Under The Soft Moss Covered Ground
Grist Mill Kansas Home For Orphans 1888
“There he is again.” Miss Winters said as she peered through the frosted kitchen window. Miss Hardin, coffee in hand, walked around the table to take her own look. Jeff Parker,wearing his thin winter jacket and a scarf tied as a make do cap, stood at the edge of the wooded lawn talking and gesturing to the unseen.
Miss Hardin walked away from the window and peeked into the wood stove oven. Despite too much coffee already she poured another cup and attempted, with shaking hands, to spoon three sugar cubes into the china. One splashed into the coffee while the other two tumbled on the table and rolled like dice to the floor.
“ He knows. He knows Evelyn. God help us but somehow he knows.”
“ Don’t be ridiculous Beth. How in the world would he. Unless...one of us told him.”
“ No. No, I know that is not the reason. I think he talks with them. I think he walks down to the moss mound and...”
“ Shut up Beth. Lower your voice when you insist on bringing the subject up.I’m going down to get that little shit and drag him up for breakfast.Watch that bread and add more water to the porrage.We have sixty mouths to feed. Try to keep that in mind and forget that little misfit Jeff Parker and his early morning wanderings. Can you do that Beth?”
Beth walked to the oven purposely ignoring Evelyn who was still mumbling as she opened the door and marched toward Jeff. He would be punished for no reason and , as was her custom, Evelyn would demand Beth’s attendance at the paddling.
After a breakfast that only a very hungry soul would consume Evelyn made ready the black buggy and started off toward town.
Beth would make use of this rare absence of the head mistress to take Jeff to the side for a talk. As it turned out the boy was more than eager to discuss his trips to the woods edge.
“ Jeff...Jeff why do you spend so much time at that one spot in the woods?”
Jeff smiled as he was handed an apple. “ Well Miss Beth I go there to talk to the three boys. I think I cheer them up just a bit.”
“ Jeff what boys? There are no boys there.” Beth began to shake and so clasped her hands and rested them on her knees.
“ The dead boys Miss Beth. The dead boys. Just dust and bones now. Dust and bones and they still talk to me. I know what happened Miss Beth. They don’t blame you. No, not at all. Thank you for the apple.”
“ Jeff, wait. Dead boys? Explain that.Now.”
“ Miss Beth, the boys are the ones you and Miss Evelyn killed in the coal room.”
Instinctively Beth let loose her open right hand and slapped Jeff. Hard. Then she began to cry. “ That never happened Jeff. Never.”
“ Miss Beth we all know it was mostly Miss Evelyn. But you did help. You helped take the boys to the coal room and left while Miss Evelyn choked them. Remember Miss Beth? Miss Evelyn said the boys all had consumption. Coughing up blood. I know you remember that. It was a cold turned pneumonia.Not even a doctor called.”
Beth, overcome with pent up guilt, wept. “ I’m so sorry. So sorry Jeff.”
“ I guess that won’t bring the dead boys back. But, did I leave anything out?”
“ Yes we both know you did. What should I do? What can I do?”
“ Live your life Miss Beth. That will be the hard thing. But first go to the cellar and look into the coal room.”
“ Please.”
“ The least you can do. The very least.”
Beth walked alone to the cellar and then into the coal room. When her lantern allowed her to see into the dark she screamed and dropped her lite. Swinging from a tight , oiled rope around her neck was Miss Evelyn.Her tongue protruded blue and dark. Four boys stood behind the swinging figure. They wore saddened faces and held hands in their short line. Only Jeff spoke before all four boys faded away.
“ Go live your life Miss Beth.Go live your life and try not to think what lies under the moss covered ground.”
end
