Read Online Anna All Year Round by Mary Downing Hahn, Diane de Groat - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Mary Downing Hahn, Diane de Groat
Tags: United States, Fiction, General, Historical, People & Places, Family, Juvenile Fiction, Family Life, Social Issues, Adolescence, maryland, Baltimore (Md.), German Americans, baltimore, Hahn; Mary Downing - Family, Sherwood; Anna Elisabeth, Baltimore (Md.) - Fiction, Family Life - Maryland - Baltimore - Fiction
Ads: Link
even a spoon.
After they're seated, the waiter gives Anna her own menu. She studies it carefully, reading each item—appetizers, soups and salads, entrées, desserts, beverages. She feels very grown-up.
"What would you like?" Father asks. "You may have anything your heart desires."
Anna frowns at the menu. It's hard to make up her mind. Should she try something she's never had? Or should she stick with familiar food?
"What are you having?" she asks Father.
Father glances at the menu. "Perhaps I'll try the escargot," he says.
Anna stares at the word escargot. She would have pronounced it the way it's spelled, but Father has left off the "t."
"Is that a German word, Father?"
"No. It's French."
"What does it mean?"
Father smiles. "Snail."
"Snail?" Anna cannot believe she's heard him properly. "You want to eat a snail?"
Father says, "Yes, I like snails. The chef cooks them in white wine and butter with a pinch of herbs. They're served in their shells."
Anna makes a face. She can't believe Father is serious. She's seen snails on the sidewalk. Nothing could make her eat one.
"Would you like to try a snail?" Father asks.
Anna shakes her head so hard the ribbon almost slides out of her hair. "If you eat one, I'll throw up," she says.
Father laughs again. "Maybe I'll have a nice hot bowl of terrapin soup instead."
Anna knows what terrapins are. She stares at Father. "Turtle soup is almost as bad as snails!"
"How about a crab cake?" Father asks. "Will Princess Anna please allow me to eat that?"
Anna nods. "Yes, Father. You may eat a crab cake."
"Thank you," Father says. "But how about you? What will you eat?"
"A ham sandwich," Anna says, deciding to choose something safe. "And vanilla ice cream for dessert."
After lunch, Father walks back to the trolley stop with Anna. He only works half a day on Saturday, so they ride home together on Uncle Nick's car.
As the trolley bounces along the tracks, Anna rests her head on Father's shoulder and watches the crowded streets and sidewalks pass by. So many people going places and doing things. And today she, Anna, has been one of them. She hopes she can have lunch with Father every Saturday. Maybe next time she'll dare to eat a crab cake. But never a snail.
11. Ladyfingers
IT'S JULY IN THE CITY—TOO HOT TO ROLLER-SKATE , too hot to jump rope, too hot to play hopscotch. Leaves droop. Flowers hang their heads. The street venders' ponies walk slower and slower.
All day long, the sun beats down on the rooftops, streets, and sidewalks. The city traps the heat and holds it tight all night long. No one can sleep. Children stay up late. Grownups sit out front on their marble steps and fan themselves with the evening paper.
One night Aunt May and Mother are sitting side-by-side on the steps, exchanging secrets in German, while Father and Uncle Henry talk about baseball. Anna sits still and listens quietly to her mother and aunt.
"
Nein, Nein, Lizzie. Henrietta ist rundlich,
" Aunt May says, "
nicht fett.
"
Like Father, Anna has picked up a German word here and a German word there, just enough to know Aunt May has said that Aunt Henrietta is plump, not fat. At last Anna is beginning to learn the language of secrets!
Before Mother can reply, Anna says quickly, "
Nein, Tante May. Tante Henrietta ist fett, sehr fett!
" She puffs up her cheeks and stretches out her arms to show how fat Aunt Henrietta is.
Mother is so surprised she almost falls off the steps, but Aunt May bursts into laughter. "Anna, Anna," she exclaims. "Have you learned German after all?"
Anna looks at Father and giggles. He and Uncle Henry laugh too, but Mother neither smiles nor frowns. It seems she does not know what to think of Anna.
