STORY SO FAR: Having kept the one-room school open with Ida as teacher, all the children were required to take final exams. The results will come in by mail.

The week following the exam was a nerve racking time for Ida. Felix, as usual, was happy to be home, and loved to tag after his sister or his parents, trying to be helpful in whatever way he could.But having been at school each weekday―save for the days Mr. Jordan had closed it―and having become used to being in charge, staying at home was difficult for Ida. At least there were always things that had to be done, like helping her mother in the house or with the baby, or working with her father in the pastures or in the barn with the sheep.But Ida could barely wait for the end of each day. Then she and Felix drove down to check the mail.Their mailbox was about a mile away, one of a line of seven battered mailboxes for those families living at the head of Elk Valley. It was the end of the road. The postman ventured no further.For six days the red mailbox flag was down when Ida and Felix arrived. Then, exactly one week after the day of the exam, the flag was up.“It’s here!” Ida screamed at Felix as they drew close. “Clutch. Brake!”The car skittered to a stop. Without waiting for Felix to get himself out, Ida untied the door, leaped out, then raced to the mailbox.Inside were two pale tan envelopes, each one addressed in an elegant, scrolling hand. One was for “Miss Ida Bidson,” the other for “Master Felix Bidson.”Handing Felix his envelope, Ida tore open her envelope. Inside was a printed form, but with parts written in blank spaces:This certifies that Ida Bidson, age 14, a resident of the town of Elk Valley, of Royce County, State of Colorado, has completed the course of study with honors prescribed for common schools, and is entitled to enter the high school at Silver Springs, for the year beginning Sept. 14, 1925.Yours truly,Miss Gertrude SedgewickCounty ExaminerOn a separate piece of paper a note was included.My dear Ida: I have been most impressed by you and what you have done. If you would care to take board in my home in the fall―so you could attend high School―it could be arranged. It would cost your parents nothing. You may consider it a scholarship. G.S.There was yet a third piece of paper, with another note.Dear Miss Bidson,I’m happy to inform you that all of your students―except Herbert Bixler―completed their exams with varying degrees of success. Congratulations!Gertrude Sedgewick“I passed!” Ida screamed. “Most everyone passed!”“Did I?” asked Felix as he studied his paper intently.“You sure did,” Ida assured him.Graduation exercises were held a week later in the one-room schoolhouse. The students had bedecked it with flowers. A trestle table had been brought in. It was laden with enough food and lemonade for the whole Valley.The ceremonies―over which Mr. Jordan presided―began outside with the raising of the flag. Then everyone trooped inside. Even Herbert was there.One by one the students were called upon―youngest first, then on through the oldest―to recite. There were poems, excerpts from famous orations, speeches from Shakespeare, and other bits and pieces from literature―everything taken from their readers. Interspersed were songs sung by all the children. Finally, the students were called up, handed certificates of promotion, and given a handshake from each member of the school board.Ida was the last one to be called.As she stepped up to receive her diploma, Mr. Jordan cleared his throat. “In addition to graduating from eighth grade, Miss Ida Bidson, who acted as our schoolteacher, deserves special recognition. Even I can see that.”The adults applauded. The children cheered.“And here’s hoping,” Mr. Jordan continued, “she’ll go on and become a real teacher, then come on back to this same school.”Herbert shouted out, “But you’ll have to pay her then!”After the ceremonies, food and refreshments were served. Someone had brought some fireworks, so that at dusk a final celebration was held. In the glare of the explosions, the surrounding mountaintops seemed to glisten with fire.“We’re real proud of you, Ida,” her mother said as the family drove home. Mr. Bidson was in the driver’s seat. Felix and Ida were in the back.“Real proud,” Mr. Bidson agreed. “Only thing is, you’ve got some real work cut out for you this summer.”“Why?” Ida said, slightly alarmed.“Well, you’ll be going to high school in the fall, right? Boarding with that Miss Sedgewick. That means we’ll be losing a strong pair of hands. The more work you get done this summer, the easier it’s going to be for the rest of us when you go.”“Get Tom up here!” Felix shouted. “He’ll do anything for Ida.”The family laughed. Ida’s face turned red. And though she closed her eyes, all she could see was brightness.<i>The End</i>

Text copyright &Copy; 2000 AviIllustrations copyright &Copy; 2000 Brian FlocaReprinted by permission of Breakfast Serials, Inc.www.breakfastserials.com