From This Day Forward

by Lauraine Snelling

  Ingeborg blinked and sniffed as she sang, knowing others were doing the same. She and Kaaren always had a hard time singing the powerful song.

  “‘. . . let freedom ring!’” The flag parade reached the front and turned to face the audience. When the final chords died away, applause rocked the room.

  “Join me, please,” Daniel called. “‘Our Father which art in heaven . . .’”

  They finished the prayer, and from the back of the room, a trumpet sounded with the call to assembly. People turned to stare, and applause broke out again when the man lowered the horn.

  “Reverend Solberg will now lead us in our blessing.” Daniel handed off the megaphone.

  John shook his head with a smile as he refused the megaphone. He raised his hands and voice. “Ministers are taught to speak to crowds. Let us bow our heads in homage to our God.” After a settling pause, he began. “Our Lord God, heavenly Father, maker and keeper of us all. We praise your mighty name as we gather here to celebrate the birth of our great nation. You have brought us from many corners of the earth to build our homes and lives together here in Blessing, North Dakota, a state in this union of states. We cannot say thank you enough for all you do for us and through us. Thank you today for this privilege of gathering together to celebrate this land, this day, these people. Bless this food and those who prepared such a feast. In your holy name, we all say . . .” He paused a heartbeat before they all said amen.

  He looked out over the gathering. “You know how to do this. We’ll form two lines at each of the two tables. Hopefully this will speed up the serving. Thank you for bringing your chairs and blankets for our indoor picnic. Ladies, guide us please.” He motioned for the serving to begin and stepped down.

  Penny’s crew took over getting the lines started with the huge baking sheets of beef and pork set at the ends of the tables.

  “Grandma, come with us.” Emmy and Inga grabbed Ingeborg’s hands and dragged her to one of the tables. “You’re supposed to go first, with Onkel Lars and Tante Kaaren.”

  “No one told me.”

  “Sorry. Get in front of us.” Lars motioned her to the front. “You’re the oldest settler.”

  “We’re the same age, so we’ll go together, but I don’t have my plate. Oh my word.”

  “Fret not.” Kaaren raised her eyebrows. “I think they are trying to start some new traditions. Since Thorliff came over with you, he should be here, but I’ll tell him about that later.”

  Inga held out a plate. “Here, Grandma. I’ll get in line with Thelma and Rolly.”

  Mary Martha took it from her. “Good thing we have children and grandchildren to help us. Which do you want? Some of each?”

  “Some of each, of course. But I was going to wait to see if we had enough.”

  “I know. But today you three are our honored dignitaries.”

  “Uff da.” Ingeborg rolled her eyes and made her way down one side of the tables with Kaaren and Lars on the other. They took their full plates and followed Emmy to a table set up for them.

  “You sit here, Grandma. I’ll go get in line with Freda and Clara.”

  “Takk.”

  Kaaren sat next to her. “Next year we make sure our children join us, especially Thorliff.” She shook her head and muttered, “The newspaper could have waited a few more hours. We have to find someone to help him now that Thomas Devlin and Anji are gone.”

  Ingeborg cut into her slab of beef. “Tender.”

  “Good thing, since you donated the steer.” Lars looked content as he chewed. “Very good—maybe better than last year.”

  Kaaren leaned closer to be heard. “I’m thinking you and I need to corral Thorliff and remind him about how you were working yourself to death after Roald died. I’m sure he doesn’t remember that year very well, since he was only seven.”

  Ingeborg chewed and nodded at the same time. “You know, that’s not a bad idea. I was thinking John should talk to him.”

  “Ja, Thorliff needs his counsel too.” Kaaren cocked her head. “Like mother, like son?”

  Ingeborg smiled. “The only difference is I did not fly into a rage when someone suggested something to me. Poor Astrid is still heartsick over that fight. And he shows no sign of wanting to make amends.”

  “That’s why my heart aches so for him. Maybe tomorrow afternoon after family dinner.” Kaaren paused then mused, “Let’s let the Holy Spirit tell us when.”

  “Ja, that’s wise.”

