“I see. Thank you for sharing your story with me Tarrah. I know we shall become great friends.” Tarrah smiles at her and rises to clean up the tea service. “Leave it, please. I will finish the pot off. Thank you.”
“No, thank you. For once, I get to bring Peighton some good news.” Summer watches her leave, and she rises to go to her desk. Perhaps she could talk Victor into using the guest house for staff quarters. It would be better for them to be closer to the house anyway. She jots that down on her list of to do things.
Her hands tremble when she thinks about so many coming into the country who are being exploited, robbed and tossed aside. Tarrah was lucky to find work with Victor, but many others will not be so lucky. ‘What can I do? How can I help,’ she paces as she thinks about it.
“Of course!” She quickly sits at her table and begins to sketch. “A pamphlet, not a flyer. Listing the symptoms of sicknesses and the correct level of care to seek.” A sense of determination fills Summer’s mind. “I will have these printed and pay some of the immigrants who need money to distribute them for me. It’s about time I put my medical knowledge to use.”
The next few days pass in a blur of excitement and activity. Victor returns to work full time, while Summer begins her lessons with Jonah and the girls. They spend the evenings together, getting to know each other as a family, the days fly by. Victor agrees to consider using the guest house as staff quarters, but for now, he must think about it. This job will only last another few months, and then they are back to Boston unless he gets another contract in the area.
Friday morning comes, and Summer rises excited by the day's plan. Today her flyers are ready at the printers. She is excited to show Victor over dinner tonight and see his reaction.
Danny, the coachman, takes her into town and insists on escorting her to the print shop in New York. “Ya, don’t know what kinds of filth lurks in the streets here. Stay close and don’t tarry,” he grumbles in a sharp English brogue.
“Yes, Sir.”
Danny is a giant bull sized man, who she is sure Victor hired as her bodyguard and not just a coachman. Truthfully, she is thankful for the protection.
“No one will mess with me today, surely you will scare them all away,” she teases. “Thank you for accompanying me.”
“It’s my job, Miss Summer. You should’ve just let me pick them up for ya,” he snorts before guiding her onto the ferry that will take them to town.
“I promise not to be too much work today, Danny, but I really need to go to the hospital and see the administrator before we return this afternoon. How will we get to the print shop?”
“I’ve got it in hand, Miss Denning.”
Once they dock, getting a carriage is easy, they are waiting to shuttle passengers into the center city of New York. After a short ride through the bustling streets, they pull up outside of the print shop.
“Wait here,” Danny orders the driver and walks inside shadowing Summer. He pushes past people rushing through the street and opens the door for her.
“Miss Denning!” The shop owner calls out, with an excited wave. “Come, come.” Mrs. Zhang opens a door behind the counter and Summer follows with Danny close behind. A large printing press is being run by her husband with their sons. Mr. Zhang smiles and walks over with her flyer. He holds it out, and she gasps.
“It’s perfect!” It is a tri-fold flyer, detailing the different types of diseases and how to follow the proper protocols of treatment. They decided on red and black for the print colors to catch the attention of those who read it. It includes when to seek help at the hospital and how to best avoid the illnesses that are passed by uncleanliness and sanitary problems.
Summer made sure to include a segment involving the safety of immunizations. She details the pros versus the cons and gives the address of the local hospital. This morning she will meet with the administrator at the hospital and offer to provide him with copies to hand out to the patients they treat.
Mr. Zhang speaks in Chinese to his wife and nods at Danny. Mrs. Zhang nods in understanding and offers Danny some tea. “What you are doing is going to help many people. I am honored to assist you, Miss Denning,” he explains.
“Thank you, Mr. Zhang. No one should have to die from lack of knowledge. Though another question did occur to me. What do I do about those that can’t read English? Can you print in other languages?”
He smiles at her and shakes his head. “Not a worry, word will spread. I took care to print some in Mandarin, to pass out to those who can't read the English yet. I will hand them out in my shop, with your permission and many other businesses will as well. My sons will be honored to pass them out for you. No charge.”
“That’s perfect! I hadn’t got to other languages yet, but you are right. We will need French and German, which I can do. Do you have a place for me to work?” Summer paces as she thinks. Mr. Zhang brings paper and a quill while showing Summer to a table to work. She smiles in delight while Danny watches over her.
“This won’t take long, Danny. If you have errands to run?” She suggests looking up at him and back at Mr. Zhang.
“The big moose is
