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Back Come Again No More Save as PDF
Chapters (55)
  1. Cover
  2. Back Cover
  3. Title Page
  4. Contents
  5. PART I 
  6. 1.
  7. 2.
  8. 3.
  9. 4.
  10. 5.
  11. 6.
  12. 7.
  13. 8.
  14. 9.
  15. 10.
  16. 11.
  17. 12.
  18. PART II 
  19. 13.
  20. 14.
  21. 15.
  22. 16.
  23. 17.
  24. 18.
  25. 19.
  26. 20.
  27. 21.
  28. 22.
  29. 23.
  30. 24.
  31. 25.
  32. 26.
  33. 27.
  34. 28.
  35. 29.
  36. 30.
  37. PART III 
  38. 31.
  39. 32.
  40. 33.
  41. 34.
  42. 35.
  43. 36.
  44. 37.
  45. 38.
  46. 39.
  47. PART IV 
  48. 40.
  49. 41.
  50. 42.
  51. 43.
  52. 44.
  53. 45.
  54. AUTHOR’S NOTE
  55. Touchstone Reading Group Guide

Before the foreclosure notice came, Emaline had begun to hope that they would never hear from Thelma Pearl again. Now they had to try to locate the woman. Thelma hadn’t answered any of her letters. The last two had been returned, marked “No forwarding address.” Emaline called information in Denver and was told that a number for a Thelma Pearl Perkins on South Julian Street had been disconnected two months earlier. There was no new number. She called Denver Dry Goods and the switchboard operator put her through to the women’s department where Thelma Pearl had worked. A woman there told her that Thelma had been laid off right after Christmas and hadn’t been seen since.

In early April, the mailman brought a letter addressed to Master Jake McCloskey. Emaline checked the envelope: There was no return address. Inside was a five-dollar bill and a brief note from Thelma Pearl.

Junior,

It’s going to be a while before Mama can get back to Nebraska to see you. Things have been real tough lately, but I think about you all the time. I’m sending some money so your daddy can get you something real nice for your birthday. You tell him your birthday is April 16, and maybe that nice Emaline will bake you a cake. Already six years old! You must feel like a real big boy.

Well, Mama has to go now. I don’t know when I’ll see you again, honey. You buck up and be a good boy for Emaline and do what your daddy tells you. He should be real proud to have such a fine, smart son. I’m sure he’s happy to have you with him and that Emaline is about as sweet as any lady I ever met.

Big wet kisses to my little snuggums,

Thelma Pearl

The letter was postmarked Santa Fe, New Mexico. There was no other clue to Thelma’s whereabouts, so Emaline phoned information in Santa Fe. She wasn’t surprised when she was told there was no Thelma Pearl Perkins in the phone book, or Thelma Pearl McCloskey either. Red watched her put down the phone.

“You can’t find Mama?”

Emaline hugged the boy. “No, honey. Not yet. I’m sure she’ll turn up sooner or later. She’s just real busy trying to find a job and all. Once she gets a job, I’m sure she’ll send for you.”

“I don’t think my mama wants me.”

“Of course she does, sweetheart. Any mama would want a sweet boy like you. She just can’t take care of you right now, is all. Now wash your hands and slick your hair down. It’s almost time for supper.”