Shadows on Society Hill

Shadows on Society Hill is a Historical Character Mystery that is part of Addy's books.

Characters

From the Central Series

Only In Shadows on Society Hill

Chapter By Chapter Summary

Chapter One: A Daring Rescue

It is a Saturday, and Addy sees a white man crossing the street moments before a horse breaks away from his carriage and handler and bolts down the street towards the man. The man keeps walking without noticing, and Addy yells at the man to get out of the way, but he doesn't seem to hear her. She runs towards him while calling for help from her Poppa, who is on a ladder repairing the overhang of a building close by. Addy leaps at the man and knocks him to the ground moments before the horse zooms by. Poppa catches up to Addy (after barreling down the ladder to her side) and asks if she is okay. Poppa pulls her up and hugs her while he asks what happened. The man brushes snow from his fur coat and says Addy saved his life. A crowd has gathered, and a white woman accuses Addy of knocking down the man. Addy explains the horse broke loose and she wasn't trying to hurt the man, and the man defends her before shooing the crowd away. The man explains he keeps cotton in his ears because the cold weather hurts his eardrums, so he hadn't heard the horse or Addy. He thanks her profusely and asks to shake her hand.

Poppa again asks Addy is she is all right, and she assures him she is. Although she feels shaky, she answers confidently. When she takes the man's hand to shake it, he is surprised to see she is a child. Addy states she's eleven. Poppa says he's glad the gentleman wasn't hurt, and he turns to walk away. The man puts a hand in his coat and says he'd like to give Addy a reward for saving his life. Addy looks at Poppa, and Poppa turns the man down. The man protests, holding out ten dollars. Addy is very tempted to take the money; they need it, it could pay for an entire year of schooling at the Institute for Colored Youth, and Poppa hasn't had continuous work for about four months now. But she turns down the offer respectfully as she can see Poppa doesn't want her to take it. The man protests, but Poppa is firm as he grabs his tools from the overhang and tells Addy that they have to get home so her mother can make sure she's not hurt.

The man notices the the overhang over Milner's Builders and asks Poppa if he did the work, to which Poppa says yes. The man inquires where Poppa learned the skill, and Poppa explains he's self-taught outside of working on fancy summer houses on Cape Island, New Jersey (in the events of Addy's Summer Place). The man asks if Poppa works for the company and and Poppa explains no, the owner had him do a small job to demonstrate his skills. The owner doesn't have any other immediate work but might call him back if he does a good job. The man offers Poppa a job on the spot. Addy is excited, as Poppa had said just that morning he'd do any kind of work. She hopes he takes the job but that it doesn't take him far away. Poppa offers Mr. Roberts as reference, but the man says that his handiwork is all the reference he needs and he'll pay a fair wage for the fancy woodwork Poppa can do. Addy just hopes that the work won't take Poppa far away, as she'd missed him that summer in New Jersey. The man introduces himself as Albert Radisson, an architect. Mr. Radisson and Poppa shake hands firmly as they discuss the terms of his employment Mr. Radisson gives Poppa his address and asks him to be there early Monday morning.

As Mr. Radisson walks away, Poppa says bringing Addy with him to work was a stroke of luck because he has a new job thanks to her. On the way home, Addy thinks that 1866 is turning out to be the best year ever; the war is over, black people are free, she's doing well at I.C.Y., and her whole family is reunited.

Chapter Two: Snowfall

After school on Monday, Addy heads home home in some light snow and tries to catch snowflakes on her tongue. Snow is a reminder of how quickly good disappears, and Addy is reminded of Auntie Lula's saying "If it ain't one thing, it's another." Very shortly after Poppa got his new job, Mrs. Ford informed Ruth she was moving with her sister to Maine and closing the shop for good, leaving Ruth jobless. Addy wishes that she could talk to Uncle Solomon or Auntie Lula about the changes happening, but they have both passed. Addy arrives at the boarding house to look through the window and see Poppa talking to Momma. She's worried he's home early because he's been let go from his new job already. She goes in to find Momma crying, and Addy asks what's wrong. Momma says she's fine, pulls her into a hug, cries in Addy's shoulder, and asks Poppa to explain. Addy's worried because she hasn't seen Momma cry since they ran away from North Carolina.

Poppa says that they're moving. Addy immediately assumes that Mr. Radisson didn't give him the job until her parents smile. Poppa says no, Mr. Radisson has plenty of work because he's fixing up his house to get married. He wants things ready before his mother and fiancée arrive. In the process, he's invited the Walker family to move into the former servant's house behind his new house. Addy asks if it's nice and Poppa informs her and Momma that it's on Society Hill. Mr. Radisson's uncle left him the house when he died; Mr. Radisson had closed the house up and let the previous servants go. The servants had been a married couple with two girls, so the house is still furnished and only needs dusting. The house is large enough that Addy and Esther can have a room to themselves. Addy excitedly swings Esther around in joy. Sam comes in and asks what's going on, and Poppa lets Addy riddle him (and she stumps him) before letting him know they're moving to a house on Society Hill- and that Sam will have his own room as well in the garret. The family celebrates together.

The next Sunday at dusk, it is snowing again and chilly; the Walkers are making their goodbyes to the Goldens. M'dear hugs Addy and lets Addy know she is always loved. Addy knows M'dear can't see her tears, but she knows Addy will miss her and the Goldens; they have become like family. Addy will also miss the boarding house, even though they've had one shared room. They take one last round of goodbyes before leaving with their belongings. Sam comments that they're lucky they don't have much to move, because the snow is picking up. Since Poppa no longer works for Mr. Roberts, they do not have use of a wagon; so Poppa has put a trunk on wheels, where he puts the sled he made for Addy and Esther. He also slings a sack over his shoulders. Momma carries sewing supplies in two large shawls and the fabric in a basket on her head. Addy carries the kerosene lamp that was a gift from Mrs. Ford. Sam carries Esther, and Esther carries her doll, Janie.

As they walk, Addy ignores the pain in her hands and feet and thinks about how different it will be to live in Society Hill. Not many people are out, and Poppa is able to clear the snow with the trunk so the rest of the family can walk behind him. Addy feels optimistic as they get closer to the neighborhood. Everything feels cleaner: the bricks are brighter, there's no trash in the streets, the streetlights are bright, store signs are more elaborate with brighter displays in the windows, and even the dark alleyways seem neater. She glances in storefront windows as they walk by, and Sam tells her stay caught up as she gets distracted.

Addy is distracted by a blue dress with flowers and on her way to catch up when a policeman yells for them not to take another step. Addy's heart races as she looks up into his glaring face. She's heard plenty of stories about police belonging to gangs and how they liked to beat up Irish and Black people. Poppa runs to Addy, ignoring the officer's command, and he stands between Addy and the officer. Sam moves closer, and Momma moves towards Sam. Poppa offers his hand and explains they're on the way to their new home.

The officer looks disgustedly at Poppa's hand and demands to know where they got their "stuff." Poppa says it's their belongings and they're only a few blocks from their new home; Sam explains they don't have a wagon and have to walk. The policeman says he's not speaking to Sam and dismissively calls him "boy." He demands Poppa explain why they're in Society Hill. Poppa tries to explain, but the cop accuses him of lying and the family of theft. Poppa reaches for his pocket and the cop smacks his hand so hard that Addy jumps. When Sam tries to hand Esther to Addy so he can intervene, Momma motions that he shouldn't, and Sam looks down. Poppa keeps calm and pulls out the paper with the new address. The policeman demands to know what it says and accuses Poppa of not knowing how to read. Poppa reads the address and says he works for Mr. Radisson. The cop says no one by that name lives there, and Poppa replies that it's the house his uncle left him. The policeman says he'll let them go but will check on them when the weather clears (and dismissively calls Poppa "boy" as well.) Poppa politely defers and waits until they policeman leaves, and then as if nothing has happened, he says they should hurry the last few blocks to get out of the snow.

Addy feels her nose burning and reaches up to see if her nose is bleeding, but it's not. She trembles and holds on to Sam's empty sleeve--the arm he lost fighting for the country--and she starts to cry. All her excitement has melted away due to the policeman's treatment, and her heart hurts. Her excitement has disappeared as quickly as a snowflake on her tongue.

Chapter Three: Uncle Solomon's Protection

The family arrives to Mr. Radisson's house, a three-story brick house with many windows. All the windows are dark, as Mr. Radisson has gone to pick his mother up from Virginia and won't be back for another day or two. Poppa leads the family around the back into the alley; there is a wrought-iron gate leading into the backyard. Esther runs ahead excitedly while the others look at the house. Like the main house, the servants' house is made of brick. They step inside and hug each other. Their house has a kitchen and sitting parlor on the first floor. As they walk around, Addy touches the gas lamp rims, thinking abut what her old enslaver Master Stevens would say if he knew the Walkers now lived in a gas-lit house (the plantation had just one in the parlor, with the rest of the house lit by candles and kerosene). There are two bedrooms on the second floor and a garret under the roof. The house has shiny hardwood, and the furniture is even better than Mrs. Ford's. They also have a private privy at the back of the house, so they will no longer have to share with neighbors. After touring the house, Poppa and Momma unpack, Addy and Esther dust, and Sam gets fires burning in the fireplaces. Momma cooks cornbread and beans for supper and they eat together quietly. No one speaks about what happened with the policeman, but everyone other than Esther--who is too young--have it weighing on them.

As Addy helps Esther get ready for bed, she thinks about the family who had previously lived here. She hopes they moved somewhere even prettier, and she is about to comment this to Esther until she sees that her sister was already asleep. Addy pulls out a book from school to read when Sam comes inside. He comments that she's quiet and asks if she's okay. Addy says she is. Sam sits beside her on the bed and says that it's because of Addy's bravery that they were able to live in this house at all and that Poppa got a new job. He tells her that things are changing for the better, and she should be happy. Addy just looks at her hands. Although she wants to feel happy, she can't shake the encounter they had with the policeman. Sam asks if she's thinking about the incident; he can always tell when something is bothering her. Addy asks, "Sam, you think white people gonna always be mean to us?" Sam says no, not all white people will act that way, but there will probably always be mean people. He says not to think about it, but Addy can't shake it from her mind because she had been so terrified. She shares that she was scared the man would hurt Sam or Poppa, and she admits, "sometimes, I wish we could be just like everyone else." Sam smiles at her and says they already are like everyone else; the problem is some people won't accept that. He says maybe someday everyone will understand this.

Addy looks down so Sam won't see the tears in her eyes. Then, Sam gives her a riddle about something that is smooth and has an eye on it but can't see. She smiles and answers, "black-eyed peas." He laughs and comments on her skill with riddling, but he says he wasn't talking about peas. He pulls a leather cord from around his neck with a black stone on it. Initially, Addy thinks he's still joking with her. This is a protection stone that Uncle Solomon gave Sam after he saved a young boy from drowning. Sam thinks she should have it, but she protests that he still needs protection, too. Sam holds up his single arm and says he has this; by fighting, he ended slavery, and that's all the protection he needs. He says that Uncle Solomon would want Addy to have the stone now if he were still here. He pulls the necklace off and Addy marvels at how well he can do things with just one arm. She accepts the gift and goosebumps appear on her arms, but she hugs Sam. Sam says now she doesn't need to worry about that policeman or anyone else, and he helps her put the stone on her necklace next to her cowrie shell.

