Read Online Iggie's House by Judy Blume - Free Book Online

My mother just called me another
Mrs. Landon. Can you imagine???? Sometimes I can’t stand my mother!! I’ve got loads to tell you but right now I’ve got to run
.
    She didn’t bother hiding this letter inside a book or under papers. She left it right on top of her desk. Then she carefully tore a clean piece of white paper from her notebook, and divided it into sections. She nibbled on her pencil as she tried to decide how to phrase her petition. Should she write “Negro,” like her teacher said? “Black,” like the Garbers said? Or “colored,” like her parents said? She decided that most of the people at Aunt Myrna’s swim club acted more like her parents than her teacher. And they certainly weren’t like the Garbers! They were all white. She printed across the top in capital letters:
    FEELINGS ABOUT COLORED PEOPLE
    Please check one:

    Winnie carefully folded her petition and tucked it into her red shoulder-strap pocketbook, along with a sharp pencil, her bathing hat and her nose clips. She skipped down the stairs humming and announced to her mother that she was ready to go to the pool.
    â€œWell,” Mom said with a smile. “You certainly changed your mind fast.”
    Winnie had no intention of sharing her plans with her mother. She wouldn’t understand anyway.
    â€œCall your aunt and tell her you’ll be ready in a few minutes. First you’ve got to have some lunch.”
    â€œI’ll call and tell her I’m ready now. I’m not hungry,” Winnie said as she picked up the phone.
    She sat on the front steps waiting for her aunt’s red sports car. As it rounded the corner of Grove Street Winnie yelled, “Bye,” to her mother and ran down to the curb. Aunt Myrna had the top down on the car. She wore big, red-framed sun glasses.
    â€œHop in Winnie and let’s go,” Aunt Myrna called. “Don’t want to miss my bridge game.”
    Winnie and her aunt did not exchange one word on the fifteen-minute drive to the Swim Club. Winnie was busy thinking about her petition. As Aunt Myrna steered the car into a small parking space in the almost full lot she turned to her niece. “Are you okay Winnie? I’ve never seen you so quiet.”
    â€œOh sure,” Winnie answered, surprised that heraunt had even noticed. “I’m just thinking, that’s all.”
    â€œYour mother told me about your new friends,” Aunt Myrna added.
    â€œThat’s nice.” Winnie was not about to give out valuable information that might get back to her mother.
    They got out of the little car and walked toward the gate where Aunt Myrna had to show her membership card, even though she came to the pool every day and everyone knew her. Aunt Myrna signed the register and paid for one guest.
    â€œDidn’t you bring anything to change into Winnie?” her aunt asked.
    â€œNope. I’ll dry off in the sun before we go home.”
    â€œOkay. Now remember, no drownings while I’m in charge! Here,” Aunt Myrna said, pressing a dollar bill into Winnie’s hand. “Go have a hot dog.”

chapter seven
    Winnie clenched Aunt Myrna’s dollar bill in her sweaty hand. She kicked open the door of the screened-in refreshment stand and stepped inside, out of the hot sun. Here it was dark and cool. It took a minute for her eyes to adjust to the change before she was able to look around for a familiar face. There was none. She went up to the counter and waited for her turn. Two little kids were ahead of her. They were trying to decide between an ice-cream sandwich to share or a small candy bar for each of them. They counted their money again and again. Winnie began to tap her foot at them. She was starved. Her stomach was rumbling. The little kids looked up at her and finally asked for one bagof potato chips and a small raspberry sherbet. Winnie ordered a hot dog, french fries and a coke. She carried her lunch to