“Oh-oh, I’m in hot water now,” she thought. And she was right because, before you could yell BOO, her parents came bolting out the door.
“Okay, what the heck is goin’ on!?” Murdock yelled.
“I’m sorry, Papa. I threw a rock at that can, and it bounced off the tree trunk and hit the window.”
“What have I told you about throwing rocks, young lady?” Margaret said in an angry tone. “Now go to your room and stay there until we tell you to come out.”
“But, Mama, it was an….”
“Don’t you argue with your mother,” Murdock said while giving his daughter a hard slap on the butt. “Now, get yourself inside. Quick!”
Leona began crying, and, as fast as she could, ran inside and up the stairs to her bedroom. The slap wasn’t that painful, but the fact that her parents were mad at her was. They had never gotten mad at her before, so her feelings were hurt. Shortly after the sobbing girl jumped facedown on the bed in her second-floor bedroom, she could hear Lillian arguing with her parents through the open window.
“Leona didn’t do anything bad, Mama. It was just an accident. Why did you and Papa have to get so mad at her?”
Lillian’s response made Margaret stop and think.
“You’re right, Lillian. Your Papa and I have had so much stuff on our minds lately that we just overreacted. The war in Europe has me so frazzled nowadays, and it’s looking more and more like we’re going to be pulled into it; and if we are, people we know—like Mrs. Murphy’s grandson—may be drafted. But still, your sister certainly didn’t deserve how we treated her.
“Come on, Murdy. Let’s go apologize to Leona. She’s only 6 and we treated her like she was 16.”
—1—
Upon hearing Lillian sticking up for her, Leona started to feel better. And when her parents came into the room, she quickly wiped away her tears.
“Leona, we want to talk to you,” Murdock began. “You didn’t do anything wrong. It was just an accident. Your mother and I were wrong to get so mad at you. Can you forgive us?”
Leona ran to her father and gave him a big hug.
“I’m sorry, Papa,” she said, “I didn’t mean to break the window. I promise, I’ll never throw rocks again.”
Margaret smiled and offered encouragement to her daughter.
“Don’t you fret yourself about that, Leona. Like your Papa said, you didn’t do anything wrong. We were the ones who were wrong for making a mountain out of a molehill. And, thankfully, Lillian pointed it out to us right away.
“Now, maybe you should go and thank her for sticking up for you.”
“I will, Mama. Right away.”
“And, Leona.”
“Yes, Mama?”
“We just want you to know that we are very proud of you for being such a good girl all these years.”
Suddenly, Leona’s frown was replaced by a big smile, and then she ran out of her room looking for Lillian. She found her elder sister sitting outside on the lawn, talking to Arlene.
“Thanks for sticking up for me the way you did, Lillian,” the timid 6-year-old said.
“That’s okay, Leona. That’s what sisters are for. I know your feelings were hurt, but I hope you don’t hold it against Mama and Papa. Sometimes people make mistakes; even them.”
“I won’t. I love Mama and Papa. I wasn’t mad at them, I was just sad because I thought I let them down. But thanks to you, I know that I didn’t do anything bad. I wish I could do something for you, to pay you back.”
“Well, someday you probably will. I’m sure that you and Arlene and I will all have plenty of chances to help each other out of trouble,” she laughed. “Just remember that anytime you need help we will be there for you. You know, we can be like the Three Musketeers, and this will be our signal.”
Lillian held up her left hand and displayed her three middle fingers.
“The middle one is me, this one is Arlene, and the shortest one is you. Any time you see me doing this, you’ll know that we’re behind you and won’t let anything bad happen to you. It’s all for one and one for all. Okay?”
“Okay, Lillian,” Leona said.
Then she hugged her sisters and sat down on the grass beside them.
“I’m sure glad Lillian didn’t give me the middle finger, Leona,” Arlene joked, causing the three Haley girls to break into prolonged laughter.
Margaret and Murdock were watching from Leona’s window and they overheard their daughters talking.
“I guess we did a pretty good job of raising our children, Murdy.”
“I think you’re right. But I’m not sure we can take all the credit. I don’t recall us teaching them to be that wise.”
“Not in so many words, maybe. But you know as well as I that actions always speak louder than words.”
—2—
It was during her early years that Leona acquired much of her wisdom and insight into how to treat other people, and her parents were the main influence. They taught her to respect and honor her elders, and to respect people’s differences: “their uniqueness” as her mother used to say. Although their own actions helped shape their children’s actions, the Haleys made a point of talking to each of them about how to behave; and now it was 6-year-old Leona’s turn.
“Everyone is different, and that’s the way it should be,” Margaret told her daughter, a month after her 6th birthday. “It would be a very boring world indeed if everyone looked, acted, or thought the same way. Be proud of the way you are and be respectful of people who are different from you.”
“What do you mean by different?” Leona asked.
“Do you remember that little boy we saw the other day, the one you started to laugh at because he was walking so funny?” her mother asked.
“Yeah, I sure do,” Leona replied. “You got so mad at me you wouldn’t talk to me all the way home.”