Addy says her prayers and Momma tucks her into her feather bed. She sinks right into the mattress and marvels at her comfortable new room. Momma kisses Esther's head and tells her to not let the bedbugs bite. Addy giggles because there were no bedbugs here, but they used to have them back at the plantation. Momma puts out the gas lamp as Addy says goodnight. The moon casts a light into the bedroom, and Addy is glad that her bed is next to the window. Esther is asleep and hugging Janie, which was Addy's former doll. Addy had Ida Bean now, but she'd packed her in the trunk when she turned eleven. Addy's glad Esther doesn't remember much about their life in slavery, and she remembers the day that the overseer had made her eat worms. Maybe Auntie Lula was right; she'd say, "no matter how bad it seem, don't mean it can't get no better." Addy glances around their new room again when she sees a flash of light in the mirror over the dresser. She quickly kneels by the window and looks outside. The yard looked normal, but just as she was about the lie down again, Addy sees another flash of light, and upon closer inspection, it seems to be moving inside Mr. Radisson's house. She cleans the fog from the windowpane and her heart races as she worries if someone is inside the house. The light then appears to move onto the porch and through the trellised vines. The light seemed to be sinking; then, it disappeared. Addy's body trembles and she clutches her covers tightly. Should she tell Poppa? She worries about whether it was just her imagination or if it could be a ghost. She tucks herself back in her bed and clutches her new protection stone.

Chapter Four: Troubling Answers

Addy is wide awake as soon as the sun starts to come up the next morning- a Monday. She quietly goes downstairs to try to talk to Poppa, but he is just on his way out with his lunch pail. She wishes him a good day at work, and he thanks her, admitting that he's a little nervous about joining Mr. Radisson's usual work crew. She asks if Mr. Radisson was back and mentions the light. Poppa pats her on the shoulder and says it must have been a reflection of the moon. Before he leaves, she asks if Mr. Radisson's uncle died in that house. Poppa thinks he did. He kisses her on her forehead and wishes her a good day at school. She waves goodbye and can't remember seeing him this happy before. Addy is determined not to ruin his day with talk of ghosts.

Addy plans to ask Poppa that night if he believed in ghosts, but his sad expression pushes that question away. He explains that he had arrived at work twenty minutes early. When the other four men arrived, they all ignored Poppa and did their work as if he wasn't there. When the boss, Mr. Gunter, appears, he tells Poppa they don't have any work for him. At first, Poppa thought he just wasn't sure who Poppa was, and he explains that Mr. Radisson sent him. Mr. Gunter says he hasn't had a chance to talk with Mr. Radisson, but the other men on the crew refuse to work with Poppa. They've threatened to quit if he works, and they need to finish the job this week. Mr. Gunter apologizes, but he can't offer Poppa work. When Poppa asks what he's supposed to do, Mr. Gunter offers to let him get their water and fetch their tools, and he can arrange his pay later with Mr. Radisson. Addy's stomach is in knots as he tells this story. Momma asks what he did, and as he eats his mashed potatoes, Poppa simply says that he "helped out." No one else asks anything further. Addy initially wants to know why he didn't just come back home and wait for Mr. Radisson, but she knows the answer, deep down. Poppa would do whatever work he could to support his family.

After Addy helps Momma with the supper dishes, Poppa asks her if she'd like to go into Mr. Radisson's house to take the covers off the furniture. She immediately agrees, though she shivers as they walk over and she remembers the light from the night before. Poppa doesn't seem to notice anything odd as he enters the shuttered porch door, though Addy glances over her shoulder before entering. Inside, he shows her a small curved mahogany table with lions carved on it. She runs her hands along it but gets a splinter, prompting Poppa to guide her inside the house so he can take it out. The door is locked, but Poppa takes a key from the lintel over the door to open it. Inside, he glances at the window to the right of the door and says he thought he closed that this morning; he tells Addy not to let him forget to close it on their way out. In the kitchen, he turns on a gas lamp and takes her splinter out, reminding her to get Momma to put salve on it when they get back home. Addy smiles to hear him describe their new house as "home." He smiles back at her as they go further inside the kitchen, and although she was initially nervous, she quickly forgets this as she takes in the large, beautiful kitchen. Most kitchens she'd seen were dark and dreary, but this one had three windows that opened onto the porch. She whistles in admiration, and Poppa comments she's learned this skill well from Sam. She then asks about a large cabinet with a pan under it. Poppa asks if she'd like the answer in the form of a riddle, and she smiles and quickly says yes. He asks what is solid and liquid and can be chewed or drunk. She lands upon the answer: ice. He laughs and says this is an icebox, and then he comments that Sam has truly taught Addy to riddle well and she'll be an excellent teacher someday. They walk further into the house to take care of the furniture in the front parlor and dining room. She glances at the kitchen one last time, and she initially thinks she sees a shadow cross the open window. Then, she realizes that the kitchen is where she saw the light last night. This makes her hurry ahead to Poppa and stay so close that she steps on his boot heel.

As they walk through more of the house, Addy notices that it's grander than Master Stevens' house. Each room has gas lamps, the walls have gold flower designs that look painted on, and there is a flowered carpet that covers the entire floor. Poppa and Addy remove and fold the white furniture covers, and when she folds the last one, she asks him if he believes in ghosts. Poppa says he does, and Addy's chest tightens; she hadn't expected him to say yes. She inquires, and he says he saw and heard a ghost once when he was a boy. Addy asks if they can go, and she rushes out the back door as soon as he nods. He asks if she is all right, and she says yes, but she's not. If Poppa had seen a ghost, maybe Addy had, too. She can't sleep that night and wishes she could fall asleep as quickly as Esther. Addy wonders if Mr. Radisson's uncle's spirit is haunting the house.

Chapter Five: A Cold Welcome

The next day, a Tuesday, Addy is walking home from school and she studies Mr. Radisson's house. All the windows are dark, and she shivers and wishes he would return from Virginia, where he went to get his mother. As she approaches, a black carriage pulls up in front of the house, and she recognizes Mr. Radisson's hat as he exits the carriage. He calls her over and wants to introduce her to someone. She walks over but pauses in surprise; she thinks a bird or a bear is standing next to him. The visitor is short, has a big chest, and is furry. A bird is perched on top with long, fancy feathers; it takes a moment for Addy to realize that this is a person, not an animal. He introduces the visitor as his mother, Mrs. Radisson. Addy politely greets her with a "how do you do, ma'am?" and she gruffly says she's freezing as her face pinches together. She turns to Mr. Radisson and tells him she needs to get out of the cold. He smiles apologetically at Addy and guides his mother inside while she scolds him for not hiring an English couple as she told him to. She says that if he was "going to settle for coloreds," he should have continued to hire the servants his uncle had. He sharply replies that Addy is the girl who saved his life, and her family are not servants, as Mr. Walker is a skilled carpenter. Mrs. Radisson dismisses this as "nonsense" because the Walkers are black, and therefore, they must be servants. Then she complains about the northern winter weather and says she can't wait til the wedding is over so she can go home. As they go in the house, Addy thinks that she's never seen a bear get cold.

After supper, the Walkers are gathered int he sitting room; Poppa snores in a chair, Sam reads a book, Esther plays with Janie, and Addy starts to study her Latin. Momma is sewing pearls onto a dress: her last piece of work from Mrs. Ford's shop. As Addy is just starting her studies, they hear a knock at the door. Poppa answers and returns with Mr. Radisson, who politely greets the family. Poppa introduces the family, and Momma shakes Mr. Radisson's hand. With a laugh, he compliments her on her daughter's strength because Addy was able to knock him down. Momma smiles and thanks him, then walks it back because she didn't mean to thank him for Addy pushing him. He laughs at this, and so do Momma and Poppa. He then notices the dress from Mrs. Ford's shop and asks if Momma made it. Addy says she did and that she can "sew real good," only for Sam to correct her by saying "really well." She adds on that Momma has worked for Mrs. Ford's shop for two years. Noting the shop's stellar reputation, Mr. Radisson asks Momma if she is willing to alter his fiancée's wedding gown. She is arriving from Connecticut in several days for their wedding the following month, and she has agreed to wear Mrs. Radisson's old wedding gown. However, it will need to be altered to fit her, and his fiancée has requested some additions in the latest style with lace, ribbons, and jewels. Momma says she's never altered a wedding dress, so she's not sure if she can do it. Addy squeezes her hand and says she knows Momma can. Mr. Radisson smiles and says that working at Mrs. Ford's shop speaks to Momma's abilities. When he returns from his trip, he'll drop off the dress and some materials he picked out in Paris at his fiancée's request. Addy blurts out a question: he's been to Paris? He says yes, he has, many times, and maybe someday Addy will get to visit as well. She can't imagine such a trip and stares at him. Then she realizes that just a few weeks ago, she couldn't have imagined living in this very house. Maybe someday she would get to go to Paris; now that they were free, nothing was impossible.

When she refocuses on the conversation, Mr. Radisson is telling Momma that his fiancée will be eager to meet her, and he invites her and Addy to tea on Saturday. Momma and Addy's mouths drop open: they're invited to tea at a white man's house? Momma thanks him. However, Mr. Radisson becomes serious when he apologizes to Poppa for what's happening at work. He is leaving for Connecticut the next day, but when he returns, he will try to settle the problem with Mr. Gunter.

That night, Esther again sleeps well, but Addy can't fall asleep. She kneels on her bed and looks out of the window, but she doesn't see anything unusual. On Wednesday, the next day, Addy again keeps watch and she sees nothing unusual. Perhaps the ghost had left now that the house was occupied, or maybe she dreamed up the whole thing. After a while, she can't keep her eyes open and her leg is going numb, so she crawls under the covers and sleeps better than she has all week. However, she is woken up suddenly in the night with piercing screams. She quickly checks the window and sees Mrs. Radisson at the porch door with a black robe and puffy black silk bonnet. She is holding a lantern and screaming, "Help! Thief!"

Poppa and Sam run out in their long johns and bare feet, and Addy follows them. Poppa asks what's going on, and Mrs. Radisson points to the iron gate, which is swinging back and forth at the alley's entrance. She says the thief went that way and says to catch him, so Poppa and Sam race off. Momma comes out momentarily with the men's boots; Mrs. Radisson is still shouting. A few minutes later, Poppa and Sam come back and the women give them their boots. Poppa apologizes to Mrs. Radisson because they didn't see anyone. She huffs and says of course he didn't; no doubt it was a black man. When her son returns, she intends to tell the police. Sam politely asks what happened while Addy helps him balance and get his shoes on. Mrs. Radisson says she was getting milk in the kitchen when she heard a noise on the porch, so she took her lamp and went out to find the back gate swinging wildly as if someone had just run through it. Poppa asks for clarification: did she see a colored man running down the alley? No, Mrs. Radisson says, she didn't see anyone. But she did find a basket by the door with cheese, bread, and preserves, which she assumes the thief was taking and must have dropped when they were surprised. As she holds it up, Addy sees a blue and red design woven into the basket's rim. Momma asks why a thief would break in and only take some food, and Mrs. Radisson snaps at her, saying, "What right have you to question me?" As she walks back inside, she says she wouldn't be surprised if the thief was one of the Walkers. Once the door is closed, Poppa looks inside the basket and notes that Mrs. Radisson doesn't know if it was a black person or not who was responsible. Sam suggests taking the food home, but Momma says no because Mrs. Radisson will blame them if it's missing. She's seen people like this before who blame black people for everything wrong. Poppa puts the basket back down and says he doesn't envy Mr. Radisson for having to deal with his mother.

