Gertrude

by Kirsten Osbourne

  Gertrude had to admit that her sister had a point. “I suppose…but I can’t keep running this place with that loud commotion out there all the time. It’s too noisy and disruptive!”

  “Hmmm.” Betsy thought for a moment. “What if there was a way to make the book wagon less distracting? Would that work?”

  “Well, maybe. But how would you do that? They’re out there every day, the entire time we are open, singing and playing music and being loud.” The words came tumbling out. Gertrude could barely stop herself.

  Betsy looked out the window for a few moments, then looked inside the library. “I have an idea…” She disappeared for a few moments into the closet and came out holding a small patch of carpet.

  “I’ve seen this once in a school house. What if you set up this corner of the library to be the ‘Book Wagon’ corner? And at certain times of the day, they can be loud and play music. But the rest of the time they need to be quiet, just like everyone else. That way, the Book Wagon is inside the library, not outside, distracting people.” Betsy stopped, flushed with excitement at her idea.

  Gertrude nodded, considering all the possibilities. “That’s not a bad idea. Though I don’t love the idea of singing in a library.”

  “But if it’s between not having the library at all, or having a library with singing, which would you prefer?” Betsy pointed out.

  “That’s true. Hmm. I’ll think about it,” Gertrude promised her sister. Betsy only smiled.

  “Well, children, we should probably go home now to start to prepare dinner. Find the books that you’d like to check out.”

  David pointed at the sign about the book wagon. “Mama, I don’t want to check out a book, because then we can’t go to the book wagon anymore!”

  Gertrude sighed. Even the youngest children didn’t want to use the Nowhere library anymore. She had a lot of work to do before the mayor held the vote on whether or not the library should remain open.

  “All right. Thank your Aunt Gertrude for letting us visit her at work,” Betsy said.

  “Thank you, Aunt Gertie!” A chorus of voices rang out. Gertrude smiled. She walked the group to the door and waved goodbye. Betsy was the last to slip out the door.

  “We didn’t get to talk much, but I wanted to tell you that I really liked Jedediah Thorn. I don’t know what’s going on between the two of you, but I think you should try to work it out. You don’t meet men like him every day!”

  Gertrude blushed. “I’ll think about it. Now I think you’ve worn out your welcome! Goodbye, children!”

  Gertrude spent the rest of the day thinking about Betsy’s suggestion. She knew she had to make a change. Library attendance would continue to decrease if she didn’t change her policy. It seemed like allowing people to use the book wagon would mean more people would use the library again, but it was hard to tell.

  She also wasn’t ready to admit to Jedediah Thorn that she was going to start working with him again. He was loud and full of himself and frustrating, and she still didn’t know where they stood. He had made his affection for her clear, and he had also answered all of her questions truthfully and with answers that satisfied her.

  Still, she had some nagging doubts in the back of her head. Plus, the upcoming library vote was weighing heavily on her. She decided not to respond to Jed’s invitations or proposal until she knew what would happen with the Nowhere library. It seemed only fair.

  She cleaned up the papers and books that Betsy’s children had worked on and swept the floors, feeling helpless. She saw that a few more people had brought their instruments, and were forming a circle around Jed. She watched as he began playing the banjo, and the others followed suit with their own instruments. It was rather impressive, how a group of individuals combined to form a whole group, working together so beautifully.

  Still, Gertrude worried, music had no place in a library. There had to be some arrangement that could keep both Gertrude and Jedediah happy, but it couldn’t be at the expense of the Nowhere citizens who relied on the library to quietly read or study. She resolved to keep thinking about it until she had a better idea.

  Gertrude watched as another group of people began to dance to the music. What had started as two or three people a few weeks ago had blossomed into dozens and dozens of people, talking to each other, playing music, and dancing. Normally, Gertrude wasn’t a fan of social gatherings. She preferred one-on-one time or being alone…but she had to admit, the gathering looked quite fun.

