house. They quickly uncovered Dannie and Joseph and pulled them out. Dannie was bawling. Joseph was spitting sawdust out of his mouth. Aunt Susie was crying her eyes out. Papa held Dannie in his arms and patted his back to soothe him. âI think it would be a good idea if everyone stays in the house or finds something else to play. Playing here is too dangerous.â Everyone went back inside. Lily felt like crying. She had spoiled everything. She knew Grandpa would never allow them to play on that sawdust pile ever again. Not ever.
9 Pumpkin Pie in the Woods L ilyâs mouth watered when she saw Effie Kauffmanâs store-bought cookies. One side was white and the other side was dark brown. White frosting oozed out of the middle. Both sides had a pretty design. They were the most beautiful, delicious-looking cookies Lily had ever seen. Beth had offered a piece of chocolate cake with thick, fluffy chocolate frosting in exchange for Effieâs store-bought cookies. Lily peeped into her lunch box. She hoped she might find one of Mamaâs big chocolate chip cookies that she could trade with Effie for one of her pretty cookies, but there were no cookies today. Only a sandwich baggie filled with sliced apples. Lily sighed. Tonight, she would ask Mama to make cookies so she would have something to trade tomorrow. As soon as Lily arrived home from school that afternoon, she made a beeline to the kitchen to find Mama. Her heartdropped when she saw a row of pumpkin pies cooling on the countertop. Mama was trying to use up her canned pumpkin before summer. On any other day, Lily would have been happy to see such a sight. But she knew that Mama would not want to bake cookies after she had already made pies and cleaned up the kitchen. Instead, Mama had another suggestion. âYou can take a pie to school tomorrow to share with your friends.â What a horrible idea! âI donât want to take a whole pumpkin pie to school,â Lily said. âI only need one cookie to give to Effie so sheâll give me one of her store-bought cookies.â Mama didnât look very pleased. âItâs good to want to share your things, but you should share without expecting or asking for anything in return.â Lily went upstairs to change into her everyday clothes. She sat on her bed instead of going downstairs right away. Mama didnât understand. All the other children in school exchanged things whenever they saw something they wanted in someone elseâs lunch. No one had ever asked to trade for something in Lilyâs lunch. Right now, nothing seemed as important as being able to eat a pretty store-bought cookie. She flopped back on the bed. She would have to wait until the next time Mama baked cookies. She hoped Effie would keep bringing store-bought cookies to trade before school ended for the year. The next morning, there was a grocery bag waiting on the kitchen counter beside Lilyâs and Josephâs lunch boxes. Mama came into the kitchen as Lily peeped into the bag and saw a pie. âI got a pie ready for you to take to school,â Mama said. âI cut it into eight pieces for you and Joseph to share with your friends.â Lily was mortified. No one ever carried a whole pie to school. She could just imagine what Aaron Yoder would say.She was sure that she could never face anyone again if she had to carry an entire pie to school. âI donât want to take it to school.â âItâs not that heavy,â Mama said. âJoseph will take turns carrying it with you if you get tired.â Lily didnât know how to explain to Mama that she didnât want to take a pie to school without hurting Mamaâs feelings. Joseph was happy to take a pie to school. Pumpkin pie was his favorite. He couldnât wait to give a piece to his friends, Jay and Elam. As they walked down the road, each holding on to a handle of the grocery bag, Lily frowned. âJoseph,