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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Silver Moon" data-source="post: 2901992" data-attributes="member: 8530">Chapter Forty-five, “The Missing Students”, Monday, May 29th, 1882, 7:30 P.M. Kate had awakened early to get herself a good breakfast before the first day of school is to start. She is inside the school greeting the arrival of the first six pupils, namely six of the seven youngest of the O'Hara children and their mother Meagan. Meagan says, "You've done a wonderful job with this Katherine, you should be proud." As time goes on some of the other students begin to arrive. First are the Tolucca children, Roberto, Consuelo, Manuel and Jose. Next is Ricardo Huesca. Last to arrive is Rocky, the half-ogre son of a new miner at the Happy Strike Mine. It is almost the 8:00 A.M. start time none of the other human children from the town have arrived. Kate talked pleasantly with her students, waiting for any actual school talk until 8:00. Instead she asked them about what they liked to do, how they helped their parents and what things they would like to try someday. Her eyes kept flickering to the clock sitting on her desk. She finally excused herself to go look out the door hoping to see some of the town's human children. Surely they couldn't all have been scared away or fooled by talk from the Vigilance Committee. Perhaps she would have to send Ginnie around to find out what was going on. So many of the families had been excited to have a school and she hadn't hidden her intentions from them. At around a quarter after 8:00 Mollie Caudell arrives at the schoolhouse door. She gestures for Kate to come see her. Kate excused herself to the children, when she was at that time seating and working on dividing into classes and followed Mollie out. "What is it, Mrs. Caudell?" she asked anxiously. She says, "We were on our way here with Melvin and were intercepted, ushered over into the Town Hall. Other families with kids are also there. A Mr. Shackelton then announced that the school would be meeting there instead, and that it would be free to the parents. A Mrs. King and a Doctor Eaton then called aside Nate and are talking to him about teaching at it. He asked about your school and they told him that their school would be for proper human families, that if you wanted to teach the lesser races and poor Irish urchins that you could. I guess they assume that since Nate's a Southerner he's also racist. Shows how little they know about the man. Anyway, he whispered for me to come here to tell you so I slipped out." Kate shook her head. "You know, I'm actually a little relieved. They didn't convince anyone not to come, and they waited until the last minute and ambushed the human families. It doesn't speak of their confidence in convincing people without the word free dangling over them. I can't leave the children here, but I should at least have a say. And all the best arguments make me look as petty as them. Did it seem they could convince the families? Did they make it seem like they didn't have a choice?" Mollie replies, "I'm sure that Mrs. O'Hara and I can manage until you get back. Nate's just stalling them, this is where we will want Melvin to be. As to convincing the others, the deciding factor will be affordability. Them offering to give free schooling tips it in their favor. Hmmm, I was talking to Mr. Davis last night about the new group that he helped found, this Committee for Racial Equality. Do you think they might be willing to finance your school?" Kate sighed. "Perhaps. I'll tell you the truth, it was going to take a long time for me to recoup the money I spent getting set up. If I get them to back me, perhaps after the incorporation I can apply to have the school become the towns public school and lift the burden from them. Some of those men will be at the trial right now, so I'd better go interrupt this meeting first. Perhaps I'll offer the first week free of charge while I try to make the arrangements. If you'll go get Mrs. O'Hara, I'll try to keep the Vigilance Committee from getting their claws in these children." "Isn't he on that Committee?" Mollie asks, pointing to neighbor Roger Fly who is walking from his Boarding House over to his Photo Studio behind it. Kate turned her head and looked. "Mr. Fly!" Kate called and waved to him. "Could we speak to you for a moment?" Roger Fly walks over to the entrance of the school. "Hello Mrs. Kale, Mrs. Caudell, how is the first day of school going?" "With a bit of a snag I'm afraid. Mrs. Caudell has a bit of disturbing news. Apparently Mrs. King, Doc Eaton and Mr. Shackelton intercepted the human families on the way here this morning. They told them school will be meeting in the town hall and they're trying to get Mr. Caudell to teach for them. I could probably convince the families to come here instead, but they're offering the schooling for free, something I really can't do. We thought..." Kate turned bright red but pushed on. "We thought if the Committee from Racial Equality might