Glistening cobblestones, candlelight in the window and a single horse drawn carriage made up the early morning vista of Narrow Lake Massachusetts.

As the sunlight began to stream across the town, Beatrice climbed out of her bed and crossed the room to wake her sister. "Wysteria," she said shaking her. "It's time to get up."

Wysteria Winters sat up rubbing her eyes. Ever since she had that cold she had recently gotten over she hadn't been herself in the mornings. Both sisters washed up, got dressed then went downstairs.

Ladybird was already in the kitchen putting breakfast on the table. She placed a tray of bacon and eggs down. "Good morning."

Wysteria slipped into her chair. "I'm sorry, Ladybird," she said. "I know it was my morning to make breakfast."

"Don't worry about it," Ladybird said.

"Well I'll make it up to you," Wysteria said spooning eggs onto her plate.

"Well I couldn't," Beatrice said sitting down to the table with her mug. "I'm no good in the kitchen."

"Well at least you are good at school," Ladybird said joining them. "That is whenever you apply yourself."

Beatrice yawned. "I try to but Mr. Candlewood takes too long on the same subject."

"You just let yourself get too distracted that's all," Wysteria said then laughed. "You should see her in arithmetic, Ladybird. She just stares blankly out the window."

"Ah," Beatrice said holding up a finger. "But that is only after I have finished my lesson. I can't help it if I'd rather be on the tennis court."

"Just be glad, Beatrice that you even have time to play your sports," Wysteria said. "You could have to work after school like Ladybird and me."

Beatrice spooned eggs onto her plate. The last thing she wanted right now was a job that would rob her of her recreation.

/

The sky was well lit as Wysteria and Beatrice made their way to the school house. Beatrice danced around the cracks in the sidewalk while Wysteria walked at a slow even pace. Beatrice looked back at her and frowned.

"We'll never get to school at that rate," she said.

Wysteria shook the thoughts out of her head and caught up to her sister. "I was just thinking about the recital," she said. "I think this will be our best year yet."

Beatrice sighed. "Can you believe we've been living in Massachusetts for three long years now? The odd thing is I'm not home sick but it does feel like something is missing. What about you?"

Wysteria thought. "Well there are some things I miss about home," she said. "It gets a lot colder here than it did in Mississippi and everyone frowns up at my accent."

Beatrice laughed. "I guess it is the same for me."

They entered the school house with other girls and boys and climbed to the second floor. Going into the classroom they found Mr. Candlewood at his desk and four other students already present. The sisters took their seats next to each other and took a text book out of their desk.

"Say, Beatrice, do you want to finish our match today?" another student asked from behind.

Wysteria interrupted before Beatrice could jump at the chance. "Remember, Baby B, we have to visit Grandmother today."

Beatrice sucked her teeth and had to decline the student's offer. The classroom filled and the lesson began, but Beatrice found herself staring out the window.

"I have no shame, I have no sorrow, I have no pain I have no sadness. When the morning unfolds, I'll forget all my trouble. And when I forget, I'll have no regrets." Mr. Candlewood looked up at the class. "What does this poem make you think?" he asked as he walked back and forth before them. "What do you think the poet is trying to make you feel? James."

"I think he's trying to say he has no regrets," James answered and a few students laughed.

"Indeed," Mr. Candlewood said, "but what else?" He searched the classroom from behind his glasses.

Beatrice leaned over to her sister. "You know don't you?"

"Shhh," Wysteria said.

"You should say something, Beatrice said. "Stop being shy."

"I'm not shy!"

"Yes you are," Beatrice said. "You only ever talk to Ladybird and me or to little children."

"Beatrice, do you have something to say?" Mr. Candlewood's voice interrupted their banter.

Beatrice smiled. "I don't, sir, but Wysteria does."

Wysteria shrunk down in her chair as all eyes in the classroom turned to her. She would get Beatrice for this.

"We're all waiting, Miss Winters," Mr. Candlewood said.

Wysteria slowly stood up from her desk, rubbing her arm. She stole quick glances around the classroom. "I uh, I uh uh uh."