Addy isn't able to fall back asleep because she keeps wondering if the ghost was responsible for this, if she'd even seen a ghost at all. She also wants to examine the basket. When the sun first comes up, Addy quietly goes outside with her shawl on, and when there's no sign of Mrs. Radisson, she sneaks across the yard. She's shocked to find that the basket is gone.

After school on Thursday, as she walks up the alley, she notices the basket on top of trash. The food was even still inside, and she can't believe that Mrs. Radisson would throw food away. She glances at the house and wonders if her parents would be mad for her taking the basket. Remembering that they say not to waste food, she brings it in. The house is quiet because Momma and Esther are napping, which is helpful because Addy wants to take a look at the basket alone. It looks like an ordinary round basket with two handles. She removes hard cheese wrapped in a cloth, half a loaf of bread, and a jar of preserves. She turns the basket upside down and shakes it, but only some crumbs fall out. She's disappointed, but just as she's about to put everything back, she notices some paper wedged between the cloth lining and the straw bottom. She tries to pull it out, but instead she discovers a false bottom to the basket. The woven disc comes out to reveal a crumpled, torn, yellowed paper. The paper has rows of angles and dots in heavy ink, and the markings don't make any sense to her. Addy's heart races, and she can only conclude that the false bottom would exist in order to hide something. Momma calls from upstairs, and Addy quickly puts the paper in her pocket and replaces the false bottom. When Momma comes in the kitchen and asks why the basket is there, Addy explains where she found it and asks if they can keep it. Momma says yes but to put it in the shed.

When the house is quiet that night, Addy kneels at her bedroom window again and eventually sees a light appear at the porch. The light gets brighter, moves across the porch, and the porch door opens slowly. The rest of the house is dark. Addy holds her protection stone as she sees a hand come out of the doorway, low to the ground by the step. The hand seems to move around on the step before it disappears. Then the porch door closes. The light grows dimmer and sinks down before it disappears. Addy shivers and wonders if she's seen a ghost's hand. When she falls asleep, she dreams about baskets and the writing on the paper. When she goes to school on Friday morning, Addy checks the porch for anything unusual. She initially walks away, but then she bends down and kneels by the step to see markings where a hand went along the step as if searching for something. Addy wonders what the hand was looking for- perhaps the basket? She knows a ghost could not leave marks in the snow, so perhaps there is a real person living in the house. She looks through the open slats onto the porch and realizes that person could be watching her right now. The thought is enough to make Addy take off at a run.

Chapter Six: The Mystery Woman

Addy recalls another one of Auntie Lula's sayings: Everything that's done in the dark comes out into the light. When Addy returns home that Friday, Mrs. Radisson calls her over to the porch, referring to her as "you, girl." Mrs. Radisson stands in her kitchen doorway and asks if Addy stole her milk. Addy says no, and Mrs. Radisson presses her again and tells her not to lie. She left the milk outside overnight because it was colder than the icebox indoors. When Mrs. Radisson went to look for it in the morning, the milk was gone. Addy again politely says no, referring to Mrs. Radisson as "ma'am." Mrs. Radisson's eyes narrow and she asks if Addy's sure. Addy nods, and Mrs. Radisson goes back inside, but not without warning Addy that things have been going missing ever since she arrived.

Addy looks at the closed door and thinks that Mrs. Radisson wouldn't be the only person who was happier when the wedding was over and Mrs. Radisson went home. However, she wonders if the mystery person was the one who took the milk. She's about to step off the porch when she thinks she sees a movement under the porch table. She whips around but sees nothing at first. On closer examination, however, she sees a tiny piece of orange yarn on a corner of the mahogany table. The yarn had caught on the same place where Addy got a splinter. She picks it up and examines it further; Mrs. Radisson was unlikely to wear such a bright color, so someone must be sneaking onto the porch. Addy knows she needs to find out before the Walkers are blamed for the missing items. She decides to return to look for clues after dark. Mr. Radisson and his fiancée were due back tomorrow, so tonight was the ideal time to sneak around.

She stays awake that night until everything is quiet. With her shawl around her shoulders, Addy races across the yard. She goes to the right side of the porch and finds a place where a shutter slat is broken. If she presses up against it, she can get a good view of the porch, and Addy wants to be able to see every detail tonight if someone comes. She can see the kitchen door, the window above the table, and the porch door. However, her fingers go numb and she dozes off with her head on one of the slats. She dreams of a screeching sound, a thud, and scraping, but she wakes, scared, to see a silhouette of a woman standing on the porch. She wasn't sure if the woman came through the kitchen door, the porch door, or the window, but she is there nonetheless. Addy ducks down but inadvertently knocks snow off the trellis vines, making it fall on her. She crouches on the ground and gets a better look through the shutters. She can tell that it is a Black woman who is holding something in her hands, though it is unclear if she is taking an item from the house. She hears faint footsteps on the porch, the squeak of the porch door opening, and a boot on the step. Addy's too scared to look around the corner of the porch because she's sure the mystery woman has seen her. What will happen if she's caught? She decides to make a run for it and races toward her house, only to realize the woman was actually walking toward the shed. Maybe she hadn't seen Addy after all.

Addy shivers and realizes that her shawl got caught on the porch. She can also see that the shed door is closing, and she pauses to determine her next step. Should she wake Poppa? Addy decides to first see what the woman had taken, and then she can wake Poppa and Mrs. Radisson so they could catch the thief. Addy breathes deeply and tells herself that she can't be afraid- she's been in much worse danger than this. She also realizes that if the woman had only stolen food, she wouldn't call Mrs. Radisson. Addy knows what it feels like to be hungry, so she would only have Poppa warn the woman. She then quickly goes to the shed and looks through the window. At first the shed is dark, but then the woman lights a candle and sticks it in the dirt floor. Addy's glad for the light so she can discover what the woman took. The woman then holds up two lemon halves, and then she removes a jar from underneath her brown and orange shawl. The orange matches the yarn Addy had found, so she knows this woman was on the porch the night before, too. Then the woman squeezes lemon juice in the jar, dips a stick into the juice, and begins writing on a paper.

When the woman is done writing, she throws the lemons on the ground and puts the stick into a small leather bag. She wipes her hands on a handkerchief, waves the paper a few times, and blows the candle out. Addy is halfway across the yard to get Poppa when she pauses and realizes that nothing she's seen had made sense. What would she tell Poppa? She then decides to walk back to the shed and is determined to talk to the woman; Sam had only just called her "very brave." Addy takes a lantern hanging by the shed door and the matches next to it. She quietly steps into the shed and says, "Hello? I saw you. I know you're in here." She repeats her last sentence when no one responds, and she squeezes the protection stone. She kneels and lights the lantern, but all she can see are the lemon halves and an open window. The woman had escaped! Suddenly, Addy feels exhausted as well as cold, so she blows out the lantern and returns it to its hook. She knows she needs to get home before her parents wake up and before Mrs. Radisson catches her. On her way back, she spots her shawl in the snow, and at first, Addy thinks the wind blew it away from teh porch. She goes to get it, but as she turns back toward her house, she hears something fall.

On the ground are the leather bag and the candle. Why did the woman put these things in Addy's shawl? Did she want Addy to take the blame for stealing them? She can see no sign of the woman around the house, so she opens the bag and finds the stick, the jar, the paper, and a whole lemon. At first, she decides to leave it, but her curiosity gets the better of her, and she wants to see what the woman wrote on the paper. Addy glances around the yard once more, wraps the items in her shawl, and hurries back to her home.

Addy sits on her bed and starts to see the morning light through her window. Her fingers shake as she opens the paper. It's folded intricately, almost like a trick she'd seen before with a paper that is cut in the shape of an animal when it's opened. The paper itself is unusual to Addy; it is thin enough to see through and is puffy in spots. She decides to take the paper to Poppa after she reads it, and she holds it up to the light coming through her window. Suddenly, her eyes go wide and her hand goes to her mouth. She knows she saw the woman write several lines on the paper, but there is no message written in lemon juice, just one in black ink. She lies down on the bed, feeling scared, because the one word on the paper was her name: ADDY.

Chapter Seven: The Black Swan

Addy does her Saturday chores. She dusts furniture, sweeps the floor, and polishes the gas lamps, but she can only think about the paper with her name on it. Her eyes also keep getting drawn toward the Radisson house, but she quickly turns away each time so Momma doesn't get suspicious. She completely forgets about the scheduled tea at the Radisson house until Momma reminds her. She tells Addy to put on her Sunday clothes and curtsies. Normally that would make Addy laugh, but right now Addy is worried about being in the house. She says she's tired and asks if she has to go. Momma puts a hand on her shoulder and tells her not to be nervous because Mr. Radisson is a nice man. Addy follows her mother's instructions and washes up, but she continues to worry. When they are ready, they sit in the parlor and wait for Mr. Radisson to knock. Momma rips seams from Addy's old dress so it can fit Esther, and Addy has to sit quietly on the settee. The rest of the family sits in the parlor as well while Esther begs her mother to let her come. Addy is still shocked that they, a colored family, were invited to tea at a white person's house. Not even Mrs. Ford had invited them to eat together. Until last night, Addy had been excited to meet Mr. Radisson's fiancée, but now she's just anxious, and she fidgets in her seat. However, she is still curious despite her anxiety, and she holds her protection stone and hopes it will work. When Mr. Radisson knocks, Poppa answers and talks with him before he enters the parlor. He asks if they're ready to go, and Addy politely says, "yes, sir." Momma wanted her to be on her best behavior so white people couldn't say that Black people didn't know how to act.

The women put on their shawls and accompany Mr. Radisson back to his house; Addy stays close to Momma as they cross the porch. She observes that in the afternoon light, his house looks more beautiful than any house Addy had seen before. He invites them to the dining room and pulls out chairs for them, explaining that his mother is at another engagement, so it will just be his fiancée and the Walker women. He invites them to make themselves at home before he goes upstairs for his fiancée. They sit down with their hands in their laps, and Addy notices the white lace tablecloth, the crystal vase with flowers, and fine china plates with painted bluebirds. The plates have wafers, muffins, and tea cakes on white linen doilies. Momma smiles at her, but Addy struggles to forget the image of her name on the paper. However, when Mr. Radisson returns with his fiancée, Addy is immediately charmed by her beauty. She is petite, almost the same size as Addy, and she has dark eyes and long dark hair. She wears a dress with peach lace and black velvet trim, and Mr. Radisson introduces her as Miss Elizabeth Waring Cope. She smiles warmly and says it's a pleasure to meet them. Addy thinks she has the prettiest voice, and she also notices her long, dark eyelashes and thinks Miss Elizabeth is the prettiest white woman she's ever seen.

As they begin tea, Addy tries to imitate how Miss Elizabeth acts, and she finds it fun to lift the teacups in the air; they remind her of butterflies. Momma is holding her pinky out as well, which makes Addy smile. She tries the tea cake, and, finding it delicious, is about to take another bite when Miss Elizabeth addresses her. She thanks Addy for saving Mr. Radisson's life, and Addy blushes and says "you're welcome." Miss Elizabeth also comments that it's admirable that Addy wouldn't take any reward. Addy thanks her, and then she notices Mr. Radisson wink at his fiancée. He asks Addy if she would like to attend a concert; he has two tickets, so both Addy and Momma could attend. "The Black Swan" will be performing. When Momma asks who that is, Miss Elizabeth explains that the person's name is Elizabeth Greenfield, and she is one of the first colored women to perform opera. Addy comments that her name is Elizabeth, just like Miss Elizabeth's, which makes the older woman smile. She says that Elizabeth Greenfield was taught in Europe by Queen Victoria's organist, and she even sang in a command performance for the queen. Mr. Radisson commented that she was once enslaved, and Addy looks at him with surprise. Miss Elizabeth says that her Quaker owner freed her when they moved to Philadelphia and paid for her to take music lessons. Momma shakes her head in disbelief.