“Well, Leona, that little boy used to be able to walk, and even run, just as normal as you or I. But he came down with polio when he was five, and now, for the rest of his life, he’ll never be able to run and play like he used to. Sometimes life can be cruel and unfair, for no good reason at all. That little boy did nothing to deserve what happened to him, and it’s even more unfair that he has to be exposed to people laughing at him for something he had no control over, don’t you think?
“Don’t forget, Leona: People don’t ask to be born different. It’s God that makes us the way we are, rather it be beautiful or ugly, normal or abnormal; and if you make fun of someone because they look or act strange, then you’re really making fun of God. So, do you understand now that making fun of that little boy, just because he was different, was not right?”
“Yes, Mama. And, I’m sorry. I didn’t know.”
“That’s the whole point, Leona. We can never know what has happened in another person’s life. Maybe there are some people who are just plain bad and deserved to be ridiculed, even laughed at, but we seldom know who deserves to be really despised, or who is just going through a bad time at that moment. Even good people can act strange on any given day, especially if something bad has just happened to them. Maybe someone just lost a job, or Heaven forbid, a loved one. They may seem aloof, or maybe downright inhospitable, but in reality they just might be so down in the dumps that they don’t care about anything; at least, for that day or that particular moment. Being depressed and acting just plain rude doesn’t make someone bad, it makes them normal, or in other words: human.”
“It does?” Leona said.
“Of course, sweetheart. Remember how your Aunt Maude was last week, right after her two-day-old baby Dorothy died? She was so depressed she couldn’t talk to anyone for days. Wouldn’t it be normal for you to be depressed and act funny if your daddy or I got real sick or died?”
“I guess it would. I never thought of it like that, Mama.” After p
ausing, Leona spoke to her mother again. “I promise that I’ll never make fun of anyone, ever again; and I’ll never laugh at anyone. Unless, of course, you or Papa tell me a funny story.”
With that comment, both Leona and Margaret broke out laughing.
“You’re something else, Leona,” Margaret said. “I love you with all my heart. I certainly hope you never change. But just remember this, Leona: You can’t judge a person until you really get to know them, and you sure shouldn’t judge a person on what someone else thinks or says about them either. Remember, even good people like me and your Papa—and Grandma Eunice—can repeat things every now and again that may not necessarily be true. All it takes is for someone to start a rumor and, if enough people repeat it, everyone thinks it’s true. So remember, it’s best to take most things you hear with a grain of salt.”
“Huh?”
“That’s just an expression, dear; it means be skeptical. Anyway, I want you to remember this, Leona, if you never remember anything else I tell you:
“Just because someone says something bad about a person, it isn’t necessarily true. People sometimes say bad things about another person so that their own faults won’t be revealed. And the same thing goes if someone tells you a person is good. It’s up to you to make your own judgment about people; and, believe me, it takes a long time before you can uncover all of the good or evil that’s in a person.
“You should always give people the benefit of the doubt, but you must also be aware that your first impression could be wrong. So always be sure to keep an open mind. And no matter what, a good rule of thumb is the old saying: ‘If you can’t say something nice about someone, then don’t say anything at all.’ You’ll avoid a lot of unnecessary mistakes and conflicts in your life if you live by that rule.”
Leona listened intently that day and she took everything that her mother said to heart. More importantly, she was determined to live her life by her mother’s words, and for the most part she did, as best she could.
—3—
The early years had passed quickly for Margaret and Murdock, in fact, too quickly. As the fall of 1916 neared, three of their four children were of school age. Lillian was going into the 7th grade, Arlene the 4th, and little Leona was to begin her 1st year of school. When that time came, their parents pondered that unsettling reality.
“Can you believe that Leona will be starting the 1st grade today?” Margaret asked her husband.
“It doesn’t seem possible,” Murdock answered, while shaking his head in disbelief.
“I know, Murdy. It seems like only yesterday that I was changing her diapers. I hope she’s gonna be okay. She seems to really fear going to school.”
“It’s only natural, Maggie. All kids act that way. Don’t you remember how Lillian and Arlene were? Give her time; she’ll be okay.”
Like every child, Leona dreaded that first day of the unknown. No matter how many times her parents or her sisters tried to explain the concept of school to the 6-year-old, she only thought of it as being away from home, and away from her mother for the first time in her young life. Although the school was less than a mile away from her home, it might as well have been a hundred or more as far as Leona’s little mind was concerned. When the scared little girl walked to school with her sisters on that day she was visibly upset, and a tear trickled down her cheek. Lillian saw the all too familiar fear on her sister’s face; the same fear that she and Arlene had experienced not that long ago. Remembering what had happened during the summer, she smiled at Leona and signaled to her with the three middle fingers of her left hand. When Leona recognized the signal that Lillian flashed, she smiled and wiped the tear from her cheek. After seeing the soothing signal she easily got through the day, knowing that her sisters were there to help her whenever she needed them.
Leona was even more reassured that night when she saw that both Lillian and Arlene were eager to help her with homework. She was also heartened when it became clear that anytime she needed additional help, her parents were happy to provide it. And, of course, she still had little Wally to keep her mind occupied. She was just as attached to him now as she had ever been. And, the little boy was just as fond of Leona as she was of him. In fact, he bonded to his sister so completely that Margaret was a little concerned.
