Read Online Cold War on Maplewood Street by Gayle Rosengren - Free Book Online Page B

calling his girlfriend next week.
    â€¢Â â€¢Â â€¢
    â€œSherry has everything—two parents, great clothes, a summer cottage, boy-girl parties. She even has a
song
named after her! Why couldn’t she leave just one thing for me?” Joanna moaned to Pamela on their way home that afternoon.
    â€œSome people have all the luck,” Pamela agreed. “And it’s not fair!”
    â€œMom says life isn’t fair, but I don’t know why not.” Joanna kicked so hard at a pile of leaves that she lost her balance and nearly fell over.
    â€œDon’t give up hope, Joanna. Even if Theo gives Sherry a ride on his horse, that doesn’t mean he won’t give you a ride, too.”
    â€œThat’s true,” Joanna said, cheering up a little. “And maybe she doesn’t even know how to ride!” She pictured Sherry trying to mount Jasper from the right side instead of the left, and shrieking in fear when the horse started to move. She imagined Theo groaning and wishing he’d never let Sherry anywhere near his horse.
    â€œOh gosh, I nearly forgot the milk!” Pamela said, veering back toward the corner store they had just passed.
    A bell on the door tinkled overhead as they entered.The candy display case was straight ahead of them and the sight of it made Joanna’s mouth water. She wished she had a nickel for a candy bar, or even a penny for some bubble gum. But as usual her pockets were empty. She forgot about candy, though, when she noticed that most of the store’s shelves were bare.
    â€œWhere did all the food go?” she wondered out loud.
    â€œEverybody’s been loading up, what with all the war talk that’s going on,” a man’s voice answered.
    Joanna’s attention flew to Mr. Hillyer, the owner, who was standing behind the butcher’s counter. “Gosh,” she said. “Mom and I didn’t even think about stocking up.” And it was too late now. The shelves had some paper napkins and mustard and catsup, some drinking straws and cake mixes, laundry detergent and cleaning products. That was all.
    Mr. Hillyer grinned. “The store getting cleaned out was good for one thing, anyway. It got my wife to take the day off.” He nodded so hard and happily, his white butcher’s cap nearly tumbled off his head. He grabbed it with scarred fingers just in time.
    â€œI have the whole place to myself today,” he went on. “No one nagging me to dust the shelves since they’re empty, or to scrub the floors and windows since we’re so quiet. Nosirree, today it’s just me and my radio and my paper.” He gestured at both items on the counter. “Not that they’re the most cheerful of company, you understand,what with all that’s going on. Can you believe it? Those crazy Russkies could start a war that blows the whole world to smithereens!”
    Joanna gulped. She felt Pamela stiffen beside her. All of a sudden Mr. Hillyer’s gloomy expression vanished. He coughed and cleared his throat. Then he smiled extra wide and toothy. “By the way, what was it you two little ladies were after today?”
    Pamela looked blank for a moment. Then she stammered, “Uh, m-milk. A gallon of milk.”
    His smile somehow stretched even wider. “Well, you’re in luck. I just got a delivery from the dairy. Milk is one of the few things I have.” He nodded toward the refrigerator case on the opposite wall.
    Pamela went to get one of the glass jugs while Joanna wandered back to the front of the store.
    Mr. Hillyer insisted that they both choose something from the penny candy case as a treat. Pamela chose a pretzel rod.
    â€œYou pick something now,” Mr. Hillyer prompted Joanna. She chose Bazooka bubble gum. He grinned. “Good choice. It lasts longer than anything else, even the suckers.”
    Joanna nodded, popping the pink square into her mouth and stuffing the joke wrapper