Suddenly, there is a rustling behind them, and Addy immediately thinks of the mystery woman and the paper. She turns around to instead see Mrs. Radisson in her dark gray silk gown, which is rustling as she moves. Mrs. Radisson asks what is going on and wonders if her son was trying to get her away for the afternoon. He invites her to join them, but she says, "I have better things to do with my time." She also tells Elizabeth that she hopes she will talk some sense into Albert, because he's becoming too much like his abolitionist uncle. Miss Elizabeth lowers her head and blushes deeply in response. Mr. Radisson holds a hand out and offers to see his mother to her room, but she declines him sharply and says, "I think you've done rather enough." When she leaves, he apologizes again and says they should return to more pleasant conversation. With that, he takes Miss Elizabeth's hand and tells her that he has a surprise. She presses her lips together, as if to compose herself, and asks what it is. Mr. Radisson then explains that Momma is an excellent seamstress and has offered to alter the wedding gown. Miss Elizabeth responds with joy and comments that she'd thought Mr. Radisson forgot about the dress. She smiles at Momma and comments, "You know how men can be about things of this nature." She then asks if she can come over on Monday to get started with a fitting. Momma agrees.

Then Miss Elizabeth mentions she has a favorite dress that no longer fits her, and although she'd planned to donate it to a charity, she'd love to give it to Addy instead. It could use a few alterations such as a higher hem and some decorative silk flowers, but it would be perfect for someone Addy's age. Addy squeezes her eyes shut and mentally begs her mother to say yes. Mr. Radisson comments that it would be perfect to wear to the opera concert, but initially Momma politely declines, saying it would be far too generous to accept. However, Addy looks at her pleadingly, and Momma hesitatingly changes her mind, saying Addy certainly deserves a new dress. Mr. Radisson grins in reply. The tea soon ends, and Addy is caught up in excitement until she steps out onto the porch to go home. Then she is reminded of the mysterious paper, and her fear returns.

Chapter Eight: A Strange Riddle

Addy can't sleep that night, and her stomach hurts like churning butter. Before the morning light, Addy gets up and takes Ida Bean from her trunk at the end of her bed. She hugs Ida and whispers an apology for putting her in the trunk, saying that from now on, she will sleep with Addy. Addy finally falls asleep, but the morning comes too soon. As it is a Sunday, the Walkers get ready for church, and they see the Radissons and Miss Elizabeth entering a carriage. Mr. Radisson wishes Poppa a good day and says they'll be home late that evening. Through church and Sunday dinner, Addy can't stop thinking about the paper. When Poppa suggests an after-dinner walk, Addy says she's tired and asks to stay home. Although she is in fact tired, she actually wants to search for clues with her family gone. Momma says she should stay home because she hasn't been looking well, but Poppa is worried about her being alone. Addy says she'll be fine, and Momma agrees because Addy is growing up. As soon as the rest of the family leaves, Addy rushes upstairs and pulls out the bag and candle. With the items laid out on the floor, she goes to the kitchen and grabs a knife to cut the lemon. Addy grabs a piece of paper from her book bag and tries to replicate what the woman did, but all it does is create a wet paper. The candle looks ordinary, but she figures the mystery woman must have left it for a reason, so she lights it and looks around.

Addy picks up the paper and turns it around to look on both sides, and she puts it up to the candle so she can see it better. Suddenly a mark appears that wasn't there before, and Addy holds it as close as possible to the flame without burning it. More marks are revealed, and words appear, one line at a time. Addy's hands shake as she reads them. "Dear Addy, You are a smart girl. I need your help. Like a runaway slave I need your help. I'm in danger. Find me where the sun meets the sky, but by going under the wooden door, not in the wall but in the floor."

Addy can't help but think of how terrified she was when she ran for her freedom with Momma. She knew how scared she was, and she didn't want anyone else to be in that kind of danger. She grips her protection stone and considers helping the woman. The riddle doesn't make sense, but she knows to start at the end of the riddle, which mentions a floor and a door. She thinks back over the incidents this week, which all mention the porch, so she figures that's a good place to start. As she realizes this, Addy hears the rest of the Walkers come home, so she puts everything away.

Addy barely manages to shove the bag under her bed when Momma walks into the room with Esther in her arms. She asks if Addy is awake and says the rest of the family is tired, so they plan to nap. As soon as the family falls asleep for their naps, she runs across the yard to the porch. Addy looks around to figure out where the sun could meet the sky, and she looks at how the sunlight shines through the shutter slats. She notices sunlight landing on the table by the door, and her heart races as she sees a lantern and a box of matches that hadn't been there before. Addy also recognizes the lantern as the same one she had used in the shed. The table sits on a round rug, and Addy lifts it up to see a difference in the wood of the floorboards. It must be the door in the floor, and Addy smiles as she realizes the rug's pattern shows a blue sky. The sunlight hits the blue sky of the rug when it comes through the slats. She carefully moves the table and double checks to ensure no one is in the yard or the house, and she folds the rug up. She pulls open a door underneath, revealing a dark entrance, which makes Addy fearful again. She lights the lantern and steps down into the darkness, and she notices the scent of freshly cut wood. Addy suspects these steps were built more recently than the house, and she runs her hand along the dirt walls on either side as she steps down. She feels the protection stone on her chest and hopes it really will help protect her from danger; what if something goes wrong and no one could find her? Then Addy becomes even more anxious as she realizes she left the porch door open; what if Mr. Radisson comes home before she's back? However, she keeps going, and at the bottom of the stairs she realizes she's in a tunnel that's barely taller than her. She feels something run across her foot, and she shudders but tightens her grip on her lantern. She struggles to breathe but finds her way along the tunnel until she walks into a wall. At first she thinks the tunnel led to nowhere, but then Addy realizes there were makeshift stairs. The stairs only go up six or seven steps, but they lead to a rope hanging from a board; when pulled, the rest of the steps fall down to Addy's right. She wonders how this passageway fits into the rest of the house. Addy climbs up, and it feels like the stairs go on forever, but all of a sudden, there's a blinding light and Addy almost falls backward. Then she sees a hand reaching out for her, and everything goes blank as Addy faints.

Addy didn't fall far; strong hands catch her and the lantern and pull her through an opening. Addy smells ammonia and blinks. When she opens her eyes, she sees the mystery woman holding her lantern. The woman is Black and pretty, and she has long dark hair pulled back from her face. Her eyes are large and dark brown. She says Addy's fainting scared her, and she offers Addy a sip of something from a glass. Addy flinches and curls up, then asks the woman how she knew her name. The woman smiles and says Addy can figure it out; Addy realizes the woman heard her name being called. The woman nodded. Addy says she had thought the woman was a ghost, and the woman says she is in a way, because right now she doesn't exist. She asks if Addy can keep a secret, but Addy asks what kind. The woman comments that it's a thoughtful question, and she clarifies that this is an important secret. Addy asks if she can tell her parents, and the woman says she can in a few weeks, but the woman needs to stay hidden until then, and she needs Addy's help. Addy first asks if she's a criminal, and the woman says, "Some people think so." She was a Union spy, which initially confuses Addy, as she is a Black woman, and she says as much. The woman smiles and says she was able to spy on important people in the Confederacy, and some people even think she embarrassed the Confederate president, so she has a bounty on her head. She says Addy would be surprised by how many Confederates are still fighting this war, so she needs to stay hidden longer.

Addy asks why the woman is hiding here, and the woman explains that Frank Radisson was an abolitionist. He was an architect like the young Albert Radisson, and he purposely built a hiding place for escaping slaves. It was later used by Union spies. The small room has a plain bed, table, and chair, as well as the hidden staircase. The woman says she got into danger a few months ago, and Frank let her stay at the house until the situation cooled down. He was trying to help her find passage to Canada when he suddenly died. Addy asks why she doesn't let his nephew help her, because he's a nice man. The woman says Mr. Radisson doesn't know she's there, and although he is a good man, she can't risk Mrs. Radisson finding her and turning her in. Addy agrees, but she wonders why the woman hasn't found someplace else to hide with more colored people. The woman says she has nowhere else to go at the moment, and until Mr. Radisson moved back in, the house was a great hiding place. She points to a maid's uniform and explains she wore it whenever she went out, because no one questioned the presence of Black servants in Society Hill. Mr. Radisson had only been here a few nights here and there until he moved in permanently the week before. A friend of hers from the war used to leave food and messages on the porch when he came through Philadelphia, but even that isn't safe, as Addy saw the other night.

Addy is still hesitant to trust the woman because she's never heard of a colored spy, and she asks why the woman chose to reach out to Addy specifically. The woman says before the Walkers arrived, she overheard Mr. Radisson telling a friend about Addy's bravery. Also, Addy lives right by the house, so she can determine when it is safe for her to help the woman. The woman meets Addy's eyes and smiles, and she also says she doesn't have many choices at the moment. Addy pulls the note from her pocket and asks how the woman made the letters appear- she wonders if it's magic. "Science," the woman replies, and she says she uses vinegar or lemon juice on onionskin paper. The writing is invisible until it is revealed with intense heat. The woman suggests Addy leave the note here to keep them both safer, and Addy reluctantly gives it to her. She then asks where they are, and the woman says it's a hidden room in the attic. She comments that Frank has many hidden spaces in the house, and he did things with architecture that many others wouldn't; he was a "daring man." Addy then wants to know about her spying, and the woman says she'll share later because Addy should return. Addy insists on one last question: how did she learn about making the writing appear and disappear? The woman smiles and says, "I'm a spy, Addy. That's what I do." She then hands Addy money and says if she buys food, she should leave it in the back of the shed behind the stack of wagon parts. Addy smiles in return for the first time, and the woman helps her get back down in the tunnel. When they are back at the porch, the woman explains that there's a rope attached to the rug and another for the hatch door. On the stairs, Addy has to pull the white rope to close the hatch door behind her, and then she has to pull the straw rope to move the rug into place. Addy does so, and she's surprised to see the sun is still high in the sky, as it feels like she's been gone for hours.

Addy slowly takes the lantern back to the porch, and she realizes she needs time to think before going back inside her house. She feels nothing would be the same anymore, not after she met a real Black spy. With a deep breath, she decides to help, though she realizes that she didn't even know the woman's name.

Chapter Nine: Confusion

When Addy comes home from school on Monday, she stops at a corner store to buy cheese and bread. Upon returning home, her first stop is the shed, and she finds the red-and-blue-trimmed basket behind the wagon parts. Addy puts the food inside and replaces the cloth cover on top. As she walks inside her house, she hears Miss Elizabeth's musical laughter from inside; her laughter is so joyous it makes Addy want to laugh, too. She goes into the parlor to greet her, and she finds Miss Elizabeth standing straight on the round stand Poppa had made for Momma's sewing station. Momma is doing a fitting for the wedding dress, and two lanterns are set up on a small table with a top that opened up, where Momma keeps her sewing supplies. The lanterns are set up to provide more light for the sewing work. Momma says that Miss Elizabeth was just saying how pretty Addy was. Addy sits down and watches Momma work, and she can't imagine Mrs. Radisson ever wearing such a pretty dress. Momma asks if she had a good day at school, and Addy says yes. Miss Elizabeth smiles at her and offers for her to come over in the next few days to try on the dress she has. Addy agrees, and Miss Elizabeth mentions she brought some tea cakes as a treat. They're in the kitchen, and Momma says Addy can have one when she gets Esther up from her nap. Addy goes upstairs, mentally comparing Miss Elizabeth's warmth with the spy's coldness.

