Cassie Binegar Read Online Free PDF Page B

sang while Cassie’s mother played the flute. Rounds at first, and one that Margaret Mary made them sing over and over again. “Dona Nobis Pacem.”
    â€œIt’s splendid,” said Margaret Mary. “What does it mean?”
    Cassie’s mother smiled. “It means Grant us peace,” she said.
    Peace. The word tumbled through Cassie’s thoughts. Peace, her brothers had said. She thought about her grandfather. Peace.
    â€œLet’s sing something happy,” said Cassie, her voice sounding lost in her throat.
    â€œNo, please, once more,” said Margaret Mary. “It is happy. What’s happier than peace?”
    They sang it again, this time Margaret Mary singing, too, her voice clear and light.
    â€œMargaret Mary, you have a wonderful voice,” said Cassie’s mother.
    â€œYes,” said Margaret Mary, looking surprised, making them all smile, “I do, don’t I?”
    A cloud drifted over the moon, and Cassie’s father yawned.
    â€œI’ll walk you home,” said Cassie.
    â€œWait. Before you go I have a gift for you.” Cassie’s mother disappeared into the kitchen and came back with the pot of rosemary. “Here. A real plant for a real girl.”
    Margaret Mary smiled and buried her face in the plant.
    â€œIt smells like the sea,” she said, her voice muffled.
    A real plant with dirt in the pot, thought Cassie, embarrassed. Why would Margaret Mary want that when she had a jungle of plastic plants, all perfect, every day the same, at home? But Margaret Mary was delighted.
    It was low tide, and Margaret Mary and Cassie walked home, barefoot, on the cool wet sand.
    â€œYour family is splendid,” said Margaret Mary. “Splendid.”
    Cassie smiled at the word. It was not the word she would choose for her family. There were other words she had written on her paper list: wild, raucous, infuriating, maddening, eccentric . . .
    â€œThanks, Cass,” said Margaret Mary at her front door. “Shall we meet at the big dune tomorrow?”
    Cassie nodded and watched her walk into the house, turning off the light behind her. Cassie stood for a moment. Then, as she turned to leave, an upstairs window opened and Margaret Mary leaned out.
    â€œYou are splendid, too, Cass!” she called to Cassie. “Here.” She threw something down, something small and light colored, that fell at Cassie’s feet. As the upstairs window closed again, Cassie bent down and saw what it was. It was Margaret Mary’s pink lace-edged socks, rolled neatly into a ball.
    Cassie smiled all the way home, although she didn’t know why. The pieces didn’t fit together for her. They kept shifting, first one way, then another. But one thing was certain—she had a friend. That night, before falling asleep, her head was filled with changing patterns, each different, each beautiful. Like the kaleidoscope. And before morning light touched her awake, she had gotten one of her wishes. She had slept a sleep without dreams.

7
Feathers and Rhymes
    C ASSIE’S RELATIVES BURST forth like clowns out of a circus car, tumbling and tripping over each other. Cousin Coralinda, wearing her feathered cape, carried her baby; Uncle Hat carried his suitcase, his telescope, and his bag of surplus hats. The wind was fierce, and Cassie had visions of Cousin Coralinda taking flight, her feathered cape lifting her high above their heads. The binoculars around Hat’s neck kept him firmly anchored, and he opened the door to the back seat, letting out Bumble Bee and Bitsy. Bumble Bee was a large and exuberant sheep dog, and unless he was eating or going to the bathroom, it was hard to tell which end was which. Cassie put out her hand to pet him, and Bumble Bee, as always, immediately fell on his back with his legs in the air, asking for stomach rubs. Bitsy, Cousin Coralinda’s cat, had a risky nature. She purred and rubbed and snarled and bit those