Read Online Needle and Thread by Ann M. Martin - Free Book Online

the table and setting to work again. Mary Woolsey had arrived and was conferring with customers. Min jumped up to help someone choose a pattern.
    â€œFlora! Can you please come here?” called Jade. “I think I’m ready to sew the arms and legs to the body.”
    Flora smiled. Here at Needle and Thread, in the midst of fabric and projects and sewing machines, she almost felt at home.
    Several hours later, at the end of Needle and Thread’s first teddy bear class, eight proud students stood back to admire eight finished teddies.
    â€œBeautiful!” Gigi pronounced. “Absolutely beautiful!”
    â€œHey, Dad!” Jade called, and her father, seated on one of the couches, swiveled around. “Look what I did!” Jade held up her bear. “And he’s going to be a present for someone who needs him.”
    â€œWhy, he’s wonderful,” Jade’s father was saying when the door flew open and Ruby and Lacey hurtled into the store.
    â€œI’m in the chorus!” Ruby cried. “We both are! Lacey got in, too!”
    â€œMy stars and garters,” exclaimed Min, “what wonderful news!” Min turned to Flora. “Isn’t that wonderful news?”
    â€œYes,” said Flora. “Wonderful.”
    â€œFlora? Can I please give my bear to Mrs. Willet?
Please?
” Robby stood before Flora, holding out his finished teddy. “I think she needs him.”
    Flora, watching her beaming sister accept praise and congratulations, felt as if she were spinning up and away until she hovered above the crowd of people in Needle and Thread, until she hovered above Main Street and Camden Falls. She looked down at her sister and thought she could almost see the puzzle piece snap into place.
    â€œFlora?” said Robby again.
    â€œOkay. You can give your bear to Mrs. Willet,” said Flora, and she turned and walked out the back door to stand in the alley and take deep breaths until the threat of tears had disappeared.

The autumn days were growing shorter, sunrise later each morning and sunset earlier each afternoon. “Darker at both ends,” Min remarked. On some days, by the time Ruby came home from a dance class or a chorus rehearsal, it was already twilight.
    â€œRemember at the beginning of the summer when it was still light at nine o’clock?” asked Flora.
    She and Olivia and Nikki were sitting in Olivia’s yard after school one day.
    â€œIn three weeks, we’ll set our clocks back,” said Olivia. “Then the days will really end early.”
    â€œI like the short, dark days,” said Flora.
    â€œNot me,” said Nikki. “I’d rather be outside.”
    â€œYou know what else happens in three weeks?” asked Olivia. “Halloween. I can’t believe it’s already Halloween again. What are you guys going to be?”
    Nikki shrugged. “It doesn’t matter. I never go trick-or-treating.”
    â€œWhat?!” exclaimed Olivia. “What do you mean?”
    â€œI mean I never go trick-or-treating.”
    â€œYou’ve never been once in your whole life?”
    Nikki shook her head. “We live way out in the country. There’s no place to go trick-or-treating.”
    â€œDon’t you go in town?” asked Olivia. “That’s why the stores stay open late on Halloween. So everyone will have a safe place for trick-or-treating.”
    Nikki squirmed. “My dad doesn’t approve of Halloween.”
    â€œI don’t get it,” said Olivia. “Doesn’t —”
    Flora nudged Olivia’s foot with her sneaker. “Olivia,” she said.
    â€œBut I really want to know,” replied Olivia. “Doesn’t Mae go trick-or-treating? Have you guys ever even worn costumes? What do you do if your teacher says you can bring your costume to school for a Halloween party? How come your father doesn’t approve?”
    Nikki stared across the street.