appointment book. As much as he hated the idea, he’d have to sneak into her classroom, shuffle through the mess on her desk, hope nothing bit him, and copy her activities for the next few weeks. Then he would know where to show up and introduce her to his victims—err, his friends. Things were looking up.
Relaxed for the first time in months, he punched his pillow again, and drifted off to sleep in minutes.
Chapter 2
Ellie shoved her loose brown curls under the man’s cap she’d borrowed from her brother Michael, along with trousers and a shirt. A bit too large, but a belt held the trousers up, and a short jacket covered the rest of the outfit quite well. Luckily, he’d believed her story about needing the clothes for a Christmas pageant. It didn’t seem likely he’d approve of her venture into town either. Men! What a pain in the neck they were. Always telling you what to do, what constituted proper behavior. Once women got the right to vote, things would change.
She studied herself in the mirror and moved her head side to side. Not bad. If she ran into Mr. Colbert, she doubted he would know her, unless he looked right into her face. She was safe. The list of businesses she planned to visit tucked securely in her pants pocket, she picked up a woolen coat, a pillow slip to put her treasures in, and left her room.
Mrs. Beamer kept herself busy in the back of the house, so Ellie managed to get out without having to explain to her landlady why she dressed as a man. She loved the independence of living away from her family in her own place. Even though she had a small room and a curfew, it still represented home. She’d decorated it to her liking, paid for it with her own earnings. No need for her to depend on some man to provide a roof over her head. Ellie Henderson took care of herself.
She took the short walk to town, breathing in the cold crisp air. Now that Thanksgiving had passed, stores were ready for Christmas sales. The drugstore had Christmas lights in the window, the first she’d seen this year. She stopped in, said hello to Mr. Jackson, and accepted the box of chocolates he offered for the Christmas baskets.
“Why are you dressed like that?” The chemist peered at her over his spectacles as he filled a small clear bottle with liquid from a large brown one.
“Easier to get around. I can get to more places without the restrictions of a skirt.”
Jackson shook his head. “I don’t understand women nowadays. In my day a woman stayed in her home and took care of her family. She didn’t go traipsing around town dressed like her brother.”
Grateful for the box of chocolate, but annoyed with the lecture, Ellie said her thanks and hurried to the next stop on the list.
A small bell attached to the door tinkled as Ellie entered Millie’s Fine Dress Shop. Several women flipped through pattern books, others fingered dresses hanging from hooks around the room. A large window let in the bright sunlight across the wooden floor, highlighting dust motes in the air.
A few women glanced in her direction, their faces pinched with disapproval at her attire.
“Ellie Henderson, look at you.” Millie Ramsey smiled as she took in Ellie’s outfit. “Why are you dressed like that?”
“It’s a disguise.”
Millie walked around her, tapping her mouth with her index finger, her eyes bright with laughter. “Who are you hiding from?”
Ellie leaned in, and looked around. “Mr. Colbert.”
She raised her eyebrows. “Mr. Colbert, the Principal?”
“The very one.” She threw her bag full of treasures over her shoulder. “He shut down my Christmas project, but I have no intention of giving it up. In case he’s wandering around town today, I decided to wear this outfit.” She waved her hand toward her clothes.
“You do like to cause trouble.” Millie walked to the counter and took out a package. “Here’s the ribbons and lace I promised for your baskets.”
“Thanks so much. I’m sure the lucky
Relaxed for the first time in months, he punched his pillow again, and drifted off to sleep in minutes.
Chapter 2
Ellie shoved her loose brown curls under the man’s cap she’d borrowed from her brother Michael, along with trousers and a shirt. A bit too large, but a belt held the trousers up, and a short jacket covered the rest of the outfit quite well. Luckily, he’d believed her story about needing the clothes for a Christmas pageant. It didn’t seem likely he’d approve of her venture into town either. Men! What a pain in the neck they were. Always telling you what to do, what constituted proper behavior. Once women got the right to vote, things would change.
She studied herself in the mirror and moved her head side to side. Not bad. If she ran into Mr. Colbert, she doubted he would know her, unless he looked right into her face. She was safe. The list of businesses she planned to visit tucked securely in her pants pocket, she picked up a woolen coat, a pillow slip to put her treasures in, and left her room.
Mrs. Beamer kept herself busy in the back of the house, so Ellie managed to get out without having to explain to her landlady why she dressed as a man. She loved the independence of living away from her family in her own place. Even though she had a small room and a curfew, it still represented home. She’d decorated it to her liking, paid for it with her own earnings. No need for her to depend on some man to provide a roof over her head. Ellie Henderson took care of herself.
She took the short walk to town, breathing in the cold crisp air. Now that Thanksgiving had passed, stores were ready for Christmas sales. The drugstore had Christmas lights in the window, the first she’d seen this year. She stopped in, said hello to Mr. Jackson, and accepted the box of chocolates he offered for the Christmas baskets.
“Why are you dressed like that?” The chemist peered at her over his spectacles as he filled a small clear bottle with liquid from a large brown one.
“Easier to get around. I can get to more places without the restrictions of a skirt.”
Jackson shook his head. “I don’t understand women nowadays. In my day a woman stayed in her home and took care of her family. She didn’t go traipsing around town dressed like her brother.”
Grateful for the box of chocolate, but annoyed with the lecture, Ellie said her thanks and hurried to the next stop on the list.
A small bell attached to the door tinkled as Ellie entered Millie’s Fine Dress Shop. Several women flipped through pattern books, others fingered dresses hanging from hooks around the room. A large window let in the bright sunlight across the wooden floor, highlighting dust motes in the air.
A few women glanced in her direction, their faces pinched with disapproval at her attire.
“Ellie Henderson, look at you.” Millie Ramsey smiled as she took in Ellie’s outfit. “Why are you dressed like that?”
“It’s a disguise.”
Millie walked around her, tapping her mouth with her index finger, her eyes bright with laughter. “Who are you hiding from?”
Ellie leaned in, and looked around. “Mr. Colbert.”
She raised her eyebrows. “Mr. Colbert, the Principal?”
“The very one.” She threw her bag full of treasures over her shoulder. “He shut down my Christmas project, but I have no intention of giving it up. In case he’s wandering around town today, I decided to wear this outfit.” She waved her hand toward her clothes.
“You do like to cause trouble.” Millie walked to the counter and took out a package. “Here’s the ribbons and lace I promised for your baskets.”
“Thanks so much. I’m sure the lucky
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