Lavinia's Window

by Michelle Weisen

  “If it appears that way, it is because Grandmama taught me the seven heavenly virtues. Knowing what is right makes everything easier. ”

  “Will you teach them to me?”

  Lavinia squeezed Olive tighter. “Of course.”

  “Lavinia! Over here!”

  On the building next to theirs, Papa, Claire, and several firefighters had a long ladder and some rope.

  “Papa!” screamed Olive. “Save me!”

  “Lavinia, can you hear me?” shouted Papa.

  “Yes!”

  “We are going to put this ladder across the two buildings. I’ll throw you a rope and I want you to tie it to Olive. She will need to use the ladder to come over.”

  Lavinia nodded. She caught the rope and tied it to Olive’s waist, using one of the knots Kevin had taught her. She removed Olive’s outer skirts and lifted her up on the wall.

  “Don’t look down, Olive. Only look at Papa. You must creep over the ladder into Papa’s arms.”

  Oliver shivered uncontrollably. “I can’t.”

  “You must do it, because I cannot come over until you go.”

  Olive nodded and turned around. She crawled slowly along the top of the ladder until she was about two-thirds of the way. A large crash shook the building and Olive screamed. She laid down on the ladder and refused to move.

  “Olive! Hurry!” shouted Papa. “You must get up!”

  Olive shut her eyes and screamed.

  Claire stripped off her skirt and climbed up on the ladder. She quickly reached Olive and pulled her across. Papa cut the rope and tossed it to Lavinia.

  George barked furiously as Lavinia passed the rope under her arms and double knotted it across her chest. Lavinia pulled herself up on the wall. George stood up and looked over at the rescue party.

  “Come on, George,” cried Claire. “Jump!” George turned around in circles, ran full speed up the wall, and gracefully leaped over to the other building.

  Lavinia climbed along the ladder. The wind was strong and she held on tight. As she reached the midway point, a deep rumbling arose from the depths of the building as it started to tilt and collapse in upon itself. The ladder disappeared beneath Lavinia, and she heard Claire scream her name as she plunged to the ground.

  She plummeted about thirty feet when the rope gave a vicious jerk, ending her descent. Lavinia swung around in circles and then slammed into the side of the other building. The firmly knotted rope held. She was battered and bruised, but alive. Lavinia sent a feeble thank you to her Rainy Day Man for taking care of her once again.

  The firefighters hoisted her to the top, and Papa reached over and pulled her to safety. He laid her down and Claire carefully examined her.

  “Her arm’s twisted at an awkward angle, and she’s probably injured her ribs. She’s got some nasty bruises on her face and likely everywhere else. But it could have been much worse. We’ll take her home and have Dr. Levonson look her over.” She gazed down lovingly at Lavinia. “You’re a strong girl, Lavinia, and a very lucky one.”

  George gently licked her face. “Good thing the General brought George today. He saved us Papa,” said Lavinia weakly.

  “And you saved Olive, Lavinia. She would have died if you hadn’t taken action. You are a hero,” replied Papa.

  “Claire went out on the ladder to get Olive. She’s a hero, too.”

  “I did what I had to, Lavinia, and so did you.”

  “We all worked together to save each other. That is what families are supposed to do, isn’t that right Papa?”

  “That’s right, Lavinia. Don’t talk anymore. You need to save your strength. We’re going to put you on this gurney, and take you home to the doctor now.”

  Papa took Lavinia and Olive to Claire’s house. Dr. Levonson came and taped Lavinia’s bruised ribs and put a cast on her fractured wrist. Olive suffered from smoke inhalation and was placed on bedrest.

  Olive told them that the staircase collapsed shortly after they had separated from the General. Olive managed to hold on to the railing, and did not fall with the others. It was only by a stroke of luck that she made it to the safer side of the building, and Lavinia heard her feeble cries. Papa and Mr. Stewart led everyone in the conference room safely to the street. Once there, they found Claire and the General, but it was George and Martha who saved the day. No one would have known Lavinia and Olive were on the roof if George had not alerted Martha to their predicament.

  Many people were missing after the fire, including Mina and Charlotte. Papa sent out inquiries, and Mina was soon located at a hospital with severe burns to her chest and legs. Charlotte had died in the fire.

  Constance and Annie looked after Lavinia’s injuries in Philadelphia. James and Belle traveled to their New York apartment so James could help Papa look after his business. Olive recovered quickly, but Mina required special care for her burns. Papa hired a nurse, who tended to Mina at home during her slow and painful recovery. Belle assisted with the household management, but it was Papa who helped his daughters cope with the loss of their mother.

  As soon as Lavinia was well enough, Constance took her and Annie to New York to stay with Papa. Constance helped Belle with Alex’s household, and saw that both Mina and Olive kept up with their studies. Annie and Lavinia played with Olive, and fussed over Mina, who was swathed in bandages. When Claire found time, she also came and took all the girls on pleasant outings in the carriage around Central Park.

  The General located a baby pug and gave it to Mina and Olive, who promptly named her Poppy. Poppy was an active little puppy that required a great deal of attention. She distracted the girls from their heartache, and taught them to care for something besides themselves.

  As Belle had indicated months before, these were people who took care of their own, and they soon wove Papa, Mina and Olive into the tight-knit fabric of their family.

  Lavinia wrote in her diary:

  Mina, Olive, and I will bear the scars of the fire for the rest of our lives, but this tragedy has also brought out the good in us. Mina and Olive lost their mother, but we all gained a father. Grandmama proved how wise she is once again. She put the past behind her, and continues to help Papa with the many challenges he faces. Belle and James’ friendship provides comfort to him, and Claire and the General make sure that Mina and Olive feel wanted and loved.

