American Pie by Maggie Osborne Page A

like my work," she said slowly. "But going to Madison Avenue everyday, where it's clean and where it smells fresh, somehow it makes all this" she waved a hand at the piles of cinders and garbage, at the tin roof latrines and the layers of laundry flapping overhead "seem worse."
    "We won't always live in the tenements," Greta reminded her in a quiet voice.
    "Every day the pot boy puts the Ropers' garbage on the street and the white-wings come and take it away in a big wagon. The ashes and garbage are whisked away like magic. And every night the lamplighter comes and lights the street lamps. No one walks in darkness on Madison Avenue. There are no abandoned wagons at the curb. No brawling in the street. Flowers bloom in the window boxes and every house has a backyard with trees."
    She fell silent looking at the tenements with the broken window panes and sagging metal fire escapes. "I'm not saying I envy the Ropers or that I envy what they have. I know who I am and I know my place. I don't want a lot more, just a little. Just fresh air and sunshine, no bad smells." And Jamie Kelly.
    Greta placed her hand on Lucie's arm. "Someday you and I and Stefan will have a small house of our own," she promised earnestly. "With many windows and a tree outside the door. We'll have water inside our kitchen and geraniums on every window ledge. And so much sunshine we won't light the lamps until after dark. Lucie. I believe this and you must, too."
    Lucie blinked and gave herself a shake. "Forgive me, dearest Greta. Of course you're right. Someday" But someday seemed very far away to one whose soul yearned for sunlight now. And one special man.
    "If we abandon our dreams," Greta said softly, "then we're defeated. We have to hold our dreams close and believe."
    Lucie thought about that as she and Greta prepared supper. Stefan dreamed of one day owning a small prosperous business. Greta dreamed of a sunny kitchen with geraniums on the sill and children to hug and tell stories to. But aside from providing Stefan and Greta's marriage money, what was Lucie's dream? A wistful expression came into her eyes and she sighed, thinking about Jamie Kelly.
     
    Although Stefan had forbidden her to continue her lessons at the settlement house, Lucie quietly ignored his wishes and continued to attend the Tuesday night lectures. She understood Stefan knew of her small rebellion because he called on Greta on Tuesday evenings and didn't return until thirty minutes after the settlement house closed. Pride prohibited him from admitting he had spoken in anger and haste, but his love for her allowed him to pretend he didn't know she went out on Tuesday nights.
    This Tuesday, however, she would miss the lecture. Mrs. Greene had been teaching her to clean lace collars and neither had noticed the hour. Consequently, Lucie had missed her train.
    When she finally arrived at the Bowery Street station and descended to the street, there was no longer any reason to rush. Enjoying an idle moment, she gazed down the wide street watching the glow of gaslight as lamps came on behind the windows of the beer halls and the entertainment establishments. And she smiled at the people strolling toward the sounds of laughter and music, taking their pleasure in the warm summer night.
    Buoyed by the sight of people enjoying themselves, she turned her steps toward Elizabeth Street, away from the light and sounds of the Bowery. Stefan worried about her walking alone from the station to Elizabeth Street but no one bothered her. Already she recognized a few faces along the route and occasionally someone tipped his cap to her, or one of the women smiled.
    "Miss Kolska?"
    Her heart jumped as a man stood away from a shadowed doorway. When she recognized who it was the color drained from her cheeks, her breath stopped in her chest. "Mr. Kelly!"
    For a long moment they stood facing each other, lost in each other as the pedestrian traffic broke around them. Lucie noticed his sunburn had deepened to a