support the school, I could offer to teach for free. I'm sorry, I hate to ask, but I don't know how else I can compete and I hate to think of what they'll put in those children's minds." Fly says, "I don't care for some of Shackelton's ideas. King and Eaton aren't so bad once you get to know them, they at least mean well. But the school has to be for ALL children. Why don't they understand that?" He pauses for a minute and says, "So you want us to sponsor your school? That could get expensive, although I know Neil could probably afford to pay most of it. You know, Neil feels terribly about what happened to Niles, we all do actually. Would you perhaps consider maybe naming your school after him?" Kate says, "I would absolutely consider it. The good news is that I've already paid to get everything set up. The building is here, the books and supplies are all here, its just.... All the time I spend here I'm not spending working on my ranch. The upkeep really shouldn't be all that much. And I thought once the town is incorporated we could apply to become the public school." Kate peeked back inside to make sure the children were still where they belonged, then said. "It looks like I'm not going to get back in there right away. Mrs. Caudell, would you? I'll send Mrs. O'Hara in a minute as well." Mollie says, "Relax, Meghan and I can handle a room full of kids, especially since most of them are hers." Roger Fly tells Kate, "Let's go see if we can find Neil and see if he agrees. I know for a fact that Rufus Davis will agree, his elvan girlfriend Anita Ramirez is pregnant and they'll need a place to school their child. So with me that'll make a majority. Yes, I know, the idea an unwed mother is shocking, my wife Janet is appalled, but that's all part of life." "I don't find it so terribly shocking," Kate said with a smile that went a bit beyond just amusement. "Marriage isn't right for everyone. Lead on sir, lets pull out a spoke in Mr. Shackelton's wheel." Instead of heading towards either Cassidy's lumberyard or home Fly leads her up East Street to the Morand Cartage Company Complex. Neil Cassidy is there, signing paperwork for the caravan of wagons about to depart to bring his remaining in-stock lumber to Tombstone. They are just wrapping up when Roger and Kate arrive. Neil looks up, still wearing a glum face and says, "Glad that's over with, I want to get a bath and shave before the funeral. Did you want something Roger?" Fly says, "Yes, I'm afraid that our Committee is needed yet again. I'll let Mrs. Kale explain." Kate quickly repeated what Mollie Caudell had told her about the Vigilance Committee's hijaking of her students and the difficulty of competing with education offered free. "I know it's an enormous favor to ask, but as I told Mr. Fly all the start-up costs have been paid. And hopefully after the incorporation we can get the town to support it as the public school." Roger says, "We were thinking of calling it The Niles Hoover Memorial School." Cassidy's eyes light up at that and he says, "Absolutely, it would be a fitting tribute to him. Count me in." Roger tells Kate "And Davis is a given, so that makes a majority. Not that I think Cole Rixton or Travis Calhoun will object. So consider it done." "Thank you Mr. Cassidy," Kate said with a sigh of relief. She turned to Mr. Fly and said, "Would you care to come with me while I give the good news to Mrs. King, the good doctor and Mr. Shackelton? I'm certain they'll be tickled to hear all these deserving children will be educated at no cost to their parents. And I'm truly certain the parents will be very grateful to all of you." Fly says "Oh no, my wife Janet is close friends with both Mrs. King and Beth Eaton. Please don't make my life any more complicated than it already is." Cassidy on the other hand interjects, "I'll go with you! This ought to be good." Kate smiled at Fly and said, "I understand. I'm fond of your wife as well, she's been very kind to me. Mr. Cassidy?" she finished, offering her arm. On they way, they made a quick stop to confirm that Meaghan O'Hara is able to give Mrs. Caudell a hand along with a quick explanation of what was going on. A few minutes later they arrived at the Town Hall and stepped inside. Nate Caudell is still standing in the back of the room negotiating with Mrs. King and Doctor Eaton when they stop to see the arrival of Kate and Neil. At the front of the room Mr. Icabod Shackelton has a globe out and is giving what is a clearly human-centric Geographic lesson to the group of around fifteen children, with eight of their parents also in attendance. Kate detached herself from Mr.Cassidy's arm and approached the globe. When Mr. Shackelton paused to take breath she jumped in, placed her finger just under his and said, "Just south of where Mr. Shackelton is pointing is Mexico, home to wood elves and some humans. Being so close together the Arizona Territory is often affected by what happens on our neighbor's lands." She straightened up. "I'm so sorry to interrupt your excellent lesson, sir, but I have some