This was an interesting story!

In the "Note to Readers" the author explains that the families mention in the book are fictional, but many of the events actually happened. Immigrants came from Europe & made homes for themselves. The South hadn't recovered from the Civil war.

In the beginning of this story Walter Fisk was shopping with his Aunt Tina & cousin Polly. They were getting material to make a blouse for the centennial parade. Polly was going to be part of a flag made up of children, and she had been nice to Walter in the 2 weeks since his family had moved from Cincinnati to Minneapolis. Walter's little sister, Judith, and Polly's little brother, Abe, had been born on the same day but in the 2 different cities, so they were referred to as the "Terrible Twins." They didn't look alike at all! Polly thought that Walter must have had fun on his train ride to Minneapolis. At 10 years old he had seen a lot of the United States of America! Mr. Johnson, the shopkeeper told them that his son was in the cavalry with General Custer. Aunt Tinas expressed her hope that the rumors of an Indian War in the summer would prove untrue. There was another woman in the store that expressed her hate for the Indians, which Walter didn't understand. He expected one of the other adults to correct the woman's thinking, but they didn't. Polly got permission to show Walter around the city a bit, and they walked down Nicollet Avenue, one of the busiest streets. Walter compared the muddy streets with the paved streets in Cincinnati. Polly was excited by the streetcars. She had never ridden on one. They left the business section and went into a residential area where there were lots of boys playing. Walter missed his friends in Cincinnati, and wished he were playing ball with them. Polly went to greet a boy named Grant who was also watching the boys play. When Grant was told where Walter was from, he was full of questions about his life there. Polly asked Grant to help with the flag in the parade, & he agreed. Grant knew some of the boys where were playing, but he didn't want to play with them because he didn't like to play cavalry & Indians. When Grant left, Walter wondered if he had a secret. ( )