My New Family

Chapter Twenty-Eight: The War Ends

      I am sitting on the front porch, crocheting with Evelyn and Philomena. Susie is not here right now because she's walked to town to get what we need to make profiteroles. Which is banana cream, chocolate, butter, flour, confectioner's sugar,  a couple of eggs, and heavy cream. Hopefully she can carry that all back when she's done shopping. Then the telegraph boy comes running up the porch steps with a telegram. "Where is Madame Buerrette?" he asks quickly, "Where is she?" "Let me go get her." Philomena says. She gets up quickly and hurries into the house. The boy looks at her admiringly. "Who is that?" "My sister, if it's any of your business." I say. "But her name?" "Her name is Philomena Buerrette." Evelyn tells him. The boy nods, satisfied. Philomena comes out with Mama      and the boy gives it to her. "For you, M'am." Mama takes it and opens it slowly. I can tell she's afraid, that she's wondering who's been shot this time. But then she begins reading, and I see her entire face change. "Oh...Philomena..." "Yes, Mama?" Philomena takes a step closer, worried. "Girls...the war is..." Mama takes a deep breath, and a peaceful, delighted smile floats onto her face. "over."

       We are making preparations for  Father's and François's homecoming. Susie    has come back from town, bringing the  ingredients for the dessert. As she comes into the house, Mama confronts her with the good news, and she dropped an egg on the floor. Luckily, she had bought an extra one!

     Father is coming in the night with François, so we are having dinner late. Earlier Mama sent John and Stasia outside to pick flowers, so now the dining room table is pretty and bright. Then she sent the four youngest upstairs to bed, after giving them a little supper. Joseph was allowed to stay up and wait with us only because he promised to help clean up after dinner, because usually only us older girls do it. 

     Father and François arrived around eleven o'clock, and were happily greeted by all who were still awake. We had dinner together, and then we had Susie's profiteroles for the dessert. Father loved it; and he told Susanna so. She was pleased, and said she would make them again at Christmas.

     We finally go to bed at one o'clock, very happy. Joseph tried to get out of helping out, but Father overruled him and we all out-voted him. He is now washing the dishes sadly, and, as Evelyn remarks, "He's probably washing them with tears!" We go to sleep almost immediately after saying prayers.