Beatrice looked down at her desk feeling guilty for putting her sister on the spot. She quickly stood. "Mr. Candlewood it was really I who wanted to make a comment on the poem. I only volunteered Wysteria as a joke."

A few students laughed and after a moment Mr. Candlewood smiled.

"All right, Beatrice, enlighten us please."

/

"Wysteria!" Beatrice ran after her sister on the sidewalk. "I'm so sorry, Wysteria, I didn't mean to embarrass you."

Wysteria hugged her satchel to her chest and kept walking.

"Please, Wysteria don't be cross with me. I truly am sorry."

"It must be nice to be the teacher's favorite," Wysteria said when she finally spoke. "You should have been in trouble for pulling such a prank. Mr. Candlewood looked very cross when I didn't answer."

"I'm not a teacher's pet," Beatrice insisted. "And I was just trying to help you overcome your shyness."

"Well I don't need your help," Wysteria said. She looked both ways then ran across the street to escape her sister.

Beatrice hung her head. Now she realized what she missed about home. Before they moved here she hardly noticed the difference between her and her sisters but their grandmother always had a way of pointing it out. Then in school where no one, especially Mr. Candlewood, noticed a difference she felt welcome and at times this filled her with bad pride.

/

Wysteria sat in the kitchen with Ladybird that afternoon going over decorations for the recital. As it was a Wednesday she wouldn't be needed at the Smarts' home as they normally took their children visiting on Wednesdays.

"Be sure to make a list of things we need while we are out," Ladybird said to her. "It's better to do our shopping in the same trip."

Wysteria took a sheet of paper and a pencil from the center of the table. "All I can think of is new violin strings but I can pick those up later."

They heard a commotion on the stairs and turned to the door in time to see Beatrice sneaking by with her racket.

"And where are you going?" Ladybird asked with her hands on her hips.

Beatrice sucked her teeth.

"I already told you, we are visiting Grandmother," Ladybird said. "Honestly, Beatrice I don't know why you make such a fuss every time."

Beatrice entered the kitchen and deposited her racket on the table. "Easy for you to say," she said. "She likes you and Wysteria more." She rested her chin on the table. "Do I have to go?"

"Yes," Ladybird said collecting her hand bag. "She is our grandmother."

Beatrice furrowed her brows. "She doesn't claim me," she mumbled.

"Beatrice, don't talk nonsense," Wysteria said.

"You know it's true," Beatrice said. "She always has something nasty to say and I don't think I should have to put up with it."

"You're not grown enough to decide what you will put up with," Ladybird said. "And right now we are running behind so get changed and let's go."

After Beatrice had changed the three sisters left the house. Ladybird led the way up the street.

"Meh, Ladybird," Beatrice mumbled. "She's all hoity-toity now because she's engaged."

Wysteria shook her head. "You know that's not true," she said.

"Then why does she boss me around?"

"Well for one, Mama is no longer here to do it and for two now that we are older it is more important that we behave ourselves like proper young women."

Beatrice sighed. "Then I should have been born a man."

Wysteria gave a tinkling laugh.

"What's so funny? If I were a man I wouldn't listen to Ladybird."

"I wouldn't want to be a man," Wysteria said. "Mr. Smart is drowning in all sorts of responsibilities. I think being a woman prevents us from seeing how frustrating being a man is and the other way around. Remember Eve was created as Adam's helper. We...balance each other out." She held her hands like scales.

"Perhaps you are right," Beatrice thought. "Men drive me mad at any rate so I don't think I could be one. Besides I can swing a bat and wield a hammer just as well as any one of them. And you Wysteria you know more about plants than any man farmer and look how Ladybird provides for us."

Wysteria smiled. "You sound like one of those suffrage women."

"They make good points," Beatrice said. "I'd rather spend my days with a good hammer and some nails than bouncing babies on my knees."

"You say that now," Ladybird's voice cut in. "But when you meet the right boy that will change."

"Boys," Beatrice spat. "They think they are so much better and always try to best me in sports." They turned a corner. "But I am a winner." She tossed her head spinning her brown curls.

"Pride is before a crash," Wysteria said as she and Ladybird watched Beatrice skip ahead of them.