Regina Arrives in California

Regina had never been more than 15 miles from home before. She and Pappy had spent two days in Louisville shopping for clothes and luggage for her trip before heading out to board the train to California. Although she protested that Pappy was spending too much of his hard-earned money, her grandfather insisted. He would not have his only granddaughter arriving in California looking like some unsophisticated country bumpkin. It was a long trip but the whole thing was a blur for Regina.

She missed her Gran, she missed her home, she even missed feeding the chickens and weeding the vegetable patch. She stared out at the landscape that blurred with her tears, wishing she were anywhere else. For his part, Pappy let her sit in silence, in part because he understood and was grieving too but partly because he simply didn't know how to explain he was doing this for her own good.

"Pappy?" Regina had asked one night as he tucked her in to her bed in their sleeping car. "I'll never see you again, will I?" Her dark eyes were large and unblinking as she watched his face for a reaction.

"Hush, child," he replied sadly, kissing her forehead. But he couldn't answer her question. "Time to sleep. We'll be there tomorrow and you need your rest."

Obediently, Regina rolled over, hugged herself tightly and willed herself to sleep. Her eyes brimmed with tears.

*****

Miss Porter's was a relatively new school providing a quality education for upper class girls along with the necessary classes to allow them to participate in polite society. The school had been funded and built with old money and Episcopal church backing on several acres in the heart of the central California coast. The teachers were young, educated women and a few old professors, the school's priest* was a tall, thin man with a kindly face and his wife was just as thin with masses of raven curls. Regina and Pappy had traveled via another train down the coast to Miss Porter's. Upon their arrival, they were met by Miss Porter herself, two of the older students.

"Regina, dear," Miss Porter said with a warm smile, "Molly and Clarissa will show you around. Classes have already begun for the term, but I'm sure you can catch up quickly. If you need extra tutoring, just ask your instructors. Molly, dear, will you and Clarissa please show out newest student around. I'd like a word with her grandfather."

When the girls were out of earshot, Miss Porter took the old man by the arm, leading him toward her office. "We have some paperwork to fill out. And don't worry, Mr. Reynolds, Regina will do quite well, I'm certain of it."