The Woodshed

"They have red skin and black eyes. They wear animal skins for clothes, when they wear clothes at all. And they speak in their own heathen tongue."

Helena raised her hand, glancing back at Samantha as she did so. "I think Samantha is a savage."

"No, dear, Samantha is not a savage."

"But she looks like you said they do."

"That may be, but Samantha believes in God and speaks in the Lord's tongue."

Samantha raised her hand. "Then where did I come from? Are there other towns on the mainland?"

"I'm sorry, dear, but there are no other towns like ours. There are only the savage villages where they live in tents made of animal skins, not buildings like we have."

"Then how did I get here, Miss Brigham?"

"That's not for me to say, dear."

"She's a savage," Helena said. "Samantha the savage!" The other girls around Helena took up the chant. Samantha's face turned red, but she bit down on her lip to keep from crying. Prudence reached over to squeeze her hand.

"That's enough, children. Samantha is one of God's children like the rest of you."

"I'm sorry, Miss Brigham," Helena said, but then she looked back at Samantha and stuck out her tongue.

"I believe now is a good time to discuss Reverend Crane's sermon," Miss Brigham said. She paced from one side of the meadow to the other, her hands clasped behind her back. "The reverend talked to us about the value of truth. Truth is central to The Way. It is the greatest virtue we can live by. When we do not tell the truth, bad things happen not only to us but to those around us as well." Miss Brigham stopped her pacing to wave in Samantha's direction. The other children turned to look at her. "Samantha lied during this morning's service, forcing Reverend Crane to punish her-"