Page 100 (2/2)

“Loreda and Anthony Martinelli We call him—”

“Address?”

Elsa didn’t kno to answer the question “We … uh”

The woman turned her head, yelled, “Miss Guyman, come here Squatters Okies”

“We’re from Texas,” Elsa said firmly

The woman pushed a piece of paper at Elsa “Can you read and write?”

“Oh, for gosh sakes,” Elsa said “Of course”

“Naes” She handed Elsa a pencil

As Elsa wrote down the children’s naer woman appeared in the office, dressed in a crisp white nurse’s uniform and cap The nursethrough her hair

“No lice,” the nurse said “No fever … yet How old is this girl?” the nurse asked “Eleven?”

“Thirteen,” Elsa answered

“Can she read?”

“Of course She’s excellent in school”

The nurse checked Ant’s hair “Fine,” she said at last “Most of your kind work the fields at eleven I’hter is in school”

“Our kind are hardworking Americans who have hit hard times,” Elsa said