Anna spent her days working in the greenhouse at Greystone,

making use of her knowledge of the fruits and vegetables she

tended in the gardens at the farmhouse.  She wrote brief notes

to her parents of her delight in caring for the flowers and plants,

watching them spring to life from seed to bloom to harvest, and

ending up on the plates of the patients and staff at the Hospital.

She had grown from child to woman at Greystone.  It was 1929,

and Anna was eighteen years old.  She was a kindly young

woman, appreciated by the staff for her compliance to the

routines and rules.  She often brought a fresh flower for the

nurses' station, or dropped a blossom at the bedside of a new

patient in the ward, slipping quickly away.  Anna functioned by

rote, her behavior stable as long as no one invaded her body

space.

She was in the greenhouse one day, and looking up from the

flowers she watered saw a young man a few rows away pick

a ripe strawberry and pop it into his mouth.  He had broken a

rule.  Anna frowned.  The boy looked away sheepishly, and resumed

his work. 

Later on, as Anna strolled along the grounds she found herself

face-to-face with the same young man as they rounded a large

spruce tree.

"Are you still mad at me?" he asked timidly.

Anna turned and ran away from him.  He had come too close

for comfort, yet that night, she wondered if the handsome boy

would be at the greenhouse the next day.

Anna heard the greenhouse keeper call him James.  He went

about his duties so efficiently, Anna thought he must have

lived on a farm too.  She was examining the parsley plants

that looked parched though they seemed to be well watered,

when she heard James's voice say, "It's too sunny here for

parsley-east exposure is better."

"Oh, I didn't know that-I'll move them," Anna answered.

"They're heavy, I'll do it," James offered.

He moved the crates one at a time in silence.  When he came

for the last crate, he lingered a moment.

"Thank you, James," she said shyly.

"You're welcome."  He hesitated.  "It's a nice day to go for a walk. 

Would you walk with me, Anna?"

Anna felt the familiar panic come over her.  She wanted to

run away from him.  Her body trembled as her mind told

her, no, no, I cannot possibly... but her mouth had its own

ruler.  She heard herself answer, "Maybe I'll see you by the

big spruce tree."

He was waiting on her side of the spruce.  Anna approached

him without speaking.  They walked together a safe distance

apart, taking in the view, breathing the warm summer air as

it sifted refreshed through the rustling leaves.  She began

to relax, feeling more comfortable with James than she

had with anyone for a long time.  He didn't try to touch

her, didn't ask her questions.  He seemed to want nothing

more than to be with her.  Before she knew it, it was time

to return for supper. 

As James turned to leave, his eyes met hers and he spoke

for the first time, "You're beautiful," he said softly.

They saw each other every day at the greenhouse.   They

did their duties happily, knowing they would meet when

their work was done.  Anna and James walked together

every afternoon, and as their shyness gradually diminished,

they began to converse easily.   He took care not to frighten

her.  When he asked if he could hold her hand as they

walked, she nodded. 

His hand was warm and slightly rough, just a bit moist.  She

could trust James's hands.   They were like her Dada's hands,  

honest hands, gentle yet firm. 

When they parted for supper that day, James said, "I want to

kiss you, Anna.  I've wanted to kiss you for so long."

Anna had never kissed a boy, not on the lips anyway.  She

leaned toward him and closed her eyes. 

She never knew a man's lips could be soft, so soft yet firm,

moist, searching her mouth until she felt an odd tightening

somewhere between her thighs.  She touched the sides of

his face, wrapped her arms around his neck.  She felt his arms

around her waist, pressing the small of her back, pulling her

against him, his chest crushing her breasts.  She wanted to 

stay there in his arms forever. The dinner bell sounded.

Anna awakened to the sound of fire alarms.  The women's

dormitory was filling with smoke.  There were screams, the

voices of the firemen urging them to evacuate immediately,

the sound of their boots thudding in the halls as they aided

the elderly and disabled patients.  Anna grabbed her shoes

and the few bills she had hidden beneath her mattress, and

quickly exited.

Safe outside on the lawn, she stopped for breath.  There was

James among the throng of patients.  The guards and all staff

were occupied making sure to get everyone out of the building.

James took her hand.

"Come on, we're getting out of here."

Epilogue to follow.