  Gertrude shook her head as she realized what she had been thinking. Jedediah Thorn had clearly gotten under her skin. There was no way the old Gertrude would have even considered going outside to join a music and dancing group. She didn’t like the effect the man was having on her. And yet as she watched the group swaying to the music, and saw Jed’s strong hands strumming each banjo string, she couldn’t stop thinking about what those same hands would feel like when they touched her again.

  Chapter 7

  The following day was clear and bright. Gertrude was pleased to see that the wagon was not in its usual place when she arrived at work. She re-organized the children’s section until it was to her liking. She’d always liked to stay busy, and felt that way even more after Cletus and Edna Petunia had adopted her. The Sanders believed in working hard and never being idle. It was why Edna Petunia still found the time to do many tasks around Nowhere in addition to her household responsibilities, and why Cletus served as the town’s judge at his age.

  As she unlocked the door at opening time, she peeked outside to see if Jedediah was back yet. But the wagon was still gone. Had he given up and moved on to a different town? Gertrude found that she was sad thinking about the possibility of Jed never coming back. She had grown accustomed to seeing his kind eyes and broad shoulders each day. She couldn’t get his smile out of her head no matter how hard she tried.

  Even though there was no wagon to distract the townspeople, by lunch time, no patrons had passed through the library doors. Gertrude pulled out her fried chicken and baked beans and began to eat her meal slowly and sadly. She’d never realized how much joy it brought her to run a bustling library. Even though she liked to keep peace and quiet in the library, it felt wrong without the small sounds of papers being rustled or chairs being dragged across the floor.

  At half past twelve, the door burst open. Gertrude looked up, pleased that someone had finally come to borrow a book. But to her dismay, it was only Edna Petunia—and the woman was a mess. Her hair was disheveled, her blouse had one button undone, and she was panting as if she’d just finished a race.

  Gertrude jumped out of her seat and walked over to the older woman. “Are you all right?”

  “I’m fine. For now. We need to have a talk.” Edna Petunia’s tone was far more serious than Gertrude was used to.

  “Of course. Let’s sit down.” Gertrude pulled out a chair and Edna Petunia flopped down into it, slowly catching her breath. Gertrude walked around to the other side of the table and took a seat facing her.

  “I came over here because I had a dream.” Edna Petunia paused dramatically.

  “Yes? I don’t understand.” Gertrude wished Edna Petunia would get to the point.

  “You and the man from the book wagon. Married!” Edna Petunia glared accusingly at Gertrude.

  “Well, that’s ridiculous. I think he’s gone off and left town.” Gertrude tried to keep her tone steady, but her voice broke a little as she thought about the fact that she might never see Jed or hear his banjo again.

  “In my dream, you two had married without my knowledge or permission. How could you do that, Gertrude?” Edna Petunia took a peppermint stick out of her cleavage and snapped it into two pieces. She began crunching one piece between her teeth.

  Gertrude watched Edna Petunia’s face grow red, and she grew upset, too. “You can’t think I would go and do something like that! I know how badly you felt when some of the other girls got married without you being able to plan their weddings.”


  A few years ago, when Penny and Tom had married, Edna Petunia had gone overboard planning an elaborate wedding, with decorations, dresses, and cakes all detailed to perfection. She had driven Penny and Tom, and both of the families, to distraction with her level of effort. The family had hoped she’d gotten it out of her system, but instead, it only made her more upset when the next sister to get married, Dorothy, had been married quickly by Micah. Edna Petunia got furious whenever she heard anyone imply that any of her remaining single daughters might have anything less than a year-long engagement.

  Edna Petunia took a deep breath. “I know what I dreamed about and my dreams are never wrong. You’re going to marry that man. You need to promise me that you won’t do what most of your sisters have done and get married behind my back. Do you hear me?”

  “Edna Petunia, you have absolutely nothing to worry about. I’m not interested in Jed Thorn that way. I’ve decided I’m not the marrying type.” Gertrude nodded her head, as if she were trying to convince herself of it, too.

  Edna Petunia snorted. “You’re far too young to know if you’re the marrying type, Gertie. When you’re my age, then you can tell me if you don’t think marriage is for you.”

