Read Online Sadie's Story by Christine Heppermann - Free Book Online

shared the beach with mergansers and herring gulls and maybe even moose birds—Canada jays that use moose as buffet tables, eating fleas and ticks straight off the moose backs. Sadie wanted to tell Jess and Maya about Canada jays. She had a lot she wanted to tell them.
    After all, she’d been traveling, too.
    Pressing down hard with her pencil, she added one more bird to her wish list—Ethel—just as the doorbell rang.
    She opened the door and, poof!
    Her friends were there.
    â€œDoesn’t it seem like we were gone forever?” Jess asked. The three of them stoodin the hallway untangling from a group hug.
    Jess wore a pair of red shorts overalls Sadie had never seen before. Maya had on new sandals, and each of her toenails was painted a different color. Still, their arms around her felt the same as always.
    â€œ Namaste , girls!” her mother, in cobra pose, called out as they passed the living room on their way to Sadie’s bedroom.
    â€œThat’s yoga language for ‘nice to see you,’” Sadie said.
    â€œHope you’re thirsty for smoothies,” her father called from the kitchen. “My soon-to-be-world-famous Banana Blast-Off with spirulina!”
    â€œThe little store by the lake sold smoothies,” Jess told Sadie. “But—”
    Maya interrupted her. “The blender was right by the bait box.”
    Jess made a face. “Mango Minnow with Mud. Yuck.”
    Alone with the door closed, the girls settled themselves on the bed. Jess looked at Maya. Maya looked at Jess. Jess looked away. Finally, Sadie asked, “So you guys had fun?”
    A long pause, and then Maya said, “Well, it rained a little.”
    â€œA lot,” Jess admitted.
    â€œCopiously,” Maya said. “The closest we got to swimming was sweating in our bunks.”
    â€œWe stayed in the cabin mostly, with the heat turned way up,” Jess explained. “My grandparents are cold all the time.”
    â€œThere wasn’t even a TV! Just backgammon.” Maya groaned. “You know how many channels backgammon has? One. The Boring Network.” She turned to Jess. “Not that BeMaw and BePaw aren’t really nice, it’s just . . . you know.”
    Jess fiddled with the lace of her high-top sneaker. “We talked a lot about you and what you were doing and how we kind of wished we were back here with you.” Her eyes met Sadie’s. “What were you doing?”
    Sadie took a deep breath. “It’s kind of hard to—”
    â€œWere you bereft?” Maya asked plaintively. “Disconsolate? Crestfallen?”
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œDid you miss us?” Maya translated.
    â€œOf course!”
    â€œWell then, your souvenirs!” Jess started pulling things from her gray satchel and spreading them out on the bed. “Let’s see, a Moose Head Lake pen, Moose Head Lake sunglasses—like we needed those—Moose Head Lake lip gloss that tastes like bark. Don’t ask. Moose Head Lake cherry raisin fudge, which I would totally give to your parents if I were you. And this cool feather we found on our nature walk before it started hailing.”
    Sadie picked up the feather. It was lovely. Small and shapely. A vivid yellow with just a hint of black at the tips. When she twirled it between her fingers, it seemed to throw off light.
    Could it be?

    â€œIt’s kind of gross,” Jess apologized.
    â€œI swished it around in a puddle to wash off the germs,” Maya said.
    â€œIt’s not gross,” Sadie said quietly. Then louder, “I love it. I’m looking for a bird with feathers exactly this color. I met this lady the day you guys left. She was really into bird-watching.”
    â€œWhat lady?” asked Jess. “A friend of your mom’s?”
    Sadie bounced to the edge of the bed. “Long story.” She stood up. “Want to walk to the park with me? We can look for the bird who