Dust off the Memories

“Close the door,” hollered Clara. “You are going to let all the dust in!” Clara and her best friend, Jenny, were busy hanging decorations in the gym. It had been Clara’s idea to put on the party.

It had been a rough school year so far. Living through the Depression had been difficult. Many of the families in the little farming community were struggling. The drought and dust storms had been severe.

The land was dried up and blowing everywhere. The economy was depressed with no help in sight. Having dust everywhere only aggravated the situation. You couldn’t eat, sleep, or bathe without having to deal with the mountains and mountains of dust pouring in.

As head of the celebration committee, Clara took her job very seriously. She was amazed with the donations that had already poured in. Clara knew these were sacrifices when so many families were wondering where their next meal would be coming.

The night of the party arrived and the townspeople lined up outside the gymnasium.

“How can they put on a party with all this dust everywhere?” asked some of the people in line. Clara nervously took tickets from guests entering the party. As Mr. Paulson, the principal, walked in, he was moved to tears. The gymnasium was beautiful. Clara had placed jars filled with flowers all over. Candles were lit in bottles that were filled with dust and sand to stabilize them.