Read Online The More the Merrier by Stephanie Barden - Free Book Online Page B

crack.
    â€œFinally!” yelled Rosemary T.
    â€œJust a second,” I said. “I’ll go tell my aunt I’m going outside.”
    I shut the door and started to run to Tess’s bedroom, where Aunt Flora was vacuuming; but Rosemary T. pushed open the front door just like it was her own. “Quit slamming the door in my face!”
    â€œShut the—,” I started to say, but Miss Purvis was too fast. She dashed out the door. I ran outside, and Rosemary T. followed me.
    For once in his life Charlie wasn’t practicing basketball in his driveway, and it was the one time I really wished he was.

    I watched Miss Purvis trot down the block. “See which way she goes,” I ordered. “I have to let my aunt know what happened.” I ran back inside and yelled, “Aunt Flora! Miss Purvis escaped!”
    Aunt Flora turned off the vacuum and came into the living room.
    â€œWhat?” she asked.
    â€œMiss Purvis escaped, and Charlie’s not around to help me catch her,” I said.
    â€œI don’t think you can really catch a cat,” said Aunt Flora.
    â€œOh no.” I crumbled down onto the floor and felt sick to my stomach. “There must be something I can do. Would food work?”
    â€œYou could try,” said Aunt Flora.
    We went into the kitchen and got a can of cat food.
    â€œHere,” said Aunt Flora, “these might help too.” She slipped four of her bracelets on my arm, and I ran out the door.
    â€œNow, are you finally going to talk to me?” asked Rosemary T.
    â€œNow,” I said, “I’m going to find Miss Purvis. Which way did she go?”
    Rosemary T. pointed, and I headed down the block.
    â€œHere, Miss Purvis! Here, kitty!” I waved the can of food around, and the bracelets jingled.
    Rosemary T. followed after me. “Do you have to yell? It’s so embarrassing.”
    That stopped me in my tracks. “I’m doing this because you let Miss Purvis out!”
    â€œI don’t mean just now,” said Rosemary T. “I mean like today at recess.”
    â€œI had to yell to get you to stop talking.” I started to walk again and jingled the bracelets.
    â€œAnd now you’re trying to be just like your aunt and wear tons of jewelry.”
    I started to tell her again that I was doing all this yelling and jingling because of her, but instead I just said, “I will take that as a compliment.”
    Rosemary T.’s mouth dropped open like I’d said something crazy. “Are you going to start wearing a crown and pretending to be the tooth fairy next?”
    â€œMaybe,” I said.
    That stopped Rosemary T. in her tracks, but I kept walking. I’d caught sight of Miss Purvis cleaning her paws a little ways down the block.
    Rosemary T. caught up. “You’re joking, right?”
    â€œNo,” I said.
    â€œBut you’re not weird like her,” said Rosemary T. “You’ll go back to normal when your mom and dad get home.”
    â€œI don’t know about that,” I said. “Weird people are interesting. I’d rather be weird than ordinary or boring any day.”
    â€œThat’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard.” Rosemary T. looked very shocked.
    â€œRosemary T.” I stopped and looked her right in the eyes. “I have been trying to ignore your meanness since the beginning of the year, but you have pushed me too far. Now it’s time for me to tell you what’s what.”
    â€œIs that another one of your childish, made-up words?” she asked.
    â€œNo,” I said. “A what’s what is a real, true thing.”
    â€œWell, I’ve never heard of it.” She put her hands on her hips and looked right back at me. “Half of the time I can’t understand a word you’re saying.”
    â€œWell, I will speak slow and clear so you can.” And right then I felt like I was giving a Table Book Talk at