  After everyone was served, Daniel picked up the megaphone again and the triangle clanged. “I know you are enjoying your meal, and from the looks of those meat trays, there is plenty for seconds. No one better go home hungry.” The sound of people enjoying themselves picked up again.

  Ingeborg turned her head at the tap on her shoulder. Marina Rasinov handed her a beautiful little painted plate with three blintzes on it. “For you.”

  “Oh, oh, you are so kind. You know, next December we should have a baking day where we all share our family recipes and make them. Wouldn’t that be a wonderful day?”

  Kaaren nodded. “We need to write that down so we don’t forget, busy as we get.”

  “Not just for Christmas,” Mrs. Rasinov said.

  “But we all do the special things then.” Ingeborg bit into the tender pastry. “Oh, these are so good.”

  Smiling, Mrs. Rasinov patted her shoulder and returned to her children.

  “She took me seriously when I asked her to save me some.” Ingeborg held out her treats. “Here, you and Lars can each have one too.”

  “You eat those. I’m going for pie.” Lars pushed his chair back and headed for the dessert tables.

  “You know Lars and pie.” Kaaren wagged her head.

  When the people were finished eating and cleaning up their utensils, Daniel took over the platform again. “Since our governor didn’t brave our weather”—he paused for the snickers to pass—“we have a special treat for you. Mr. Andrei Belin has asked if he could say a few words.” He motioned Mr. Belin forward and held the megaphone out to him.

  “No, I can talk loud.” Sweat running down his face, Mr. Belin looked over the crowd. “When we come to Blessing to work, we come to new home too. Here we have plenty of work, good place to live, food. We bring our families, school for our children, we learn to speak English. Thank you to Mrs. Jeffers.” He motioned for her to stand up. “She make all our lives better.” He bowed to her as the crowd applauded.

  “We grow up in Novgorod, in Dalneye, near the Volga River. Lots of swampy land, wet, lots of mosquitoes.” He grinned, “Like here, eh? Mosquitoes. But in Dalneye, the tsar say ‘sing,’ we sing. He say ‘join the army,’ we join the army. Here we get better jobs as we learn, not like life before.

  “I come a carpenter, now I am foreman. My son, he will be what he wants to be. That would never happen in Dalneye. That time, that world, no longer home to us.” He touched his chest. “Here is my home now, and I thank our God.”

  Mr. Belin mopped his forehead with a handkerchief. Applause broke out in various parts of the crowd and grew. Folks stood up and continued clapping, cheers and whistles added to it. He nodded and smiled, then motioned them to be seated again. He said something in his native Russian, then grinned and said, “That means my heart is full. Thank you all.” He turned to Daniel, who grabbed his hand and pumped it.

  “You were better than the governor any day, and more sincere, that’s for sure.” Daniel clapped a hand on Mr. Belin’s shoulder and turned to the crowd. “Thank you, Andrei Belin. You spoke so well. No wonder you make such a good foreman for our company.”

  As the man stepped down, Daniel continued. “Because of the mud and because it looks like it might start raining again, we are going to clear space down the center of this room for the races, and then our musicians will return for some dancing.”

  He motioned for the people to begin clearing the center of the warehouse. Tables were hauled out and chairs pushed back to the walls. All the doors were opened
to let a breeze blow through, and Reverend Solberg announced the first race, wheelbarrows in three age groups—children, big kids, and men.

  Some of the women with babies and young children left, Thelma and Clara included. Ingeborg kept an eye out for Thorliff, thinking perhaps she should go look for him in case he had fallen asleep on the job again, but when Astrid came to sit beside her, she smiled at her daughter instead.

  “I asked about Thorliff,” Astrid said, “and he is adamant about bringing today’s special edition of the paper over before the party is over. He was planning on having it here first thing, but . . .”

  “I guess that is a plausible excuse.” Ingeborg patted her daughter’s hand. “Takk. Of course, someone might have told me, had I asked. Who’s helping him?”

  “I think Lemuel helps him with the printing and folding now and probably still the delivery too. At least that’s what Daniel told me.” Astrid patted back a yawn. “I hate to miss anything, but I think I’ll be like Rolly and go home for a nap.”

