Read Online Molly McGinty Has a Really Good Day by Gary Paulsen - Free Book Online
Authors: Gary Paulsen
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room from the field after soccer practice, squishing loudly with each step. Mary Pat jogged to catch up with her.
“Sorry about that puddle, Molly. I tried to pass the ball to your right so you'd miss it.”
“That's okay, Pats. That's my blind side today. I know you didn't mean it.”
“Is your grandmother coming home with us on the activity bus? Or do you think she's going to stay for the entire cheerleading practice?” Mary Patstopped in front of her locker. “You've got to admit, she looked pretty awesome out there. I'm glad to see that Kathleen Ferguson doesn't have the highest kick on the squad after all.”
Molly spun the combination on her lock and jerked it open. She stood there dumbly, waiting for the reality of what she saw, or rather what she didn't see, to sink in. Mary Pat glanced over when she noticed that Molly hadn't responded.
“My stuff … all my stuff is gone, Pats. First my notebook and now my clothes. I can't believe this.” She stared blankly at the empty locker. “Somebody took all my clothes.”
“Here, Mol.” Mary Pat quickly rooted through her own locker and thrust a bundle of clothes into Molly's hands. “I have an extra school uniform you can borrow. Uh-oh, no shoes. Check the lost and found. There's sure to be something drier than those wet soccer cleats you're wearing. At least something to get you home.”
Mary Pat looked past Molly and brightened.
“Look! Today's not a total waste. Your grandmother's bag and Mary Bridget's cello didn't getstolen! They're right over there in the corner where you hid them.”
Molly cast a baleful glance at the cursed black bag and cello case as she sloshed her way numbly to the lost and found box on the other side of the locker room.
Ten minutes later, she was alone in the now deserted locker room, sitting silently on the bench in front of her locker, staring down at the bowling shoe on her right foot and the Rollerblade on her left foot. Our Lady of Mercy Middle School, Molly thought, has a crummy selection in their lost and found.
Everyone else had changed their clothes and quickly left the building after casting leery glances at Molly, who appeared to be in a trance. She took a deep breath, pulled herself to her feet, slung Irene's bag across her body and began the awkward thump-glide, thump-glide toward the buses outside, Mary Bridget's cello bouncing painfully off her shin with each thump-glide.
“Gimme a B! B! Gimme an A!” Irene was standing outside near the door waiting for Molly, fluffing her new pom-poms and cheering softly to herself. Shestopped abruptly when she caught sight of Molly's dejected face. “Kitten, what's wrong?”
“Wrong? Why would you ask if anything's wrong, Irene?” Molly thump-glided a few feet past Irene before spinning around suddenly to face her.
“Okay, let's recap my day thus far: I lost my notebook, but I'm carrying around fifty pounds of
your
junk in the big black bag from hell, plus this cello. I couldn't have a best friend who played the harmonica, now could I, or maybe even the flute? Oh, no, Bridge has to play the heaviest instrument in the universe and I get stuck carrying it around.”
Molly stopped to catch her breath. “I got a black eye and was forced to participate in a talent show, all before school even started. Not only does my grandmother insist on being the only human in the Western Hemisphere who takes Senior Citizens’ Day seriously and actually comes to school, but then she gets accused of smoking in the bathroom.
“I missed science and got detention. I tore my dress up to my throat and what didn't rip got burned when one of the dysfunctional malcontents you now call a buddy set me on fire. Half of my hair isin tiny braids that are held in place by rubber bands that were in someone's mouth.”
Molly paused for a moment, giving her thoughts a chance to catch up with her rapidly building fury.
“We ate lunch with a bunch of soon-to-be criminals who have probably moved
“Sorry about that puddle, Molly. I tried to pass the ball to your right so you'd miss it.”
“That's okay, Pats. That's my blind side today. I know you didn't mean it.”
“Is your grandmother coming home with us on the activity bus? Or do you think she's going to stay for the entire cheerleading practice?” Mary Patstopped in front of her locker. “You've got to admit, she looked pretty awesome out there. I'm glad to see that Kathleen Ferguson doesn't have the highest kick on the squad after all.”
Molly spun the combination on her lock and jerked it open. She stood there dumbly, waiting for the reality of what she saw, or rather what she didn't see, to sink in. Mary Pat glanced over when she noticed that Molly hadn't responded.
“My stuff … all my stuff is gone, Pats. First my notebook and now my clothes. I can't believe this.” She stared blankly at the empty locker. “Somebody took all my clothes.”
“Here, Mol.” Mary Pat quickly rooted through her own locker and thrust a bundle of clothes into Molly's hands. “I have an extra school uniform you can borrow. Uh-oh, no shoes. Check the lost and found. There's sure to be something drier than those wet soccer cleats you're wearing. At least something to get you home.”
Mary Pat looked past Molly and brightened.
“Look! Today's not a total waste. Your grandmother's bag and Mary Bridget's cello didn't getstolen! They're right over there in the corner where you hid them.”
Molly cast a baleful glance at the cursed black bag and cello case as she sloshed her way numbly to the lost and found box on the other side of the locker room.
Ten minutes later, she was alone in the now deserted locker room, sitting silently on the bench in front of her locker, staring down at the bowling shoe on her right foot and the Rollerblade on her left foot. Our Lady of Mercy Middle School, Molly thought, has a crummy selection in their lost and found.
Everyone else had changed their clothes and quickly left the building after casting leery glances at Molly, who appeared to be in a trance. She took a deep breath, pulled herself to her feet, slung Irene's bag across her body and began the awkward thump-glide, thump-glide toward the buses outside, Mary Bridget's cello bouncing painfully off her shin with each thump-glide.
“Gimme a B! B! Gimme an A!” Irene was standing outside near the door waiting for Molly, fluffing her new pom-poms and cheering softly to herself. Shestopped abruptly when she caught sight of Molly's dejected face. “Kitten, what's wrong?”
“Wrong? Why would you ask if anything's wrong, Irene?” Molly thump-glided a few feet past Irene before spinning around suddenly to face her.
“Okay, let's recap my day thus far: I lost my notebook, but I'm carrying around fifty pounds of
your
junk in the big black bag from hell, plus this cello. I couldn't have a best friend who played the harmonica, now could I, or maybe even the flute? Oh, no, Bridge has to play the heaviest instrument in the universe and I get stuck carrying it around.”
Molly stopped to catch her breath. “I got a black eye and was forced to participate in a talent show, all before school even started. Not only does my grandmother insist on being the only human in the Western Hemisphere who takes Senior Citizens’ Day seriously and actually comes to school, but then she gets accused of smoking in the bathroom.
“I missed science and got detention. I tore my dress up to my throat and what didn't rip got burned when one of the dysfunctional malcontents you now call a buddy set me on fire. Half of my hair isin tiny braids that are held in place by rubber bands that were in someone's mouth.”
Molly paused for a moment, giving her thoughts a chance to catch up with her rapidly building fury.
“We ate lunch with a bunch of soon-to-be criminals who have probably moved
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