More Perfect than the Moon Read Online Free PDF Page A

then three.
    “This is stupendous, Maggie,” he said. “Exquisite!”
    He caught me looking at him.
    “You and Caleb taught me about words.”
    I nodded. Grandfather couldn’t read when he had come back to the farm. All the years of his life he couldn’t read. Until Caleb taught him.
    “This cake is magnificent,” said Grandfather. “Tasty, lovely, glorious, stunning! Could I have another piece?”
    “Don’t forget we have more haying to do,” said Matthew.
    “This cake can only help,” said Grand-father.
    Talk and words, some of them Grandfather’s words, swirled around us until it was time for haying again.
    We cleared the table, Lottie and Nick hoping for snacks.
    “I’m going to town tomorrow,” said Papa, carrying plates to the house. “Who needs something wonderful?”
    Papa looked at me.
    “Want to come, Cassie? Buy something perfect?”
    Mama smiled.
    “I’ll have a new horse, if you don’t mind,” said Matthew.
    “You could get me a buggy,” said Maggie. “With a leather top.”
    “I’ll have another piece of cake,” said Grandfather, making everyone laugh.
    “I’ll come to town with you,” said Caleb.
    “I’m staying here. I know that,” said Mama. “My back hurts today.”
    “I’ll stay here, too,” I said.
    Mama took my hand.
    “You go if you want, Cassie. Remember what I said.”
    I shook my head.
    “No, I want to stay and write. I have many things to write.”
    “I’ll bring you something. A present,” called Caleb as he ran to bring in the horses. Grandfather walked out into the field, too.
    The sky was so blue with a few clouds tossed above the land. Way off the cows moved slowly. A handful of sheep drank from the stream. A perfect day.
    Perfect.
    “I remember when you first came here, Sarah,” said Maggie.
    I listened carefully.
    “You brought me flowers,” said Mama. She imitated Maggie’s soft Southern voice. “You said, ‘you should have a garden wherever you are.’”
    “What was Mama like then?” I asked.
    Maggie grinned.
    “She was strong-minded and opinionated.”
    “And she still is,” I said.
    Maggie and Mama laughed.
    “Mama cried once because she missed you,” I said.
    “Oh I cried, too,” said Maggie. Then she smiled. “But I’m back!”
    I looked out and saw Grandfather coming in from the west meadow carrying something, a sheep following him, Caleb and Papa behind.
    I ran out to the fence.
    “Here’s a present for you, Cassie,” Grandfather said.
    It was a new lamb. Very carefully Grandfather put it down and it stood on wobbly legs.
    I grinned.
    “It is Beatrice!” I said happily, leaning down to pet the lamb.
    I looked at Grandfather and Mama and Papa. “Beatrice!”
     
----
    The clouds float above, slowly, slowly, like in a dream. The air is sweet with hay.
    Beatrice has been born.
----

10
    M ama handed Caleb a list.
    “I’ll stop at Anna’s for a bit,” Papa told her. “I’ll be home late afternoon.”
    “I have Cassie here,” Mama said.
    “And they both have me,” said Grand-father.
    “Be sure to check that lamb,” said Papa.
    “Beatrice,” I corrected Papa.
    “Beatrice,” said Papa with a smile. “I’m not sure her mother knows what to do with her.”
    The wagon started off, then stopped suddenly. Papa climbed down and came over and gave Mama a kiss.
    “I forgot,” he said. “I’ll do that again when I get back.”
    “All this kissing,” complained Grandfather.
    “You should see Princess Violet and Caleb,” I said.
    “Cassie,” warned Caleb.
    The wagon clattered off and turned out the gate and went down the road, sending up little puffs of dust.
    We walked over to the paddock fence. Beatrice stared at us with her little black eyes. She walked a little, then stopped and looked at us again.
    “Beatrice,” said Grandfather softly. “Don’t really see how Beatrice can have a name when her mother doesn’t have one.”
    “I think her name is Beatrice’s Mother,” said Mama.
    “What kind of a