  “Wise move. One thing we’ve always told young mothers, sleep when you can.”

  “Do you enjoy making me eat my own words?” The two shared a smile. “Mr. Belin sure did a fine job, didn’t he? I think Amelia has been coaching him extra. He is working to overcome that Russian accent so everyone can understand him. I would love to hear some of his stories of the old country.” Another yawn caught Astrid by surprise.

  “Go home.”

  “Yes, Mor.”

  Applause broke out when Reverend Solberg announced the winners of another event and handed out the ribbons. Sometime later, the final event of the day was announced. Lars agreed to be a pole to be run around, as did Dr. Deming. The route for the three-legged race would be up, around the pole, and back, three times. The contestants had to be one school-age child with either an adult or an older youth. Some fathers paired up with one of their children, Samuel Knutson grabbed Emmy’s hand, and Andrew snagged Inga, since his brother wasn’t there to take his place.

  “Come on, Hjelmer! Get your daughter,” Daniel hollered. “Solberg, you and Johnny will make a great pair.” When the group swelled to more than ten, Daniel announced, “We are going to run this in two groups, and the winners of each will run again. Now, don’t knock the poles over, no intentional tripping, and all four feet have to be on the floor, meaning men, you cannot carry your partner. Now count off by two, and the ones will run first. Everyone give them lots of room. If you fall down you are out of the race.”

  Ingeborg, Kaaren, and Ellie looked at each other. “We’d better pray everyone runs safe,” Kaaren said. “This is craziness.”

  “They’re having a great time,” Ellie assured the other two. “Although the ground would be softer to fall on if they didn’t mind mud baths.”

  Eight pairs lined up, using a variety of straps, ropes, and scarves to tie their inside legs together. When everyone was ready, the triangle clanged and the three-leggers staggered, getting their balance. Samuel and Emmy wrapped their arms around each other’s waists and counted as they ran. Andrew and Inga looked at each other and tore after the other two. Until Andrew slipped on the final lap and he and Inga dissolved into giggles.

  “And the winners of group one are Samuel and Emmy, who understand what teamwork is. Now, group two, line up here. Is everybody tied together? Alright then, ready, set . . . go!”

  And they were off. The winners of the second group were a father and son from Haarlem in Holland, although he called it Nederland. What an odd and wonderful mix of people Blessing was becoming.

  “These two pairs will race for the win now. I have to tell you we have one delicious prize. The Soda Shoppe will give each of the winners free sodas or ice cream once a week for the summer. After this race, please line up for the ice cream part of our celebration.” He pointed to the rear of the room, where the tables were now set with tubs of ice cream and someone waiting at each one with a dipper in hand.

  The triangle rang and the race began. The two teams were even on lap one, then Samuel and Emmy led on lap two until two steps from the finish line, when the other team pulled ahead.

  “And our winners are Pieter and Willem Noort. Pick up your certificates from Benny at the table, please. Thank you to all who were game to play today. We are grateful no one was hurt. While we are eating ice cream, the musicians will get ready for the dancing.”

  Laughter and folks yelling to each other to be heard above the others made the walls of the warehouse nearly bulge out. The ice cream lines went quickly, with everyone thanking Rebecca and Gerald and the other servers.

  “Whew, what a day.” Ingeborg fanned herself as she sat down. “It might be muddy and wet outside, but it doesn’t hold a candle to this.”

  “This is one celebration that will be talked about for years to come. The folks of Blessing know how to celebrate the Fourth of July.” John Solberg stuffed the handkerchief he’d mopped his head with back in his pocket. “I’m getting too old for this.”

  “You gave it a valiant attempt.” Mary Martha handed him a dish of vanilla ice cream. “Here, just the way you like it. They ran out of strawberry almost right away.”

  The musicians took their places and tuned their instruments while people of all ages slowly moved out to the cleared dancing area.

  Daniel Jeffers stopped in front of Ingeborg. “Since my wife, your daughter, is home sleeping, may I have the honor of this first dance?”

  “What about your mother?”

  “She is dancing with Mr. Sam, and that is perfect.”

