Read Online Paint the Wind by Pam Muñoz Ryan - Free Book Online Page A

stroked the sleeves, and wondered if the other clothes had once belonged to her mother, too. Maya looked around the tiny cone-shaped room, took a deep breath, and thought of Grandmother. She would have been so appalled by the conditions. But Maya’s mother had wanted this for her, and her father had agreed. There must be something wonderful here. She tied up the square window flap, retrieved several toy horses, and stood at the mesh screen looking out. Holding a horse figure to the portal, she whispered, “What’s so special about this place?”
    They ate around the fire: corn and chicken, fruit and potatoes. Moose and Fig washed the dishes in a big tub with water from the river that had been heated in a giant kettle while Aunt Vi wiped down the pantry. As the sun dipped behind the horizon, the sky smeared pink and orange and blue. Maya faced Payton, who sat across the fire, fiddling with a feather in his hand.
    â€œI collect feathers. This is a magpie’s. At home I have about fifty different ones. So if you see any, let me know and I’ll tell you if I already have it or not.”
    Maya stared into the fire.
    â€œBy the way, ever ridden a horse?”
    Maya glanced back. Fig and Moose and Aunt Vi were still occupied. “Sure,” said Maya. “Lots of times.”
    â€œI’ve been riding since I was a kid,” said Payton. “I’vegot two horses at home and I’ve won all sorts of ribbons in juniors for barrel racing. Ever gone camping?”
    She sighed and rolled her eyes. “Actually, I went to summer camp every year at Big Bear Lake. It was perfectly fun during the day with all the great activities, like swimming and crafts and hiking. We slept in tents until the bear came.…”
    â€œA bear?” Payton leaned forward.
    â€œYes. A bear came into our camp in the middle of the night and ate all of our food and then totally destroyed the camp leader’s tent. It’s an absolute miracle he survived because the bear claws entirely ripped through the canvas. After that, they moved us to cabins.”
    â€œWow. I guess that’s why they call it Big Bear Lake, huh? I camp here every summer but we don’t usually seebears. There are mountain lions around in the foothills looking for mule deer or pronghorn. When they find one, they follow it and then kill it, and try to hide it so they can come back and eat again later. By the way, ever felt any earthquakes? Because I hear they have them every couple of months where you live.”
    Maya forced a smile. “Actually, we have them every couple of days . We have to bolt down absolutely everything in the house or it just jiggles everywhere. And we have railings, so if you’re walking down a street and there’s an earthquake, you’ll have something to grab on to. Once, I was upstairs and we had an earthquake and by the time it was over, it had tossed me all the way downstairs. It’s extremely exciting and tremendously dangerous.”
    â€œReally? Do you … do you have to miss school?”
    â€œOh, sure. Because the classrooms are entirely inshambles after an earthquake and we have to wait until they’re cleaned up. Every year in June we have to make up all the days we missed for earthquakes. You know, earthquake days.”
    â€œJust like us making up snow days. Did you ever get hurt from one?”
    Before she could answer, Aunt Vi, Fig, and Moose reassembled in their chairs with their coffee.
    â€œWhat are you two talking about?” asked Vi.
    â€œMaya was telling me about earthquakes,” said Payton.
    â€œYou ever felt one?” asked Moose.
    â€œNot really,” said Maya.
    Payton lurched forward in his chair. “But you just said —”
    Maya interrupted him. “Grandmother told me that I slept through one once, but it didn’t do any damage.”
    Aunt Vi glanced from Maya to Payton. “Okay then. Payton, how about running to my tent