A Girl Named Summer Read Online Free PDF Page A

tonight.”
    “Let me think about it first,” Summer stalled.
    “Look, we both said we need to take advantage of every opportunity if we’re going to change our images. Hermits don’t meet many new people. Think about that.”
    “Okay, okay.”
    “I have to go. I’ll call you later.”
    “Fine,” Summer replied. She followed Regina to the front door, dodging toy cars and trucks along the way. It would take her most of the afternoon to cleanup Michael’s mess. And he’d made the clutter in less than ten minutes.
    “Want to do something tonight?” Regina asked.
    “Can’t. It’s bingo night.”
    “Poor Summer…Maybe your grandfather won’t want to go tonight.”
    When it snows in July
, Summer thought. “No chance. And don’t say ‘Poor Summer,’” she demanded. “I feel bad enough as it is.”

Chapter 2
    “S ummer, honey, I’m talking to you,” her father said at the dinner table that night.
    “Sorry, Dad. I guess I was daydreaming,” Summer lied.
    “Couldn’t have been a good daydream, girl. You’re frowning yourself into an early set of wrinkles,” her grandfather bellowed from across the table. Since Grandpa had a bit of a hearing problem, he assumed everyone else did, too.
    “I signed Michael up for swim lessons,” her father said. “He starts tomorrow. He’s to be at the park by ten, honey.”
    “Okay, Dad. How long are the lessons?” Summer asked, trying to force some enthusiasm into her voice.
    “A half hour each morning for two weeks, except Saturdays and Sundays, of course.”
    “What about Grandpa?”
    “I can manage on my own, girl,” her grandfather answered. “Now, hurry up and finish your dinner. I won’t stand for being late for bingo!”
    It was a ritual. Every Monday night, regardless of the weather, Summer dutifully walked with her grandfather to the church hall two blocks away. While he played bingo, Summer helped Mr. Clancy at the snack bar.
    If the truth were known, Summer really looked forward to bingo night, though she would have died before admitting that fact to anyone, even Regina. The reason was her grandfather. He seemed to come alive on Monday nights, and it meant a lot to Summer to help him enjoy himself so much.
    Summer gave a salute, then went to the front door and stood patiently for a good ten minutes while her grandfather gathered up the tools of his trade: a green felt-tip pen, Scotch tape, and, of course, an extra pair of glasses in the event of an emergency. Grandpa took bingo seriously.
    He was finally ready. Summer linked her arm through his and slowly began to walk. It was a lovely night, warm and breezy, the air perfumed with the scents of budding flowers.
    “Do you like living with us, Grandpa?” Summer asked.
    “Never a dull minute,” her grandfather answered with a chuckle. “More like living in a zoo with all thecommotion going on. Still, it’s much better than that nursing home your daddy rescued me from.”
    “But you were the one who insisted on going there,” Summer protested. “Dad says you just wanted to give up after Grandma died. I’m glad you didn’t like it there,” she confessed. “And that you moved in with us. It’s where you belong.” Her grandfather smiled at her. There was a special bond between them. Summer could tell him anything and he never became impatient, even though he would occasionally fall asleep in the middle of a sentence. It wasn’t from boredom, he always assured Summer. He just needed his rest.
    “You still moping because you didn’t get to go on a trip with that rich girlfriend of yours?” her grandfather asked bluntly.
    “Grandpa, I wasn’t…Well, I
was
moping, but not anymore,” she admitted with a sheepish grin. “And Mary Lou isn’t the rich girlfriend. You’re thinking of Regina.”
    “Regina, the big girl with the pool in her backyard?” her grandfather asked. At Summer’s nod, he continued. “She’s a nice girl, even if she isn’t Irish.”
    Summer laughed and shook