Read Online It's an Aardvark-Eat-Turtle World by Paula Danziger - Free Book Online

of the same demonstrations.
    Bev says, “Come on, you two. You promised not to discuss this anymore.”
    The brothers look at each other and then nod.
    What a relief. A truce.
    Bev says, “Duane, don’t worry about the noise. The kids are pretty quiet and the projection TV is not in the wing where the adult bedrooms are.”
    â€œWhat are we going to see?” I ask.
    Jason smiles at me. “We decided on
Raiders of the Lost Ark, Rear Window, Reds, The Red Shoes,
Roadrunner cartoons, and videos of the Rolling Stones.”
    â€œIt sounds great,” Phoebe says. “I wish my boyfriend Dave was here. He’d love to see all of that.”
    She’s mentioned Dave for the first time in front of Jason. Very interesting. I guess she’s decided not to make a play for him.
    After dinner Phoebe, Aviva, Jason, and I clear the table.
    At one point I’m all alone in the dining room.
    Jason walks in and comes up to me. “I’m in chargeof making the popcorn tonight. How about helping me out . . . .I realize that this is a pretty ‘corny’ way to ask you out.”
    I almost drop the plates but try to look as if it’s an everyday occurrence that I’m asked on a popcorn date by a very nice, cute guy.
    â€œOkay.” I nod. “I’d love to . . . although there’s a kernel of truth in your saying that it’s corny.”
    He groans and grins.
    I like a guy who can groan and grin at the same time, especially since I love puns.
    Phoebe walks in as we’re grinning at each other. She goes over to the table, clears more dishes, and leaves without saying anything.
    Jason and I continue to smile.
    Finally he says, “Would you like some help in carrying those dishes?”
    I hand half of them to him.
    As we walk into the kitchen, he says, “If we’re going to make the popcorn, we’d butter hurry up and finish clearing the table.”
    Now I know I’m in love. He’s nice, cute, and punny.
    And we have four days left to get to know each other.

CHAPTER 16
    T onight is the best night of my life—almost.
    Who would have guessed that making popcorn could be so much fun?
    Jason is the nicest, most wonderful boy in the world.
    There hasn’t even been time to see the movies. Jason and I have been talking all night.
    Kids walk in and out to get popcorn and soda. Only in Canada they call it soft drinks. I asked for soda and got tonic water. Bleech!
    The
almost
best night is because of Phoebe. It would be perfect if she didn’t keep coming in and asking that I sit with her at the movies.
    â€œSoon,” I keep saying. I’m having such a great time with Jason that I don’t want to leave.
    Finally, Phoebe walks into the kitchen, stamps her foot, and says, “I’m going to bed. Don’t try to stop me.”
    Although I didn’t plan to stop her, I do follow her out of the room to ask, “What’s wrong?”
    â€œNothing’s wrong,” she says, and walks away in a huff.
    I start to follow her, then decide not to. If she says nothing’s wrong, I’ll pretend that I believe her. With her temper tantrum, she’s making me feel like a baby-sitter.
    Walking back into the kitchen, I see that Jason is talking to some girl, so I don’t go over to him.
    I pretend to be very interested in rearranging the magnetic letters on the refrigerator to spell my name. By the time I’ve finished putting the N on WILSON , Jason comes up beside me.
    He puts I REALLY LIKE above my name and then turns me around, putting his arms around my neck. He says, “Don’t let Phoebe get you down. Mom thinksshe’s going through a really tough time because of her mother’s remarriage.”
    Jason’s just said that he likes me and he’s got his arms around my neck.
    Be still my heart.
    I try to be calm and continue the conversation.
    â€œHer father and my mother getting together