  “Then I am honored. I hope they do a slow one.”

  “They are.”

  As they waltzed around the room, Ingeborg noticed that Toby and Deborah were standing off to the side, talking. Deborah laughed. Toby laughed. Good! If only Thorliff were here. She caught her breath on a pang of memory. Ah, dear Haakan, I’m sure you are dancing in heaven, but right now I wish you were back here with me. She sniffed, and Daniel drew back to see her face.

  “Are you all right?”

  She nodded. “Ja, thank you. Haakan used to love to dance, especially a waltz.”

  “Ma said the grief never goes away entirely.”

  “Not entirely. And sometimes it grabs you, but the memories grow more gentle. I’m so grateful God seems to hide the bad ones and make the good ones stay.”

  As the dance ended, they applauded along with all the others, not just the dancers. Daniel leaned closer. “By the way, Thorliff is here now with the newspapers. They’ll be given out at every door as people leave.”

  “Good. Thank you.” What a lovely way to end such an amazing day. Lord, about Thorliff . . .

  Chapter 14

  Toby was glad the games were over. Gerald had casually suggested that maybe Toby and Deborah should enter the three-legged race. Gerald was becoming something of a pain. But dancing, now that was different, and there she was over there, talking to Sophie. A square dance was next. Perfect—lively but not too terribly intimate, like a waltz would be.

  He walked across the room to Deborah. “May I have this dance?”

  She nodded and took his hand. As they joined three other couples in a square, they waited for the caller to begin. At his nod, the musicians behind him swung into the introduction, starting everybody’s feet to tapping.

  “Bow to your corners, bow to your own . . . allemande right . . . first couple balance, first couple swing . . .”

  Deborah did look lovely today. Not that she didn’t always, but he never bothered to tell her. Following the caller took concentration, especially since he’d not square danced since who knew when. They did a do-si-do and handed their partners off to the next dancer. He winked at Deborah when they met in the middle in a grand right and left. They were back together again, all the dancers with their starting partners, when the music hit the final bars and everyone clapped.

  “Well, I see you’ve not forgotten how, either,” he said.

  Deborah smiled at him. “I’ve heard dancing is like
horseback riding. You never forget.”

  “Good thing.” Toby led her off the dance floor. “Thank you.”

  Samuel reached for Deborah’s hand. “Come on, let’s get in this next one.”

  “You didn’t give me time to catch my breath,” she protested.

  “Well, breathe quick, because here we go.”

  They stood shoulder to shoulder and clasped hands in the proper way for a schottische, and after counting the beats to catch up, moved off around the circle with all the others.

  Ah, there was Mercy, just standing, watching the dancers closely. Toby stepped in beside her. “Shall we?” He took her hands in his.

  “I’ve never . . . I mean, I didn’t . . . I’ve never done this. I’m just watching.”

  “Don’t worry. Just listen to the music.” The gentleman led, so Toby would lead. He more or less shoved her around, and she was obviously trying to do what the other women were doing. It wasn’t perfect, but it worked, kind of.

  At that tempo of music there was no time to do any polite conversing. He caught a glimpse of Deborah laughing at something with Samuel. Now twenty-one years old, the boy he had known for so long was fast becoming a real ladies’ man.

  Toby didn’t have to work so hard now as he led Mercy in the final movement and walked her back to the side, where one of the construction crew claimed her next. There was certainly no lack of eligible men in Blessing. For some reason, that thought was a bit disturbing. Toby looked around to find Deborah. One of those single men was leading her back out onto the floor.

  Folks came and went as chores needed doing and the food ran low. It seemed everyone was loath to let the day come to an end.

  Toby and a face-mopping Hjelmer paused for a moment.

  “I’ve not even had a chance to sit down.” Hjelmer turned to his daughter, Linnea, who had grabbed his hand.

  “Come on, Pa, before I have to spell Jonathan at the piano. He wants to dance with his wife. Can you beat that?”

  Toby saw that Deborah was free for a moment. He grabbed a glass of punch and made a beeline for her, handing her the glass just before someone else asked her. “Dance?”