On Tuesday, Addy can barely focus on her work at school. She rushes home but stops to buy apples on the way. The bread and cheese are gone from the shed basket, and Addy adds the apples, but she still thinks about the spy. When everyone is asleep and the lights are out in the Walker and Radisson houses, Addy quietly goes outside and sneaks through the hidden tunnel. The spy thanks Addy for the food but tells her she can't stay with her long because it's dangerous. Addy says she wants to learn more about spying. She also asks the woman's name and where she came from. The woman says her name is Mary Tucker, and she apologizes, but she can't tell Addy very much more. The less Addy knows, the safer she is. However, to be a spy, she says you need to be able to think fast and expect that anything could go wrong at any time. Addy is disappointed at the lack of information, but she realizes that maybe when you're hiding by yourself, you learn not to talk. Addy tells Miss Tucker about the Black Swan's concert and a paper she had to write for school. Miss Tucker listens carefully, and Addy wonders if she ever felt lonely. Before she can ask, Miss Tucker tells her she needs to leave so she doesn't get into trouble. Addy is reluctant to leave, but says goodbye; she didn't learn nearly as much as she hoped to about spying or Miss Tucker herself.

On Wednesday afternoon, Addy is just closing the shed door when she hears Miss Elizabeth call her name. She is nervous but tries to calm herself as she answers Miss Elizabeth and politely asks how she's doing. Miss Elizabeth says she's a bit lonely; she hadn't realized how busy Mr. Radisson would be. She invites Addy to come in for a cup of tea, and Addy nods and follows her. She's relieved that Miss Elizabeth didn't ask her what she was doing in the shed. They sit at the small kitchen table, and Miss Elizabeth brings over a tea urn. She sets a place for Addy and moves the sugar and creamer tray within Addy's reach. Addy's hand shakes as she scoops out sugar, and Miss Elizabeth tries to reassure her, saying that Mrs. Radisson was out at a ladies' club event that afternoon. She comments that she thinks it's silly that some people don't want to eat with Black people, yet they'll let Black people cook their food. She offers Addy a silver tray with crackers as she tells Addy all about her bookkeeping job in Connecticut and her travels in Paris. Miss Elizabeth says she loves buying pretty things. She also shares that she's a bit nervous to get married, but she feels she's lucky to have found a nice man like Mr. Radisson. Addy is fascinated by the conversation, but she remains fairly quiet. Addy has never had adults talk to her as if she were friends. She's finishing her tea when Momma calls her, and Miss Elizabeth smiles and tells her to come back the next day for her dress fitting. She promises they'll have "loads of fun."

Once she's home, Addy tells Momma all about how nice Miss Elizabeth is. She thinks she's the nicest adult she's ever met, and she again can't help but compare Miss Elizabeth's friendliness to Miss Tucker's standoffishness. After school on Thursday, Addy quickly buys food and puts it in the shed so she can go visit Miss Elizabeth. They have what Miss Elizabeth calls "their tea party" before going upstairs to try on the dress. They go down a long, carpeted hallway to her room, and Addy comments on the pretty painted flowers all along the walls. Miss Elizabeth says they are stenciled on the walls. As they enter Miss Elizabeth's room, Addy notices flowered fabric hangings on the windows that match the wallpaper. The same fabric is draped behind the headboard of the bed. The bedstead is dark wood with carved pineapples on each post. The room also has a nicely polished mirrored dresser, chest of drawers, and bureau. Gold scrollwork decorates the mirror's frame, and a nice leather trunk is under the window with the initials "EWC" engraved on it. Miss Elizabeth approaches the bed, where she has laid out a white dress and crinoline. She comments that it would be perfect, as it doesn't look too grown up for a young girl. Addy thinks it is the most beautiful dress she's ever seen. Miss Elizabeth holds up the skirt and explains that it's made of corded silk. The bodice is made of folds of crepe. Miss Elizabeth comments that it's nice that it's white because it will look lovely with any color of silk flower. She asks Addy's opinion, but Addy's speechless, so she has Addy put on a crinoline so they can get started with the dress.

Addy's hands shake as she takes off her clothes, and she turns her back so her mended undergarments are hidden. She puts on the crinoline skirt and ties it around her waist, and then she puts her arms in the dress. Miss Elizabeth comments that Mrs. Walker won't have to do too many alterations to make it fit perfectly. She also opens up a fancy silver case to reveal a pearl and ruby choker, which she says she always wore with the dress. Miss Elizabeth offers for her to try it on, but she says she'll have to take her own necklace off first, because this is jewelry you wear alone. Addy is hesitant to remove the protection stone, but she figures it will be okay for just a few minutes. Miss Elizabeth encourages her and says, "There's nothing wrong with playing dress-up." Addy lifts the necklace off her head, but its leather knot tangles in her hair. Miss Elizabeth offers to help, and she steps behind Addy to help it off. Addy waits for the choker to be put on her neck, but when nothing happens, Addy turns around and asks if she wants her to put on the choker herself.

Miss Elizabeth hands her the choker but is busy looking at Addy's necklace. She asks where Addy got it. As she struggles with the choker's clasp, Addy says the cowrie shell belonged to her grandmother. Then Miss Elizabeth clarifies her question: where did Addy get the stone? Addy's a bit embarrassed as she explains she got it from her brother and that some people wear them for protection. Suddenly, Miss Elizabeth says she thinks they've played enough dress-up, and she hands Addy's necklace back, saying she has a lot of work to do. Addy pauses; she can tell something has upset Miss Elizabeth. Her voice shakes and her face is flushed as she says maybe she'll see Addy tomorrow. Addy picks up her old dress and walks to the door; then, realizing she's still holding the choker, she puts it on the bureau by the door. Then she walks downstairs as fast as she can without tripping, Uncle Solomon's stone clenched in her fist. Once she's outside, a tear falls down Addy's cheek. She leans against her new home's door and tries to figure out what just happened. What upset Miss Elizabeth? She had upset her somehow, but she can't figure out how. She also knows that she can't tell Momma about this, and she continues to cry. Now she has two secrets, and either one could blow up in her face. She cries in her hands, but then she realizes that Momma will come looking for her soon, so she dries her tears. Then she puts her necklace back on, looks once more at Mr. Radisson's house, takes a deep breath, and walks into the safety of her own house.

Chapter Ten: Beautiful

Addy walks into the kitchen as Poppa and Sam were eating supper. Poppa says, "My word, a princess done come to our house." He calls for Momma to come quick, and Sam stares at Addy as if he'd never seen her before. Momma hurries into the kitchen, and her hands go to her mouth when she sees Addy. She says Poppa is right; Addy looks just like a princess from a fairy tale. She wishes Auntie Lula could see Addy. Addy actually doesn't know what she looks like in the dress because Miss Elizabeth asked her to leave before she had even looked in the mirror. Momma pulls her into the parlor so they can figure out where to put the silk flowers. Momma has spare pink and red silk flowers that Mrs. Ford gave to her. She'd figured she'd never use them, but now they will come in handy. Addy quickly chooses the red ones, and she steps up on the stand so Momma can pin the dress for alterations. Addy looks in the long mirror, and she thinks she looks nice, but she can't feel happy because she's too worried about Miss Elizabeth. Momma asks her what she's thinking of, but Addy isn't ready to talk, and she also doesn't telling Momma "half-truths." Perhaps Miss Elizabeth was just having a bad moment, but Addy knows deep down that the reaction was caused by something Addy did. When Momma tucks her in bed after supper, she says she notices Ida Bean is sleeping with Addy again, and she asks if Addy is really all right. Addy says she is, and she tries to smile. When Momma leaves, Addy hugs Ida Bean tightly.

The next few days are a blur for Addy. She stops by the store for food a few times and drops it in the shed basket. Twice she notices Miss Elizabeth looking at her from the porch door, but she doesn't invite Addy to visit. Finally, it was Sunday, the day of the concert. Miss Elizabeth hasn't even asked her how the dress looked with the flowers on. After supper, the Walkers gather in the sitting room as the wind blows outside. Poppa studies his spelling book, Esther plays tea with Janie, and Momma sews. She puts her needle down and asks Addy if she's excited about the concert because Addy's been so quiet. Addy says yes, which isn't a lie. She just has a lot of other things on her mind, and she thinks that life just was never simple. Before Momma can ask further, Sam comes home with a cherry tart for Esther. He smiles and takes off his coat, and he tells Esther they'll get to play horsy and anything else she wants; she won't even have a chance to miss Momma and Addy. He promises they'll even be jealous. Esther smiles, and Addy laughs and says of course she and Momma wish they could stay home and play. Sam winks at her and says she had better get ready. Addy washes up, puts on clean undergarments, and puts on the dress once Momma brings it in. It was beautiful; Addy hasn't seen it since Momma finished it. Momma helps her put it on and comments that Addy is very pretty. She says she's surprised that Miss Elizabeth didn't come to see it since she had been so excited about it. Addy feels anxious again, and she thinks that so many things were happening at once, both good and bad. However, Addy learned from Uncle Solomon that when good things happen and you're stuck thinking about bad things, you're letting the good thing get away from you. The bad will still be there to think about later.

When Addy comes downstairs, Poppa, Sam, and Esther all comment on how pretty she looks. She sits down carefully to wait for Momma, who eventually descends with a green taffeta dress that was gifted from Mrs. Ford. A customer had left it and not picked it up after three years. Addy comments on how pretty she looks, and Poppa proudly says his wife looks as pretty as she did on both of their wedding days. Addy smiles. Although it was illegal for enslaved people to marry, Momma and Poppa had a ceremony on the plantation anyway. When they came to Philadelphia, they had a real legal wedding in a church. Poppa adds, "You the prettiest woman in Philadelphia," and Addy's smile gets bigger. Poppa didn't usually talk like this; Momma says that while Poppa doesn't do "sweet talk," he does sweet things, and actions count more in a man. Poppa then says he'll walk them over to the church and will wait for the when it's over. Momma says they can get home okay by themselves, and Poppa won't know what time to return for the end of the concert. Poppa says he'll just wait outside til the concert ends; he always worries about things happening at night. Momma smiles at him and tells Addy to put on her coat. They hold hands as they step out into the cold evening and walk to Shiloh Baptist Church.

On Monday afternoon, Addy visits Miss Tucker and comments that the Black Swan sounded like an angel singing. She wishes Miss Tucker could have heard it, too. Mrs. Radisson and Miss Elizabeth were out and Momma and Esther were napping, so Addy snuck into the tunnel to visit Miss Tucker. It had been a week since she had visited the spy, so she wanted to be sure she was okay. She also wanted to tell her about the concert. Addy says she didn't understand the Italian and German, but she could still tell when the songs were happy or sad. She asks, "Isn't that odd?" Miss Tucker listens intently and says it's not odd, because humans are the same everywhere. She asks what the Black Swan looked like, and Addy says she wasn't adorned in fancy clothes as Addy had expected. However, she was very tall and almost looked like a statue. She asks Miss Tucker if she had ever been to the opera, and Miss Tucker says no; when she was a spy, she had to act like an enslaved person who couldn't read or write. When Addy asks why, Miss Tucker explains that it ensured no one would be suspicious of her. Sometimes generals would discuss battle plans with her right in the room. Addy asks, "Was it hard to pretend you weren't smart?" Miss Tucker briefly looks sad, then comments that Addy is smart and should continue her schoolwork, because "education is the key to true freedom." Addy presses her again about whether it was difficult to pretend to not be smart, and she realizes that Miss Tucker often doesn't answer her questions. Miss Tucker again ignores the question and asks for more information about the Black Swan, saying that she's heard she has an amazing range. Addy says the program indicates the Black Swan can sing twenty seven notes. Miss Tucker asks about Addy's dress, and Addy begins to describe it. She observes that Miss Tucker is a very good listener.

