesses began to move carts up the aisle.

"Emily?" Rose nudged her. "You okay?"

Emily stared out the window a moment longer then leaned back in her seat. "I'm going to jail."

"No, you're not."

"I don't know, Rose. On the way up, I realized they must really want me bad." She looked over at Officer Douglas. "Him, and then this plane ride almost all the way across the entire country. Would they go to all this trouble if they didn't want me there?"

"Oh, come now, you can't think that way. Listen, let's talk about something nice. I know. Why don't you tell me about the guy you met on the train?"

They began to talk then, and laugh a little too, until Emily almost forgot what was waiting for her at the other end.

As they neared their destination, they succumbed to lack of sleep and dozed.

When the plane took a sudden descent, Emily opened her eyes and leaned to the window as they careened over the landscape, closer and closer to the ground until the wheels hit the runway. The earth passed in a blur, and gravity set her up in her seat. The engines groaned as they slowed. They made a turn and began to taxi toward the buildings.

Officer Douglas stood and motioned for Emily to stay seated.

When the engines died, an eerie calm filled the cabin as everyone stood, quietly gathering their belongings.

Emily closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "Rose? There's a storm coming. I can feel it in my bones."

Rose patted her knee. "It'll be all right." But Emily heard the uneasiness in her voice.

They had barely entered the terminal when two police officers approached. One of them stood next to Emily and the other stepped in front of Officer Douglas. "We're here to pick up Emily Rezell?" he said.

Officer Douglas handed over a folder. "She's all yours." He gave the girls a stern nod and then strolled off.

Before Emily knew what was happening, one of the officers grabbed her bags. The other one swung her arms around to the front, and handcuffed her.

Rose tried to work her way in, but one of the officers pushed her out of the way. "Stand back, Ma'am."

"Well, you don't need to cuff her."

They were moving toward the door now, and Rose followed them to the exit. "What do you think she's gonna to do, run off after coming this far?"

Emily looked back, attempting a smile as they hauled her across the street to a waiting police car.

Rose stood, holding the door open. "You don't have to treat her like a criminal... you... you, imbeciles!" She let the door close then pushed it back open. "Don't worry, Emily, I'll call your lawyer!"