Angela 2. David A. Bedford

These were people who agreed to have their way to America paid in return for working for the Virginia Company for seven years. At the end of that time they received some land and at least one share in the company. The colony was ruled by a meeting of the shareholders, each of which had as many votes as they had shares. Settlers who could not go to the meetings for various reasons chose one among them who could go, to vote for them by proxy. In time Africans were brought in as slaves and that is an entire story unto itself.

      “But notice that how a country starts is how a country is for a very long time. The colony’s set-up brought rule of law, as the freemen were British citizens. It also brought representative government in the shareholder meetings, a link between voting rights and land ownership, and a money-making purpose as the prime motor. By introducing slavery it nearly caused the new country to split in two one hundred and fifty years afterwards. We still feel the effects.

      “Now there was a second Virginia Company, created soon after the Virginia Colony got under way. The Puritans who had fled persecution in England and settled in the Netherlands owned a lot of stock in this new company. When they discovered they had almost one half of the stock, they bought enough more to control the company. They moved it, headquarters and everything, to America. During the crossing they got off course and landed in Massachusetts, where they set up the second British colony in America. They shared the elements I mentioned with the Virginia Colony, but they also had two important elements of their own: local government by town meetings and a strong accent on Puritanical religion. You also have the beginnings of a North-South distinction.”

      Hands shot up in the air all over.

      “You mean the Puritans weren’t the first colonists from England?”

      “Business was as important as religion to them?”

      “How many g’s in ‘Virginia’?”

      “How many n’s?”

      Romano moved his hand in an arc and the class went silent. “No, yes, and one each,” he answered. The class laughed. “At least, as far as I know. I am willing to be corrected. We are going to spend a lot of this year seeing how these themes have played out over nearly three hundred years, and the dangers of using terms such as ‘American values’ and ‘the Fathers of our Country’ without knowing what and who we’re talking about. It is a fascinating study and you will end up appreciating your country more than just about anyone you know. That’s what I want you to get out of my course.”

      Angela, Fiona, Benjie, Michaela, and Yves gathered in the hall after class before they went their separate ways.

      “Mr. Romano is interesting and he has good bone structure,” said Michaela.

      “You’ll learn plenty in this class,” added Fiona.

      “Yeah, I’m glad we have him back,” observed Yves. “Our little plan last year really rocked!”

      “To think we could have lost him!” Fiona replied.

      “Why, what happened last year?” asked Michaela.

      “I’ll tell you all about it,” offered Benjie.

      Angela, who had been thinking quietly all along, smiled and said. “You know, what he said today really explains a whole lot.”

      “Well, we’ll just have to convene a study group of us five and talk things over,” answered Fiona.

      In comfortable agreement, the group broke up, Benjie and Michaela walking off together in earnest conversation. Angela felt a strange, unpleasant feeling rising in her throat and pushing down on her stomach. Disappointed with herself and confused, she took courage and headed toward the dance studio.

      Chapter 3

      Angela walked into the studio warily and sat on the floor next to Jo, who smiled.

      “Hi, Angela,” she said. “Have a good summer?”

      “Yeah, thanks. How about you?”

      “Pretty good.”

      This must be one of Jo’s good days, thought Angela. She’s trying to be friendly.

      Sonya walked in and sat near Angela and Jo, crossing her legs and putting her hands on her knees. She smiled and the girls introduced themselves.

      “Angela and Jo!” said Sonya. “I’ve heard about both of you. They say you are very good. I’m … how to say it? … looking up to dancing with you.”

      “Looking forward,” corrected Jo.

      “Looking forward,” repeated Sonya with another smile.

      “It’s nice to meet you, Sonya,” put in Angela, who was feeling more like herself again, “you’ll like it here.”

      “Thanks.”

      Angela put on a happy expression. Sonya seemed to be comfortable with herself and her manner genuine. Maybe she’ll be an interesting person to have in dance, thought Angela. She glanced around to her other side. Jo was surveying Sonya with a calculating look.

      The dance teacher, Ms. Amberg, entered and took roll.

      “Let’s give a warm welcome to the new people,” she said after closing the grade book. “We’re happy to have Sonya Aleksandroff” – Sonya smiled in greeting and there was scattered applause – “and we have three new boys, which brings the total to four!” – raucous applause from the girls – “The schools in Corpus will be jealous.” The girls giggled.

      “This year,” Ms. Amberg went on, “we will have two full programs, one in the fall and one in the spring, and they will be needing dancers for the musical in February.”

      Angela looked to Jo and smiled, happy with the possibilities. Jo smiled back and stretched her arms forward, clasping her hands together. Angela then turned to Sonya, who was staring at Ms. Amberg intently, as though she was working hard not to miss anything. She supposed that the new girl probably had the same unstable blend of confidence and concern that she herself did. She also felt a tinge of shame for becoming jealous and vulnerable so easily.

      Soon the exercises on the floor and at the barre began to drive everything else out of Angela’s mind. Then came the music and the dance steps and she was transported to the familiar and soothing realm of motion and beauty. When the hour ended she took her leave of Jo and Sonya. Happy and relaxed, she went to the library to study for a while as she waited for her mom to pick her up after work.

      ***

      “How was the first day of school?” asked Susan as Angela closed the car door and adjusted her seat belt. All the way home Angela bubbled on about her friends, dance, and the good classes. They both laughed as she described Logan’s fumbling and how Benjie ignored Newsom with supremely theatrical unconcern.

      When Angela entered the kitchen through the garage, Thelonius the cat rubbed against her legs, purring loudly. Then Amy came running to her, saying,

      “Angela! Guess what? I broke a glass and cut my toe on a broke piece. See?”

      She held up her left foot. The big toe was bandaged. Angela felt a pang of sympathetic emptiness in the pit of her stomach.

      “Poor girl!” she said, hugging Amy tightly. “How does it feel now?”

      Amy wiggled her toe and shrugged her shoulders. “It’ll be ok, I think.”

      Angela hugged her again and then went to her room to unload her school books.

      “Hey, kid!” came a deep voice at the door.

      “Andrew!” she exclaimed, dropping her things on the bed. She ran to the door to hug her brother.

      “Well, sis, how was the first day of school?”

      She looked at him, smiled, and nodded. “Pretty good, really. When do you leave for San Antonio?”

      “Friday,