
Four young women share a tiny flat in a bustling city, each bearing a name that begins with “B” and a nickname that hints at their personalities. Loraine’s commanding tone, Laura Ann’s quiet wit, T.O.’s shy perseverance, and Billy’s tireless devotion to teaching music create a lively, if cramped, household. Their lives intersect in the “B‑Hive,” a makeshift community where they juggle odd jobs, art, and study while clinging to a collective dream they call the Grand Plan.
One rainy evening, after a hurried arrival and a steaming cup of tea, the girls finally vote to spend the summer in the countryside—a bold step toward the freedom they crave. Their excitement is palpable, yet the practicalities of packing, travel, and finding a place linger in the air. As they laugh, argue, and support one another, the story captures the hopeful energy of friendship and the yearning for a simpler life beyond the city’s relentless pace.
Language
en
Duration
~1 hours (96K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Joel Erickson, David Garcia and PG Distributed Proofreaders
Release date
2005-12-01
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
1862–1943
A popular American writer of stories for children and families, she brought warmth, humor, and everyday feeling to books like Rebecca Mary and The Very Small Person. Her fiction also appeared in major magazines of her time, helping her reach a wide early-20th-century readership.
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