12 The Storm after the Calm

CHAPTER 12 The Storm after the Calm Jo was right about their peaceful week with Bess being the calm before the storm. Two days after she left, a moral earthquake shook Plumfield to its core. As with a fair bit of the trouble that happened with Jo's boys, she found Tommy at its center. Actually, it was Tommy's hens that were truly

at the bottom of the trouble. They were simply laying too many eggs. After he sold all of them and collected a good sum, Father Bhaer insisted he put the money in a piggy bank. As the little bank became heavy with coins, Tommy's imagination filled with all the wonderful things he could buy. When Jo gave him the four quarters she owed him from the last batch of eggs, Tommy discovered that he was now just one dollar short of the five he'd promised Father Bhaer he would save before breaking open his bank. Tommy raced off to show the shiny money to Nat, who was saving his own money for a new fiddle. "I wish I had those four quarters to add to my savings," Nat said. "I've only got two dollars toward a new fiddle." "Maybe I'll lend you some," Tommy said. "I haven't decided yet what I'm going to do with my coins!" Just then, the boys were interrupted by a voice

from outside the barn shouting for them to come and see a jolly great snake that Dan had caught. Without thinking, Tommy set the money down beside some old farm equipment. The snake was very interesting, and the rest of the day filled up so quickly that Tommy soon forgot to retrieve his quarters from the barn. No matter, he thought before falling asleep, the only person who knows they are there is Nat. The next morning, just as school was getting started, Tommy rushed in to the schoolroom and said, "Who took my dollar?" "What are you talking about?" Franz asked. Tommy explained, and Nat seconded his story. At once, everyone declared they knew nothing about it and began to look at Nat suspiciously. The poor boy became more upset and confused each time another boy denied taking the money. "Well," Franz said, "somebody must have taken it."

Tommy shook his fist in front of everyone and shouted, "Thunder turtles! If I get a hold of the thief... he'll be sorry!" "Keep cool, Tommy," Dan said. "We shall find him out. Thieves always get caught." The boys all came forward with wild suggestions for what had happened. But Nat could hold his tongue no longer. "I know you think it was me!" Franz looked at him and said, "You are the only one who knew where the money was..." "I can't help that—I didn't take it. I tell you, I didn't take it!" Nat cried. Father Bhaer heard the commotion and came into the classroom to ask what all the fuss was about. A cloud came over his face when Tommy told him the whole story. He said sternly, "Sit down this instant, all of you." Then he gave them a very good speech about the truth and value of honesty and asked each boy just one question: Did they take the money?

Every single boy said no. When he came to Nat, Father Bhaer's voice softened, for the boy looked so sad. "Now, Nat," he said, "give me an honest answer. Did you take the money?" Nat said, "No, sir!" Father Bhaer was very quiet for a moment, and then he said. "I am sorry, Nat, but the evidence is quite against you. We will not punish you until we have proof, but I urge you to tell me the truth. If you are innocent, I will be the first to apologize." Nat dropped his head onto his arms and sobbed. "I didn't take it. I didn't." "There is nothing more that can be done now," Father Bhaer said, "and we will not speak of this again. Whoever did take the money will have a hard enough time regaining our trust. Let's get back to our lessons now, shall we?" The next week was ever so painful for poor Nat. The boys simply refused to talk to him—

and for a boy who loved their company, it was the worst thing that could have happened. Only one person in all of Plumfield believed him, and that was Daisy. She would not hear a bad word spoken against Nat by any of the boys, especially her brother Demi. Even though he was pretty sure Nat had taken the money, Dan stood up for him, too. Still, it made for a very lonely time for the boy. One afternoon, Dan caught one of the boys bothering Nat by the stream. He broke up the little fight, and once the other boy was gone, Nat said, "That look on your face—I know when you're hiding something. You know who did it! You have to tell, Dan. I can't bear this much longer. If I had anywhere to go, I'd run away, I would." Dan could not stand to see his dear friend this upset and quickly turned away, muttering, "You won't have to wait for long..." Over the next few days, Dan was moody and