The young Fairchild women carried their heavy luggage through the station. Early that year there had been a train accident as one train plowed into another killing fifteen people. This was what sparked the motion to use electric instead of steam trains. Their train would be one of the last to come through while the building underwent construction.

Astrid told the girls to sit while she went up to the information desk. Heloise swung her legs as she sat and looked around. Bright lights were streaming in through the windows like spotlights on a stage. There were hundreds upon hundreds of people bustling about their everyday lives.

Astrid returned a few minutes later carrying papers and joined them on the bench. "We have a few hours until the next train leaves for Maine," she said. "Are you hungry?"

"I don't want to wait for hours," Hannah complained. "I want to be there already. No one told me it was going to take this long to get to stupid Maine."

"Oh, Hannah you always find reasons to complain," Alifair said. "At least we are all hear together."

"Alifair is right," Astrid said getting up from the bench. She fluffed the skirt of her white sailor dress where it had wrinkled on the train. "I do wish we looked more presentable."

"Can we eat now?" Hannah moaned.

"We first need to find a place we can afford," Astrid said. "I got some pamphlets from the information desk if you want to look at them."

Hannah put her feet in the seat and crossed her arms. "This is taking too long. I'm tired and my bottom hurts from sitting."

"Why don't you stretch your legs," Astrid suggested. "You'll feel a lot better once you get all the cramps out."

"I'd feel a lot better if I had some food!" Hannah snapped.

"Miriam said we have to listen to Astrid," Alifair said. "So get off your backside and stretch your legs." She pushed Hannah onto her feet and the girl stomped back and forth twice before sitting back down.

"Now, can I have some food?"

Astrid tried not to let her frustration show. Here they were all alone in a big city of strangers. "Well maybe we could take a quick walk around the block and see what we could find. I heard there are a lot of dachshund sausages in New York. You've never had one of those before, Hannah."

"I don't like sausages," Hannah said. "I want chicken."

"If you don't stop your whining you're going to have potatoes," Alifair said as they gathered their bags. "In fact I'm going to make sure that you have potatoes every hour of every day for the rest of your life if you don't stop your whining."

Hannah was silent. She crossed her arms and stuck out her lips but not another expression came from her mouth.

On the street outside the terminal Heloise watched street cars ding by. She had never seen so many people before. There were more people here than in Old Town and Angel Veil totaled together. The street was a bustle of cars, carriages and trams and people going this way and that. She let the heavy city wind rustle her frizzy blonde hair.

"The air is different here."

Alifair was standing next to her looking like a scared fawn in the dark end of a great forest. "What do you mean by that?"

"Well you can't smell the river or the dirt road...or flowers. You remember how strong the cape jasmine was this time of year around our old house. And look at this place. There isn't an oak tree in sight."

Alifair wrinkled her nose as they crossed the street. "You're homesick already," she said. "You know what I'm going to miss? Picnics on Sundays. Remember how we all used to run around the rosebushes up the lane and everyone brought their favorite dish and there were pies and meatballs..."

"You're making me hungry, Alifair," Hannah laughed.

Astrid suddenly stopped walking. "There's a vendor just ahead," she said. "The line is long so you three sit right on the bench and wait for me. Watch our luggage. I'll be right back." She turned quickly to get a place in line before it got any longer.

Hannah swung her legs, scuffing the heels of her boots on the pavement before Heloise stopped her. Heloise leaned back on the bench and looked at the nearby tree. It was thin with a little black fence around it and only stood about twice her size. Getting bored starring at the bark she looked back at the terminal and then at the street next to it. Fifth Avenue.

A sudden ecstasy filled her. Cora lived on Fifth Avenue. The number of times she had written that address she could never forget it. Since they had a few hours before the train perhaps they could pay her a visit!

When Astrid returned with the food Heloise was out of her seat. "Astrid, you will never believe it." She pointed across the street. "Fifth Avenue. That's where Cora lives! You remember Cora don't you?"

Astrid nodded as she distributed the food among her sisters.

"Can we stop and see her? Oh please!"

Astrid gave Heloise her food last then took a seat. "I reckon," she said with that ever present uncertainty in her voice. "But we must finish eating first and watch the time. We don't want to miss our train."

Heloise nodded and sat back down next to Hannah. She couldn't chew through the dachshund sausage fast enough. Hannah was picking at it and Alifair at slowly. "Eat faster," Heloise told them. "We don't want to miss the train. Her sisters gave her a disapproving look as she wolfed down her food, all the while keeping a smile on her face over the reunion to come.

/

"I'm still hungry!" Hannah protested as the four walked up Fifth Avenue. "I'm tired of walking."

Ever patient, Astrid stopped and waited for her youngest sister. "You can eat again on the train," she said calmly. "But I'm sorry, Hannah you'll have to wait until then."

