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to work.”
    It sounded like a good plan to Virginia. In fact, she would have been quite willing to skip her lunch entirely.
    “Don’t rush too much,” Belinda cautioned later as Virginia bent over her soup and sandwich. “You’ll end up with indigestion. We have time.”
    But Virginia could hardly wait to bear the wonderful news to her older sister—Clara would be so excited. And Francine. She took her lunch with her to school so would not be home until midafternoon. Shouldn’t they try to find her and let her know immediately?
    “Maybe I’ll stop by the school on my way home and see if they’ll let me talk to Francine,” went on Belinda as if reading her mind. “She’ll be so excited it’s a girl. I think she’s even been praying that way. Though she wouldn’t admit it. She insists that ‘as long as it’s healthy’ and all that, but she really did want a little niece. Now maybe she will leave poor Clara alone and stop pestering her about ‘no more boys.’ “
    The two women shared a laugh, a bit giddy in their excitement. A little girl. A little girl for Rodney. They wished they were closer so that they could help with the spoiling. It was going to be so very hard to not see the new little one for some time.

    The clouds were hanging heavy when Virginia trudged off to work the next morning. “Looks like we are in for a week of rain,” she grumbled to herself, hating the thought. Rain showers were one thing; dull, dismal weather quite another. Virginia had never learned to enjoy a world without sunshine.
    She stuffed her hands deep within the pockets of her heavy coat, wishing she could be wearing a bright summer wrap in its place. By the time I come home tonight the world will be a soggy mess , she complained further. Well, at least I will be in out of the chill , she concluded, pitying the unfortunate people who had to work outside in the sloppiness.
    The day was just as Virginia had expected. All day long rain slashed at the windowpanes of the post office, and the wind carried it through the door with each customer who entered the building. The entry was soon covered with muddy tracks that would need to be cleaned away at day’s end. Virginia knew that task would be hers before she headed for home.
    “Awful cold for a late spring rain,” called old Mr. Marshall loudly but cheerily as he stomped his feet, splattering more mud on the already gathering pool. “Feels more like a snowy day.”
    Virginia couldn’t decide whether to merely nod her head or make some reply. Mr. Marshall was hard-of-hearing and usually misunderstood any words spoken to him. He seemed to feel he could compensate for his deafness by his own speaking volume.
    “You been out in this, missie?” Mr. Marshall shouted, splashing through the indoor mud to crowd up close to Virginia’s wicket.
    “I walked to work in it,” she answered with a smile.
    “Who?” he questioned, leaning close and rimming his ear with a gnarled hand. “Who was that, you say?”
    Virginia pointed one finger at herself. “Me,” she answered, raising her voice.
    “You? Oh, you shouldn’t do that. They’re dangerous dogs. Didn’t even know we had any of the breed around here.”
    What in the world did he think I said? Virginia asked herself.
    What possible connection …?
    But Mr. Marshall was saying, “Had me one once. Got rid of him. The neighbors were all scared silly of him. Wouldn’t even come in the yard. Never did bite anyone, but he sure acted like he’d take a good-sized hunk outa yer leg if you didn’t watch yer step. You ever had much to do with them? Who did you say owns one?”
    Oh my , thought Virginia with a deep sigh. How am I going to explain?
    But she was saved by the opening of the door as Mrs. Clemson stepped inside and proceeded to shake a drippy umbrella over the muddy floor. Mr. Marshall immediately swept off his hat, one that had weathered many such rainstorms by the appearance of its floppy brim, and grinned at the