asked Kate in her last letter to buy the music to an obscure little opera by Chabrier. Ach, Kate detested singing French. Her German came out flawlessly with its forceful consonants and powerful vowels, but her French? Kate’s diction was atrocious, and she had to concentrate faithfully to keep whole phrases from sounding like she had a stuffy nose. But Dr. Sumsion insisted that Kate needed the practice during the long summer absence, and the song would leave Kate breathless, literally, when she rehearsed it.
Dr. Sumsion had either forgotten or chosen to ignore the fact that Kate had no access to a piano in Apple Lake, nor would she be fortunate enough to locate an accompanist among her Amish neighbors. At least she could look it over and become familiar with the passages before she returned to Milwaukee. If she returned.
Kate ,
Enclosed is a list of songs I want you to learn for the Felsted competition. You are a sure contender to win the whole thing this year. Don’t underestimate the importance of preparing while you are at home. Do your vocalises every day and become familiar with the pieces .
Dr. Matthews thinks I am pushing you too hard, but I told him that you of anyone are capable of incredible things when you put your mind to it. The people in Apple Lake have no idea what an amazing talent they have living in their midst .
Sincerely, we miss you terribly and want you to come back. Don’t stay away too long. You’ll want to be back in plenty of time for school in September .
Much affection, Dr. Sumsion
The tugging and pulling on Kate’s heart intensified with every letter from Milwaukee, whether from Maria or her professor or one of her other friends. They truly loved her there. But then she thought of Elmer and Mamma and Dat. She loved them like her own soul. Could she turn her back on them and the world she grew up in?
Kate could not have been more than four blocks from where the Englisch doctor had dropped them off when her directions sent her around a corner and down a narrow street with run-down buildings and unkempt lots. It seemed unlikely she would find a music store down this street, no matter how out-of-the-way it was. Halfway down the street, Kate stopped and examined her paper. Apparently she had taken a wrong turn, and an uneasy feeling crawled up her spine. She snapped her head to the left as a noise caught her attention. Three men, perhaps slightly younger than she, stood in the narrow space between two buildings, smoking cigarettes and staring in her direction.
Her heart beat faster, and she scolded herself for being so skittish. She’d heard too many horror stories while living in Milwaukee. Surely she had nothing to fear in a small place like La Crosse.
“Hey, Amish girl!” one hollered. “You wanna smoke?”
The three exploded with laughter, and Kate thought it the wisest choice to ignore them and walk away. A boy with a bottle of beer in his hand called to her. “Amish girl, he offered you a smoke.”
Lowering her head, Kate quickened her pace and kept walking. The boy suddenly appeared in front of her, blocking her path on the sidewalk.
“Hey, look, guys! It’s a pretty Amish girl.”
“Aw, leave her alone, Mark,” said his friend.
Mark studied Kate’s face with bloodshot eyes and a look she’d seen a time or two at the academy. “I thought all Amish girls was ugly as sin.” He stepped closer. Kate could smell the drink on his breath.
He reached out a hand to touch her, and she stepped back, lifting her head and squaring her shoulders. “Please let me pass,” she said, mixing her confident tone with disdain. She hoped that if she sounded unafraid, the boy would think better of picking on her.
His expression flared with anger. “There’s an Amish girl at the store who won’t even look at me. Or talk to me.”
Kate’s heart beat in her throat. Could she walk away and hope he gave up? She moved to her left and took a quick step before Mark grabbed her arm and
Dr. Sumsion had either forgotten or chosen to ignore the fact that Kate had no access to a piano in Apple Lake, nor would she be fortunate enough to locate an accompanist among her Amish neighbors. At least she could look it over and become familiar with the passages before she returned to Milwaukee. If she returned.
Kate ,
Enclosed is a list of songs I want you to learn for the Felsted competition. You are a sure contender to win the whole thing this year. Don’t underestimate the importance of preparing while you are at home. Do your vocalises every day and become familiar with the pieces .
Dr. Matthews thinks I am pushing you too hard, but I told him that you of anyone are capable of incredible things when you put your mind to it. The people in Apple Lake have no idea what an amazing talent they have living in their midst .
Sincerely, we miss you terribly and want you to come back. Don’t stay away too long. You’ll want to be back in plenty of time for school in September .
Much affection, Dr. Sumsion
The tugging and pulling on Kate’s heart intensified with every letter from Milwaukee, whether from Maria or her professor or one of her other friends. They truly loved her there. But then she thought of Elmer and Mamma and Dat. She loved them like her own soul. Could she turn her back on them and the world she grew up in?
Kate could not have been more than four blocks from where the Englisch doctor had dropped them off when her directions sent her around a corner and down a narrow street with run-down buildings and unkempt lots. It seemed unlikely she would find a music store down this street, no matter how out-of-the-way it was. Halfway down the street, Kate stopped and examined her paper. Apparently she had taken a wrong turn, and an uneasy feeling crawled up her spine. She snapped her head to the left as a noise caught her attention. Three men, perhaps slightly younger than she, stood in the narrow space between two buildings, smoking cigarettes and staring in her direction.
Her heart beat faster, and she scolded herself for being so skittish. She’d heard too many horror stories while living in Milwaukee. Surely she had nothing to fear in a small place like La Crosse.
“Hey, Amish girl!” one hollered. “You wanna smoke?”
The three exploded with laughter, and Kate thought it the wisest choice to ignore them and walk away. A boy with a bottle of beer in his hand called to her. “Amish girl, he offered you a smoke.”
Lowering her head, Kate quickened her pace and kept walking. The boy suddenly appeared in front of her, blocking her path on the sidewalk.
“Hey, look, guys! It’s a pretty Amish girl.”
“Aw, leave her alone, Mark,” said his friend.
Mark studied Kate’s face with bloodshot eyes and a look she’d seen a time or two at the academy. “I thought all Amish girls was ugly as sin.” He stepped closer. Kate could smell the drink on his breath.
He reached out a hand to touch her, and she stepped back, lifting her head and squaring her shoulders. “Please let me pass,” she said, mixing her confident tone with disdain. She hoped that if she sounded unafraid, the boy would think better of picking on her.
His expression flared with anger. “There’s an Amish girl at the store who won’t even look at me. Or talk to me.”
Kate’s heart beat in her throat. Could she walk away and hope he gave up? She moved to her left and took a quick step before Mark grabbed her arm and
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