Just North of Bliss Read Online Free PDF Page A

demonstrate to him the proper
way to behave, shall we?”
    Although Garrett rolled his eyes, which was
his customary reaction to Belle’s attempts to instill southern
manners into his northern soul, Amalie wriggled back on the bench
and folded her hands in her lap. Belle was ever so fond of Amalie.
She was fond of Garrett, too, but Amalie was the more compliant of
the two.
    She and the Richmond children watched the
remains of the drama going forth before them in silence. The fat
woman marched over to her roaring child and picked him up. Belle
noted with disgust that she offered the offensive child another
sweet to make him keep quiet. Belle’s opinion was that a quick swat
on the monster’s rear end would probably straighten out the
problems in his head more quickly than bribes of sweets. She’d been
rebuffed once, however, and didn’t intend to offer any more
suggestions. These northerners had no sense at all when it came to
rearing children.
    Well, except for the Richmonds, who were an
exceptionally sensible family and would fit right in if they chose
to move to Georgia. Except for their accents. And a tendency to be
rather noisy. And that trace of independence that often took Belle
aback when she encountered it in Mrs. Richmond. And Mr. Richmond
was, perhaps a trifle too hearty from time to time. Belle, having
grown up with peaceful drawls in men and dulcet tones in women,
still couldn’t reconcile herself to the harsh Yankee twang.
    “The plates will be ready on Wednesday,
ma’am,” Mr. Asher said. “Will you be in then?”
    The woman snorted. “I shall have to discuss
the matter with my husband, Mr. Asher. I’m not sure I care to do
business with a man who is cruel to children.” She plopped her
child, whom she’d been coddling and cooing to in baby talk, on the
floor. the boy squeaked in surprise, then renewed his bellows of
fury.
    Again, Belle thought the judicious
application of a paddle would do more good than the woman’s tactic,
which was to hand him another sweet. “There, there, sweetums. Mama
will take you to get a hamburger. Will sweetums like that?”
    Although the boy didn’t stop yelling, he
nodded. The woman cast one last disapproving glance at Mr. Asher
and marched out of his shop.
    Belle wasn’t surprised when Mr. Asher pulled
a big handkerchief from his back pocket and wiped his brow when the
door closed behind the mother and child. To Belle, who watched the
boy and his mother waddle up the Midway, the woman looked like a
battleship under full steam from the back, and her son reminded
Belle of a little round tugboat. She was glad to see the last of
them both. They epitomized everything Belle deplored about the
North.
    After breathing deeply for a moment or two,
undoubtedly in an effort to recover from his recent unhappy
encounter, Mr. Asher turned and gave Belle and her charges an
extensive once-over. Belle lifted her chin. She didn’t care to be
scrutinized like a cut of beef, as if he were trying to decide how
best to roast, bake, or fricassee her.
    He heaved a deep sigh. “I’m sorry about
that, ma’am. Some mothers have no notion about how to make their
children behave properly.”
    His brilliant smile took some of the starch
out of Belle’s sails. She’d meant to be cold to him, since he’d
sent her packing after she’d rushed to his defense, but that smile
made the ice inside her melt and it set odd, warm tingles to
vibrating in her midsection. It also coaxed a smile from her.
“You’re right about that, Mr. Asher.”
    “That kid was real bratty,” Garrett said,
adding his two cents without being asked. Belle didn’t think she’d
ever get used to the way children assumed they were welcome to
intrude into adult conversations as they did in the North.
    “He sure was,” Mr. Asher said, grinning at
Garrett.
    “Oh, look!” Amalie cried suddenly, startling
Belle. “There’s Mama!” She jumped down from the bench and raced to
the door.
    “Amalie, wait just a