Heloise looked over her shoulder. Every delay Hannah caused meant shorter time she could spend with her friend.

Hannah let her bag drop to the ground then fell down after it. Kicking her legs and pounding her fist she threw a fit on the sidewalk. "I'm tired, I'm hungry, I'm tired, I'm hungry!"

"Hannah you are too old to be acting like a baby!" Alifair scolded.

Astrid turned to Heloise who was waiting a few steps away. "You go on ahead. We'll stay here with the luggage."

"And the biggest burden," Alifair added.

Heloise was relieved that she wouldn't have to wait for Hannah to finish her temper tantrum and hurried up the street. When she finally came to a stop in front of the house she could no longer hear Hannah's whining. Both the address and the name on the mailbox matched.

Opening the black gate she ran up the walkway to the front door. She could hear children playing somewhere but couldn't tell if it was coming from this house or the next. She rang the bell then straightened her collar and the skirt of her dress. The door opened suddenly and a maid peered down at her.

"Can I help you?" the tall woman asked.

"Yes, ma'am," Heloise said. "I'm looking for Cora Morgan."

The lady scanned Heloise with her eyes. "Wait just one minute," she said.

"Oh, tell her it's Heloise Fairchild," she said as the door closed and wasn't sure if the maid had heard her. As she waited Heloise tried seeing around the back of the house. She was certain now that there was a party going on.

Looking back at the door she walked down the steps and around to the side of the house. Peering around she could just make out a fence when she heard the door open again. "Can I help you?"

Heloise turned around and she froze. She took slow stiff steps toward the finely dressed girl. "C...Cora?"

Cora frowned then her face filled with recognition. "My gosh, Heloise." She looked her up and down. "What..."

"Cora!" Heloise said running up the steps and hugging the girl. "I've missed you so much!" She held her at arms' length. "Did you get my letters? I have so much to tell you!"

"What are you doing in New York?" Cora asked with a frown.

"It's a long story!" Heloise beamed. "But I'll tell you all about it!"

Cora was very quiet and suddenly the door opened behind her and a girl with short blonde curls stepped out.

"Cora, it's you turn to be the blind man," she said, then she noticed Heloise. "Oh...are you here for the party?"

Heloise noticed the girl judging her dress. It was wrinkled and had a wet spot on the bust from her lunch meal. "If I could come," she said.

Cora looked back at the blonde girl then at Heloise. "Sorry, Heloise," she said. "It's invitation only. I didn't know you were here."

"That's all right," Heloise said genuinely. "I know where you live. I can come over some other time." She nodded but Cora didn't return her enthusiasm.

"Cora, dear shut the door."

"Is that your mother?" Heloise asked. "Can...can I come inside for a spell it's awfully hot out here. And perhaps I could have some water for myself and my sisters."

Cora pivoted. "Um...wait right here," she said. She ushered the other girl inside and closed the door.

Again Heloise was resigned to waiting. She swung the skirt of her dress overwhelmed with ecstasy at seeing her friend again. When the door opened again her face lit up as Cora came out with a shoe box in hand. She pulled the door closed behind her and looked at Heloise.

Noticing the change that had come over her friend, Heloise's smile faded from her face. Cora held out the open shoe box without making eye contact and Heloise took it. It was stacked with letters in various colored envelopes. She glanced up at Cora then pulled one out of the box. She felt a lump in her throat when she recognized the return address.

"These...these are mine," she said but Cora didn't even look up at her. "You never even opened them."

Cora put her hands behind her back and looked up at Heloise from beneath her brows. "It's the way it had to be," she said quietly.

"The way of what?" Heloise asked. "We've always been friends."

Cora finally held her head up. "But that was when we were little," she said. "It didn't matter then but it does now. People like us just don't become friends."

"People like us?" Heloise said. "You mean people like you. My family never had a problem with you, Cora. My mother fed you from her table for Pete's sake."

"I'm sorry," Cora said. "But I can't be friends with you anymore, Heloise. I thought it would be easy when we moved away but you kept writing me."

Laughter erupted from the backyard and Cora glanced in that direction. Heloise suddenly remembered the doll party and realized just how right Alifair had been about things.

"You need to go now," Cora said. "My mama only gave me a few minutes."

Heloise hugged the box to her chest. "A white crow is still a crow," she mumbled under her breath.

Cora frowned. "What?"

"A white crow is still a crow!" Heloise screamed at her then pitched the box into her chest. Envelopes scattered all over the steps and tumbled away in the breeze as Heloise fled the yard. Never before had her legs carried her so quickly as she flew up the street. The heavy wind burned her nose as her boots struck the pavement. When she was out of breath she fell against a tree. Her whole body shook with sorrow as tears flooded her eyes. "I want to go home," she wept. "I want to go home."