Read Online Faith, Hope, and Ivy June by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor - Free Book Online
Authors: Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
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someday, I suppose, it will go to Peter.”
“Or me !” said Claire.
“Of course. You or Catherine or Peter, whoever shows the most interest.”
“News is back on, and they’ve rescued all three of them!” Flora called from the kitchen.
“Oh, that’s good,” said Mrs. Combs. “It’s nice to have good news for a change.”
Catherine got another call from a boy that evening. Once again the girls were studying in their bedroom, away from the sounds of Claire’s violin practice downstairs and Peter’s video game across the hall. Ivy June saw Catherine check the number before she answered. “Hello,” she said, smiling, and quickly took the phone into the bathroom, closing the door.
Ivy June was working on her essay for English, and when Catherine came out fifteen minutes later and went back to her computer, Ivy June said, “Never heard of taking a boyfriend into the bathroom with you.”
Catherine turned and instantly her face colored. “He’s not my boyfriend,” she said, then sat down quickly and worked the keyboard.
For ten seconds or so, the room was quiet except for the soft sound of keys clicking. Then Catherine stole a look at Ivy June. Ivy June was still watching her, and suddenly both girls broke into laughter.
“Not my boy friend!” Catherine insisted.
“No skin off my nose. I don’t like him!” said Ivy June.
“He’s just a guy I met at a party last Christmas,” Catherine explained. “A friend of a friend, that’s all.”
“Fine with me,” said Ivy June, grinning.
“But don’t tell anyone,” said Catherine.
“Not a word,” Ivy June promised.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
March 11
There’s something I need to write about. On the news tonight, there was a report of three men trapped in a sinking car down near Harlan, and a helicopter rescue. At first, Ivy June was afraid it was a coal mine accident, and we found out that her grandfather works in a mine. There’s so much I don’t know about Ivy June.
Afterward, we were doing homework in my room, kidding around … talking…. But later, when I came out of the bathroom, I saw her slip something under her pillow. I could tell by the way she did it that it was something she didn’t want me to see. I didn’t want to say anything , but I began to suspect she’d stolen something of mine.
I hated myself for suspecting it, but still, I couldn’t let it go. I was afraid it was the gold locket from Mom, or maybe the ring from Rosemary and Gramps. When Ivy June went in the bathroom next and I heard the bathwater running, I knew that if I didn’t find out what she’d hidden, I’d go on suspecting everything she did for the rest of her time here. And if she was stealing … well, better to have it out now.
I peeked under her pillow, and there was a small rock. Just a rock. I could feel my face redden because I was so wrong, and I put the pillow back. Then, hearing Ivy June splashing around in the tub, I lifted the pillow again and picked up the rock. It was rough on one side, smooth on the other. Nothing more unusual about it. I can’t understand. And there’s no way I can ask Ivy June about it without admitting I peeked.
Catherine Combs
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
A Person Who Influenced My Life
by Ivy June Mosley
His name is Spencer Mosley, but he’s Papaw to me. He’s my grandfather, on Daddy’s side, and he’s sixty-four years old. I live with him and Mammaw now, because our own house got too small for the seven of us, and Papaw asked could I live with them. Ma says that after children get shoulder high, they just take up more space, and we only have two bedrooms.
Papaw Mosley is a miner. There aren’t that many deep mines left where we live, but Papaw’s one of those miners. If you lined him up with the other men, he wouldn’t stand out particularly except he’d be older than most, which is why he’s retiring this summer.
He’s got ears that stick way out the sides of his head, and a large enough nose to suit his face. His
“Or me !” said Claire.
“Of course. You or Catherine or Peter, whoever shows the most interest.”
“News is back on, and they’ve rescued all three of them!” Flora called from the kitchen.
“Oh, that’s good,” said Mrs. Combs. “It’s nice to have good news for a change.”
Catherine got another call from a boy that evening. Once again the girls were studying in their bedroom, away from the sounds of Claire’s violin practice downstairs and Peter’s video game across the hall. Ivy June saw Catherine check the number before she answered. “Hello,” she said, smiling, and quickly took the phone into the bathroom, closing the door.
Ivy June was working on her essay for English, and when Catherine came out fifteen minutes later and went back to her computer, Ivy June said, “Never heard of taking a boyfriend into the bathroom with you.”
Catherine turned and instantly her face colored. “He’s not my boyfriend,” she said, then sat down quickly and worked the keyboard.
For ten seconds or so, the room was quiet except for the soft sound of keys clicking. Then Catherine stole a look at Ivy June. Ivy June was still watching her, and suddenly both girls broke into laughter.
“Not my boy friend!” Catherine insisted.
“No skin off my nose. I don’t like him!” said Ivy June.
“He’s just a guy I met at a party last Christmas,” Catherine explained. “A friend of a friend, that’s all.”
“Fine with me,” said Ivy June, grinning.
“But don’t tell anyone,” said Catherine.
“Not a word,” Ivy June promised.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
March 11
There’s something I need to write about. On the news tonight, there was a report of three men trapped in a sinking car down near Harlan, and a helicopter rescue. At first, Ivy June was afraid it was a coal mine accident, and we found out that her grandfather works in a mine. There’s so much I don’t know about Ivy June.
Afterward, we were doing homework in my room, kidding around … talking…. But later, when I came out of the bathroom, I saw her slip something under her pillow. I could tell by the way she did it that it was something she didn’t want me to see. I didn’t want to say anything , but I began to suspect she’d stolen something of mine.
I hated myself for suspecting it, but still, I couldn’t let it go. I was afraid it was the gold locket from Mom, or maybe the ring from Rosemary and Gramps. When Ivy June went in the bathroom next and I heard the bathwater running, I knew that if I didn’t find out what she’d hidden, I’d go on suspecting everything she did for the rest of her time here. And if she was stealing … well, better to have it out now.
I peeked under her pillow, and there was a small rock. Just a rock. I could feel my face redden because I was so wrong, and I put the pillow back. Then, hearing Ivy June splashing around in the tub, I lifted the pillow again and picked up the rock. It was rough on one side, smooth on the other. Nothing more unusual about it. I can’t understand. And there’s no way I can ask Ivy June about it without admitting I peeked.
Catherine Combs
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
A Person Who Influenced My Life
by Ivy June Mosley
His name is Spencer Mosley, but he’s Papaw to me. He’s my grandfather, on Daddy’s side, and he’s sixty-four years old. I live with him and Mammaw now, because our own house got too small for the seven of us, and Papaw asked could I live with them. Ma says that after children get shoulder high, they just take up more space, and we only have two bedrooms.
Papaw Mosley is a miner. There aren’t that many deep mines left where we live, but Papaw’s one of those miners. If you lined him up with the other men, he wouldn’t stand out particularly except he’d be older than most, which is why he’s retiring this summer.
He’s got ears that stick way out the sides of his head, and a large enough nose to suit his face. His
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