Read Online The Snow by Caroline B. Cooney - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Caroline B. Cooney
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table, and Mrs. Bergeron hardly noticed when chocolate got spilled on a Community Chest. There were dripping winter boots and newspapers sliding off their stacks; school books tumbling into the unsorted laundry; and between Monopoly turns they all investigated the freezer for things to microwave.
It was like her own home, cluttered with love and talk.
Christina bit into a sugar cookie, and suddenly she was so homesick she wanted to weep. She could actually taste home: a taste of crunchy sweetness, of cookies still hot from the oven.
Jonah walked Christina home because it had grown dark. She felt the way she might after Thanksgiving dinner: stuffed. But with friendship, instead of turkey. Jonah’s mother had said to come back anytime.
Can I come back to live? she wanted to beg. Can I stay with you? I’ll sleep in the hall, I’ll sleep standing up — oh, please let me live here instead of at Schooner Inne! But of course she didn’t. She said, “Thank you, I will.”
And when Jonah said good-bye on the steps of the Schooner Inne, and she went inside all alone, it was truly a temperature change. The chill of loneliness lowered Christina’s resistance. All her fears lived here, and none of her allies.
In the gloomy front hall, where the slender white railings twirled up and up toward the black cupola, she remembered her slumber party and the game of murder. In the dark, she thought, there will be an accident.
After all, little girls get silly. Would it be surprising if one toppled off the balcony onto her spine? The Shevvingtons would be absolved of all blame. People would feel sorry for them and bring casseroles and potted plants.
Chapter 10
M RS. SHEVVINGTON RENTED A charming, antique maid’s costume for Anya. It was a long, black cotton dress with a starched lacy white apron and cap. “That’s sick,” cried Christina. “You should make her wear school clothes and go back to school. Not dress her like a maid!”
“She’s happy, Christina,” said Michael irritably.
“I think she looks pretty neat,” Benjamin added. This was amazing. Benj never expressed the slightest interest in girls or their looks.
Christina tried to explain her point to the Jayes. Benjamin, Michael, and Dolly Jaye frowned at Christina, an impenetrable family unit.
Mr. Shevvington said sadly, “Can’t you rejoice when poor Anya has a moment of pleasure? Must you always keep happiness for yourself?” He put an arm around the trio of Jayes and the other arm over Anya’s black shoulder.
Christina, the outsider, flushed.
Benj and Michael teased their little sister, told her to have fun, and dashed out before the guests arrived. The girls came in a clump, giggling and pushing. Including Gretchen and Vicki; Katy, who never got invited anywhere; and Dolly, who wasn’t in seventh grade at all.
The first game Mrs. Shevvington organized was Pin the Tail On The Donkey.
“Mrs. Shevvington,” protested Gretch, laughing. “Nobody’s played that since they were little. That’s a baby game.”
“Ah,” said Mrs. Shevvington, “but we need to be in a certain order, and however well you do in this game is the order in which you will enter the second game.”
Christina was not surprised when Gretch won, Dolly came in second, and Vicki third. She was not surprised when Mrs. Shevvington lined up the girls in order of winning, so that fat Katy was marked the loser, last in line, while Dolly stood up front, between Gretch and Vicki.
“Everybody pair up now!” ordered Mrs. Shevvington. “Next game is in pairs!”
“I get to play with Gretchen!” cried Dolly joyfully. She beamed at Gretchen, who said to her, “I love your red hair, Dolly. And your name! It’s so sweet. You are sort of a dolly.” Gretchen and Dolly held hands and talked about dancing class.
Christina stood with Katy. We’re the losers, she thought.
She gave Mrs. Shevvington the dirtiest look she could. Mrs. Shevvington said loudly, “ Why, Christina! As
It was like her own home, cluttered with love and talk.
Christina bit into a sugar cookie, and suddenly she was so homesick she wanted to weep. She could actually taste home: a taste of crunchy sweetness, of cookies still hot from the oven.
Jonah walked Christina home because it had grown dark. She felt the way she might after Thanksgiving dinner: stuffed. But with friendship, instead of turkey. Jonah’s mother had said to come back anytime.
Can I come back to live? she wanted to beg. Can I stay with you? I’ll sleep in the hall, I’ll sleep standing up — oh, please let me live here instead of at Schooner Inne! But of course she didn’t. She said, “Thank you, I will.”
And when Jonah said good-bye on the steps of the Schooner Inne, and she went inside all alone, it was truly a temperature change. The chill of loneliness lowered Christina’s resistance. All her fears lived here, and none of her allies.
In the gloomy front hall, where the slender white railings twirled up and up toward the black cupola, she remembered her slumber party and the game of murder. In the dark, she thought, there will be an accident.
After all, little girls get silly. Would it be surprising if one toppled off the balcony onto her spine? The Shevvingtons would be absolved of all blame. People would feel sorry for them and bring casseroles and potted plants.
Chapter 10
M RS. SHEVVINGTON RENTED A charming, antique maid’s costume for Anya. It was a long, black cotton dress with a starched lacy white apron and cap. “That’s sick,” cried Christina. “You should make her wear school clothes and go back to school. Not dress her like a maid!”
“She’s happy, Christina,” said Michael irritably.
“I think she looks pretty neat,” Benjamin added. This was amazing. Benj never expressed the slightest interest in girls or their looks.
Christina tried to explain her point to the Jayes. Benjamin, Michael, and Dolly Jaye frowned at Christina, an impenetrable family unit.
Mr. Shevvington said sadly, “Can’t you rejoice when poor Anya has a moment of pleasure? Must you always keep happiness for yourself?” He put an arm around the trio of Jayes and the other arm over Anya’s black shoulder.
Christina, the outsider, flushed.
Benj and Michael teased their little sister, told her to have fun, and dashed out before the guests arrived. The girls came in a clump, giggling and pushing. Including Gretchen and Vicki; Katy, who never got invited anywhere; and Dolly, who wasn’t in seventh grade at all.
The first game Mrs. Shevvington organized was Pin the Tail On The Donkey.
“Mrs. Shevvington,” protested Gretch, laughing. “Nobody’s played that since they were little. That’s a baby game.”
“Ah,” said Mrs. Shevvington, “but we need to be in a certain order, and however well you do in this game is the order in which you will enter the second game.”
Christina was not surprised when Gretch won, Dolly came in second, and Vicki third. She was not surprised when Mrs. Shevvington lined up the girls in order of winning, so that fat Katy was marked the loser, last in line, while Dolly stood up front, between Gretch and Vicki.
“Everybody pair up now!” ordered Mrs. Shevvington. “Next game is in pairs!”
“I get to play with Gretchen!” cried Dolly joyfully. She beamed at Gretchen, who said to her, “I love your red hair, Dolly. And your name! It’s so sweet. You are sort of a dolly.” Gretchen and Dolly held hands and talked about dancing class.
Christina stood with Katy. We’re the losers, she thought.
She gave Mrs. Shevvington the dirtiest look she could. Mrs. Shevvington said loudly, “ Why, Christina! As
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