"Ach, Lizzie," Aunt May laments, "what do you expect?
Anna ist ein kluges Mädchen.
You've told me so yourself."
Winking at Mother, Aunt May begins to talk to Anna in German. She speaks so fast the words run together, long words, hard words. To Anna's dismay, she cannot
After they're seated, the waiter gives Anna her own menu. She studies it carefully, reading each item—appetizers, soups and salads, entrées, desserts, beverages. She feels very grown-up.
"What would you like?" Father asks. "You may have anything your heart desires."
Anna frowns at the menu. It's hard to make up her mind. Should she try something she's never had? Or should she stick with familiar food?
"What are you having?" she asks Father.
Father glances at the menu. "Perhaps I'll try the escargot," he says.
Anna stares at the word escargot. She would have pronounced it the way it's spelled, but Father has left off the "t."
"Is that a German word, Father?"
"No. It's French."
"What does it mean?"
Father smiles. "Snail."
"Snail?" Anna cannot believe she's heard him properly. "You want to eat a snail?"
Father says, "Yes, I like snails. The chef cooks them in white wine and butter with a pinch of herbs. They're served in their shells."
Anna makes a face. She can't believe Father is serious. She's seen snails on the sidewalk. Nothing could make her eat one.
"Would you like to try a snail?" Father asks.
Anna shakes her head so hard the ribbon almost slides out of her hair. "If you eat one, I'll throw up," she says.
Father laughs again. "Maybe I'll have a nice hot bowl of terrapin soup instead."
Anna knows what terrapins are. She stares at Father. "Turtle soup is almost as bad as snails!"
"How about a crab cake?" Father asks. "Will Princess Anna please allow me to eat that?"
Anna nods. "Yes, Father. You may eat a crab cake."
"Thank you," Father says. "But how about you? What will you eat?"
"A ham sandwich," Anna says, deciding to choose something safe. "And vanilla ice cream for dessert."
After lunch, Father walks back to the trolley stop with Anna. He only works half a day on Saturday, so they ride home together on Uncle Nick's car.
As the trolley bounces along the tracks, Anna rests her head on Father's shoulder and watches the crowded streets and sidewalks pass by. So many people going places and doing things. And today she, Anna, has been one of them. She hopes she can have lunch with Father every Saturday. Maybe next time she'll dare to eat a crab cake. But never a snail.
11. Ladyfingers
IT'S JULY IN THE CITY—TOO HOT TO ROLLER-SKATE , too hot to jump rope, too hot to play hopscotch. Leaves droop. Flowers hang their heads. The street venders' ponies walk slower and slower.
All day long, the sun beats down on the rooftops, streets, and sidewalks. The city traps the heat and holds it tight all night long. No one can sleep. Children stay up late. Grownups sit out front on their marble steps and fan themselves with the evening paper.
One night Aunt May and Mother are sitting side-by-side on the steps, exchanging secrets in German, while Father and Uncle Henry talk about baseball. Anna sits still and listens quietly to her mother and aunt.
"
Nein, Nein, Lizzie. Henrietta ist rundlich,
" Aunt May says, "
nicht fett.
"
Like Father, Anna has picked up a German word here and a German word there, just enough to know Aunt May has said that Aunt Henrietta is plump, not fat. At last Anna is beginning to learn the language of secrets!
Before Mother can reply, Anna says quickly, "
Nein, Tante May. Tante Henrietta ist fett, sehr fett!
" She puffs up her cheeks and stretches out her arms to show how fat Aunt Henrietta is.
Mother is so surprised she almost falls off the steps, but Aunt May bursts into laughter. "Anna, Anna," she exclaims. "Have you learned German after all?"
Anna looks at Father and giggles. He and Uncle Henry laugh too, but Mother neither smiles nor frowns. It seems she does not know what to think of Anna.
"Ach, Lizzie," Aunt May laments, "what do you expect?
Anna ist ein kluges Mädchen.
You've told me so yourself."
Winking at Mother, Aunt May begins to talk to Anna in German. She speaks so fast the words run together, long words, hard words. To Anna's dismay, she cannot
Similar Books
