Finders Keepers Read Online Free PDF

want?”
    â€œAs long as Sophie and her mother don’t mind, I don’t see any reason why you can’t.”
    â€œIs that a true promise?”
    â€œIt’s a true promise. Where’s your mother?”
    â€œShe said she was going to sit on the verandah until I finished my homework.”
    â€œShe wasn’t there when I got home. Let’s ask Miss Ellie if she knows where she is.”
    Moments later, Jessie’s fears were realized. “Miz Thea went to see Miss Primrose.”
    Jessie started to cry. “Now it’s going to be worse, Daddy. She’s going to make Miss Primrose do something. Nobody will want to come to my party. Mama is going to tell Miss Primrose they have to come. I don’t want a party.”
    â€œIf you don’t want a party, then we won’t have a party. Shhh, don’t cry. Do you want to tell me what else is wrong?”
    â€œDaddy, I’m going to go into the fifth grade next year. Mama still walks me to the door, and the kids make fun of me. Why can’t I walk to school? I don’t have any friends, Daddy. Sophie is the only girl Mama likes. She said the girls at school are white trash. I asked Miss Primrose what that meant, and she wouldn’t tell me. She said all her students were fine young ladies.”
    â€œMy goodness, that’s a long list of grievances. I’ll talk to your mother this evening. I brought you a present. Your mother isn’t going to like it one little bit. I put it on the steps. Get it, run to your bedroom, and unwrap it. Then come down and tell me how you like it.”
    â€œAre you sure Mama won’t like it?”
    â€œI’m positive.”
    â€œWill you wait for me at the bottom of the steps?”
    â€œI’ll wait.”
    â€œOveralls!” Barnes heard her scream. “I love you, Daddy! Wait till you see me!”
    â€œYou look like a farmer’s daughter.” Barnes laughed. “I don’t think your mother will let you wear those in public.” Jessie threw her arms around her father and gave him a smacking big kiss.
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    The front door slammed shut behind Thea Roland. Her gaze was venomous as she witnessed the spontaneity of Jessie’s kiss to her father. She didn’t miss the denim overalls on her daughter. “I want to talk to you, Barnes. In the library. Jessie, darling, run upstairs and dress for dinner. The lavender dress with the white collar will do nicely.”
    â€œNo. I want to wear these. Daddy gave them to me.”
    â€œDo as I say, Jessie. We always dress for dinner.”
    â€œI’ll eat in the kitchen with Ellie.”
    â€œYou will not eat in the kitchen with a servant. Now go upstairs and change into the lavender dress.”
    Jessie dug her toes into the carpet. One hissy fit coming up. She jumped up and down, screaming at the top of her lungs. “No! No! I hate that dress. No! I’m going to wear these overalls forever and ever. I’m going to sleep in them!”
    â€œGood God! Now look what you’ve done, Barnes. Our daughter has thrown a temper tantrum. What are you going to do about it?”
    â€œI am not going to do anything. Children do that from time to time when they have overbearing mothers. You said you wanted to talk to me.”
    Thea stomped her way to the library. Barnes held back for a minute and winked at his daughter. “It was a hissy fit, Daddy.”
    â€œYes, it was.” Jessie heard him chuckling as he made his way to the library.
    Her face gleeful, Jessie ran to the kitchen. “I’m eating with you in the kitchen tonight, Miss Ellie, because I don’t look good enough to sit at the table.”
    â€œMercy,” was all the old housekeeper could think of to say.
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    â€œWhat is it this time, Thea?”
    â€œIt’s Jessie’s birthday party. Jessie said her classmates won’t come, so I went to see Miss Primrose and asked her why. I insisted she