Read Online Fifteen by Beverly Cleary - Free Book Online

before he had the bicycle out of sight. And when he was out of sight he had begun to whistle Love Me on Monday , the song Nibley’s jukebox had played, so he was happy when he left her. Maybe he was even thinking about her.
    A lot of things about the evening came back to Jane—Stan’s nervous look when she had opened the front door, his crimson ears (such nice flat ears) when he stepped on the cat’s rubber mouse. Maybe the reasons she had trouble finding her left coat sleeve was that he was not used to helping a girl on with her coat. And as for Marcy’s crowd, Stan had not lived in Woodmont long enough to know who belonged and who did not. He wasfriendly to everyone. Well, thought Jane. Well! Things looked different now, and all because of a bicycle.
    â€œJane?” Mrs. Purdy’s voice sounded anxious as she opened the hall door.
    â€œYes, Mom?” answered Jane, turning from the window.
    â€œDid you have a good time, dear?”
    â€œYes, Mom,” answered Jane. “A wonderful time.”
    Mrs. Purdy stepped into the living room in her bathrobe. “He seemed like a very nice boy. Did he ask you for another date?”
    â€œNo,” answered Jane, and smiled out into the night in the direction of Poppy Lane. “No. Not yet.”

Chapter 4
    All day Sunday Jane drifted around the house in a happy glow, humming Love Me on Monday and hovering near the telephone, because she was sure Stan would call. Monday she stopped humming and hated the telephone, because she was sure he would never, never call. Tuesday he called.
    â€œHello, Jane? This is Stan,” he said, and to Jane he spoke the most welcome words in the world.
    â€œHello, Stan,” she answered happily.
    â€œI have to go to work in a little while, but I wondered if I could stop by for a few minutes.”
    â€œI’m sorry, Stan,” Jane was forced to say. “I was just about to leave for a babysitting job.” But ofcourse she could not let him get away, not after waiting two long days for his call. “Could you—could you come over some other time?” she asked.
    â€œDo you have to go far?” Stan asked.
    â€œAbout eight blocks.”
    â€œWhy don’t I come now and run you over to your job?” he suggested. “I have the truck.”
    â€œOh, that would be wonderful,” said Jane sincerely, because she was going to see him now instead of waiting for another call.
    â€œSee you in about two minutes,” said Stan.
    â€œMom, Stan is going to drive me to my babysitting job,” Jane informed her mother when she had hung up. Then, fearful that her mother might object to this short ride with a boy, she waited through an anxious moment of silence until her mother answered, “All right, dear.”
    Jane flew to her room, combed her hair, decided to change from her yellow dress into a dress Stan had never seen, decided against changing, because she might not have time, and wished her mother were wearing stockings. And all the while she wondered if Stan was coming to ask her for another date.
    In a few minutes the red Doggie Diner truck stopped in front of the Purdys’ and Stan bounded up the steps.
    â€œHi, Stan,” Jane called through the open front door. “I’m ready. Bye, Mom.”
    â€œHello, Stan,” said Mrs. Purdy pleasantly.
    Good for Mom, thought Jane; she isn’t behaving badly at all, even though she isn’t wearing stockings. Seated beside Stan in the Doggie Diner truck, Jane found that once more she felt shy, painfully shy. Stan seemed like a stranger, her mouth felt dry, and she couldn’t think of a thing to say.
    â€œWhere to?” he wanted to know. “Sandra’s again?”
    â€œNot today, thank goodness.” Jane was able to laugh naturally. “This afternoon it’s Joey Dithridge.” She gave an address in Bayaire Estates, the no-down-payment-to-veterans side of town, and Stan started