Read Online The Zebra Wall by Kevin Henkes - Free Book Online Page B

as they rose. “I’m surprised I didn’t think of it sooner,” she said. “I must read that alphabet book to Baby a million times a day.”
    Everyone liked the idea.
    Adine started thinking immediately. Zachary, she said to herself. Zachary. It sounded wonderful.
    â€œSo now we have to do a Z wall, right?” asked Bernice.
    â€œWell, not exactly,” said Mrs. Vorlob. “Even though I loved the F wall and all the other murals we’ve done, I thought it might be fun to try something different this time, seeing as it’s our last. That’s why I’m painting the F wall white.” Mrs. Vorlob paused and reached for the alphabet book from on top of Baby’s dresser. She turned to the last page in the book and held it up. There was a bold black letter Z in the upper left-hand corner, and a magnificent zebra filling up the rest of the page, its stripes running off the edges of the paper as if the book couldn’t quite contain it.
    Adine recognized the picture instantly; she’d seen it time and time again.
    â€œSee,” Mrs. Vorlob explained, pointing to the illustration, then blocking off the zebra’s head with her arm. “I thought we could paint gigantic zebra stripes—from ceiling to floor—across the entire wall that used to be the F wall. Just one big design.”
    Mrs. Vorlob twinkled about the nursery, wielding her cigarette as if it were a magic wand, indicating where she wanted the stripes to be painted. The fairy from the F wall was gone forever, but there was a new one present. And she was as robust and real as the old one had been dainty and inanimate.
    â€œI love this idea!” Mrs. Vorlob said with exuberance. She smiled so broadly that the skin around her eyes wrinkled.
    Mrs. Vorlob wanted to repaint all the furniture in the nursery, too—metallic silver. “And if we can find one for a reasonable price,” she added, “I’d like to buy a chrome crib.”
    The proposed decor of the room struck Adine as being a bit different, but that wasn’t her main concern at the moment. “I’ll get some paper,” Adine offered eagerly, halfway out the door. “To make a list of Z names to hang on the refrigerator.” Adine planned on writing ZACHARY right on top of the list, using neat, capital letters. She could picture it already— ZACHARY —in black on white.
    â€œWait, honey,” Mrs. Vorlob called, motioning for Adine to come back. “That’s the other thing I’d like to do differently. Because Baby’s my last child and because Aunt Irene’s my only sister—and doesn’t have any children of her own—I’d like her to name Baby. I’d like Aunt Irene to give Baby a nice Z name.” A pause. “If that’s okay with everyone.”
    Mr. Vorlob nodded solemnly. And smiled.
    Aunt Irene’s face turned flush with happiness. She galumphed over to Mrs. Vorlob, banging into furniture, and hugged her. Mrs. Vorlob returned the embrace, their arms entwined like pretzels.
    Adine felt something like jealousy well up inside her, and she nearly choked on it. But what could she say?
    Bernice groaned.
    Carla said exactly what Adine was thinking: “What if we hate it? What if it’s a lousy name? What if she wants to call him Zorro ?”
    â€œDon’t worry,” said Aunt Irene. “I’ve got good taste.”
    Compared to what? thought Adine. In her mind, the sheet of paper with ZACHARY written on it was torn into tiny pieces and blown away. Bits scattering in the wind. Gone forever.
    â€œTo bed with all of you,” Mr. Vorlob ordered, glancing at his watch. “It’s late. Get a good rest so we can all get up bright and early and paint.”
    After more hugging with Aunt Irene, Mrs. Vorlob lit another cigarette. “Tomorrow we’re going to stripe this room!” she said. She did a little twist and softly bumped her behind