Page 54 - The Mending Season

In the end\ they kept her at home, teaching her to read and write themselves, until it was time fo r her to start school. Then they mowed the lawn, cut the shrubs and opened their door and win­ dows and set herfree.When she came back confused and cryingfrom other childrens rejection, the sisters decided that locking the gate and teaching her toplay on her own was the best solution until they couldfind other ways o fmaking amends with their neighbours.54