Grace Read Online Free PDF Page B

head. “You wish.”
    â€œOh yeah? I’ll make you a bet. Loser does the dishes for the next month.”
    Joel was smart enough to not take the bet, but he still didn’t believe me. “Why would there be a girl in our clubhouse?”
    â€œIs it a bet?”
    â€œNo. You’re up to something.”
    â€œCome see.”
    â€œIf you drop a bucket of water on my head, Mom will kill you.”
    â€œI’m not going to do anything to you.”
    We walked back into the kitchen to find our mother gone. As I was scooping the eggs into a bowl, she walked back in. “What are you doing?”
    â€œUh, I thought I’d eat breakfast outside.”
    â€œJust eat it in here.”
    â€œI miss the clubhouse.”
    â€œEric, it’s freezing outside.”
    â€œPlease. I won’t be long. Then we’ll go.”
    She shook her head and sighed. “Just don’t leave the bowl out there. And hurry. We need to leave soon.” She walked back out.
    I put a piece of buttered toast on top of the eggs and Joel followed me out to the backyard.
    â€œ If this is one of your stupid tricks…”
    â€œJeez, enough already. I’m not going to do anything to you.”
    When we got to the clubhouse I knocked on the door, then pushed it open. I got down on my knees and stuck my head in, holding the bowl of eggs in front of me. It was dark inside, and little Eva’s “Loco-Motion” was playing on the radio.
    â€œGrace, I brought you some breakfast.” She didn’t respond. It was much warmer than it had been the night before. I crawled in and turned on the light. She wasn’t there. Joel came in after me.
    â€œShe’s not here,” I said.
    â€œI told you no one was here. You have to do the dishes.”
    â€œNo, I don’t. We never bet.” I looked around. “You can see someone was here. Who do you think turned the radio on? And there’s her bag.”
    Joel seemed baffled by the evidence. “Then who is she ?”
    â€œA girl I met at the Queen last night. She ran away from home and didn’t have anyplace to go. I told her she could stay here.”
    Just then Grace crawled back in. “Eric…” She froze when she saw Joel. Joel stared back at her. I’m not sure who was more surprised.
    â€œIt’s okay,” I said. “He’s my brother. He won’t tell anyone.”
    She crawled the rest of the way in, then stood. “I was using the bathroom.”
    â€œHow’d you sleep?” I asked.
    â€œPretty good. It warmed up a lot. The heating pad helped.”
    Joel just stared at her. Grace put out her hand. “I’m Grace.”
    â€œI’m Joel. Glad to meet you,” Joel said formally, which coming from a ten-year-old sounded pretty funny.
    I handed her the bowl. “I brought you some breakfast. Scrambled eggs.”
    â€œThanks. I love eggs on toast.” Grace took the bowl and sat down. She folded the toast and scooped up a clump of the eggs.
    Joel asked, “Where are you from?”
    â€œI live by Granite Jr. High.”
    â€œHow long are you going to stay here?”
    Even though I had wondered the same thing I still wanted to kick him.
    â€œI don’t know. A few days…” She looked at me. “…if it’s okay with you guys.”
    â€œSure,” I said.
    â€œGroovy. So what are you guys doing today?”
    â€œWe’re going to my uncle’s,” Joel said before I could answer. “How about you?”
    â€œI don’t know. I’ll probably go to the library.”
    Just then we heard the strained, quivering honk of the Bee. It sounded like a moose in mating season.
    Grace jumped. “What was that?”
    â€œThat’s my mom,” Joel said.
    I said to Joel, “Tell her I’ll be right there.”
    Joel started to crawl out the door. He looked back at Grace.