Read Online Penelope Crumb by Shawn K. Stout - Free Book Online Page B

for erasing my nose in the drawing that you did of me, even though the nose you drew didn’t look anything like mine. And I’m sorry for drawing my nose over again, even though I made it look how my nose really does look even bigger-sized. And I’m also sorry for telling you that my mom was sick and almost dead so that I didn’t have to go hear you sing.”
    When I’m done, Patsy Cline blinks her eyes about a million times like she’s having an allergic reaction. And when she starts to turn away and doesn’t say, “I could never stay mad at you, Penelope Crumb,” I grab her arm and tell her that she can come over after school and sing like she did at her audition so it will be just like I was there.
    Only, Patsy Cline says no and then nothing else.
    The bell rings then, and Miss Stunkel says, “I’m allowing you some time today to work on your coat of arms. Not only will the winner’s coat of arms be on display at the Portwaller-in-Bloom Spring Festival, but the winner will have a chance to make a speech and explain his or her work.”
    Angus Meeker raises his hand. “Can we do two coats of arms if we want?”
    I look at him and roll my eyes. I’m an excellent eye roller.
    “These are due on Friday, Angus,” she says. “But I suppose, if you’re that ambitious.”
    Angus Meeker says, “Ambitious,” and then smiles at me, who knows what for. Then he pulls out a poster board from his desk and unrolls it. His coat of arms is in the shape of a shield made up of different colors of felt. And he’s got glitter and pictures of all kinds of things on it.
    Patsy Cline’s got a purple cowboy hat on her coat of arms along with some music notes.
    Miss Stunkel says, “Penelope, you’re supposed to be working. This is no time for wandering eyes.”
    I take out my drawing pad and stare at an empty page. I shut my eyeballs tight and try to think about my family and what to put on my coat of arms, but all I can see is what’s not there. And I know that drawing pictures of what used to be won’t bring them back.
    “Poor dear Penelope,” Mister Leonardo da Vinci would say. “She knows nothing of her family, and therefore, she sits alone in the dark. An artist cannot draw in the dark, after all. No, an artist must have light to see.”
    “I’m trying to turn on the light,” I whisper to Leonardo. “But I can’t find him.”

14.
    L ittie Maple has got something to say. She’s waiting for me in our living room when I get home from school with a face that says, This Is Important. She follows me into my room, and as soon as my door is closed, she spills it. “I’ve been asking Momma for months if I could go to the Homeschooler’s Craft Fair they have at the library on Tuesdays.”
    I nod and try to pretend like I know what she’s talking about.
    “And she’s finally letting me go!” Littie’s practicallyshaking when she says this, and her smile is so big, it could sprout legs and walk off.
    I fall face-first on my bed because Littie might as well be talking upside down and backward about her grandpa’s nose hairs. She sits on my legs and says, “Tomorrow is Tuesday. And Momma is going to drop me off at the library BY MYSELF for the whole day.”
    “So?” I say into my pillow.
    “Your brain is as thick as mud.” She pulls at my hair. “So, we can go on another adventure tomorrow.”
    “I have school,” I remind her. “And besides, I’m all out of adventures.”
    “Well, I’m not,” she says. “My adventures are just getting going.” Littie gets up and opens the door. “Real detectives don’t give up on a case, you know. I’m just saying.”
    I pull my pillow over my head to shut out all the light.
    A long while later, when Littie’s gone and theapartment is quiet, I take the picture of Grandpa Felix and my dad out of my toolbox and return it to the family album. The faces in the pictures ask, “What are you doing up so late? A girl your age should be in bed by now.” But I tell them all