Amie Bernstein; Chapter 8

 

Amie Bernstein; Chapter 8

© 2022 by Amber Wright

MISS MATCHMAKER

Date: Winter 1901

Place: London, England

“Friday, December 13^th. I wonder what will happen today!” Amie stopped skipping down the thickly-carpeted stairway and decided she’d slide down the rest of the way. She braced her knees, almost hooking them onto the inner side of the rails, and loosely gripped the sleek wood railing. She flew swiftly. How terribly fun!

Near the end of the stairway, a blur of black and white crossed her vision.

“Good morning, Annie. See me? I’m flying!” Amie began to lose her balance and the last thing she remembered was Annie’s scream.

Total blackness.

“Amie, can you hear me?” Gad sounded worried. “Are you hurt?”

Amie popped her eyes open and fuzzily came back to the present. She was laying in her bed and two pairs of anxious eyes were peering down at her. “I’m perfectly fine!” she almost growled and started to sit up.

“Careful,” Gad still sounded worried.

The dizziness in her head sank her head back onto her pillow. “I’m fine,” she said meekly this time with a faint smile. “I’m just awfully dizzy. Can I have a drink, please?”

Annie came back with a glass of water and smiled. “I thought you were dead. It scared me so bad, m’love.” She stroked Amie’s curls from off of her pounding forehead.

“Well, I’m not.” Amie smiled teasingly and handed her empty glass to Annie. “But I’m afraid I must close my eyes again. It hurts me to keep them open.”

Gad reached over to squeeze her arm. “The Doc will be here soon. Don’t worry now, love-heart. Get some rest.”

“Thank you.” Amie slowly closed her eyes and felt a rush of sleep fill her eyes.



“Where’s Mamma?” Amie asked once the Doc had left. She had only suffered a slight concussion and she was to stay in bed that day. Then she would be quite all right.

“I’m afraid she’s been out shopping with the ladies since morning.” Gad volunteered with a grin.

“Shopping, why for?”

“Guess what happens in 12 more days?”

“I can’t think…just now.” Amie frowned, sitting up against her plumped up pillows. Her head still felt a little fuzzy.

“The First Day of Christmas begins, of course!” Gad ruffled her messy curls. “This is indeed a month to celebrate!”

“I love it!” Kitt suddenly piped up from his perch at the foot of the bed, sitting cross-legged on the covers and staring transfixed at the painting above Amie’s headboard.

Annie Montgomery came in carrying a tray of hot tea and little iced cakes. She pulled up a table beside the bed and set the loaded tray onto it. She turned to go.

“Annie?” Amie suddenly spoke with question to her voice.

Annie turned around. “Yes, Miss Amie?”

“Won’t you have tea with us, please?” Amie put on her most begging voice. “I want you to. I’m sick.” She dragged the last word out.

Annie took a deep breath and nodded briskly. She pulled up a chair and started pouring the tea into the red-holly-designed cups. Tea passed in a chatter and chewing. Afterwards, the boys were shooed out while Amie would rest some more—in peace and quiet. Just as Annie turned to go, Amie called softly from her pillows.

“Yes, m’love?” Annie smiled and sat down on the bed.

“I haven’t told but,” Amie sniffed twice and rubbed the tip of her nose, “why do you not want people to know you’re Jewish?”

Annie gulped and glanced at the closed door. “Promise me you won’t tell?”

“I promise.” Amie smiled. So she had two secrets now. How exciting. “So…?”

“Well,” Annie licked her lips nervously before continuing. “I have this beau, a nice young man, but just recently he has spoken anti-Semitism views. He doesn’t know that I am a Jew and I don’t know what he would do if he knew…”

“Break up with him!” Amie exploded, wishing with all her might she could talk to that wretched young man and blow his high hat off. And he’d deserve every bit of it, too! “I would. Besides, why don’t you just like Oncle Gad instead? He’s lots better!”

“Amie, you don’t know what you’re saying…” Annie stood and patted Amie’s head with a little smile. “Get some sleep now. Doc says you need it. Goodnight.”

“Okay, goodnight.” Amie grinned and slid down under the covers. “Don’t forget to wake me up at suppertime, please. Thank you. Ta-Ta!”

“I’m sure Kitt won’t forget your food.” Annie grinned as she reached to turn the doorknob. “Ta-Ta! Sweet dreams.”

Amie watched the door suddenly swing open and there stood her oncle Gad wearing a wide grin. “Mademoiselle!” he did a dramatic bow to Annie as he let her pass; then, he waved at Amie and blew her a kiss.

Amie grinned. She was sure he had heard everything. Or, at least, what her big mouth had spoken…which was more than he had needed. She closed her eyes. Sweet dreams she would have.

French/English translation:

Mademoiselle………… Miss

Oncle…………………… Uncle