Finding Noel Read Online Free PDF Page B

climbed out. “Get your things.”
    â€œYes, ma’am.”
    Macy followed her to the front porch. The aluminum outer door was missing a panel. There was a cardboard sign over the doorbell that read BROKE. It was stuck to the wooden frame with a flesh-colored Band-Aid. The door had been scribbled on with crayon.
    The woman opened the door and shouted, “We’re back,” as she walked inside.
    Macy stepped in behind her onto the vinyl parquet floor entry. The front room was small, the floor covered with tan shag carpet. There was a peculiar smell to the room, like dog, though the odor was mostly obscured by the clinging stenchof cigarettes. There was a Christmas tree in the corner of the room, decorated with a red felt tree skirt, colorful ornaments and strands of popcorn, and in spite of everything else this made Macy happy. Maybe they would let her hang her new ornament on the tree as well.

    A girl and two boys ran into the room. The girl was stout, slightly younger than Macy and bore a resemblance to the woman. Standing behind the girl one boy appeared to be Macy’s age, the other a few years older. They all stared at her as if she were some new species of animal. For a moment no one spoke. Then the girl said, “That’s not Buffy.”
    The woman took off her coat, hooking it to a coat tree. “I told you Buffy was already taken.”
    Macy glanced back and forth between them. Who was Buffy?
    â€œI wanted Buffy. ”
    â€œYou’ll take her. ”
    â€œWhat’s her name?” the older boy asked.
    â€œI’m Macy,” she said trying to sound cheerful.
    â€œStupid name,” the younger boy said.
    â€œNot as stupid as Buffy ,” the older boy said, laughing. “Booooffeeee,” he said, taunting his sister.
    â€œYou said I could have Buffy for Christmas,” the girl whined.
    â€œJust shut up,” the woman said. “Buffy’s gone. Someone else got her.”
    â€œWhat are your names?” Macy asked.
    â€œBart,” said the oldest. “He’s Ronny and that’s Sheryl.”
    â€œHi, guys,” Macy said brightly.
    No one answered. Just then a dog came into the room. It was large—gigantic to Macy—with brown, brindled fur. Its head looked awkwardly large for its body. It stopped when it saw Macy and a deep, fierce growl rose from its throat.
    Macy took a step back. She was afraid of dogs. Especially this one.
    â€œBuster don’t like new people,” Bart said.
    â€œEat her, Buster,” Ronny said.
    Macy froze with fear. The dog’s ears fell back and it barked loud enough to hurt Macy’s ears.
    â€œGet that dog outta here,” the woman shouted at Bart.
    â€œShe’s a pit bull,” Bart said to Macy. “They call them that cuz they made them for fightin’ in pits. She could kill you in one second flat.”
    â€œI said get! And clean up his mess on the back porch.”
    â€œIt’s not my turn.”
    â€œI don’t care whose turn it is, I told you to do it.”
    â€œMake the new girl do it,” Ronny said.
    â€œYeah,” Bart said to Macy. “That’s your new job, cleaning up after Buster.”
    â€œNow!” the woman screamed.
    Bart groaned, then grabbed the dog by the collar and began dragging it away. “C’mon, Buster.”
    The woman turned to Sheryl. “Now show her the room.”
    Sheryl defiantly crossed her arms. “She can’t sleep in my room.”
    The woman shot a fierce glance at the girl and she wilted beneath it.
    â€œOkay, fine ,” Sheryl said.
    Mrs. Hummel walked from the room. Sheryl turned to Macy, her face screwed up in anger and defeat. “C’mon.”
    Macy looked back at the front door. She could run away from these ugly, mean people, but to where? She had no idea where she was. She lifted her plastic bag.
    â€œWhy you carrying a garbage sack?” Ronny asked.
    â€œNun’