Katerina's Wish Read Online Free Page B

thought for a moment, not sure how, but then I saw a patch of dandelions blooming alongside the road. “Flowers for the table?” I suggested.
    Holena’s smile nearly split her face. All the way home, sheskipped along the edge of the road and picked dandelions. They were only weeds, but they were bright and cheerful clenched in her little fist. When we got home, we put them in a can of water and onto the table while Momma’s back was turned. When she saw them, she smiled—the first smile I could remember seeing on her face in a long time.
    We busied ourselves in the kitchen, full of anticipation and excitement as we swept and washed and set the table with great care. Momma disappeared into the bedroom and came back holding a tablecloth, embroidered on the corners with flowers. She only brought it out on Christmas and Easter, so we were all surprised when she spread it on the table. She saw us watching and gave a little shrug.
    â€œThe Lord knows we have few enough things to celebrate here. We’d best use it while we can.” She turned back to the stove, but I had seen the smile crinkling the corners of her eyes. I felt a pang, almost like homesickness. She had been quick to celebrate when I was little, but not since we had left Bohemia.
    My thoughts were interrupted by the whistle at the mine. The shift was changing and Papa would be on the way home soon. I hurried to straighten the silverware Aneshka had laid on the table.
    Papa always washed off the coal dust and dirt in a tub at the back door. It wasn’t until he was drying his face that he stopped and sniffed the air.
    â€œWhat is that smell?” he asked with a smile.
    Holena tried to tell him, but Aneshka shushed her.
    â€œIt’s supposed to be a surprise,” she insisted.
    Papa smiled at them both. “She doesn’t have to tell me a thing, Aneshka,” Papa said. “I know plum dumplings when I smell them. But how? Did your wish come true after all?”
    â€œSo it would seem,” Momma said from the doorway behind me. “Now come inside. Supper’s all ready.”
    Supper that night felt like a grand affair, although the food was much the same as always—gristly meat, boiled potatoes, and bread spread with salted lard. But the tablecloth, the flowers, and the plates of plum dumplings made it festive. I recounted for Papa all that had happened at the store. When I told him of Mr. Torentino’s selling from his wagon while Mr. Johnson glared at him from the porch, he laughed.
    â€œServes the swindler right,” Papa said.
    Momma looked stricken. “Hush, Tomas! Don’t say such things!”
    â€œThey can’t hear us here, Ivana. Besides, this is America, isn’t it? A man can say what he thinks here.”
    â€œThey’ll fire you for saying such things,” she said.
    â€œNot tonight,” Papa said, unbothered by her warning. “Tonight we have plum dumplings and all the luck in the world, right, Aneshka?”
    Momma frowned at Papa before rising from the table to fetch more of the dumplings still steaming on the stove. They were the best things I had tasted since we had left Bohemia. Aneshka ate so many we all thought she would be sick, and Momma made her stop.
    We were still at the table when we heard the familiar clop of Old Jan’s crutches on the porch steps. Papa went out to greet him while Momma dished up a bowl of plum dumplings and took it out to him. That left my sisters and me to tidy the kitchen.
    For once Aneshka was cooperative and cheerful, and the job went quickly. I was soon stacking away the last plates on the shelf while Aneshka and Holena folded Momma’s lovelytablecloth. Holena carried it into the bedroom to put away while Aneshka and I took coffee to the adults.
    I had just settled myself comfortably on the porch steps when Holena appeared in the doorway. Rather than skipping out like usual, she seemed frozen, staring at us as if we