Read Online The Girls Get Even by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
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has been wrinkled and rough, and your toes and fingers crooked, because you have looked the way you have lived. But because of these fine deeds you have performed this Halloween, you have shown the village people that beneath your dirty hair and crooked smile, there is indeed a heart of gold.” Whereupon she touched the Goblin Queen with her magic wand, and flung off the ugly mask that Caroline would have been wearing, to reveal the true beauty beneath.
For just that one moment Caroline would have liked to be the Fairy Godmother of All the Woods and Glades, but she couldn’t be both. And besides, right after that, her two footmen were supposed to help her sit down, and say, “Your throne, m’lady.” And when she said, “Call the other goblins, that we may celebrate a Halloween of Good Deeds, “ Wally would say, “I hear, my Queen, and obey.”
When Wally came to those lines, however, his face turned red and he looked as though he had amouth full of rocks. He looked as though he would rather choke than say them.
“Who are you talking to, Wally, the floor? “ Miss Applebaum called from her seat in the second row. “Speak up—look at Caroline when you talk. Don’t mumble.”
“I can’t remember the lines, I’m not any good at this,” Wally told her.
“Pish-posh!” said their teacher. “You only have two lines to say in the whole play, Wally. Come on, now. I know you can do it. Besides, if you forget a line, just make one up. Actors and actresses have to do that all the time.”
“I hear, my Queen, and obey,” Wally said finally, and started off the stage to call the other goblins.
Does life ever get better than this? Caroline wondered happily.
•
Fall was perhaps the favorite season in the Malloy family. Father was happiest when football had really begun; Mother liked it when the long, hot days of summer were over at last; Eddie liked any season that was warm enough for her to stand outside and bounce a ball off the side of the garage; and Beth liked autumn especially because all the books that had been taken from the library forsummer reading had been returned, and she had a much better selection to choose from, especially her favorite books, such as The Spider’s Sting, Mark of the Mummy , and Scorpion People. But the seasons of the year meant absolutely nothing to Caroline as long as she was onstage.
She and Beth and Eddie had just come back from the homecoming parade on Saturday and were raking leaves when Mr. Hatford came up the sidewalk with their mail.
‘‘Hello, girls/’ he said. “Your dad must have been mighty pleased the way his team beat Wheeling last night. Nice to have a winning team for a change.” He grinned as he walked up the steps. “So how are you all doing?”
“Fine,” they answered together.
Caroline took a chance: “How are the guys coming with their Halloween costumes?”
Mr. Hatford scratched his head. “Come to think of it, I haven’t heard a word out of them the past few days. All I get from Wally is griping about some danged play.”
Caroline grinned, but Eddie put down her rake: “Aren’t they even going to be in the parade?”
“I imagine so. Just don’t hear them talk much about it, that’s all.”
Not much help from him, Caroline thought afterhe had gone. Was it possible the boys had just given up?
Leaves fell down around them, and Caroline stretched her arms toward the sky and said, “Life’s wonderful¡ The Goblin Queen is in her glory¡ I never want to go back to Ohio again. I want to stay right here and become known in Buckman, and someday, in the concrete outside the school, they will put a marker for me with my name on it, saying, CAROLINE LENORE MALLOY FIRST APPEARED ONSTAGE IN THIS SCHOOL . ” Her sisters groaned.
The screen door slammed and Mother came down the steps: “Girls, look at this and tell me what you think. I just got a note from Mrs. Hatford, and this is what she said:
‘Dear Mrs. Malloy:
If you hadn’t said you
For just that one moment Caroline would have liked to be the Fairy Godmother of All the Woods and Glades, but she couldn’t be both. And besides, right after that, her two footmen were supposed to help her sit down, and say, “Your throne, m’lady.” And when she said, “Call the other goblins, that we may celebrate a Halloween of Good Deeds, “ Wally would say, “I hear, my Queen, and obey.”
When Wally came to those lines, however, his face turned red and he looked as though he had amouth full of rocks. He looked as though he would rather choke than say them.
“Who are you talking to, Wally, the floor? “ Miss Applebaum called from her seat in the second row. “Speak up—look at Caroline when you talk. Don’t mumble.”
“I can’t remember the lines, I’m not any good at this,” Wally told her.
“Pish-posh!” said their teacher. “You only have two lines to say in the whole play, Wally. Come on, now. I know you can do it. Besides, if you forget a line, just make one up. Actors and actresses have to do that all the time.”
“I hear, my Queen, and obey,” Wally said finally, and started off the stage to call the other goblins.
Does life ever get better than this? Caroline wondered happily.
•
Fall was perhaps the favorite season in the Malloy family. Father was happiest when football had really begun; Mother liked it when the long, hot days of summer were over at last; Eddie liked any season that was warm enough for her to stand outside and bounce a ball off the side of the garage; and Beth liked autumn especially because all the books that had been taken from the library forsummer reading had been returned, and she had a much better selection to choose from, especially her favorite books, such as The Spider’s Sting, Mark of the Mummy , and Scorpion People. But the seasons of the year meant absolutely nothing to Caroline as long as she was onstage.
She and Beth and Eddie had just come back from the homecoming parade on Saturday and were raking leaves when Mr. Hatford came up the sidewalk with their mail.
‘‘Hello, girls/’ he said. “Your dad must have been mighty pleased the way his team beat Wheeling last night. Nice to have a winning team for a change.” He grinned as he walked up the steps. “So how are you all doing?”
“Fine,” they answered together.
Caroline took a chance: “How are the guys coming with their Halloween costumes?”
Mr. Hatford scratched his head. “Come to think of it, I haven’t heard a word out of them the past few days. All I get from Wally is griping about some danged play.”
Caroline grinned, but Eddie put down her rake: “Aren’t they even going to be in the parade?”
“I imagine so. Just don’t hear them talk much about it, that’s all.”
Not much help from him, Caroline thought afterhe had gone. Was it possible the boys had just given up?
Leaves fell down around them, and Caroline stretched her arms toward the sky and said, “Life’s wonderful¡ The Goblin Queen is in her glory¡ I never want to go back to Ohio again. I want to stay right here and become known in Buckman, and someday, in the concrete outside the school, they will put a marker for me with my name on it, saying, CAROLINE LENORE MALLOY FIRST APPEARED ONSTAGE IN THIS SCHOOL . ” Her sisters groaned.
The screen door slammed and Mother came down the steps: “Girls, look at this and tell me what you think. I just got a note from Mrs. Hatford, and this is what she said:
‘Dear Mrs. Malloy:
If you hadn’t said you
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