  “How did you know that Cletus was the one for you?” Gertrude decided to try to distract the woman. She knew from prior experience that it sometimes could work. It all depended on what kind of mood Edna Petunia was in.

  Edna Petunia thought for a moment. “Well, he made me feel something I hadn’t felt in a long, long time. A part inside of me that I thought was long gone. It was like he woke me up. And I wanted to keep feeling the way he made me feel.”

  Gertrude thought she understood. “He made you feel alive? I think I know what that feels like.”

  Edna Petunia pointed a finger at Gertrude. “So you are in love with Jed Thorn! You are planning to marry him! I knew it!”

  Gertrude stared at Edna Petunia. The old woman had finally lost it. She’d known this day would come. “Please, with all due respect, can you lower your voice?”

  “Why? It’s not as if anyone is here to hear me!” Edna Petunia pointed out, looking around the empty library.

  “You may be right about that, but you’re not right about me and Jedediah Thorn. I have no plans to marry the man.” Gertrude took Edna Petunia’s hand, something she wouldn’t normally do but felt she needed to. “Trust me.”

  Edna Petunia sighed loudly. “I may have had too much cough syrup last night. I suppose that could account for my dream.”

  “Yes, I’m sure that’s all it is. But I do appreciate you coming down here. Would you like to check out a book?” Gertrude hoped that maybe some good could come out of Edna Petunia’s visit to the library, after all.

  “Gertie, you should know by now that I don’t need to read books. My life’s much more interesting than any book could ever be!” Edna Petunia scolded. She laughed. Sometimes her bastards could be downright silly.

  “Yes, you’re right. I should have realized.” Gertrude smiled warmly at her adoptive mother. She certainly was a lot to handle, but it was worth it to have someone who loved her and her sisters so completely and fiercely.

  “I suppose I should be getting home now. Cletus will be finished with lunch by now…and maybe he and I can go on a walk together.” Edna Petunia glanced at the library’s clock.

  Gertrude fought the urge to cover her ears. She knew exactly what Edna Petunia meant by ‘take a walk’, and she didn’t care to hear anymore. “Yes, well, you should be going, then. I’ll walk you out.” Gertrude rose out of her chair and walked over to the door, holding it open for Edna Petunia.

  Edna Petunia walked out the door and turned around before she left. “You promise, right, Gertie?”

  “Promise what?” Gertrude wasn’t sure what Edna Petunia wanted from her.

  “Promise me you won’t marry that man and run off in his book wagon.” Edna Petunia’s words seemed like a joke, but her voice was deadly serious.

  Gertrude stifled a laugh. “I promise, Edna Petunia. You have nothing to worry about.” She closed the door behind the older woman, shaking her head. She went to the back of the library to straighten up some of the shelves. She was running out of tasks to do with so few patrons.

  A few minutes later, she heard the door open again.

  “Edna Petunia, are you back already?” Gertrude wondered out loud as the door creaked open slowly. Instead of her adoptive mother, a pair of children stood outside. “Come on in, children.”

  “We have something for you.” A little girl in pigtails and a blue dress spoke shyly and slowly.

  “Abigail, come on in,” Gertrude called. She recognized the children from their visits to the library. Abigail’s brother, Stephen, fidgeted nervously next to her.

  “Come out to see it,” Stephen finally said.

  “What are you talking about?” Gertrude was baffled. She walked to the front door. Abigail and Stephen stepped to the sides and Gertrude saw about ten other children standing in a row. Each of them held a card in his or her hands. “What on Earth…?”

  The children suddenly burst into song.

  “Gertie, Gertie, this is true,

  Gertie, Gertie, I love you!

  Lovely Gertie, I will be,

  The happiest man if you marry me!”

  Gertrude’s jaw dropped. The children parted and she could see the book wagon. Jed came tumbling out of it and presented her with a bundle of wildflowers. One by one, each of the children handed her a paper. As Gertrude unfolded them while balancing her flowers, she saw they were all love notes from Jed.

