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

“I guess it isn’t that he doesn’t approve. It’s more like he just doesn’t want us to have any fun.…” Nikki’s voice trailed off.
    â€œBut that’s —” Olivia started to say.
    â€œOlivia, I really don’t want to talk about it.”
    Flora turned to Nikki. “Do you think you could secretly come trick-or-treating with us this year?”
    Nikki turned pale. “No! Are you kidding? If I got caught doing something like that, I — I —”
    â€œNikki, it’s okay. Never mind,” said Flora. “It was just an idea. What about talking to your father? What if you told him we really, really want you to come with us?”
    â€œMaybe,” said Nikki.
    â€œHey, here comes Robby,” said Olivia, looking down the row of houses.
    â€œAnd Ruby and Lacey,” added Flora, looking in the other direction.
    Presently, as often happened at the Row Houses, all the kids except for the Malone sisters soon gathered.
    â€œWhat are you guys doing?” asked Robby, and Ruby thought he sounded sullen. What had happened to the cheerful Robby she knew?
    â€œTalking about Halloween,” said Olivia.
    â€œHuh. That’s for babies.”
    â€œWell, then I’m a baby,” said Olivia, “because I really like Halloween.”
    â€œWhat are you going to be this year?” Mathias asked her.
    Olivia frowned. “I’m still deciding.”
    â€œI’m going to be a ghost,” said Alyssa.
    â€œA ghost!” exclaimed Henry. “Can’t you be more original?”
    â€œWell, I wanted to be something else, but my mom said no.”
    â€œWhat did you want to be?” asked Robby.
    â€œA piece of cake.”
    Flora laughed. “That would be a little hard. But I bet we could make you into a cupcake.”
    â€œOr a candle,” said Olivia.
    â€œA candle?” Alyssa grinned. “I like that.”
    â€œHow would you make her into a candle?” asked Ruby.
    â€œSimple. Put her in a pink leotard and make her a yellow flame hat,” Olivia replied.
    Nikki smiled.
    â€œI want to be Bugs Bunny,” said Jack.
    â€œI want to be a firefighter,” said Travis.
    â€œWhat about you?” Ruby asked Robby. “Are you going to go trick-or-treating?”
    â€œI don’t know. Maybe.”
    â€œHey, everybody!” called a cheerful voice.
    â€œOh, no.” Robby let out a groan.
    â€œRobby, it’s
Lydia
,” said Olivia. “What’s the matter?” She stood up and waved to Lydia, who was striding down Aiken Avenue.
    â€œHi, Robby,” said Lydia. She shrugged off her backpack and set it on the sidewalk. “Let me just stick this in my house, then I’ll go tell your mother I’m here. I hope she didn’t think I was going to be late.”
    â€œLate for what?” asked Lacey.
    â€œBaby-sitting for Robby.”
    â€œI told you — I. AM. NOT. A. BABY.” Robby turned a furious face on Lydia. “Didn’t I tell you that?”
    â€œRobby, I — I’m sorry. Really.” Lydia looked helplessly at Olivia.
    Ruby remembered the many late-summer days when she had seen Robby and Lydia happily walking into town or reading under the ancient maple tree in the Edwardses’ yard.
    â€œAll right, look, Robby,” said Lydia. “Stay here with the other kids for a few minutes and I’ll be right back.”
    Lydia disappeared into her house, then reappeared and dashed across the yards toward Robby’s. As she did so, Robby muttered, “And I’m not a kid, either.”
    â€œHey!” exclaimed Henry. “I know what I want to be for Halloween — a pirate.”
    â€œOoh! Ooh! We have an eye patch you can wear!” exclaimed Lacey.
    The younger kids ran to the Morrises’ house, leaving Flora, Nikki, and Olivia sitting in the Walters’ yard, knees drawn up to their chins. Robby sat alone on