Annie's Stories (32 page)

She turned and kept her eyes on her feet and the trim of the
red petticoat her mother had given her to travel in when she’d met her at the docks.

Oh, Ma!
When Grace had been able to look into her mother’s green-gray eyes, she found assurance. On the ship, Grace had tried to emblazon her mother’s face on her memory so it would always be there when she needed to see it. She’d even sketched her mother on some paper with a charcoal pencil another passenger gave her. She had the sketch in her bag with her meager belongings. Not much, but all she had now.

“Thanks be to God.” “God have mercy.” “God bless our souls.” “The grace of God on all who enter.” . . .
Her mother never failed to acknowledge God. She was a good woman. The best. Grace was so far away now from that umbrella of assurance.

She focused on the immigration official calling out names. Survival was human instinct, and humans adapted. She’d learned to do it once before. Perhaps she could manage to exorcise her father’s voice from her head, the one that told her she was incapable, and actually make a life, a good life, for herself in America.

Grace’s mother had held her at arm’s length when they said good-bye on the docks in Dublin. She’d rubbed Grace’s cheeks with her thumbs. “The best thing for you is to go to America. You are not a child anymore. I could not let you stay in the workhouse. Don’t I know how hard it is for a grown woman to keep her dignity there.”

Grace had tried pleading with her. “Take me home with you. I’ll be polite to S. P. . . . I promise.”

But her mother wouldn’t hear of it. “There’s no life here for you, Grace. Fly free, Daughter. Find your way. ’Tis a blessing you can go.”

Grace had told her mother she couldn’t do it. Not alone. Not without her.

“Listen to me,” her mother had said, tugging Grace’s chin
upward with her finger. “I don’t care what lies your father once spoke to you, darlin’. To us both. Pity his departed soul that he left us with no choice but the workhouse. But promise me you will not think of the things he said to you. Remember instead this: You are smart. You are important. You are able.”

If she could prosper as her mother had asked her to, then perhaps her mother might choose to come to America too, a place where she would not need S. P. Feeny. Grace would make it happen. Somehow. She had to. Her hands trembled as she held tight to her traveling bag.

About the Author

C
INDY
T
HOMSON
has been making up stories for as long as she can remember. Her first novel,
Brigid of Ireland
, was published by Monarch Books, and she is a coauthor of
Three Finger: The Mordecai Brown Story
, the only full-length biography of baseball Hall of Famer Mordecai “Three Finger” Brown.
Annie’s Stories
is the second book, following
Grace’s Pictures
, in the Ellis Island series. Set in New York City at the turn of the twentieth century, the novels follow the lives of new immigrants as they struggle to find their place in America. Along the way they will find friendship and love and renew their faith in God.

Cindy is a mentor in the Jerry B. Jenkins Christian Writers Guild. She and her husband have three grown sons and make their home in central Ohio, where they enjoy rooting for the Cincinnati Reds.

Her greatest wish is that her writing will encourage, enlighten, and entertain her readers.

Visit her online at
www.cindyswriting.com
.

Discussion Questions

1. Though Mrs. Hawkins offers Annie a good job and a place to live, she still seems to be searching for “home.” Why is that? Have you ever experienced a desire for home like Annie does?
   
2. Why does Stephen Adams whistle Irish tunes on his route, eat Italian food, and visit his Jewish neighbor? How does this reflect the culture and atmosphere of Lower Manhattan at the time?
   
3. Why is Mrs. Hawkins at first reluctant to tell Annie about her past in Ireland? How well can you relate to the women of this time period, and what do you struggle to understand about them?
   
4. At the beginning of the story, Annie believes God was not present in the Magdalene Laundry. In what ways was he active there even though she did not notice?
   
5. Why do you think Annie wants to help Kirsten Wagner so badly? Is there someone in your life to whom you can extend a helping hand?
   
6. In this era, serial stories in magazines were extremely popular. What can you equate that to today?
   
7. Why do you think the Irish are known as wonderful storytellers? How has the history of the Irish people influenced this?
   
8. What novels published in the early twentieth century have you read or would you like to read? Would you read any of the books Stephen and Dexter enjoy?
   
9. How does Stephen’s tragic past affect his ability to build the future he’s always dreamed of for himself? What message does the reverend have for Stephen that helps him move forward?
   
10. If you were Annie, would you forgive Aileen or would you insist she find her own place to live in America? What reasons can you find that influence Annie’s ultimate decision?
    
11. Why might Stephen be drawn to the false investment scheme? Why do people fall victim to similar schemes today? What steps can you take to ensure you’re making sound investments?
    
12. If you were to assign Oz roles to the characters in this story, and Annie is Dorothy, who would you cast as the Tin Woodman, the Scarecrow, and the Lion? What other parallels can you draw between the stories?