2154 day 11. Ok that is done. Tomorrow she gets out of town.

Once they were seated Issac said. “I know there are questions about the test, and I thank you for not asking them. I am gratified to have such thoughtfully ladies in my house. You truly bring us grace, and raise us up. Now then it is time to clear up any mystery so you can be ready, as we have two that are going this year, instead of the one we expected. This year, in addition to the distance problems, it is necessary that a few of our young ladies go for the exams. Sara is one of the six that the elders will be sending. The reasons are not of concern and will not be discussed. Now then as said they will leave out early next Sunday and they will need to take clothes for the week, and food for the bus ride itself. The education department is taking care of hotels, and giving a spending allowance to those traveling more than ten miles. That means that the kids will all be in a city hotel, not church run boarding house. No extra adults are being sent, and the rules are not change for this week from past years. The elders have instructed that we hear nothing of what goes on. The test results and offers are the business of those taking them, as all ways. The elders will offer guidance but not dictate school choices. They will all so be given each child going some money to spend on what ever they want. Bags are not to be searched, or rooms after words. Is there any thing I did not address?”

Edith said. “I am not aware of how those city hotels work. Will anything but clothing be needed?”

Issac said. “No, all they need take is their changes of cloth and what books they might want that week. There will be a lot of unscheduled time to fill.” The evening passed as it usually after that, the women sewing quietly as the men talked over the expected harvest, or other things about their studies.

Sara went in to grandfather’s room with his evening tea, that he never drank but always asked her to bring up. He smiled as she set the cup and small pot on the table. He smiled at her. “I wonder if Hannah will insist on seeing me take a drink? Well no matter, I suppose a bit of medicine wont hurt, even if I don’t need it. This is a good thing, use this week to see the town, and buy some clothes that fit in a bit more. It will help if you already have some, and it won’t hurt to try wearing them a bit. Even just in the room, that way it won’t feel so odd when you have to ware them. Now you blow those test out of the water. Don’t you dare hold back on any of it. I mean it kid, you have held back more than long enough. None of the foolishness about how it is good for you. You want one of the good schools, one with a well developed weather program.”

Sara said. “I do not know why you are so determined that I am leaving. I do not know how my name got on this list. I. Girls don’t take the test, it is not right. Has this ever happened before?”

Grandfather nodded. “Every ten years or so a few get sent to take the tests, you were just to young last time to really know it, and it was just over in Hammer, and those are the years that young ladies are let take the test. This is the first year anyone has gone this far away. It is a going to give all you a good test of what the world is like. Hopefully it will ease the shook those of you going to non church schools are going to have. Now then how about another chapter, then you can go listen to Anna fuss at you.”

Anna barely gave her time to get into her room letter before grabbing her and starting. “No wonder! How ever did it happen? What are you going do? This horrible! What do you need? Who else is going?”

Sara looked at her older sister, surprised to see her like this. “I have no idea about any thing to be right honest. Grandfather gave me this case for my clothes, he said it was a bit battered, but still sold enough to hold what I was taking and would have room for the books he expects me to buy. He said there should be some good sized book stores in Bixter. I have no idea. I didn’t even know I could ask to take the test, and never wanted to. Yes I know I pushed to go to school and do the project, but that was where it ended. Honest. And, well the others in my year all had to go this year, I thought not going would make me stand out, and worried my intended might think I was to smart, you know? Now this. How do I convince him that I will be a fit wife? I know that would be better suited to ask my Teacher, but I just can’t.”

Anna said. “You needed worry about that at all. The elders will see that they know it was at their direction, so just as long as you remember not to offer advice about his business, even should he ask, you will be fine. The far harder thing will be to avoid seeing things you shouldn’t when out there. Do you know who is going? Grandfather wants you to get him some books, but why not ask Abiram?”

Sara said. “I don’t even know if the other girls know who they are, no one seemed to at church. I think grandfather has given Abiram a list as well, but he has asked me to pick up a few new novels for him, if I can find any. He is not sure that Abiram would get the right kind, and he knows I won’t make it back without a few history books. There are some I have not been able to find.” He has been helping me with my paper and has suggested a few titles to look for in the bigger stores.”

Anna said. “I know you have got a few things at the market, but most of that is trade. Perhaps you had best see that the boys give you a lesson on using cash. You don’t want to get ripped off, and they won’t want to be with you.”

Sara said. “Abiram I am sure will help me out. I can’t believe they are giving us money to use on what we want. It seems excessive. I don’t think I have enough good dresses for a week. I can’t take my house dresses to the city. I am. This is a mess. Why me? I don’t mean to question their wisdom, and of course I am not disobeying. It is just I whish I knew how my name got involved. I didn’t think I had attracted attention to myself.”

Anna said. “You have three good sets of clothes. I will get you a couple more made this week. Don’t you worry it will be all right. Now you had best get some sleep. You are seeing more in this than you need to. If father felt you had been any less than proper he would tell you so.”

The next week flew by without any more being said about the trip. Then as she was getting up to fix grandfather’s tea Saturday night her father said. “The bus will leave from the church at six in the morning. I expect you and Abiram to be waiting by the door for me at five. I will see you to the bus.”

Sara curtsied and said. “Yes sir.” Then fled from the room, her mother was looking stormy. She had not said any more than she had to since her father had made the announcement. Clearly she didn’t think that Sara should be going at all, that is was a stain on the family name. Grandfather though had kept insisting that she should pass the tests and pick a good school to attend. That mix was making it harder to deal with everything. Still to get a chance to look at the books she was forbidding to, to see with her own eyes what it was like in a town not ran by the church, without someone making sure she didn’t go to the wrong places. The thought of it all was as thrilling as it was terrifying.