Time and work

"It's a sad thing, but time and work will help you forget. Time and work Amanda." Mistress Trippett said.

"Yes, Ma'am." said Amanda

She did her work. That helped her through the days. But at night, she lay awake. She tried to think and she asked herself, What's to be done? What's to be done now?

One day she went out back to feed the chicken. Jemmy and Meg were at work in the garden, clearing off dry leaves and sticks. Jemmy had been raking. He had left the rake in the path, and Amanda tripped over it.

"Why don't you watch where you leave things!" she shouted. She caught hold of Jemmy and shook him. His mouth fell open. He looked hurt and surprised.

She ran back into the house. She was almost crying as she bumped into Ellie in the hall.

" I shook Jemmy," she said. "Whatever made me do it? I'm the one to look after him and Meg and I_"

"You do look after them," said Ellie

"NO! I don't mend their clothes. I never talk to them anymore _"

"Don't be putting blame on yourself. Life is hard for you now. When you lose someone it's like_ like having to find your way again."

Amanda grew quiet. It was true, Ellie had spoken the truth.

That night, in bed with Jemmy and Meg, she left the candle burning and she said,"Who wants a story ?"

"You said you didn't know any," said Jemmy.

"I didn't know but now I know."

"Is it about father?" he asked

" It's more about two sisters and their brother. "

"That's you, Meggie and I, " her said.

"And one of the sisters was a crosspatch," started Amanda."She'd lost her way, but she found it again She wasn't a crosspatch anymore. The brother and sister liked in London. And one day, they went away. They left the city of London. They left it all behind them."

Jemmy sat up. "Where did they go?"

"They got on a big ship, and they sailed to America. They saw a town. That was Jamestown. They saw a man, and he came to meet them"

"Father!"Said Jemmy

"Father, "said Meg.

"When are we going? asked Jemmy

"I don't know yet ," said Amanda,"but we are going. We are!"

In the morning sher asked Cook, "If it please you, may I go outside?"

"No," said Cook."Where?"

"To the next street over."

"What's on the next street over?"

"It's where the virginia company is."

'The Virginia company? What may be that?"

"It's the company that sends ships to America."

"And what's that to you? "

"Jemmy and Meg and I_ We're going," said Amanda.

Cook gave snort" And I'm going to fly to the moon!"

"If it please you the house is on Philpot Lane. That's only a step away. I'll be back in no time

"No, you won't," said Cook,"because you're not going"

All morning Amanda worked. she swept and scrubbed. She mixed the bread and peeled the onions.

Toward noon, Cook shouted in her ear," You've let the water pail go empty again "

Amanda took up the pail and ran with it. Outside the back door she looked behind her. No one was watching . she set the pail behind a currant bush. She picked up her skirts and went flying down the alley.