Read Online Ramona Forever by Beverly Cleary - Free Book Online Page A

only nephew.”
    â€œYou may have competition when Algie arrives,” said Uncle Hobart. “Now, Beezus, where do we go for girl things?”
    â€œWell…there’s a bridal shop in the mall of the shopping center.” Beezus was shy about directing Uncle Hobart. “But I’m not sure they have our sizes.”
    â€œHeigh ho, off we go!” Uncle Hobartbacked his van out of the driveway and headed for the shopping center, where they found the parking lot crowded. “Now what we need is a chain of command,” said Uncle Hobart when he had finally found a parking space. “I’ll keep an eye on Beezus, who keeps an eye on Howie, who keeps an eye on Ramona, who watches out for Willa Jean. Each makes sure that the next person behaves and doesn’t get lost.”
    â€œI don’t need Beezus to keep an eye on me,” grumbled Howie. “And Beezus always behaves.” Willa Jean slipped her fingers into Ramona’s hand, an act that Ramona found touching and made her feel protective, even though the little girl’s fingers were sticky. The chain of command proceeded into the mall, where they found the bridal shop filled with pale, floating dresses, wedding veils, and thin, floppy hats.
    â€œOh—” breathed Beezus.
    â€œYuck,” said Howie.
    The three-way mirror tempted Ramona to look at herself, but she resisted. She must set a good example for Willa Jean. Howie flopped down on a couch and scowled at his feet. The saleswoman looked as if she wished they would all go away.
    â€œBridesmaid dresses for two, and one flower-girl dress.” Uncle Hobart sounded as casual as if he were ordering hamburgers.
    Dresses were produced. Beezus and Ramona were bashful about spending so much of Uncle Hobart’s money and were uncertain about choosing. Willa Jean was not. “I like that one,” she said, pointing to a ruffled pink dress in her size.
    â€œOkay, girls?” asked Uncle Hobart. The sisters, who would have preferred yellow, nodded. The correct sizes for Beezus and Ramona, it turned out, would have to be ordered from other outlets in the chain of bridal shops. Yes, they would arrive in timefor the wedding. The saleswoman promised. While Uncle Hobart paid for all three dresses, Ramona whispered to Willa Jean to sit beside Howie. Willa Jean actually minded.

    Ramona slipped over for a glimpse of herself in the three-way mirror, which reflectedher back and forth from every angle. She began to dance, to watch all the Ramonas. Obediently, they imitated her, dancing on and on into the distance, tinier and tinier until they could no longer be seen. Forever me, thought Ramona. I go on forever.
    â€œNow, what about our ring bearer?” Uncle Hobart looked at Howie, who slid down on the couch and scowled.
    Ramona was aware that the saleswoman eyed Howie as if he did not belong on her couch. She danced on, twirling to make the myriad Ramonas twirl.
    â€œTo dress properly,” said the saleswoman, “a boy in a wedding party should wear short pants, knee socks, a white shirt, and a jacket; but ring bearers are usually little boys. Four-or five-year-olds.”
    â€œSee, what did I tell you?” Howie said to his uncle.
    Uncle Hobart ignored his nephew.“Come, Beezus,” he said, holding the box with Willa Jean’s dress under his arm. As the next link she said, “Come on, Howie,” who said, “Come on, Ramona,” who said, “Come on, Willa Jean. Thank you for being such a good girl.” Willa Jean beamed. The saleswoman looked happy to see them go.
    Uncle Hobart led his chain of command to a boys’ shop where, much against Howie’s wishes, he bought short navy blue pants, a white shirt, and a pale blue jacket. “Everybody will make fun of me,” said Howie. The salesman said the shop did not carry knee socks for boys.
    Beezus felt responsible for Howie. “Girls’ shops have knee socks,”