Chapter Eleven: A Terrible Accusation

On Tuesday after supper, Momma uses Addy for Miss Elizabeth's dress fitting, and Momma says she's confused about why Miss Elizabeth hasn't stopped by. Mr. Radisson had said she would be over that day, but instead, it seems every day that Miss Elizabeth leaves the house as soon as Mrs. Radisson has left.

Addy buttons her own dress in the sewing nook when she hears a knock, and Mr. Radisson comes in. He asks where Poppa is, and Momma says he's working on some things at church. She offers to help, but he says it's really Poppa he needs to talk to. However, since Mr. Radisson is already here, he asks about how the dress is coming along. He walks into the parlor while Addy goes on the floor to play dolls with Esther. Mr. Radisson greets the girls and the dolls, and then says Miss Elizabeth hasn't commented once about the dress, so he's worried she doesn't like it. Momma holds up the dress, and Addy looks up when she doesn't hear a response. She initially thinks he dislikes the dress, but instead Mr. Radisson rubs his forehead. He stammers and says it's the most beautiful dress he's ever seen- it's fit for a queen. He asks if Elizabeth has said she liked it at the fittings this week, but Momma's confused, and she explains that Miss Elizabeth hasn't stopped by in more than a week. When Mrs. Radisson has her ladies' meetings, Miss Elizabeth leaves, and she's probably tired when she gets back. Mr. Radisson looks surprised; Addy guesses he didn't know his fiancée was leaving on those days. Momma explains she's been using Addy as a model, but she left room for future alterations, so he shouldn't worry about it. They also have plenty of time before the wedding if Miss Elizabeth has an issue with the dress. Mr. Radisson quickly excuses himself, and he looks upset. Momma wonders what's going on with Miss Elizabeth, and Addy quietly wonders the same thing.

On Wednesday, the next day, everything gets worse. Addy can tell something is wrong when she walks in, and Addy sees her mother sitting in her sewing chair with tears in her eyes. She looks down at the wedding dress in her hands. Addy asks what's wrong, and Esther says the "mean lady fussed at Momma." Addy asks which lady, and Momma wipes her eyes with a handkerchief as she tells Esther off for saying rude things about people. Momma then clarifies it was Miss Elizabeth, and Addy asks for more details. Momma says she doesn't know what happened. Miss Elizabeth came for a fitting and she said she loved the dress. While Momma pins up the hem, Miss Elizabeth asks where the Walkers came from when they escaped from slavery. Momma told her they came from North Carolina, and she went on to explain how they got away. Addy says there was nothing bad in that story, but she knows some white people just don't want to hear about slavery. Then Momma says she's not finished: she thinks Miss Elizabeth was listening, but it was unclear. She was telling Miss Elizabeth about North Carolina when she asked her to put her arms up, and then she ran quickly out of the room. Addy tries to explain it away, saying maybe she forgot something, but then Momma says that Miss Elizabeth returned just a few minutes ago. Esther then says she made Momma cry, and Addy hushes her. Momma wipes her eyes again, and Addy can't remember her mother being this upset except when they had to run from slavery and leave Esther behind. Momma sighs, stands up, and sets the dress over the back of the chair. She ends the conversation, saying they'll talk later but she needed to start supper. Addy again pleads for Momma to tell her what's wrong, and Momma turns around. Addy thinks she looks even older than Auntie Lula in this moment when Momma says that she knows Addy is a good girl and she's never given them trouble. She says, "It's my fault. I been putting all my time into that dress instead of watching my own children." A lump forms in Addy's throat; what did Miss Elizabeth tell her? Momma says to wait til Poppa returns to talk further.

Addy goes outside and walks by the shed. Mr. Radisson's carriage pulls up and he hops out, and she's about to ask him if he knew when Poppa would be home when Miss Elizabeth comes running from the porch. Addy ducks down behind the carriage- she doesn't want to see Miss Elizabeth until she knows what transpired between her and Momma. Mr. Radisson and Miss Elizabeth talk loudly and both sound upset. He says he can't "put them out" because they have nowhere to go, but Miss Elizabeth says she wants them to leave, and it would be best for everyone if they left. Mr. Radisson's voice trembles and he says that Addy saved his life, so he owes the Walkers. Miss Walker says she understands and it's okay, but in that case, she'll leave because she can't stand thieves. She accuses Addy of stealing her choker, and Addy is shocked. She thinks Mrs. Radisson made Miss Elizabeth do this.

Mr. Radisson tries to placate Miss Elizabeth by saying he'll talk to the Walkers, as they will surely punish Addy and make her return the choker, so it won't happen again. Addy's hand flies to her mouth; she'd never steal, and her parents know that. Then Miss Elizabeth says, "Sometimes I think your mother is right. You are too naïve." She goes on to say that Addy is a thief and will always be one. She accuses Addy of stealing food from the kitchen and porch, and now her choker; who knows what she'll steal next? She also suggests that the Walkers had Addy do it. Mr. Radisson insists the Walkers are "decent people," but Miss Elizabeth says maybe they're only doing it so they can get the Radissons' trust and then steal from them. "Your mother warned me about them," she adds as she cries. She also says she won't feel safe in her own house with the Walkers there. Mr. Radisson lowers his voice and apologizes, begging her not to cry. Addy sneaks a look around the corner of the carriage, and she sees Mr. Radisson hugging Miss Elizabeth and pushing the hair off her face. He says of course she should feel safe, but he also needs time to talk to the Walkers because he can't turn them out tonight. Poppa is also his best carpenter. Miss Elizabeth says he can find a new one, and he's already lost two white carpenters who refuse to work with Poppa. She adds, "Can't you see, Albert, just as your mother said, it might be better to have European servants?" Mr. Radisson clarifies that the Walkers are not servants, but he'll think about it. Addy can't listen any longer and she sneaks back to the shed with her heart pounding. She sits on the dirt floor of the shed and cries at how unfair this is. Her world is falling apart, and Addy is confused about why because she didn't steal the choker. Then Addy dries her eyes; crying won't help her solve this problem. She considers the possibility that Mrs. Radisson took the choker to make the Walkers look guilty, but as Addy looks around the shed and sees the basket, she realizes that the only other possible culprit was Miss Tucker.

Chapter Twelve: From Bad to Worse

Addy wants to trust Miss Tucker, but she realizes that she doesn't know all that much about her, even after all their conversations. She knew more about Miss Elizabeth than Miss Tucker. Addy looks out the shed window to see if Mr. Radisson and Miss Elizabeth have left, and after a few more minutes, she sneaks to the porch and goes inside. While risky, Addy feels she has no choice but to check. Miss Tucker can tell she's upset when Addy climbs up, and she invites Addy to sit down. Addy explains everything, then looks Miss Tucker straight in the eye and asks if she took the choker. Miss Tucker looks back and asks why she'd want a choker while she's stuck hiding in a room. She says it wasn't her, but she asks Addy to go over the details of what happened when Addy was in the house trying on Miss Elizabeth's dress. Addy explains the story, but Miss Tucker tells her that a good spy uses more than just her brain. She invites Addy to look back on the whole scene in her mind and to remember every detail. Was anything odd about Miss Elizabeth's expressions or breathing? Was anything out of place or odd?

Addy is reminded of M'dear, who was blind but explained to Addy that there were many ways of seeing. Addy closes her eyes and revisits the events in the bedroom. Then she realizes that everything was fine until Miss Elizabeth saw Addy's necklace. Addy tells Miss Tucker that Miss Elizabeth asked who gave her the necklace. Miss Tucker asks if that was the exact question, and then she asks to see the necklace. Addy lifts it up to show it, and Miss Tucker smiles and says maybe Miss Elizabeth doesn't like black stones. Addy giggles, then adds she didn't take the choker, and she didn't think Miss Tucker would, but she had to ask to be sure. She apologizes for even asking, but Miss Tucker says it's all fine. Addy asked; she didn't accuse. She pauses, then tells Addy that spies often have to create or solve riddles, and this is certainly a riddle, so Addy should try to treat it as such. She takes Addy through the tunnel, wishes her luck, helps Addy leave, and then disappears back into the passage.

When Addy gets back home, the food is set out for supper, but it's no longer steaming hot. Poppa, Momma, and Sam are already at the table, and Sam says he called for her. Poppa asks where she was, and Addy lies and says she was in the shed. Sam is quiet but nods. Poppa asks if Miss Elizabeth showed Addy her choker. Addy now regrets not having told Momma about the odd incident that day, and she explains Miss Elizabeth let her try it on for play. Momma says Addy never told her that, and she asks if Addy took the choker by mistake. Addy says no; Miss Elizabeth seemed upset, so Addy put the choker down and left. Sam asks if Addy said something to upset her; if Miss Elizabeth's feelings were hurt, maybe that's why she's accusing Addy of this. Poppa tells him to hush, and then he asks if Addy had that choker in her hand. Addy says yes, but again, she put it on the bureau before leaving. Momma suggests Miss Elizabeth didn't see Addy putting it down, and she could have knocked it off later without realizing. Poppa sounds tired, and he says he doesn't know what happened, but if they can't find the choker, the Walkers have to leave. Momma covers her face, and Addy starts to cry as she protests that she didn't steal the choker. Poppa says he has no reason to question Addy's honesty, but he wants her to look around her room, the shed, and the yard. Miss Elizabeth and Mrs. Radisson have convinced Mr. Radisson that she is sneaking around the yard. Addy says she'll check, but she won't find it, because she doesn't have it. As she cries harder, Addy goes upstairs, and she feels Uncle Solomon's stone hasn't protected her at all.

Although she knows she won't find anything, Addy looks around the bed, the dresser top, and the dresser drawers so she can honestly tell her parents that she looked. Then she curls up on her bed and cries as she realizes she might not have it for much longer. Addy hugs Ida Bean and tries not to cry. She whispers to Ida Bean that she'll have to become a spy to help her family, and she wonders why all of this is happening; haven't the Walkers been through enough?

