Silver Rain by Lois Peterson Page B

the letter was from and what it said. She didn’t care if it was adult business. Or if the Reverend was there and you were supposed to behave in front of company.
    She was sick of secrets.
    Elsie stepped out of her hiding place and tipped her head back. She didn’t care who saw her. Jimmy Tipson knew what she’d do if he dared show his face.
    She lifted the lid of the mailbox one last time. This time, instead of letting it drop on its own, she slammed it so hard the post shook.
    She turned her back on the mailbox and the house and ran back to the garage, with Dog Bob trotting ahead. Just as she took hold of the handle of the garage door, it opened. “There you are. We have good news,” said the Reverend. “I think you’ll be pleased.”
    â€œWhat is it? What’s the good news?” asked Elsie.
    But before the Reverend could answer, Nan’s voice came from behind him. “Is the child back? About time.”
    As the Reverend stepped aside to let Dog Bob pass, he smiled down at Elsie. “Your grandmother has agreed that you may visit the dance marathon.”
    â€œJust once, mind,” came Nan’s voice.
    â€œPerhaps you will let your friend know that he is welcome too, if his mother will allow it. We will all go together.” Reverend Hampton stood at the table with one hand on the back of a chair. “That’s what we agreed, is it not?”
    Nan cleared the cups and saucers from the table. “I said she can go. So she may.” She dumped the tea leaves from the pot into the bucket. “Whatever arrangements you make will suit, I’m sure.” She joined the Reverend at the door. “And thank you for your counsel about the other matter. You have given me a lot of think about. Now. I must get this child to bed.”
    It wasn’t like Nan to talk so much. But as she finished tidying up their supper things and hurried Elsie to bed, she nattered on about what a good man the Reverend was, how wise his advice, how he agreed with so many of her views. How she would trust him with her life. With Elsie’s too. And if he thought Elsie should see for herself what went on at the dance marathons… “It took some persuading, I must say,” she told Elsie as she tucked her in. “I don’t like to change my mind. A sign of weakness I can’t abide. But this issue is important to him. You can go and find out what it’s all about. But there’s no need to be bringing stories home, you hear?”
    Elsie nodded.
    â€œAnd don’t you worry about the price of admission. The Reverend offered. But we can’t be having that. Charity, we don’t need. I will provide the admission fee.”
    â€œWhat about Scoop?”
    Nan sighed. “And for him. Even if that family is better off than we ever will be, I’ll make sure he has what he needs. I don’t like any of this. You be clear on that,” she told Elsie. “But the Reverend has given me his advice. And I will take his opinion on this.”
    It wasn’t until Nan had gone, and she was warm in bed with Baby in her arms, that Elsie remembered the letter. And her plans to make Nan tell her the truth of what was in the envelope.
    It had not been on the table when she came home from her walk with Dog Bob. Where had her grandmother hidden it this time?

C HAPTER T WENTY-ONE
    E lsie squinted along the dark hall as Reverend Hampton led the way into Taylor’s Clothing factory. They had paid at the door, coins Nan had slipped into Elsie’s hands as they left the house with the reminder that, although she had given permission for this visit, she wanted to hear nothing of it when Elsie got home.
    â€œHave you brought your notebook?” she asked Scoop.
    â€œCourse I have,” he whispered. “No reporter goes anywhere without his notebook.”
    In the light of the lone bulb hanging overhead, Elsie could hardly read the posters that hung in