Glory Be Read Online Free PDF Page A

talking about?
    But before he could tell me another lie that his brother or his daddy swore was the gospel truth, my daddy pushed open the back screen door.
    “I’m going over to the church,” he announced. “See you in a while, Glory.”
    “Thank you for having me to breakfast, Brother Joe. I sure do love Miss Emma’s biscuits.” Even when he wasn’t exactly invited, Frankie remembered his manners.
    “You’re welcome anytime. Oh, and Glory, did I overhear you talking about a visitor girl you met at the library just now? Invite her to supper, why don’t you. You and Jesslyn can get to know people from other places.” Then Daddy headed across to the church.
    “I’ll invite Laura Lampert to supper.” I smiled real nice at Frankie. “My sister and I will know somebody from far off.”
    That is if Jesslyn would pull herself away from her new boyfriend long enough to pay me any nevermind. Or stop believing that trying out lipsticks with Mary Louise is more fun than playing Junk Poker with me. Then maybe Jesslyn would think having my new friend from Ohio over here to supper was fun.
    Frankie let out a big sigh. “My daddy’s gonna be mad,” he said, and scooted home, kicking a rock halfwaydown the block. “My brother’s gonna beat me up for playing with somebody who likes Yankees,” he yelled back to me.
    J.T. was scary all right, and I hoped he wouldn’t beat Frankie up, I truly did. But right now I needed Frankie about as much as I needed Jesslyn’s fancy orange lipstick.
    “Emma, I’ll be back real soon,” I hollered over my shoulder. “I’m going to the library to invite Laura Lampert to supper.”
    From inside the kitchen, Emma shut the icebox door so hard, the milk bottles rattled.

T he next night before suppertime, Emma wiped her hands on her apron and stood back to admire her creation. “I hope your new friend likes this chicken spaghetti casserole.”
    “All Yankees like spaghetti,” I said. Of course, I didn’t know one single Yankee except Laura. I thought for a minute. “I hope Jesslyn won’t act snotty to us because we’re only eleven,” I said.
    “I’ll make sure Jesslyn behaves.” Emma picked up the big silver knife to swirl the last bit of icing onto a sweet-smelling cake.
    “She’s not always nice to me these days,” I said. “And she argues with Daddy.”
    Emma pointed her knife to the ceiling, as if Jesslyncould hear. “That girl would argue with a signpost. But your sister’s just growing up. She’ll be back to playing with you in a while, Glory.”
    “She wants to move into Mama’s old sewing room. And you heard her fussing at me and Frankie, about his daddy and all,” I said. “Jesslyn claims I don’t know a thing about what’s going on around here this summer.”
    Emma raised one eyebrow and shook her head. She reached into the cupboard for the dishes with little blue birds on them. “Extra folks coming and going don’t make this kitchen any cooler. Get on out there and set the table, but be careful with these.” She set the plates down gently. “Your mama’s best china, special for tonight.” Then she opened the refrigerator door and stood there fanning her face with her apron.
    I wanted to edge in right next to her to cool off, but I could take a hint. I moved to the dining room just as Jesslyn tromped downstairs with big rollers in her hair. “Are you wearing those to the dinner table?” I tried to ask Jesslyn nicely.
    “I’m going to the library after supper. To get a book,” she answered like it was the stupidest question in the entire universe.
    To see that boy again , I thought, when Jesslyn headedback upstairs to her floor-length mirror. I didn’t say a word, though. I liked knowing secrets, and for now I was working hard at keeping this one.
    By the time my sister prissed back downstairs with her hair looking like she’d stepped out of the beauty parlor, Daddy and I were on the front porch swing. When a car stopped at the curb, he put