In the middle of the night, Addy wakes up to loud coughs from Esther. She kneels by the bed and rubs Esther's forehead til she stops coughing, and she says, "I want you to have good dreams, little sister." On the following morning, Thursday, Addy goes to the kitchen and finds Momma cooking oatmeal. Momma tells her to go out and look for the choker as soon as she's eaten. Addy agrees to do it but again says she won't find it because she didn't take it. To their surprise, they hear a knock on the door and find Mr. Radisson. He asks if Poppa is home, and Poppa walks in, wondering if he should get his tools for work because Mr. Radisson had told him to pause work for now. Mr. Radisson says no; the choker issue must be resolved before Poppa can return to work. Mr. Radisson has a question for Addy, and Poppa says to go ahead, even though he's confused. Mr. Radisson asks if Addy goes into the shed every day, and Addy says yes. Momma says she was the one who told Addy she could play in there. Mr. Radisson's shoulders droop, and he says he found the choker in an old trunk in the shed. Momma cries out and Poppa puts a hand on her shoulder. He says he'll handle the situation, but Mr. Radisson shakes his head and says he has to let Poppa go. The Walkers have one week to find a place to live. He says he's very sorry. As he leaves, he says he'll need to take the wedding dress, and he'll pay Momma for her work. Momma fetches the dress and says there's no need to pay her; she's sorry for the trouble. Mr. Radisson nods and leaves. Momma sits at the table while Poppa lowers his head and walks out. Addy insists again that she didn't take the choker. Someone else must have put it in the shed. Momma says she wants to believe Addy, but if Addy didn't take it, then who did? Addy says she's not sure, and she wonders if Miss Tucker told her the truth. However, if Miss Tucker really took the choker, wouldn't she have put it in the false-bottomed basket?

The Walkers eat supper in silence, and Addy has never seen her family this sad. She also wonders if they all think she's a thief. Sam pulls her aside after supper and says he knows she's not a thief, but how could that choker have gotten in the shed? Addy shakes her head, and she wishes she could tell him about Miss Tucker, but she's not a traitor. Addy sits on her bedroom floor with Ida Bean and she tries to think back. She recalls Miss Tucker saying that a spy creates and solves riddles, and this was a riddle to solve. Addy thinks back over the last few days, and she recalls the conversation she overheard by the carriage yesterday. Did Mrs. Radisson make Miss Elizabeth do this? It made no sense that Miss Elizabeth would do this on her own and try to get rid of the Walkers after all the kind things she'd said and done. Addy knew she needed to learn about Miss Elizabeth to solve the riddle. On mornings when Mrs. Radisson left for her ladies' club, Miss Elizabeth leaves as well, so Addy resolves to use this as an opportunity to learn more.

Chapter Thirteen: The Riddle Deepens

Addy didn't sleep much that night because she was worried. Esther's cough also got worse, and Addy had to get up to help her three times through bad coughing fits. On Friday morning, Addy helps Momma prepare breakfast and then acts as if she's going to school. However, she hides in the shed instead and watches the gray, chilly morning outside as a rain and snow mix starts to fall. A carriage stops by to pick up Mrs. Radisson, and then Addy sees Miss Elizabeth leaving shortly after. Addy follows behind far enough that she won't be caught. Miss Elizabeth has an umbrella and a dark rain bonnet, but Addy has neither and wishes she had a rain cape. Addy is confused about why Miss Elizabeth didn't call a carriage, and even though Addy's feet are cold and she is soaked through, she knows she went through worse when she escaped from slavery. They keep walking, and Addy notices that they are going through alleys strewn with garbage and lopsided doors. She notices that they are near Gillis Alley, near Lombard and South Streets, which is the worst part of the Seventh Ward. Addy hadn't been to this part of Philadelphia before; people seem to be almost as poor here as on the plantations. Addy knows Poppa wouldn't want her here, and she's confused about why Miss Elizabeth would be here as a white person, because everyone else was colored. She watches Miss Elizabeth go into one of the most beaten up row homes on the block. The house was dirty and some windows are broken and covered with newspaper. A sign on the door says Idey Station House; Addy knows some people who had nowhere else to live ended up at a station house. Addy can't feel her feet, so she decides to go in to warm up and learn more.

The hall is silent, though the house smells of cooking grease and rotten food. Addy hides under the stairs to see which apartment Miss Elizabeth is visiting, and eventually a door opens and Addy sees Miss Elizabeth hug an old colored woman. She puts money in the woman's hand, then slowly walks away. Addy hides for a few minutes longer, then checks to see the woman's apartment number- nine- before leaving. Outside, she talks to a man who's leaning against the building, and she asks him if she knows the people who live there. He says he knows some, and she inquires about number nine. He says she's like the rest of them- she came from a plantation down South. Addy's surprised, and she asks if he's sure the woman didn't come from Connecticut. The man says he's not positive, but he doesn't know anyone there who wasn't just out of slavery. He says the Freedmen's Society (likely the Free African Society) helped everyone in the station house, and he didn't think there were Connecticut plantations to come from Addy thanked him and left. How would Miss Elizabeth know someone living here if she were from Connecticut? She'd mentioned giving old dresses to charity, but Miss Elizabeth hadn't brought a dress to give away, just money. Addy knows that some mean people act nice; it's not the first time she's seen it. She's reminded of Master Stevens, who sometimes acted nice, but Poppa always said that he didn't truly like them; he just liked them as he liked his dogs. Maybe this old lady was like a pet to Miss Elizabeth. Addy shudders and leaves.

By the time night rolls around, things have gotten worse at the Walker house. Esther's getting sicker and Poppa doesn't have a job. Mr. Miles Roberts, his old boss, doesn't have any work, either. Momma couldn't find sewing jobs and they had no leads on a place to live. Addy's no closer to solving the mystery than she had been this morning, even after skipping a day of school. Maybe the Walkers would also end up in the Seventh Ward. She feels there is only one thing left to do.

Chapter Fourteen: Caught

On Saturday, Addy watches the Radisson house until she sees all the occupants leave. Addy's alone downstairs. Sam was at work, Poppa was looking for work, and Momma was upstairs tending to Esther's fever. Addy goes into the Radisson house's kitchen and quietly goes upstairs. The house feels darker and scarier with no one inside it, and she feels like the portraits' eyes are watching her. However, she knew the only way to learn more about Miss Elizabeth was to search her room. Addy had considered telling Miss Tucker of her plans, but she decided against that in case Miss Tucker really had something to do with the missing choker. Addy pauses at the entryway to Miss Elizabeth's room and tries to figure out where to search first. She spots the silver case for the choker, and she opens it to see the choker is back in place. Addy looks through more drawers, but she feels uncomfortable looking at Miss Elizabeth's personal things. Then she realizes that Mrs. Radisson or Miss Elizabeth might come home and find her, so she works faster. Addy decides to check the engraved trunk, and she's surprised to find a familiar-looking quilt on top. The quilt has Auntie Lula's special patterns. These include a star in the upper right hand corner with a moon under it, a man looking to the left and a woman looking to the right in the upper left hand corner, a tree with branches growing out to each side opposite each other in the center of the quilt, and in the bottom corner, Uncle Solomon's mark. Addy's fingers trace the quilt; it reminds her so much of the one she had to leave behind in North Carolina. Addy could tell that it wasn't her own quilt because the cloth is different. Addy knows it's time to leave, so she folds up the quilt and is about to stash it in the trunk when she decides to look a little further. She find a crumpled piece of silk, and as she picks it up, something falls on the floor with a thud. It's a handkerchief tied around something heavy, and she's about to unknot it when she hears footsteps on the stair and someone humming.

Addy panics, puts the handkerchief in her pocket, and puts the quilt back as she'd found it. She hides under the bed, but she can see that a corner of the quilt is hanging from the trunk. She rushes to put it back, but it's too late: Miss Elizabeth is standing in the doorway. Addy freezes as Miss Elizabeth screams at her, grabs Addy's arm, and drags her into the hall. Mrs. Radisson comes out of her own room and asks what's happening. Miss Elizabeth says she found Addy in her room, and she drags Addy downstairs with Mrs. Radisson following behind. In the backyard, Miss Elizabeth calls for Momma, who runs to the door of her house. Miss Elizabeth says she's caught Addy red-handed in her room, and Mrs. Radisson hisses that she told her Addy was a thief. Momma looks as if someone slapped her, and she says she'll take care of Addy. Addy cries, and she's never seen Momma this upset. She knew she shouldn't have gone in the house, and she apologizes to Momma, saying she wasn't trying to steal. Momma grabs her wrist and says she will deal with Addy. Mrs. Radisson says, "That's what you and your husband said before. I want you people out of here. Tonight. Not tomorrow- tonight. Do you hear me?" Miss Elizabeth agrees with her sharply. Momma says they'll leave, and she pulls Addy back into the house. Mrs. Radisson shouts that they're lucky she doesn't get the police.

Momma slams the door shut and leans against it with her face in her hands. Then she looks up and says she has to take care of Esther right now because she's very sick. Momma goes upstairs with Addy close behind. Esther looks very unwell, and Addy whispers a question to her mother: what's wrong with her? Momma says she doesn't know, but as soon as Poppa comes home, she wants him to get a doctor. She bathes Esther's forehead with a wet cloth and says Esther is very hot and is talking nonsense. She tells Addy to get water, and Addy complies. As she does, she pulls her coat off and something falls to the floor, but she doesn't have to chance to pick it up. She gets a pitcher of water back upstairs to hear Esther quietly say, "Auntie Lula, I'm hungry." Tears come to Addy's eyes and she can't imagine why everything is going so wrong. Momma holds Esther, gently rocks her, and hums. Then she tells Addy to make food for herself, because there's no point in having Addy get sick as well. Addy returns to the kitchen, but she doesn't know what to do, and as she looks around, she spots Miss Elizabeth's knotted handkerchief that had fallen to the floor. Addy knows it was wrong to take it, and she wishes she could give it back, but she decides to untie the handkerchief. When she does, her fingers shake as she holds up a black protection stone. On the back, she finds Uncle Solomon's mark: the same mark that's on hers. She drops the stone as if it's hot, and then she takes off her necklace to compare the two. The new stone is identical to her own.

Momma calls Addy's name desperately, and Addy rushes upstairs to see Esther's limp body. Momma says Esther is dying and she begs Addy to fetch help. Addy does all she can think to do: she goes through the tunnel to get Miss Tucker and begs for her to assist. Miss Tucker grabs a carpetbag and lantern and follows Addy. They race out of the tunnel and to the house. Miss Tucker asks about Esther's symptoms, and she takes her from Momma and lays her on the bed. Momma brings the lantern closer and asks if Miss Tucker is a nurse or doctor. She responds that she's a friend of Addy's, and then she asks how long Esther has been like this. Momma says a few minutes. Miss Tucker says that's good news, and then she tells Addy to quickly go into the main house and get some ice. Addy goes to the porch without caring if anyone heard her, but she's stopped at the kitchen door by Mrs. Radisson. Mrs. Radisson asks what Addy thinks she's doing, but just as she says that, Miss Elizabeth comes out of the secret tunnel, calling Addy's name. She accuses Addy of knowing about a squatter in the house, and she waves the note with Addy's name on it. Mrs. Radisson says, "I'll have my son fetch the police on the lot of you." Addy cries and holds out her hand, begging for some ice. She can barely get the words out as she says her sister's dying. Miss Elizabeth's expression changes and she drops the paper, then tells Addy to follow her. However, Mrs. Radisson stands in the doorway and says Addy will not enter. Miss Elizabeth pushes past and says she'll bring it to Addy's house. Addy hesitates, then returns home, saying Miss Elizabeth will follow with ice.

Miss Tucker has taken smelling salts out of her carpetbag and she holds them to Esther's nose. There's no response, and Momma moans. Miss Tucker stands and apologizes. She know how to mend injuries, but she doesn't know what more to do for Esther. They can call a doctor, but it may be too late. Then Miss Elizabeth comes in and pushes past the other women. She puts down ice chunks and holds her hand to Esther's forehead. Then she listens to Esther's heart. She instructs Momma to go to the kitchen to get mustard seed, oatmeal, and vinegar. Then Miss Elizabeth tells Addy to go to her room and get the brown leather sack at the very bottom of her trunk. Addy moves quickly, but Mrs. Radisson grabs her arm as she's going upstairs. Mrs. Radisson screams at her as Addy breaks free, but Addy doesn't listen. She almost trips as she goes into Miss Elizabeth's room, but she throws open the trunk, scatters the items, grabs the sack, and runs back quickly. Miss Elizabeth gets some small bags and bunches of herbs and roots out of her leather ack, and then she asks for water, a bowl, scissors, and clean cloths. The women get everything requested and stand, waiting.