  Mr. Stewart was right. He said that we needed to find something in common to bring us together. When our lives were threatened, nothing else mattered. We had to work together to stay alive, and we chose to stay together afterward because the fire changed the way we felt about one another.

  Life is precious and so are the people we include in it. We have been given a gift, and I know that I am grateful for every moment of every day. I also know that I don’t have to live with Papa to be part of his life. We are no longer two different families. We are all one and the same. At last. LSR

  Camomile-“May All Your Wishes Come True”

  Chapter 25

  20 March 1884

  Lavinia sat in her window seat with Bubbles. Today was her thirteenth birthday. She read over her journal and marveled at how much had happened in the past year. “I am happier than I ever thought I could be, Bubbles!” she said, kissing his little face.

  “Lavinia, what are you doing? Come, your party has started,” said Claire, pulling her off the window seat.

  “I was thinking about how much I have changed this past year, Claire. I am grateful that Grandmama gave me my journal, and taught me about the seven heavenly virtues. I am a better person for it.”

  “The virtues will continue to support you during difficult times in your life. At least that has been my experience,” said Claire, embracing Lavinia. “It’s time to go downstairs.”

  The General stood at the bottom of the stairwell, impressive in his dress uniform. His Medal of Honor gleamed. “It is my pleasure to escort you to your party,” he said, offering his arm.

  “Thank you, Sir.”

  They
entered the dining room, which had been decorated with ribbons and flowers. Grandmama and Mrs. Lawson stood next to a three-tiered birthday cake. Martin and Pegs and little Martin were there, as was James and Belle and all of her cousins. Ellinor May stood with Kevin, who now used one of the General’s canes to get around. Aunt Mimi and Aunt Allie waved and blew kisses. Even Mr. Stewart was there. But the best present of all was that the doctor allowed Mina to come to her party, and Papa had driven the girls down from New York.

  “Where is Annie?” asked Lavinia.

  “Here she is,” said Claire.

  Annie popped out from behind the birthday cake, “Happy Birthday, Lavinia!” She had frosting on her mouth.

  “Have you been picking at this cake?” scolded Mrs. Lawson. “Bad enough I have to worry about those hounds!”

  Everyone laughed.

  “Lavinia.”

  “Yes, Papa.”

  “I’m sorry that I didn’t send you any birthday presents in the past, but I hope this will make up for my negligence.” He gave Lavinia an envelope.

  Lavinia opened up the envelope, which was filled with torn slips of paper. She picked up a scrap and looked at it. “Thank you, Papa, I think.”

  “It’s your acceptance letter to that boarding school in London. You’re staying here, Lavinia, where you belong.”

  “I knew you would make the right decision,” said Lavinia squeezing his hand.

  “Hey! Papa’s brought kites for everyone. Come on, let’s go outside,” shouted Olive.

  It was true. There were kites of all sizes and colors. Even Aunt Allie and Aunt Mimi had one.

  “We feel like young girls again!”

  Claire had two kites. “I’m going to try for the impossible!” she grinned. “Claire, I thought one of those kites was mine,” said Mr. Stewart.

  “Get your own, Benjamin.”

  “Hey, little Martin! Are you flying kites with Papa?” cooed Pegs.

  “Ellinor May! Let out some line,” shouted the General. Ellinor May waved to the General, and unrolled her spool of twine with Kevin’s assistance.

  “That’s my kite,” said Annie stubbornly as she held on to a red kite.

  “No, it’s mine!” cried Olive, who tugged at the other end.

  “Stop it!” Mina stepped between them. “You take the red one, Annie, and Olive gets the blue one.”

  “I want the red one!” pouted Olive.

  “Behave or I will tell Papa,” threatened Mina.

  All of a sudden George leaped up and grabbed the red kite in his mouth.

  “Come on, Olive! Help me get my kite!” shouted Annie who ran after George.

  “I’m coming, Annie!” Olive dropped the blue kite and ran after Annie. Martha immediately picked up the blue kite.

  “Oh no! Martha has your kite, Olive! You better go get it!” shouted Mina.

  Girls, kites, and dogs scrambled around in a melee.

  “George! Martha! Sit!” ordered the General. The dogs immediately dropped the kites and sat at attention. The General hobbled over, steadying himself with his cane. He brought Mina an orange kite and helped the girls get situated. Soon all three girls’ kites were airborne.

  George and Martha rolled around in the grass at the General’s feet, wiggling in ecstasy.

  Lavinia held Bubbles in her arms. Her family’s pleasure filled her with joy. She felt a light tap on her shoulder, and turned to find Papa standing behind her.

  “Are you enjoying your day?”

  “I am, Papa. Everyone is so happy.”

  “Well, I don’t want you to miss out on the fun. I had this kite made especially for you.” He handed her a large yellow kite shaped like a bird. “Fly everywhere, Lavinia.”

  The End

  Michelle Weisen lives in State College, with her family. She is the author of In My Own World and co-author of Wildlife Rescue Rangers: A Kid’s Guide to Wildlife Rehabilitation and Lavinia's Heart.

  Michelle owns Words of Mercy, a small publishing company dedicated to giving children a positive outlook on the world. She, along with partners Paul & Tracy Mahoney, create books that focus on the importance of caring for one another and preserving the earth, thus providing families with enriched reading experiences. The company is dedicated to making the world a better place for everyone – one page at a time.

  Please visit our website www.wordsofmercy.com