  Gertrude struggled to maintain her composure. “Children, please give us a minute alone.”

  The children giggled and scattered, likely going back to the schoolyard, as their day had not yet finished. Gertrude found herself growing angry at Jed. Had he even thought about the fact that the children were supposed to be in school the entire day?

  “What do you mean by pulling a stunt like this?” Gertrude demanded.

  Jed looked disappointed, but covered it with a big grin. “And here I thought you might actually say ‘yes’ instead of being all sour with me.”

  “What do you expect from me? You’re nothing like what I’d expect a man of your age to be.” Gertrude found it hard not to stare at Jed’s big, brown eyes and handsome face.

  “And you wouldn’t want me if I were like those other men,” Jed said softly. He walked closer to Gertrude.

  “Well, that’s just nonsense. That’s—” Gertrude stammered.

  Jed pressed his lips to Gertrude’s. “Tell me you don’t feel something when I kiss you.”

  “I…I…” Gertrude was at a loss for words, which was quite unusual for her.

  “I’ll wait a few days for my answer.” Jed flicked his tongue in between Gertrude’s lips one last time, then turned on his heel and walked back toward the wagon. A few minutes later, he pulled away in the wagon. Gertrude thought she heard him let out a delighted cry, but she couldn’t be sure.

  After Jed had disappeared into the distance, Gertrude took a few deep breaths, trying to slow the beating of her heart back to a normal rhythm. Now she was really in trouble. When Edna Petunia had confronted her, she hadn’t thought there was a chance she would marry Jed Thorn. But now that he’d asked her twice—and properly this time—she actually found herself considering the prospect.

  She set out for the Sanders’ house, walking very slowly as she thought about what it might be like to be Mrs. Jedediah Thorn. It would certainly be much different than her life with Cletus and Edna Petunia. There would be no more house full of sisters, no comfortable, spacious home. She let her mind wander as she thought about how she would do their wash. She supposed she could find a stream in the woods, string a clothesline between two trees, and hang their clothes to dry there. She also imagined living every day with Jed’s smile and merry eyes. It was terrifying, but it was also exciting.

  That evening, Gertrude felt like she was a character i
n one of the books she liked to read. She had a huge secret that no one in the house knew about. She spent dinner daydreaming as well, and she barely even noticed when Cletus asked to speak with her after dinner.

  “Gertie! Did you hear me?” Cletus called from the head of the table.

  “Are you feeling all right?” Martha asked, putting a hand on her arm.

  Gertrude snapped to attention. “What’s that?”

  “I’d like to speak with you in the formal parlor after dinner.” Cletus’s voice boomed.

  Theresa looked shocked. “Is Gertrude in trouble?”

  Gertrude looked guiltily at the younger girl. Did Cletus already know about Jed’s proposal? Was he trying to stop the engagement?

  “No, nothing of the sort. I’d just like to have a word,” Cletus said, throwing his napkin down on the table. Still, Gertrude felt nervous as everyone dug into Edna Petunia’s famous chocolate cake. She picked at her dessert anxiously.

  “If you’re not going to eat that, I will!” Katie volunteered. Gertrude pushed her plate over to her sister, and Katie happily began to eat it.

  “Something wrong with you, Gertie?” Edna Petunia called from the other side of the table.

  “No, I’m fine,” Gertrude said.

  “Then why are you turning up your nose at my cake?” Edna Petunia demanded.

  Gertrude thought fast. “I’m just full from dinner. The casserole was delicious.”

  “Darn right it was!” Edna Petunia giggled and took a sip from her “cough medicine”. Gertrude looked at Martha and suppressed a grin. Although it was very unlikely that she actually carried it for a cough, their adoptive mother was old enough that no one bothered her about it.

  After dinner, Hope began to clean the dishes as the family went off to their evening routines. Gertrude followed Cletus into the parlor, her heart sinking further down with each step.

  Cletus settled into his arm chair and stared at Gertrude for a long time before he began to speak. Gertrude felt more and more anxious with each passing moment.