Read Online 100 Days and 99 Nights by Alan Madison - Free Book Online

for the part about cranky old Mr. Wormser forking over one lousy fork and some scrambled egg advice. She said it was “common courtesy” to leave that out.
    “I have written many articles for the Drum & Bugle, interviewed generals and colonels, and I even once spoke to a president, but this is by far the article I am the most delighted to have written,” she remarked as she careful-clipped around its edges. With her wedding ring hand, she smoothed the clear photo album cellophane over the article. Then, arm in arm, we read together, her pointer underlining each word.
    Children Collect Scrap to Help War Effort
    By Penelope Swishback McCarther
    Alexandria, Virginia — Ms. Molly Pitcher’s 2nd-grade class at Abraham Lincoln Elementary School held a scrap metal drive to aid the war effort and to show support for our troops fighting abroad.
    Early Sunday morning, the children scoured the neighborhood, collecting all manner of metal in their wagons, then deposited it at the center of Saratoga Road. Many neighbors, friends, and family members pitched in to help and by day’s end a huge pile of forks, tin cans, hangers, rusted car parts, radiators, and even an old oven had been brought to the cul-de-sac for pickup.
    “What’s that?”
    “A cul-de-sac? It’s when a street ends in a big round circle. Like our street.”
    Ike nodded.
    “Here’s my favorite part.”
    “We want to help out on the home front so our friends and family can return from the war as soon as possible,” stated Esmerelda Swishback McCarther, one of the student leaders of the scrap drive, whose father is in the middle of his tour of duty.
    “Can we send a copy to Dad?”
    “His whole unit, every man and woman, private to major, will have a copy of the Drum & Bugle by Tuesday.”
    “We hope,” added Ms. Pitcher, “the scrap metal will be melted down and turned into armor to protect our troops.”
    As the sun set, it made the enormous mound of metal glow orange and red. A truck from the army arrived, loaded the scrap, and headed back to the base.
    “We are grateful for any and all support we get from the home front, where every citizen can be a soldier. Anything done here helps us defeat our enemies over there,” commented Captain Capra of the U.S. Office of War Information.
    For their patriotism and hard work, each child received a red, white, and blue battle ribbon from their principal, Ms. Jacqueline Pershing, and a certificate of commendation from the army for a job well done.
    “So what do you think?”
    I wore a big ear-to-ear grin. “You sure know how to tell a story.”
    Which made Mom put on the same grin. She got up from my bed and started to pluck the week’s dirty clothes from the hamper that hung from my closet door.
    “I have to get the laundry in ASAP.” Which is army talk for “As Soon As Possible.” I jumped up to help pick the clothes off the floor.
    “Thank you, young lady. Fish sticks tonight?”
    “My favorite.”
    “And spaghetti?”
    “No sauce,” I reminded.
    Loaded with an armful of smelly socks, I followed my mom down to the basement washing machine.
    Queen Bee
    Queenie is black and yellow, with a fuzzy big bottom and two floppy wings made out of lace. My mom gave her to me for Ike’s first birthday. It was the only time I ever got a present for someone else’s birthday. Dad sometimes calls Mom the queen bee, which is kind of funny since she does not have a black-and-yellow fuzzy big bottom.
    “E sme, so many soldiers slap me on the back to say, ‘Tell your daughter thanks,’ that I am black-and-blue and proud all over!” my dad joked when he next called from his base. “Everyone has a copy of the paper and I am bursting with pride.”
    The phone static crackled.
    “I folded it up and keep it in my top pocket next to a picture of the three of you.”
    “Which part did you like the best?”
    “The picture. You look so big.”
    “Where are you?” I asked.
    “It’s a secret. Where are