Read Online Anastasia at This Address by Lois Lowry - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Lois Lowry
Tags: Ages 9 & Up
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there
is
one truly important detail that Mom may not have told you about yet. And this will definitely interest you."
"What's that?" her father asked politely.
"All of us junior bridesmaids are supposed to wear little pearl earrings. In fact, Kirsten made us each a
gift
of little pearl earrings. Actually, she didn't officially make the gift yet. She's giving them to us at the rehearsal dinner. That's traditional: the bride gives gifts to the bridesmaids at the rehearsal dinner."
Her father looked at her while he chewed slowly on a mouthful of lasagna. Finally, he said, "Well, that certainly is a truly important detail which definitely interests me. It's right up there with—oh, let's say world peace, maybe."
"No, no, Dad," Anastasia went on, laughing. "I know you're not fascinated with pearl earrings.
Here's
the interesting thing. Kirsten bought earrings for pierced ears. Meredith has pierced ears, and Sonya has pierced ears, and Daphne has pierced ears, and I'm the only one who doesn't have pierced ears.
Yet,
" she added meaningfully.
Her father nodded. "And I suspect that you're going to tell me that
that
means—"
"Right!" Anastasia grinned. "Mom said okay. And tomorrow I'm going to get a lobotomy!"
Her father started to laugh. About time, thought Anastasia. About
time
he took an interest in the preparations for the wedding. But what was so
funny,
for Pete's sake?
Then he explained. "Sorry, sport, for laughing. But a lobotomy is a kind of brain surgery."
"Oh," Anastasia said, a little embarrassed. "Well, as far as I'm concerned, lobe-piercing is pretty much the same."
"By the way, Anastasia," Mrs. Krupnik said as she began to clear the dinner plates from the table, "did you check through the mail in the front hall? You got a letter this morning from your pen pal."
Dear Swifty,
I'm sorry It has taken me so long to reply. You can envision, I'm sure, the height of a stack of 416 letters. My computer letter did narrow it down. The lady from Sitka did not respond, of course. Nor did the lady with the Siamese cats. So I had only 414 replies, plus your additional two letters, which made the new stack 416 again.
Now, after reading all of those and looking at 402 photographs (several ladies chose not to send any), I am sending personal letters only to two. And frankly, I chose the two ladies who have sloops. I am very attracted to sloops, I have to confess. Please tell me more about yours.
In addition to your sloop, I find your handwriting interesting. You did not mention your profession. But I am speculating that you may be a doctor. Your handwriting looks very much like that of a doctor.
And your nickname is appealing. What is the origin of "Swifty"? I am guessing that you race. I have participated in the Monhegan and Bermuda races myself, so I think we may have a real interest—or even a passion—in common.
Your location is also advantageous. The other lady who owns a sloop is in California, and Boston is so much closer to New York. I go to Boston fairly often. In fact, I will be there early in May—goodness, a couple of weeks from now—but unfortunately you indicated that your social calendar was full that week, so we will have to meet another time.
Thank you for the photograph. I received all sorts of photographs, including three that could be considered X-rated. I liked yours for its almost old-fashioned quality.
You asked what kind of work I do, and I am a little embarrassed to tell you that I don't work at all. Does that bother you? It takes me a great deal of time simply to manage my portfolio.
I look forward to hearing from you again.
Sincerely,
Septimus Smith
9
"I'm a little bit nervous about this," Anastasia confessed to Daphne as they made their way through the crowds at the shopping mall. Her friend was accompanying her to the large department store where she was to have her ears pierced.
"It's no big deal. It only takes a second, and it doesn't hurt. They use a gun."
Anastasia stopped
is
one truly important detail that Mom may not have told you about yet. And this will definitely interest you."
"What's that?" her father asked politely.
"All of us junior bridesmaids are supposed to wear little pearl earrings. In fact, Kirsten made us each a
gift
of little pearl earrings. Actually, she didn't officially make the gift yet. She's giving them to us at the rehearsal dinner. That's traditional: the bride gives gifts to the bridesmaids at the rehearsal dinner."
Her father looked at her while he chewed slowly on a mouthful of lasagna. Finally, he said, "Well, that certainly is a truly important detail which definitely interests me. It's right up there with—oh, let's say world peace, maybe."
"No, no, Dad," Anastasia went on, laughing. "I know you're not fascinated with pearl earrings.
Here's
the interesting thing. Kirsten bought earrings for pierced ears. Meredith has pierced ears, and Sonya has pierced ears, and Daphne has pierced ears, and I'm the only one who doesn't have pierced ears.
Yet,
" she added meaningfully.
Her father nodded. "And I suspect that you're going to tell me that
that
means—"
"Right!" Anastasia grinned. "Mom said okay. And tomorrow I'm going to get a lobotomy!"
Her father started to laugh. About time, thought Anastasia. About
time
he took an interest in the preparations for the wedding. But what was so
funny,
for Pete's sake?
Then he explained. "Sorry, sport, for laughing. But a lobotomy is a kind of brain surgery."
"Oh," Anastasia said, a little embarrassed. "Well, as far as I'm concerned, lobe-piercing is pretty much the same."
"By the way, Anastasia," Mrs. Krupnik said as she began to clear the dinner plates from the table, "did you check through the mail in the front hall? You got a letter this morning from your pen pal."
Dear Swifty,
I'm sorry It has taken me so long to reply. You can envision, I'm sure, the height of a stack of 416 letters. My computer letter did narrow it down. The lady from Sitka did not respond, of course. Nor did the lady with the Siamese cats. So I had only 414 replies, plus your additional two letters, which made the new stack 416 again.
Now, after reading all of those and looking at 402 photographs (several ladies chose not to send any), I am sending personal letters only to two. And frankly, I chose the two ladies who have sloops. I am very attracted to sloops, I have to confess. Please tell me more about yours.
In addition to your sloop, I find your handwriting interesting. You did not mention your profession. But I am speculating that you may be a doctor. Your handwriting looks very much like that of a doctor.
And your nickname is appealing. What is the origin of "Swifty"? I am guessing that you race. I have participated in the Monhegan and Bermuda races myself, so I think we may have a real interest—or even a passion—in common.
Your location is also advantageous. The other lady who owns a sloop is in California, and Boston is so much closer to New York. I go to Boston fairly often. In fact, I will be there early in May—goodness, a couple of weeks from now—but unfortunately you indicated that your social calendar was full that week, so we will have to meet another time.
Thank you for the photograph. I received all sorts of photographs, including three that could be considered X-rated. I liked yours for its almost old-fashioned quality.
You asked what kind of work I do, and I am a little embarrassed to tell you that I don't work at all. Does that bother you? It takes me a great deal of time simply to manage my portfolio.
I look forward to hearing from you again.
Sincerely,
Septimus Smith
9
"I'm a little bit nervous about this," Anastasia confessed to Daphne as they made their way through the crowds at the shopping mall. Her friend was accompanying her to the large department store where she was to have her ears pierced.
"It's no big deal. It only takes a second, and it doesn't hurt. They use a gun."
Anastasia stopped
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