Read Online Letters from the Heart by Annie Bryant - Free Book Online Page B

her mother know that she hated it when her mother bragged about her. “She’s on the premier-level soccer team!” her mother would say—even before anyone asked. Ouch! Sure, it was nice her mom was proud of her. But couldn’t she be SILENT about it?
    â€œI promised Sally Henderson that I’d find our old yearbooks so we could look at them tomorrow night atdinner,” her mother was saying as she came into the house on Friday night. “Avery, would you help me tomorrow morning? I know they’re up in the loft of the carriage house, but I’m not sure where. Do you have time before soccer practice to help me look for them?”
    Avery gulped. The loft? Of the carriage house?
    Her mother hadn’t been in the carriage house in ages. Why did she suddenly have to go rummaging around up there looking for old yearbooks? Of all the bad luck in the world. What was Avery supposed to do about Marty?
    Well, that was crisis number one. Avery had to use all her ingenuity on that one. The only thing she could think of was to wait until her mom was in bed—and that wasn’t until almost eleven o’clock!—and then sneak out to the carriage house and grab Marty. AND all of his stuff. It took three separate trips. She couldn’t think where to hide him, but she finally decided that the laundry room was the best idea. At least it was warm down there, and her mother never did laundry on the weekends.
    But Marty did not like being transplanted in the least. He kept cocking his head and looking pleadingly at her, as if he were saying, “ Stay with me. ” If only she could. She hated leaving Marty alone.
    Saturday morning, Avery overslept. Who could help it? She’d been up ’til midnight trying to calm Marty down and keep him quiet. She could hear him whimpering through the heating vents. What if her mother had heard, too?
    But on Saturday morning her mother seemed focused on yearbooks. “Come help me, Avery,” she said enthusiastically, throwing open the door and letting the sunlight stream in. “I’m dying to find those yearbooks. Let’s go hunt for them!”
    Avery rubbed the sleep out of her eyes. Yawning, shethrew on a pair of sweats and followed her mother downstairs. They were just at the back door when she heard it—a definite, distinct yelp.
    Marty. Wanting to go out.
    Avery’s mother turned and looked at her. “What was that?” she demanded.
    â€œOhh—that was me. Sorry. I just kind of…squeaked a little. It was a yawn that turned into a sneeze,” Avery improvised. She grabbed her jacket. “Come on, let’s go find those yearbooks!”
    Her mother frowned, looking down at the heat vent. “Are you sure that was you, Avery? ’Cause I could have sworn—”
    â€œSeriously, Mom. I’m gonna be late for soccer if we don’t get going,” Avery said.
    Five minutes later she was making her way up the ladder at the back of the carriage house, flashlight in hand. “Mom, what on earth have you GOT up here?” she cried. The loft of the carriage house was filled with cobwebs and boxes…and stacks of books.
    â€œYou’re going to have to come up and look. I don’t know where to begin,” she added.
    â€œThere’s a big box marked TALBOT ACADEMY,” her mother called up to her. Then her voice changed expression. “Avery, what’s this?” she demanded.
    Avery turned around and peered back down at her.
    Shoot. Her mother was holding up Marty’s leash. It must’ve fallen down the night before when she was making her last trip with Marty’s blankets and food bowl.
    â€œUh…I…uh, I don’t know,” Avery stammered. Brilliant. “I think it’s a leash,” she added lamely.
    â€œI can see that. But what’s it DOING here?” her mother asked.
    Avery didn’t answer.
    Her mother rubbed her eyes with a frown on her