12 Heading Home

CHAPTER 12 Heading Home Mr. Sesemann raced through the house. He banged on doors and called to the servants. Even though it was only four o'clock in the morning, it was easy to see that he wanted every one in the house to wake up. Ms. Rottenmeier woke from her sleep with a cry of fear. She heard the master calling that she was to get dressed and meet him in the dining room. She thought it had something to do with the ghost that they all

had been worried about. It wasn't until several minutes later that the woman found out what the meeting was actually for. "We are preparing for a journey," Mr. Sesemann said. He was in good spirits. "John, get the horses and carriage ready. Tinette, go wake Heidi and get her dressed for her trip. Sebastian, hurry off to the house where Dete works and bring her here. Ms. Rottenmeier, get out a trunk at once. Pack up all the things that belong to the Swiss child. Add a bundle of Clara's things as well so that the girl might go home with some nice-looking clothes. But do it now!" Ms. Rottenmeier simply stood still and stared straight ahead. She had expected some long story about a ghost, which she surely would have enjoyed now that it was daylight. Instead she had been given these strange directions. She was still starry-eyed when Mr. Sesemann left to go see Clara.

As he expected, the poor girl was very upset at the idea of her friend leaving. But as she listened to her father's words, Clara understood that they were only doing what was best for Heidi. "Please, Papa, don't let her leave until I have packed some special things in her box." Clara's father smiled and winked to let her know that this would be fine. In the meantime, Dete came and Mr. Sesemann told her about Heidi. He asked Dete to take the girl home to her grandfather. But the young woman remembered how the old man had thrown her out of his house. She did not want to face him again! She told Mr. Sesemann that she was much too busy at her job to get away right now. Mr. Sesemann said he understood. He sent Dete on her way and called for Sebastian. He would deliver the girl. Mr. Sesemann gave him a letter for Heidi's grandfather that

would explain everything. Meanwhile, Heidi was standing quietly to the side. She was dressed in her Sunday best, waiting to see what was going on. Tinette had woken her, but had not told her why. When Mr. Sesemann met her at the breakfast table, he looked eagerly into her eyes and said, "What do you think of all this, little one?" Heidi gave him a puzzled look. "Why, you don't know anything about it, I see," laughed Mr. Sesemann. "You are going home today. Going at once!" "Home?" murmured Heidi in a low voice. "Don't you want to hear more about it?" "Oh, yes, yes!" cried Heidi. For the next several minutes, the young girl couldn't tell if she was awake or dreaming. She tried to listen to Mr. Sesemann, but all she could think about was Grandmother and her grandfather and Peter and the goats and the

mountain and Clara sent for Heidi and filled her box with a list of things. There were dresses, aprons, handkerchiefs, and all kinds of material. "And look here," she added as she held up a basket. Heidi peered in and jumped for joy. Inside were twelve beautiful white rolls for Grandmother. In their delight, the children forgot that the time had come for them to part. When someone yelled that the carriage was ready, there was no time for sadness. Heidi ran to get her favorite book—the one Grandmamma had given to her. She knew no one would have packed it because it was under her pillow. She put the book in the basket with the rolls. Then she opened her closet to look for another treasure that no one would have thought to pack—the old red shawl she had brought with her. The little girl wrapped it around a stuffed kitten Clara had made for her and put it on top of the

basket. Then she put on her hat and left the room. As she climbed into the carriage, she gave Clara her best wishes and thanked Mr. Sesemann for his kindness. She also asked him to send her thanks along to the doctor. She knew she would not be going home if it weren't for him and his promise of It will all be better tomorrow. The carriage started moving and Heidi was off. She held her basket tightly on her lap. For many hours she sat as still as a mouse. She was afraid to move for fear that she might wake up from a dream. She couldn't believe she was finally going home. When they finished the train ride, Sebastian hired a horse and cart to take Heidi as far as possible. She would finish the rest of the journey on foot. The young girl assured him that she could easily find her way up the mountain. Her grandfather would fetch her trunk later. Sebastian took her aside and gave