Read Online Sophie Hartley and the Facts of Life by Stephanie Greene - Free Book Online Page A

something nice to say, don’t say anything.”
    Nothing but nice? That could lead to a very quiet dinner.
    â€œOnly tonight, right?” Nora said. “You can’t mean forever.”
    â€œLet’s see how it goes,” said Mr. Hartley. He sounded a lot more cheerful about the idea than everybody else at the table looked. “Not bad, if I do say so myself,” he said, eating a bite of meat loaf.
    They silently watched him chew. Mr. Hartley took another bite and smiled. When it looked as if no one else was going to say anything, Sophie said, “It’s delicious, Dad.”
    She didn’t care if Nora glared at her. It
was
delicious. Besides, it was the only nice thing Sophie could think of to say. Every time she started to think, all that came into her mind was how on earth she was going to steal Nora’s book without getting killed. Now it was someone else’s turn.
    Sophie glanced around the table. She could practically hear the gears in everyone’s brain working. Dinner was starting to feel like third-grade Spanish. Ms. Brioso had come to their classroom twice a week. She’d taught them how to count and say things such as “Hello” and “How are you?” and “My name is . . .”
    One day she announced they were going to speak Spanish for the entire lesson. No English. Ms. Brioso said she would start.
    â€œHola,”
she’d said.
“¿Cómo está usted?”
    There was a long silence. Kids looked around uneasily, hoping someone else was going to answer. Finally, a voice said,
“Bueno.”
    Another silence. Then another voice:
“Bueno, bueno.”
    When a third voice said,
“Bueno, bueno, bueno,”
and all of the kids started to laugh, they went back to speaking English.
    Now Thad was the first one to break the silence at the table.
    â€œDid you speak to Mom today?” he said.
    â€œI did,” said Mr. Hartley. “She said she’s having a good time but that she’s doing a lot of sitting around, listening to people say the same things over and over again.”
    â€œIt sounds like school,” said Nora. “That’s not negative about anyone in the family,” she added quickly when Mr. Hartley looked at her.
    â€œHow was your day, Thad?” said Mr. Hartley.
    â€œEmily dumped me yesterday, so I was bummed for a bit,” Thad said.
    â€œWho’s Emily?”
    Ordinarily, Nora would have said, “Thad’s stuck-up girlfriend.” Instead, she told her dad, “Thad’s girlfriend.”
    â€œEx-girlfriend,” Thad said.
    â€œI thought you were going out with someone called Mia,” said Mr. Hartley.
    â€œThat was last month. What?” Nora protested when Thad looked at her. “I didn’t say anything negative. Dad wanted to know who Emily was.”
    â€œWell, I’m sorry Emily dumped you,” said Mr. Hartley.
    â€œYeah. It’s really inconvenient.” Thad shrugged. “Now I have to find someone else to take to a party on Friday night.”
    â€œI’m going to a party on Friday night too.” Nora’s words came out in a rush. “Ian Bishop asked me. His mother’s driving us.”
    â€œIs this an official date?” her dad said.
    â€œI guess so.” Nora sounded surprised and pleased. “His mom’s picking up a few other kids on the way, but I’m the only one Ian asked.”
    â€œI know Ian Bishop,” said Thad.
    â€œYou do?” said Nora.
    â€œHe was at the soccer camp where I assisted last summer,” Thad said. “He plays the sax, right?”
    â€œRight.”
    â€œHe’s a good guy.”
    â€œI know! Isn’t he great?”
    Sophie couldn’t remember the last time Nora had looked or sounded as happy.
    â€œWhere’s the party and what time does it end?” Mr. Hartley asked.
    â€œYou’re getting pretty good at this,” Sophie told