“Mary Beth”—Melanie whispered the name again—“just like my mother.” Her voice cracked.
Chaisley swallowed back the emotions clogging her throat. What kind of operation would they have done on the mother just because she was blind? It didn’t make sense. Still, what a brave young girl. In the midst of difficult times, she was encouraging her mother. “Mel, I need you to make sure we send tickets to that address. Multiple concerts if you can, so they can surely come to at least one.”
“Of course.” Her friend’s response was strong and determined. “Just look at how you’ve affected this one life, Chaisley.”
She shifted her face toward the window. “What is happening in Berlin? And why would they take Mary Beth’s mother away and perform surgery?”
Dr. G cleared his throat and by the sound of his chair, he must have shuffled in his seat. Since he didn’t answer right away, that meant it was something he didn’t want to share with her. He cleared his throat again. “I have heard rumors that they have sterilized people whom they believe are imperfect. To protect the Aryan race.”
“What?” While the news in Europe depressed her most of the time, Chaisley thought she had at least stayed informed. Apparently that wasn’t true.
“This isn’t common knowledge, Chais. That is why I wanted to speak to each of you today.”
The weight of words from a young girl about her mother’s plight penetrated deep into Chaisley’s heart. Little wonder her grandmother had become so passionate about helping everyone she could. “Has Grandmother seen some of this in her work?”
“Yes.” The answer was quick. “Chaisley ... we’ve never wanted you to feel less of a person because of the effects of the accident. But there are many people being treated as less, whether blind, deaf, missing a limb, or simply of a different race. They’re regarded by some as not even human—not deserving of life. Your grandmother asked me to keep all this to myself until she found the right way to speak with you about it.”
“But why?” She swallowed hard. “We’ve never kept secrets before. And no one has ever treated me as lesser. Gracious, the majority of the world has no inkling that I’ve lost my sight.” Heat raced up her neck into her cheeks, but she resisted the urge to duck her head. What did she have to be embarrassed about? It wasn’t as if she chose to be blind.
But Dr. Grafton’s words gnawed at her. Had she been wrong to refrain from telling people she was blind? She hadn’t wanted anyone to feel sorry for her.
“I can tell by the look on your face that you are second-guessing your decisions to be independent and keep this to yourself. You’ve done nothing wrong.” Melanie’s fervent words touched Chaisley. “Not a thing. You haven’t lied to anyone. You’ve lived your life and performed and blessed people the world over. Just look at what you’ve done for this little girl.”
“Mel’s correct. It’s the Nazis who are doing the wrong. They are perpetrating this lie—spreading propaganda far and wide.” Dr. G’s tone held the tint of anger. And it took a great deal to anger her guardian and dear friend.
“But is there a way I can help? Something more than just playing the piano? Something to give people joy and hope?”
Dr. Grafton sighed. “Let’s take this one step at a time—”
Chaisley nodded. “You’re right. I need to write her back. Encourage her. And her mother as well.” Her thoughts swirled.
“That’s a wonderful idea.” He cleared his throat again, a sign he wanted to change the subject. “But there’s a great deal more that we need to discuss. I’ve had some ideas about the upcoming tour.”
“Are you going to come along?” Melanie chimed in.
“No, I have quite a bit of traveling to do myself to check on colleagues in a few clinics and other friends, but this is about the amount of ... disharmony I keep hearing about. It has led to violence and crime.”
Another bit of news to Chaisley. How much had they kept from her? Or had she simply kept her head buried in the sand?
Dr. G continued, his tone sober. “In order to guard our correspondence, in case you need to convey something of importance to me or vice versa, I think we should go back to writing in the original form of braille, or perhaps something else.”
Well. That wasn’t what she was expecting. Were there thieves out to steal the mail? “You mean with the dashes and dots?”
“Yes.” Papers rustled. “I took the liberty of making a sheet of the alphabet, numbers, and punctuation for each of you as a refresher. Memorize it and then burn them.”
“That’s a little extreme.” The catch of apprehension in Melanie’s voice set Chaisley’s nerves on edge.
Dr. G’s voice grew more firm. “Finding an original form of braille isn’t easy. There are very few even familiar with it outside of perhaps some braille teachers who are fascinated with its history and the War of the Dots. So this should be a safe form of communication.”
Oh dear. All the lessons she’d pushed him into teaching her over the years. He’d endured her fascination with braille and her insatiable hunger to understand everything behind the invention that allowed her to read books and music. “Why are these precautions necessary?” She raised her eyebrows. “Because of Hitler and his Nazis?”
His long breath told her he was choosing his words carefully. Which meant she’d struck the truth. Hewasworried about Hitler. “It’s my job as your guardian to ensure your safety. No matter how far-fetched the rumors might be”—there was a catch in his voice, then that pause that proved he was coddling her—“I still want to be cautious.”
Rather than call him out, she’d play along. “If these precautions are necessary, then perhaps we should memorize the Boston Line Type and New York Point versions as well. Just in case.”
“Just in case ... what?” Melanie’s tone held fear.
Chaisley opened her mouth to say she was teasing, but Dr. Grafton’s words halted her. “That’s an even better idea. We can alternate each sentence. I will bring them to you tomorrow.” A pencil scratched on paper—he was writing a note.
