Read Online The Tender Years by Janette Oke - Free Book Online

now looking at Jedd’s full back. He had turned and was walking away, totally unperturbed by Jenny’s fury.
    “Game of ball,” Jenny sputtered to those who remained. “Game of ball—on a dirty ole sandlot. Don’t even have a decent backstop. And he thinks that’s living.” Virginia almost expected her to spit in the dust. But Jenny quickly cast aside her anger with Jedd and let the glint return to her eyes. “Now, who’s in? Just a little fun with the good man Mr. Lougin.” She emphasized the name of the man, drawing out each syllable and making a face as she did so.
    Virginia looked after Jedd. She could hear his whistle as it drifted back on the warmth and stillness of the afternoon spring day. If only she had the nerve to follow suit.

    The trip to the hardware store was rather a letdown. Five neighborhood men sat around a large nail keg, checkerboard set out before them as Mr. Telsworth took on Mr. Teigs in what appeared to be a tight match. The others watched, eyes glued to the board, or clucked appreciatively as a brilliant move was made. When the ragtag band of school friends self-consciously entered the store, eyes lifted from the board to focus fully on all the young faces. Even Mr. Lougin himself seemed ready to welcome them if it meant a sale.
    “Help you young folks?” he asked good-naturedly as he moved toward them from his spot on an upturned barrel.
    Virginia could hear the shuffling of feet. No one spoke. There seemed to be nothing to say. Then Jenny managed to find her tongue.
    “We were wondering if you got in any of those six-inch-tall inkwells—like they carry in the city.”
    The man shook his head. “No tall inkwells. Have the standard—”
    “No, that’s not what we wanted. Tall ones hold more. We just thought …”
    “I’ll sure look into it. See what I can do.” Mr. Lougin pulled a stubby pencil from behind his ear and tugged the little note pad from the front of his bib coverall. He gave the pencil a bit of a lick before he put it to the paper to make himself a note concerning tall inkwells.
    “How many you thinking you might need?” he asked without even looking up.
    Jenny was backing slowly toward the door, her little cluster of followers slowly backing with her. For once she seemed to be losing control of the situation. “Uh … maybe … maybe six or eight.”
    Mr. Lougin’s left eyebrow shot up. “Half a dozen.”
    Jenny nodded. “They are rather pricey,” she said, her chin lifting as she seemed to recover her haughty spirit. “Pro’bly not many folks in this town can afford them.”
    The right eyebrow joined the left, but Mr. Lougin said nothing as his pencil scratched on. “Maybe a dozen,” he muttered to himself as he finished his writing.
    The little group backed themselves right out onto the side? walk. Virginia could feel a collective sigh pass through the entire company.
    “Six-inch-tall inkwells,” whispered Freddie. “Never heard of six-inch-tall inkwells.”
    Jenny gave him a scathing look. “Neither will Mr. Lougin,” she said with a toss of her head. “Not any such thing.”
    “You mean—?” Sammie Boycie began the question that he never did finish. Instead, as the light began to dawn he howled at the fun of it. It seemed to lighten the spirits of the entire little group. Jenny tossed her red hair and emitted a delighted giggle. The situation was redeemed. She was back in charge again. The trip had not been a total disaster after all.

    “Maybe you could talk to him.”
    Virginia was already shaking her head even as Jenny broached the suggestion.
    “He goes to your church, doesn’t he?”
    Virginia nodded. That was true. But what did that have to do with it? Besides, she simply could not understand Jenny’s determination to get Jamison Curtis to be one of her little set. Jamison had been approached a number of times. It was true that he could be as much fun as anyone, but it was also true that he had vetoed Jenny’s plans on more than