Read Online Little Miss Stoneybrook...and Dawn by Ann M. Martin - Free Book Online

hand, nobody gave the girls an easy time. According to Jessi and Mallory, this is how the afternoon went:
    When Jessi arrived, the Pikes had just finished eating lunch. Nevertheless, Margo, who was standing in the middle of the living room, was holding a half-eaten banana in one hand and the copy of The House That Jack Built in the other (in case she forgot the words). She was rehearsing away in the banana-scented room.
    â€œThish ish the housh that Jack” (chomp, chomp, swallow) “built. This is the malt that lay in the” (bite, chew, chew) “housh that Jack bit. Thish ish the rat that — Oops.” A piece of banana had broken off and fallen on the carpet.
    â€œHa, ha, ha! Hee-hee!”
    Margo had an audience consisting of everyone in the house — Jessi, Mal, the triplets, Vanessa, Nicky, and Claire. A few of the kids began to laugh when the banana fell apart.
    â€œMal, don’t you think she ought to rehearse in the kitchen?” Jessi said. “It’s awfully hard to get banana out of a rug. I know because Squirt smushed a big piece of one into the carpet in theden last week. I thought Mama was going to have a fit.”
    â€œGood idea,” Mallory replied. “Margo, you better rehearse in the ki — Don’t eat that! Don’t you dare put that in your mouth!” she cried as Margo aimed the fallen piece of banana toward her lips. “It’s been on the floor.”
    â€œEw, ew, ew!” cried Claire.
    â€œEw, ew, ew!” mimicked Nicky.
    â€œAw, do I have to go in the kitchen?” asked Margo.
    â€œJust until the banana is gone,” Mallory told her. “And after that, no more bananas. You can’t rehearse with them all afternoon. You’ll make yourself sick. Concentrate on the poem.”
    â€œBoo,” replied Margo unhappily, but she headed for the kitchen anyway.
    Everyone followed her. They all wanted to watch.
    Margo stood in front of the refrigerator. She popped a piece of banana in her mouth and chewed it thoroughly.
    Just as she was about to begin reciting, Adam jumped in with, “This is the mouse the cat killed. This is the fly that landed on the mouse the cat killed. This is the spider that ate the fly that landed on the mouse the cat killed.”
    â€œAdam!” Margo cried. “Mallory, Jessi, those aren’t the right words! Make him stop!”
    â€œAdam,” said Mallory warningly.
    â€œMallory?” Adam replied.
    Mallory hid a smile. She thought Adam’s poem was sort of funny. And she thought all the pageant business was ridiculous. But as a baby-sitter, it was her job to try to keep the peace. She frowned at Adam. He frowned back, but remained quiet.
    â€œThish ish the housh that Jack” (swallow) “built,” said Margo.
    â€œThis is the fly that landed on the mouse the cat killed,” Adam continued for her.
    â€œAdam!” screamed Claire and Margo.
    â€œWhy don’t you go rehearse in your room?” Jessi suggested to the two hopeful beauty queens.
    â€œNo!” they shrieked. “Make Adam be quiet.”
    â€œAdam —” Jessi began.
    â€œNever mind,” he said hastily. “Come on, you guys,” he added, and as he left the kitchen he was followed by Jordan, Byron, Nicky, and Vanessa.
    Mallory and Jessi looked at each other and shrugged. Then they left, too. Claire and Margo were alone in the kitchen.
    â€œGood,” said Margo with satisfaction. “Now we can really rehearse.”
    â€œRight,” agreed Claire. “Only it’s my turn to ’hearse.”
    â€œNo, mine! I’m not finished.”
    â€œIt’s mine ! I haven’t even started.”
    â€œMine!”
    â€œMINE!”
    â€œOkay, break it up in there!” shouted Mallory from the living room. “Either take turns or rehearse in separate rooms.”
    Margo and Claire looked at each other. Margo had finished her banana. “Separate