But something was wrong. The face didn’t fit in this room any more than it had fit in all the others. Oh, Courtney, why did you go away and leave her? Why did you go away and leave me? She jumped up and slid the picture face-down under the T-shirts again.
SHE’LL BE RIDING SIX WHITE HORSES (WHEN SHE COMES)
P.O. Box 33
Jackson, Va.
December 5
Dear William Ernest,
Ha! I bet you thought I’d forget. But don’t worry. I wouldn’t forget you. I have just been so busy looking after the horses I have hardly had a minute to myself. I practically fall into bed I’m so worn out from all the work. Have you ever shoveled horse manure?
Just kidding. Actually, it is a lot of fun. We are getting six of the horses ready to race at the Charles Town track soon, so I have to help them train. I am sure one of them, named Clouds of Glory, is going to win. The prize is about a half a million dollars, so we will be even richer when he does. Not that we need the money, being millionaires and all.
How is school? I bet you zonked Miss McNair with all those new words you learned last month. You should keep in practice by reading out loud to Mr. Randolph.
Tell Trotter we have three maids and a cook, but the cook isn’t half as good as she is, even though she uses lots of fancy ingredients. (Ha! Bet you knock Miss McNair over when you read her that word.)
Write soon.
Gilly
P.S. My grandmother told me to call her “Nonnie.” Aren’t rich people weird?
Thompson Park Elementary School
Thompson Park, Maryland
December 7
Dear Gilly,
If anyone had told me how much I would miss having you in my class, I’d never have believed it.
I hope, however, that you are enjoying your new school and that the people there are enjoying you as well. You might like to know that when I send your records to Virginia, I do not plan to include any samples of your poetry.
You will be receiving soon some paperbacks that I’d been meaning to lend you, but now that you’ve left us, I want you to keep them as a souvenir of our days together in Harris 6.
I certainly won’t forget you even if you never write, but it would be good to hear how you’re getting along.
Best wishes,
Barbara Harris
December 10
Dear Gilly,
How are you? I am fine. I liked your letter. I liked your horses. Write me soon.
Love,
William Ernest Teague
P.S. Did you win the race?
P.O. Box 33