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the store; that was the territory of Snowball, Ma’s large white cat.
    Drafts from the cellar windows had been blowing the door from the cold cellar to the kitchen open for weeks now. No doubt the door wasbanging again. I reminded myself to get new hinges. In the meantime, Ma and I had been piling crates in front of the door. The crates weren’t enough to keep the door closed when the wind was from the north, but they should’ve been enough on this calm, sunny morning.
    But, no. The sound I’d heard was the hammer Pa’d dropped. I stared. Pa hadn’t fixed anything since Ethan had died. This morning he was screwing new hinges onto the cellar door.
    â€œYou’re home, son! I heard that darn door knocking against the crates again and decided this would be the day to fix it, so I got some new hinges over to the blacksmith shop on Water Street. Hand me that hammer, would you?”
    I did.
    â€œYou’re awfully quiet. Don’t you like the hinges I chose?” Pa pointed. “They’re bigger than the ones we had before, and fancy, with the ends swirled and all, but the holes for the smaller ones were too loose. These should hold better, and add a bit of elegance to the room.” He hit a hard blow to a nail whose hole would serve for the screw he’d put in next.
    â€œThe hinges are fine. Where are the umbrellas and buttons and silk flowers for hats?” The crates and barrels of inventory I hadn’t finished unpacking two nights before were gone.
    â€œI sorted those and got them out into the shop. Your mother likes to get the new merchandise on display as quickly as she can, you know. Always says it brightens folks up to think ahead to summer this time of year.”
    It had been months since Pa had shelved any new items for the store, and he’d only done it then because Ma had nagged him. “Are you feeling all right, Pa?”
    â€œRight as rain. Better, since the sun is finally shining! Just woke up this morning and decided I’d rested long enough. Seemed a good day to make a new start. I’m sorry not to have helped out as much as I should have recently, but I’m proud of all you’ve done for your ma, especially with the printing business taking so much of your time.”
    He put a screw in the hinge. “You’ve been doing a darn good job with the newspaper. I see you’ve been picking up printing jobs, too. I appreciated your leaving those bulletins for us on the table two nights ago.”
    â€œI thought you’d want to know the news when you woke in the morning.”
    Pa swept up the sawdust.
    â€œThere’s more news now, Pa. Bad news. The Confederates fired on Fort Sumter down in Charleston Harbor early this morning. We’re shootin’ back.”
    Pa stopped sweeping. “Ever since Mr. Lincoln was elected, this country’s gone from bad to worse. But he had to take a stand somewhere. If he let those cotton states think they could just pack up and start their own country, then what would stop any state from getting its britches in a knot and doing the same? And that would be the end of this United States your great-grandfather fought so hard to create.” He shook his head. “I hope the differences are settled soon, Joe. I hate to think what it will mean for all of us if they’re not.”
    â€œThe fighting’s just in South Carolina, Pa. The only one in Wiscasset who might be affected is Captain Tucker. He has an office and ships in Charleston, doesn’t he?”
    â€œHe does. And I pray you’re right, Joe. I do.”
    â€œIn town, no one’s doing anything but waiting for news. Charlie and I are going to stay close to Miss Averill at the telegraph office today. We’re going to lay out the rest of tomorrow’s
Herald,
and leave the front page for tomorrow, to be sure we include the latest news. Maybe the conflict will be settled by then.”
    â€œWell, good news or