“I swear that little Wally believes Leona is his mother,” she told Murdock.
“I think you’re right, Maggie. But that’s not unusual considering how much time she spends with him,” he answered.
“Oh, don’t get me wrong, sweetheart, I’m not complaining. I think it’s wonderful that the children like each other as much as they do, and I hope it continues that way for the rest of their lives. But, on the other hand, I hope little Wally doesn’t grow up thinking I’m his old grandma,” she laughed.
“I don’t think you hav’ta worry about that, honey,” Murdock assured her. “You’re still as beautiful and as youthful looking as you were when I first married you. In fact, I’m sure that people will be mistaking you and Lillian for sisters when she reaches her teens next year.”
“Now, Murdock, let’s not get carried away. Flattery is nice, but that much flattery can only mean one thing. So tell me, what is it that you want now?”
“Just you, darling. Just you.”
Margaret smiled and gave her husband a kiss.
“I love you, Murdy. I’m the luckiest woman alive. Not only do I have a wonderful husband, but I have the nicest kids on this Earth. I only hope it stays that way for a while, and that you don’t ever get fed up and leave me for someone more beautiful.”
“That’s one thing you never hav’ta worry about, Maggie. There’s no one more beautiful than you. And I don’t just mean your outer beauty either. So, you see, dear, I would hav’ta have my head examined if I even thought about doing anything silly enough to lose you.”
“Do you really mean that, Murdy?”
“You know I do. If I ever lost you, I wouldn’t be able to go on.”
“That’s sweet,” Margaret replied. “You know I feel the same way about you. But hopefully, we won’t have to worry about that for a long, long time.”
—4—
Despite her initial misgivings, Leona quickly adapted to school and did well in the 1st grade thanks to her advanced reading skills. When Margaret saw how much her little girl enjoyed reading, she surprised Leona on her 7th birthday by giving her Anne of Green Gables: her favorite book when she was a little girl.
“You and your colossal imagination reminds me so much of Anne, it isn’t even funny,” Margaret laughed.
Leona started reading the novel during the summer and immediately fell in love with Anne and her story. And when she was done, she asked her mother to suggest another book she could read.
“Well, Anne of Green Gables was my favorite,” Margaret said, “but I liked Little Women almost as much. And the next time we go downtown I’ll buy it for you. I saw a copy of it on sale in Barrett’s Book Store, just last week. Hopefully it’s still there. If not, I’m sure we can find something else to suit your taste.”
When they went downtown later that week, Little Women was still sitting on the ON SALE shelf at Barrett’s Book Store, and Margaret purchased it for Leona at 75% off the original price. Before going back to school, Leona read that book and two other novels by Jack London: The Call of the Wild and The Sea Wolf. She purchased them on sale at Barrett’s using her hard earned savings, or “chore money,” as Margaret called it. After reading those novels Leona found that the 2nd grade was much easier than the 1st. And when Margaret saw her reading those novels during the summer of ’17, she knew, right then and there, that searching for birthday or Christmas gifts for Leona was no longer going to be a problem, not as long as she could find novels on sale at Barrett’s.
Chapter 18
Trouble in the City
After learning of Leona’s newfound interest in
reading, Norwegian sailor Hans Andersen handed her a copy of Heidi on the Sea Turtle’s next trip back to Bangor in August of 1917, telling the elated 7-year-old that it was his daughter’s favorite book. Leona took the book and politely thanked Hans. But she really didn’t need to say anything because her huge smile told him just how delighted and appreciative she was.
“I think you’re gonna like it, Leona,” Hans said. “It’s about a pretty little girl like you and my daughter Helga. Only, Heidi lives in Zurich, Switzerland, not Bangor, Maine or Oslo, Norway. You and Helga are a lot alike you know. The same age, and she likes to read too. The one difference is your hair. Helga has light blonde hair, like her mother’s.”
Leona smiled and thanked Hans one more time.
“You’re so nice, Mr. Andersen; almost as nice as my Papa.”
Suddenly a light lit in her head. She turned and ran into her bedroom, returning a few seconds later with her copy of Anne of Green Gables.
“Mr. Andersen, would you please give this to your daughter. Tell her she can borrow it; you can bring it back when she’s finished. I’d give it to her, but my mother gave it to me, and it’s my favorite book.”
Leona would have gladly given the book to Helga, but, as she told Hans, it had too much sentimental value to just give it away, even to his daughter; and besides, Leona knew that loaning the book to Helga would ensure that Hans would have to visit the Haleys at least one more time to return it.
As she handed the book to Hans, she said, “I sure wish I could get to meet Helga one day.”
“I wish you could too, Leona. But they don’t let little girls on the kind of ships I’m on, and I can’t afford the fare to bring my family all the way to America. I’ve told Helga all about you though, and the next time I come back I’ll tell you all about her. And I’ll see that she gets your book; I’m sure she’ll enjoy it, especially since it’s from you. And don’t you fret about your book; I can imagine how much it means to you, so I’ll guard it with my life and make sure that Helga handles it with kid-gloves.
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