Read Online Beezus and Ramona by Beverly Cleary - Free Book Online Page B

Susan, who lived in the next block.
    Ramona offered Susan her panda bear, but Susan did not want it. Ramona hit Susan with the panda. “You take my bear,” she ordered. “This is my party and you’re supposed to do what I say.”
    â€œI don’t want your old bear,” answered Susan.

    Beezus tried to grab the vacuum cleaner, but Howie was too quick for her. The room was getting uncomfortably hot, so Beezus darted to the thermostat to turn down the heat. Then she dashed to the other side of the room and disconnected the vacuum cleaner at the wall. It died with a noisy groan. Suddenly everyone was quiet, waiting to see what would happen.
    â€œHey,” protested Howie, “you can’t do that.”
    Beezus frantically tried to think of some way to keep fifteen small children busy and out of mischief. At least, she thought there were fifteen. They didn’t stand still long enough to be counted.
    â€œWhere’s the party?” one little boy asked.
    Ramona appeared with more toys, which she dumped on the floor. This time she brought a drum. Howie quickly lost interest in the vacuum cleaner and grabbed the drum. Beezus seized the vacuum cleaner and shoved it into the hall closet, while Howie began to beat the drum. “I’m leading a parade,” he said.
    â€œYou are not,” contradicted Ramona.
    â€œThis is my party.”
    Susan snatched a pink plastic horn and tooted it. “I’m in the parade too,” she said.
    â€œI want to be in the parade! I want to bein the parade!” cried the others.
    That was it! They could play parade! Beezus ran to the bedroom and found a whistle and a couple of horns left over from a Halloween party. What else could be used in a parade? Flags, of course! But what could she use for flags? Beezus thought fast. She gathered up two yardsticks and several rulers; then she ran to the front bedroom and snatched some of her father’s handkerchiefs from a drawer. She had to move fast before the children grew tired of the idea.
    â€œI want to be in the parade!” screamed the children.
    â€œMother, help me,” cried Beezus.
    Somehow Beezus and her mother got Father’s handkerchiefs tied to the sticks and distributed to the children who did not have noisemakers.
    Howie banged the drum. “Follow me,” he ordered, beginning to march. The othersfollowed, blowing whistles, tooting horns, waving flags.
    â€œNo!” screamed Ramona, who wanted to boss her own party.
    â€œYou wanted a party,” Mother reminded her. “If your guests want to play parade, you’d better join them.”
    Ramona scowled, but she took a flag and joined the parade rather than be left out entirely at her own party.
    â€œPlaying parade was a wonderful idea.” Mother smiled at Beezus. “I hope it lasts.”
    â€œSo do I,” Beezus agreed.
    â€œBingle-bongle-by,” yelled the flag wavers.

    Howie led the parade, including a sulky Ramona, out of the living room, down the hall, through the kitchen and dining room, and back into the living room again. Willa Jean toddled along at the end of the procession. Beezus was afraid the parade mightbreak up, but all the children appeared delighted with the game. Into the bedroom they marched and out again. Beezus opened the basement door. Down the steps Howie led the parade. Willa Jean had to go down the steps backwards on her hands and knees. Three times around the furnace marched the parade and up the steps again before Willa Jean was halfway down.

    Beezus opened the door to the attic. Upthe steps marched the parade. Stamp, stamp, stamp went their feet overhead. Stamp, stamp, stamp.
    Beezus remembered something Ramona had enjoyed when she was still in diapers. She lugged Willa Jean up the basement steps, sat her in the middle of the kitchen floor, and handed her the egg beater. “There. Don’t step on her,” she said to her mother.
    â€œThank