A Thousand Never Evers Read Online Free PDF Page A

can’t teach someone that,” I told her.
    “Why, sure you can!” she said. “Just watch.”
    But from the look of things, covering the outhouse toilet seat with plastic wrap didn’t get Mrs. Montgomery any closer to a laugh. In fact, she was stinking mad!
    “Now Mrs. Montgomery will never let Delilah go to the meeting tonight,” I told Elias. Then again, I almost didn’t get to go to tonight’s civil rights meeting either. That’s because I didn’t want to go. But a few days ago, when Mama said I couldn’t go, something inside me switched and I needed to go real bad. So I got Elias on my side. He told Mama the meeting would be all singing and praying, nothing I couldn’t handle, so at long last Mama agreed.
    But before that meeting, I’ve got loads to do.
    As soon as I get dressed, Mama and me grab some biscuits and step outside, where the air is soft and breezy. I
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for Flapjack. Together we cross the tracks to Honeysuckle Trail, where I’m starting work at the Tates’ house with Mama.
    Once we get there, I tell Flapjack, “It’s just like when I used to work at Old Man Adams’s big house. Remember how you used to wait for me there? Now see if you can find some mice or birds to play with.” Flapjack looks at me with glassy green eyes. “We’ll be done before you know it,” I say. Then I kiss his head and follow Mama through the Tates’ back door and into the kitchen.
    The second Mrs. Tate sees me she says, “My you’re all grown up. Well, I’m sure glad you’re here, Addie Ann. What with Ralphie one year and crawling, he’s getting into everything now.” And just then, as if to prove what his mama says is true, the wide-eyed boy on the floor reaches up and shoves over the trash can. Orange rinds and coffee grounds scatter across the tile.
    Ralphie giggles.
    Mama grabs the broom and dustpan and sets about sweeping up the mess.
    “It’s impossible for your mama to help me with Ralphie and do all the cooking and cleaning too. And since I’m running the Kuckachoo Garden Club now, I’m out of breath thinking of all I’ve got to do,” Mrs. Tate says, and sighs. “Just wait till he’s walking! Then how will we ever keep up?” But Mrs. Tate doesn’t wait for an answer. Instead, she disappears up the stairs.
    All morning long, Mama teaches me new tasks, like how to change Ralphie’s diaper, give him a bath, and buckle him into his high chair. Then she shows me round the Tates’ house, and I’ve got to admit, I’m a tad disappointed. The Tates’ house is eight times smaller than Old Man Adams’s place. They don’t have a marble floor or even a winding staircase. But one thing they do have, which we sure could use, is electricity! And of course, being on the white side, they’ve got their outhouse inside. It’s got plenty of running water.
    In the afternoon, I read Ralphie a couple stories. His books are beautiful. It seems the pages have only been turned a few times. After the stories, I pick him up and stroke his black hair like he’s my cat. I don’t much want to set him down for a nap, because he’s warm and soft here in my arms, but that boy’s already sleeping.
    Back in the kitchen, I tell Mama I sure could use a teeny tiny catnap myself, maybe out back under the dogwood tree, but she just laughs and pushes the laundry hamper full of Ralphie’s dirty clothes into my arms.
    It seems all too soon that I’m carrying Ralphie’s wet clothes out back. I
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a couple times, but wouldn’t you know it, that cat of mine is nowhere to be found. One thing’s clear: Flapjack needs to practice following directions a whole lot better.
    I’m pinning Ralphie’s little pants and shirts on the line when I hear that boy cry through his open bedroom window. I run back upstairs.
    “Hi, Ralphie,” I say.
    He coos at me through the crib bars.
    I lift him out and change his dirty diaper. But I can do a heck of a lot more than change a dirty diaper. I’m going