news." She turned to the others in the room. "Again, I apologize for the intrusion. I only wish to inform everyone that the Niles Hoover Memorial School will be offering education to any child free of charge, thanks to the support of the Committee for Racial Equality which he helped found. I have always been troubled by the need to charge tuition, but with the help of Mr. Cassidy and his excellent friends that is no longer necessary. We will also provide all books and supplies, all of which are laid in and ready in the schoolhouse." Shackelton exclaims "You vile woman. How dare you interrupt my lesson with your misguided opinions." Nate Caudell walks down to the front and says in his North Carolina accent, "Excuse me Sir, but that is no way to address a lady." Once he has gotten the attention of the room her continues, "Hello, I am Nathan Caudell and I have been a schoolteacher for the last two decades. I have just been offered a position at this institution. Regretably, I must decline. This school and the Hoover School have two different philosophies about the role of humans and Mrs. Kale's school is more in line with my own. You see, I did not always think this way, my outlook changed during the War, where I proudly served in the North Carolina 47th Infantry. Going up against Union regiments made up of former slaves I learned the hard way that an Ogre's blood and a human's blood look the same. I saw many a brave and intelligent Ogre in my own company mistreated by simple cowardly men who happened to be human. And furthermore, at the end of the war the Constitution of the United States was amended to ensure equality of the races. It is that Constitution which I believe in and that I have absolutely no doubt will be taught at the Hoover School, which is where I want my son Melvin to be. The decision of which school to attend is not for either myself or for Mr. Shackelton to decide. It is a parent's decision. I would suggest that you parents spend today at this school with your children listening intently to these lessons. Then spend tomorrow at the Hoover School. And continue to visit both until you feel that you can make an informed decision as to who you wish to have educating your children. That is all that I have to say, come along Melvin. You may now resume your lesson Mr. Shackelton." "Thank you Mr. Caudell, I couldn't offer better advice. Again, my apologies for the intrusion," Kate said politely. She turned back to Mr. Cassidy and took his arm again, preceding Mr. Caudell and his son out the door. After they had gotten a bit away from the building she said, "I owe you some thanks, Mr. Caudell. I wouldn't have known what was going on until after the day was over if Mrs. Caudell hadn't told me. There is so much more I'd like to say, but I won't stoop to it." He smiles and says, "One thing that Mollie and I have learned over the years is when to stand up for what you think is right. It's a good lesson for Melvin to learn at this age and what better way than through the example of his parents and teachers." He accompanies them back to the schoolhouse. When they arrive they see that Mrs. O'Hara and Mrs. Caudell have divided up the class into two group, with Mollie teaching the younger ones and Meagan the older. Neil Cassidy looks around the school room building and smiles. He keeps his voice low so as to not interrupt and says "Excellent Mrs. Kale, we will definitely support this. Please let us know what you will need for a weekly stipend to cover materials and the cost of you and your two other teachers" as he gestures to other two women. Before Kate can say something Nate interjects, "She will sir. Would you take a walk with me, I have a few questions to ask you about this Committee." The men walk away together. Kate stood stunned for a moment after the men left. She shook her head back into the present and listened to the other women giving lessons. Instead of interrupting anything she went to the desk and got the books sorted or the next subject and reworked some of her plans to include two other teachers. When the time came for morning recess Kate spoke to them both about taking full or part time positions as teachers, and also asked if they would mind overseeing lunch so she could attend Niles Hoover's funeral. They are both delighted with the idea of working at the school. Mollie comments "It's funny to think that I could be a teacher. I couldn't even read myself until I was twenty when Nate taught me." Meghan assures Kate that her place is at the funeral, that since the school today has half the number of students than were originally expected they should have no difficulty. "Thank you, ladies. The days will be much more pleasant with the two of you here, and give me a chance to learn how to be a teacher," she said lightly. After recess they split the classes further and Kate took her own group. Shortly before lunch classes merged and Kate went upstairs, dressed herself in a black gown and headed for the funeral parlor.</blockquote>

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