Read Online Fortune's Magic Farm by Suzanne Selfors - Free Book Online

eyes. How could she work more?
    Boris stepped forward. “I got an extra dollar.”
    “I got an extra dollar, too,” said Mr. Limewig.
    “Shut yer traps, all of ya. This ain’t none of yer business. Go on, get out of here.” She shoved the tenants into the hallway and down the stairs. Then she returned for Isabelle. “I’ve been far too nice to ya, lettin’ ya sleep in this luxurious room. Ya’ll sleep on the porch from now on.”
    Isabelle turned away. She was not going to let the landlady see her tears.
I didn’t get the chance to say goodbye. Now I’m an orphan, like Gwen.
    The seed, which had been quietly resting inside Isabelle’s sock, chose that moment to start humming like a trapped housefly.
    “Is ya singing again?” Mama Lu asked. She stared at Isabelle’s rubber boot. “What ya got in there?”
    “Nothing.” Isabelle wiped her eyes.
    “That ain’t nothing. Whatever it is, give it over.”
    “No.” Isabelle’s knees started to tremble.
    “Give it, I say. It’s my house. Them’s my rules.”
    Isabelle felt so scared she thought she might fall over. “No. You can’t have it.”
    “Ya little brat!” Mama Lu tried to grab a clump of Isabelle’s hair but she wasn’t quick enough. “Ya’ll do what I say or ya won’t be living here no more.”
    “I don’t want to live here anymore,” Isabelle cried, backing toward the door. “I’ll go live with Gwen.”
    “No ya won’t. Gertrude won’t take ya ’cause I won’t let her. Ya owe me too much money.”
    “Then I’ll live somewhere else. I’ll go to another town, far, far away.” Nothing was keeping her in Runny Cove. She couldn’t work enough hours to satisfy Mr. Supreme, Gertrude,
and
Mama Lu. And without her grandmother, no one needed her.
    Mama Lu reached into the bedside drawer again and found some buttons. “There’s nothing out there fer ya. Yer just a stupid factory worker.”
    The seed hummed louder. Isabelle tried to look brave. She held up her chin. “I’m going to find out where I came from.”
    “Where ya came from?” Mama Lu snorted. She pulled the drawer free and shook it over the bed. She had taken everything. “Ya came from noplace. Now, give me whatever’s in yer boot.”
    All that had been beautiful about the room on the fourth floor was gone—the happy stories of Sunny Cove, the peaceful little creatures, the warm mossy carpet and the glistening vines. But one little thing remained—one creature that had eluded Mama Lu’s stomping foot.
    “Give me yer boot!” Mama Lu lunged at Isabelle. At that moment, Isabelle felt a bolt of courage. She ducked beneath Mama Lu’s swinging arm and grabbed the pickle jar aquarium.
    “I hate you,” she cried. “You’re mean and you smell like stinky cheese. And I hate this place. I came from Nowhere and I’m going to find it.” She rushed into the hallway.
    “Stop her!” Mama Lu screamed. “Thief! That’s my pickle jar.”
    “It’s mine. You threw it away.” The aquarium water sloshed as Isabelle stumbled down the stairs. The tenants huddled on the third-floor landing, their gloomy faces gloomier than ever.
    “Good luck,” Mrs. Wormbottom said, a tear in her eye.
    “Take care of yourself,” Mr. Limewig said, his voice cracking with emotion.
    Isabelle wanted to hug and kiss each one of them but there was no time. Mama Lu’s footsteps thundered close behind.
    “Nothing leaves this house without my permission. She’s a thief! Someone call Mr. Hench!”
    “You’ll get arrested if you take that,” Boris said, pointing at the aquarium.
    “I won’t let her kill my barnacle. Grandma taught me all about barnacles.”
    “Then we’ll try to slow her down,” Bert said. “Hurry.”
    “Thank you. Goodbye,” Isabelle called as she flew down the last two flights.
    “Stop! Ya’ll go to jail, ya moldy little thief! Get out of my way!” Mama Lu screamed. “Ya stupid dunderheads is blocking the stairs!”
    Rain poured as Isabelle leapt off the front