happy there.â
Bert broke in on Ethanâs thoughts. âRemember the day we left on the train to Chicago?â
âSure. Iâve got a picture of it here.â Ethan flipped the pages of his drawing tablet back to the beginning. There stood a long train with children climbing aboard. Smoke rose from the stack, and steam billowed along the ground. People on the platform waved at the passengers.
âBoy ⦠that looks just like us!â Bert seemed impressed. âThatâs good. What else have you got?â
Ethan turned the page. âThis is Chicago.â
Tall buildings rose in the background, and on one side, a blue lake glistened. People crowded the sidewalks, and bridges crossed a river.
Bert studied the drawing. âI never saw such a big city before. Iâm glad we didnât stay there any longer. Whereâs that house we stayed at?â
Ethan turned another page and pointed out a big building surrounded by people, trolley cars, stores, and houses. He thought back to their time at Hull-House.
âIs this where weâre going to live?â Alice had asked. âI donât like it here. Iâd rather go back to Briarlane.â
âWe wonât be here long, Alice,â Ethan had told her. âJust until the train is ready to take us to our real home. Besides, Matron said weâll have a nice surprise here. You wonât want to miss that.â
The days at Hull-House had been exciting. A large room was filled with clothes for all the children who were going on the train. Ethan and the other boys were outfitted in the grandest style they had ever seen. From the high-buttoned, black shoes to the knickers and jacket that completed each suit, every piece of clothing was brand new.
âI never had nothinâ that nobody else ever wore before,â Bert had said in awe. âDo you mean we really get to keep these?â
Matron assured them that they did. âBut you wonât be wearing them until we meet the people who will give you homes. Itâs important to look nice then. They donât want scruffy-looking children.â
While he was dressed in his elegant outfit, Ethan had offered to be the doorkeeper for the busy Hull-House. He was given permission, and for a day he opened the big door for arriving and departing visitors.
âIt was nothinâ like door duty at Briarlane,â he told Bert later. âI didnât have to dust or anything. I just had to open the doors and say âGood day.â And people said, âThank you, young manââlike I was somebody.â
Ethanâs thoughts returned to the present as the younger children awoke and demanded attention. Ethan tucked his drawing book and pencils away in his bag, out of the reach of small fingers.
Simon knelt on the seat beside him and pressed his nose against the window. âI saw somebody,â he announced.
Ethan glanced out at the fields and woods rushing by. There were no signs of life as far as he could see.
âWas it a farmer?â he asked the boy.
âNope. A little bitty lady.â
âThereâs no ladies out there, Simon. Weâre way out in the country.â
âI saw her. She said, âWatch out, little boy. You almost whacked me in the nose.ââ
Ethan laughed at him. âCome on, Simon. You made that up. If there was a lady out there, and if she did say something, you couldnât hear from the train. Whereâd you get that story, anyway?â
âNot a story,â Simon replied patiently. âShe was shorter than Alice, and she wore a little bitty hat. But she was old. She had a purse.â
âYou sure had a good dream, Simon,â Bert said, clearly playing along. âWhat happened to the lady?â
âI donât know. You made me go away. But I never hit her,â he added quickly. âI just almost did.â
Ethan shook his head. It wouldnât do any harm to let Simon