Waiting for Dusk Read Free Page A

then
meet someone special. And by the way, girls, I’m now an official
Harvey girl! No more training for me.” She squealed with
delight.
    Ruthie and Anna said all the right things to
her, especially Ruthie.
    “You are so lucky, Lucinda! You’re the first
to make it. You’re so much prettier than me, I knew it would
happen.” She smiled brightly.
    Anna looked at Katie and rolled her eyes.
Katie was a little taken aback by what Ruthie just said, because
Ruthie was very attractive. She had long auburn wavy hair, a little
bit of a nose with a few freckles sprinkled across it and lovely
green eyes.
    Lucinda was just an average girl, not a
raving beauty, but made up for that in personality. When Katie
first met her, she thought she was lovely. Even though she had
mousy brown hair, it was fixed in what might be the latest fashion
for the day, a short bobbed haircut with waves. Her radiant smile
made one feel it was only meant for them. She was nice looking, but
not beautiful.
    Funny, it reminded her of high school. Katie
had met girls like her. The girl with the most mesmerizing
personality could be very popular and have a group of friends
hanging on every word. She began to see Lucinda in a different
light. Why did she not like Anna? Why did Lucinda practically warn
her away from Anna? She made a mental note to ask Anna later.
    When they got home, Mrs. Johansson had dinner
waiting for them. They talked and laughed with both Mr. and Mrs.
Johansson while they ate. Katie felt so at home with Mrs. Johansson
because she reminded her of MiMi. No, not reminded her of MiMi. She
looked just like a younger MiMi.
    Mrs. Johansson spoke, “Girls, remember that
it’s lights out at nine. You have a long day ahead of you tomorrow,
especially you, Lucinda!” She gently patted the girl on her
hand.
    Each girl got up and thanked both Mr. and
Mrs. Johansson for dinner. Ruthie hugged them both. Lucinda hugged
Mrs. Johansson. Anna shook their hands. Katie was last. She wanted
to throw her arms around Mrs. Johansson, call her MiMi and ask for
her help in understanding everything. Instead, she just shook their
hands.
    “Good night and thank you,” she said
softly.
    When Katie left the kitchen she found Anna
waiting outside in the hall. “You did well your first day.”
    “Thanks.” Katie blushed. “Anna, can you come
to my room and talk?”
    “Sure. If that’s what you want.”
    “I want to ask you a few questions. First,
what is a Harvey girl? And why does Lucinda hate you so much?”
    Before Anna had time to answer, Lucinda was
at Kathryn’s door. “Party in my room before lights out! Come on,
Kathryn. You too, Anna.”
    Anna’s expression changed to a look of shock.
“Oh. First, you have to put on your nightgown. That’s how we do
it,” Lucinda called out as she left the room. Anna followed, giving
Katie a slight wave as if to say see you soon.
    You mean we’re having a pajama party, like a
sleepover? Katie rummaged through the dresser drawers in her room.
She found a beautiful white cotton nightgown and put it on. She
went down the hallway to Lucinda’s room. Ruthie was already there.
She too was wearing a white nightgown. Her creamy white skin glowed
in the evening light. Katie sat down on the braided rug next to the
bed. Lucinda and Ruthie were already situated on the bed. Anna came
in and plopped down next to Katie.
    “Kathryn, since you are new to our
get-togethers, I will tell you what we do. We don’t talk about work
unless something special happened. If we do need to talk about
work, we get that out of the way first. Then we tell stories and
talk about our dreams.”
    Katie thought that was very strange. Why
would you tell everyone what to talk about? Oh, right, it’s
Lucinda. We all have to do what she says. Aloud Katie said, “How
long have you been here, Lucinda?”
    “Since the spring. April second, to be exact.
Anna and I came on the same train, didn’t we, Anna?”
    Anna just nodded.
    “Anna always likes