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They passed a county hospital with a gray ambulance parked out front, and finally ca look A crowd of laughing, talking kids swarrant childrenthem

“Look at them, Mom,” Loreda said “New clothes”

Elsa tipped Loreda’s chin up with one finger, saw the tears gathering in her daughter’s eyes “I knohat you’re feeling, but don’t you dare cry,” Elsa said “Not about this, not with all you’ve been through to get here You’re a Martinelli, and you’re as good as anyone in California”

Tucking her children’s hands in hers, she took the

Inside, the hallere full of children Elsa noticed the looks thrown their way and sa the better-dressed children avoided them A bulletin board held flyers for field trips and school functions and advertised the upco

Elsa headed into the first office she saw She stood with her children in front of a long counter A placard on it read: BARBARA MOUSER, ADMINISTRATION

Elsa cleared her throat “Excuse me?”

The woman seated at a desk behind the counter looked up from her paperwork

“I am here to enroll my children in school”

The woot to her feet She was dressed in a pretty blue dress with a fabric belt, silk stockings, and sensible brown shoes Elsa noticed that her nails ell cared for and her cheeks were nice and plump

The woman walked up to the counter, on the other side of which Elsa and the children stood “Did you bring report cards? Transfer papers? School records?”

“We left in a bit of a rush Times back home were—”

“Hard for you Okies Yes”

“We’re from Texas, ma’am,” Elsa said

“What are their names?”