Annie's Room Read Online Free PDF

the worms wriggling in the clumped soil. Some of them manage to squeeze between my fingers, which tickles, but I like it. “Why are there more in this part of the garden than everywhere else?”
    “Mulch,” he replies, digging more soil up as he works to create a new patch for vegetables.
    That one word doesn't really answer my question, but I suppose it would be wrong of me to press the matter. I want Father to think that I'm learning. I turn my hand around in the sunlight, watching as the worms continue to wriggle, and then I smile as I let the handful of dirt fall to the ground. Looking down, I see the worms wriggling away from their crash, trying to find a way back underground. It's almost as if they're panicking. I can't help but smile.
    “What's this for?” I ask, heading over to one of the trowels that's propped against an old tree trunk.
    “It's a trowel,” Father mutters.
    “But it looks different to the others.”
    “It's for border work. You'll learn.”
    A moment later, I spot a hint of movement out of the corner of my eye. Turning, I see that Mr. Clement from the town is headed this way along the road that runs across our property. He rarely comes all the way out here, and when he does it usually means there's something important to discuss, so I can't help but feel a little concerned as I use my right hand to shield my eyes from the sun and watch him for a moment longer. He's walking fast, and the expression on his face strikes me as being a little unfriendly. Father won't like this; he never likes it when people come out to visit us from town, he prefers to be left alone.
    “Father,” I say, “Mr. Clement is here.”
    Taking a step back, I watch as Father drops his shovel and brushes his hands against his shirt, and then he adjusts his trousers and makes his way over to join the visitor. Just from the way he stomps across the grass, I can tell he's already annoyed.
    “Go inside,” he says sternly.
    “But if -”
    “Go inside.”
    Realizing that I must obey at once, I hurry to the back steps and then into the kitchen, although then I stop and wait, hoping to be able to hear the conversation that follows.
    “Jonathan,” Mr. Clement says, his tones sounding clipped and tense. As a member of the town council, he has no reason to be out here unless it's on official business, and if there's one thing I know Father hates more than any other, it's official business. I lean back around the doorway and watch as Mr. Clement reaches out to shake Father's hand. Father makes no move to reciprocate. “Fine day,” Mr. Clement continues, forcing a smile that seems awfully hollow. “I see you've started work on your -”
    “What do you want?” Father asks, interrupting him.
    “Well, I was just in the area and -”
    “What do you want , man?” Father asks again. “Can't you see I'm busy?”
    “Of course.” Reaching into his pocket, Mr. Clement slips out an envelope. “Truth be told, Jonathan, I'm here with a message for your wife. It's just that a letter came for her and it was being stored at the office, and I was hoping to pass it on to her at some point but she hasn't been into town in such a long time so I finally figured I should come out here and deliver it in person.” He holds the envelope out, but Father doesn't take it. “I trust that Rebecca is in good health?” Mr. Clement adds, glancing toward the house.
    I step back, to make sure I'm not seen.
    “She's fine,” Father replies. “There's no need for anyone to fuss.”
    I lean a little farther past the door-frame, so as to see them again.
    “It's hardly fussing,” Mr. Clement continues, “it's just... Well, a few of us were talking and we realized it's been years since your wife was seen in town. Your daughter, too. Is Annie okay?”
    “Annie's fine.”
    “I hear she hasn't been to school ever. Are you educating her yourself?”
    “She can learn everything she needs from me.”
    “Even so -”
    “Everything is quite alright