Un Morso doo Pang [1919]

“Un morso doo pang,” repeated Tessie, very carefully and slowly. Angie corrected her pronunciation, and Tessie tried again, her eyes bright with determination. Angie repeated the phrase, and Tessie echoed it, this time with more confidence. There was a moment of silence in which the only sound was the crackling of the fire.

“That’s pretty good for a first lesson,” Angie said finally, with a smile that was both warm and encouraging.

Tessie nodded, a determined set to her mouth. “I’ll learn it,” she declared, “and a lot more. So when Chuck comes back, I’ll… I’ll be different. Smarter. Like those girls he meets.”

Angie put down her knitting. “Tessie, learning a new language, or swimming, or playing tennis won’t just be for Chuck or to show anyone up. It should be for you, to feel good about yourself, to grow.”

“But I do! It’s just that—”

“It’s okay, Tessie.” Old Man Hatton interrupted gently. “What Angie’s trying to say is, you’ve got a chance now to do something for yourself. And we’re here to help you with that. Not just with French or sports, but to help you become whatever you want to be.”

Tessie looked from Angie to Old Man Hatton, her expression softening. She nodded, slowly, absorbing the weight of their words. “I want that. For me. I just don’t know where to start.”

“That’s why we’re here,” Angie said, getting up. “We’ll start with the basics—French, if you like. And there’s more, much more. We’ll plan it together.” She extended her hand to Tessie, who took it, a tangible sign of acceptance and new beginnings.

Old Man Hatton cleared his throat. “And let’s not forget about making this house a place where any girl can come to learn and grow. Tessie, you’re just the first of many.”

Tessie stood, feeling suddenly as though a great weight had been lifted from her shoulders. She was tired, dirty, and emotionally drained, but for the first time in months, she felt hope. A new path was unfolding before her, not just for her own future, but for the future of many others like her. The journey wouldn’t be easy, but with Angie and Old Man Hatton’s support, Tessie felt ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.

As they began to discuss plans, Tessie’s mind was a whirl of thoughts and possibilities. She would learn, grow, and perhaps, in her own way, help Chuck and the other soldiers by becoming a person who made a difference in her own right. The future was uncertain, but Tessie Golden, with a piece of bread in one hand and a new sense of purpose in the other, was ready to meet it head on.