Addy has lost track of time as she watches. She knows nothing but that her sister's life is the most important thing. She prays, but she doesn't bargain with God. One time Addy had said she'd do anything for God if he got them out of slavery, and Uncle Solomon told her that was ridiculous, because there was nothing she could offer God. All Addy can hope is that God also wants Esther to live. Momma squeezes Addy's hand, and then they hear Esther make a noise like a small kitten. It was one of the best sounds Addy had ever heard. Then Esther whispers, "Momma." Momma rushes over and asks if she can pick her up, but Miss Elizabeth says to wait and just comfort her. She instructs Momma not to take the poultice off Esther's chest. They also need to keep putting hot water in the bowl and should hold it up to Esther's nose. Miss Elizabeth stands up to go, and then Miss Tucker holds out her hand and says thank you. Miss Elizabeth steps back and asks who she is, and Addy says she's a friend. Miss Elizabeth's eyes narrow and she says this is the squatter who stayed in the house. She says Mr. Radisson will arrest Miss Tucker. Addy shouts that she can't do that, and Miss Elizabeth says that just because she helped Esther doesn't mean anything else has changed.

Then Addy looks closely at Miss Elizabeth and sees fear in her eyes. She can suddenly see every clue that had been there the whole time.

Chapter Fifteen: The Tale Is Told

Addy looks Miss Elizabeth directly in the eyes and says she knows who took the choker. She stares back, then finally says that Addy should know, because she's the one who took it. Addy says no- Miss Elizabeth stole her own choker. Miss Elizabeth blushes and says Addy's making no sense. Addy explains she didn't know at first why she'd upset Miss Elizabeth at the dress fitting, but then she realized it wasn't Addy who upset Miss Elizabeth: it was the protection stone. Miss Elizabeth denies it, but then Addy goes to the kitchen and retrieves both stones from the table. She brings them back and explains they're the same, and both came from Uncle Solomon. She explains she found the second in the trunk. Momma is sitting by Esther with a hand on her chest, and she asks to see the stones. Momma says they do match, and together they make up a design from Auntie Lula's quilts. Addy adds that Miss Elizabeth has a quilt just like the one she got from Auntie Lula on the plantation. Momma looks at Miss Elizabeth and says Auntie Lula only made three: one for Addy, one for Solomon's sister, and one for Lula and Solomon. She asks how Miss Elizabeth had gotten one, and Miss Elizabeth says she doesn't know what Addy's talking about, but her voice shakes. Addy adds that Miss Elizabeth was humming a song when she was coming upstairs in the house, and at first Addy didn't recognize it. She now realizes it was a song that Uncle Solomon made up himself. Miss Elizabeth says this is nonsense and has nothing to do with her choker, but her breath is shaky. Miss Tucker quietly encourages Addy to keep working through the riddle: what happened as a result of the ruse that Addy stole the choker? Addy wonders why Miss Elizabeth would want the Walkers to leave. She's figured out most of this situation, but she still can't understand the visit to the Seventh Ward. Miss Elizabeth says she's going home and again says that they all must leave, and if they go now, she'll make sure that Mrs. Radisson doesn't call the police. Miss Tucker quietly says not to threaten Addy, as she's just a child, but Miss Tucker herself will leave. Addy says no- it's dangerous for Miss Tucker to leave. Addy looks back at Miss Elizabeth and says she doesn't understand because she was so nice at first, and she must have been a good person for Uncle Solomon to give her the stone. Then Miss Elizabeth flinches.

Addy realizes that Uncle Solomon is the key to all of this, and she slowly says that Miss Elizabeth must have been afraid they'd figure out she used to know Uncle Solomon. Addy continues talking and says that Uncle Solomon never left North Carolina, and he'd certainly never been to Connecticut, so that means Miss Elizabeth must not be from Connecticut, either. Addy says that's how Miss Elizabeth must have known the former slave woman living in the Seventh Ward. Miss Elizabeth is shocked and she asks how Addy knows this. Addy explains that she followed her, and she learned everyone there had been from Southern plantations. Addy continues to think aloud and wonders if Miss Elizabeth had relatives who were enslavers. Then she wonders if Miss Elizabeth herself had been an enslaver. Momma warns her to be careful what she says, but Miss Tucker encourages Addy to continue. She looks at Miss Elizabeth and says Addy must be right; Miss Elizabeth must have been a former enslaver and she knew Mr. Radisson would never marry her if he found out. Miss Tucker says she knew Mr. Radisson's uncle and that he understood what slavery does to the soul, so his nephew would never marry even a reformed enslaver.

Miss Elizabeth starts to cry and she puts her face in her hands, saying that they have it all wrong. Then Addy pauses, and she realizes that Miss Elizabeth put the poultice on Esther's chest just as Auntie Lula or Uncle Solomon would have done and wonders how could she have known about this kind of healing--Lula and Solomon would have never taught their skills to an enslaver. Addy almost stops breathing, but then she checks Miss Elizabeth's leather sack. Uncle Solomon had a brown leather healing sack, and sure enough, his mark is on the bottom of Elizabeth's. Addy remembers that Uncle Solomon would no more have made one of his sacks for a slave owner than he would have given his soul to the devil. She raises her head and confidently says that Miss Elizabeth must be a colored woman.

Momma nervously asks what she's saying, but then Miss Elizabeth sits on a chair and looks at her hands. She whispers that it started out simple. She was pretending to be white, but then she met a man and fell in love, and everything got more and more complicated. The room is silent until Momma asks how she knew Solomon. Miss Elizabeth has tears in her eyes as she explains that she's his sister's child. She's his niece, Bessie. She grew up on the Carter plantation next to Mr. Stevens'. At sixteen, she escaped and left her mother, Matty, behind. Her mother was a healer like Solomon, and he helped raise her as a child. Both him and her mother taught her how to heal. Miss Elizabeth's voice shakes, but she steadies herself. Quakers helped her attend school in Connecticut, but after she graduated, she couldn't find a job. When she went into an interview one day and they thought she was white, they hired her, and she managed to get better and better jobs because of it. She looks up at the other women and says she wasn't hurting anyone then- she had no family left. But then she left Mr. Radisson and she saw no reason to tell him the truth.

Addy looks at her and tries to wonder what it would mean for a Black person to live as a white person. While it would allow someone to avoid incidents like the policeman who harassed the Walkers and the work crew who refused to work with Poppa, it would also mean leaving part of yourself behind. Addy can somewhat understand her choice, but she also touches her cowrie shell and stone and thinks of the comfort they bring. Addy quietly asks if the woman in the station house was Miss Elizabeth's momma. Elizabeth, still crying, says no; the woman took care of Miss Elizabeth's mother until she died on the plantation, and she saved the quilt for Elizabeth. Miss Elizabeth used to send her money when she lived in Connecticut, and now she still brings her money and ensures she has food. She looks around at the other women pleadingly and apologizes profusely, explaining that she felt desperate for her background to remain secret, especially after meeting Mrs. Radisson and realizing she wouldn't ever agree to the marriage if she knew Elizabeth was colored. At first, she really couldn't find the choker--and when Mrs. Radisson suggested Addy had taken it, Miss Elizabeth went along with it, and as the secrets compounded she didn't know how to stop it. Addy says that her lies were going to lose Poppa his job, and Miss Elizabeth apologizes again. She says she will tell Albert the truth about everything, and she's not sure if he'll marry her at the end. But she will ensure that Mr. Radisson knows the Walkers are innocent. She stands up and goes to the door, but Momma puts a hand on her arm. She says Miss Elizabeth caused them a lot of trouble, but she saved Esther. Esther is sleeping peacefully, and Miss Elizabeth looks at her for a moment before leaving.

That evening, Poppa comes home in the cold air. Addy and Sam wash the supper dishes while Momma sits at the table, holding a sleeping Esther. She asks if Poppa talked to Mr. Radisson, and he smiles and says he has his job back and the family can stay in their new home. Mr. Radisson is sorry for all the trouble that Elizabeth caused. Momma is relieved, and Addy is happy, but she also wants to know about Miss Elizabeth and if he will still marry her. Poppa gently says that he doesn't know what they'll decide--calling Addy honey--and that they both have a lot to think about. Addy can't help hoping that they will still marry. Although Miss Elizabeth made some bad choices, she also loves Mr. Radisson--and that in a fair world, her color wouldn't matter and Miss Elizabeth would never have had to pretend she was white. Addy then asks about Miss Tucker, and Poppa says Mr. Radisson is letting her stay with him for now. He's working with his uncle's friends to help her safely start out a new life. Momma adds, "The Lord makes a way." Poppa goes over to hug Momma and Esther, and Sam walks over to join them. Addy runs over and hugs her whole family, who are all together and safe in their new home.

Looking Back

Discusses the experiences of African Americans during the Reconstruction period. Topics covered:

The rights and freedoms formerly enslaved people in the South were granted after the Civil War, and the promise of Reconstruction
Ways many African Americans helped with the fight against slavery, including becoming abolitionists, joining the army, and becoming spies for the Union
Harriet Tubman, who not only helped slaves escape through the Underground Railroad, but also operated a highly effective network of Black spies in South Carolina
Mary Elizabeth Bowser, who used her photographic memory to spy on President Jefferson Davis at the Confederate White House but had to keep her spying story a secret after the war for her own safety
The period following the Civil War, Reconstruction, which was intended to aid in helping elevate black people to their rights and restore the south after its damages sustained during the war.
The benefits and promises African Americans received during Reconstruction, such as the right to an education and the allowance for Black men to vote, including Black men being elected to Congress
Southern states swiftly passing Black Codes to limit the freedoms of African Americans after Reconstruction was undermined by Southerners
Struggles many newly freed slaves faced with finding food and shelter, resulting with many living in conditions that were just as bad as slavery including sharecropping
The Ku Klux Klan, a terrorist organization founded in 1866 that attacked and murdered black people, Jewish people, and other people in America they saw as undesirable
Segregation Blacks faced in the North, and the pressures felt by northern cities when more immigrants and newly freed slaves began to arrive
How some light-skinned Blacks could "pass" as Whites and the benefits of passing--ranging from small and immediate such as being allowed to use White facilities and get higher paid jobs, to larger situations where a person would pass fully as white
Sacrifices passing Black people had to make in order to pass successfully, such as permanently abandoning their families and Black heritage
The 1960s Civil Rights Movement's aid with helping in reclaiming the equal rights that should have been enforced after the end of the Civil War

Book Covers and Images

First cover from 2007-2015

First cover from 2007-2015
Original illustration of Addy from 2007-2015

Original illustration of Addy from 2007-2015
Second BeForever branded cover from 2015-Present

Second BeForever branded cover from 2015-Present

Trivia

Nominated for the Edgar Allen Poe Award for Best Juvenile Mystery in 2008
Winner of the Moonbeam Silver Metal for Multicultural Fiction, 2007

References

↑ ^1.0 ^1.1 ^1.2 ^1.3 Only mentioned.

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