Leppard, Lois Gladys - [Mandie 04] Read Online Free PDF

didn’t know where Uncle Ned would wait for her. Cautiously, she stepped out into the open, hoping he would see her and come on out. Her heart beat wildly, and she kept turning to watch for him. As she waited, her hopes began to fade. She was afraid he would forget to come or that circumstances beyond his control might prevent his visit.
    Then she heard his familiar bird whistle nearby. Sheturned to see him standing in the shadows of a huge magnolia tree. She ran and threw her arms around him. Tears of joy streamed down her cheeks.
    “Uncle Ned! Uncle Ned! I knew you would come!” she cried as he embraced her.
    “Sit, Papoose,” he said, pointing to a white bench by the walkway. “Must hurry. Not want someone see Papoose. Make trouble.”
    They sat down and Mandie held his old, wrinkled hand.
    “Oh, I’m so glad to see you,” she said. “This is a miserable place, Uncle Ned, and they expect you to learn such silly things!”
    “But Papoose must get book learning. I promise Jim Shaw,” the old man replied. “Everything in this earth life not happy. Must do unhappy things, too.”
    “I know. I’ll have to stay here and learn all these silly things. But how I wish I were home and could see all my friends. How is everybody?” she asked.
    “All friends fine,” he said with a smile. “Send much love.” Uncle Ned looked at her closely. “Papoose make friends here?”
    “I have one good friend. Celia Hamilton. She’s my roommate. The other girls are too snobbish,” Mandie told him. “Celia is keeping watch for me in that window right up there.” She pointed. “She will let me know if anyone comes. Uncle Ned, she wants to meet you.”
    “Next time, Papoose.” The old man stood up, pulled an envelope out of his belt, and handed it to Mandie. “Friends write Papoose letters.”
    Mandie gave a muffled squeal. “Oh, thank you!” She felt the envelope.
It must have quite a few letters in it
, she thought.
    The old man looked toward the sky. “Must go now,” hesaid. “I ask Big God watch over Papoose.” He squeezed her small hand, then leaned over to embrace her.
    “Thank you, Uncle Ned. And I’ll ask God to watch over you and all my friends until I can return. Please come back as soon as you can. Please!”
    “Next time moon changes I come,” he told her. “Go back in house now. I watch.”
    Mandie kissed his wrinkled cheek and ran for the back door. At the doorway she stopped and waved good-bye. Even though she couldn’t see him in the darkness, she knew he was watching.
    Inside the kitchen she carefully wrapped the shawl around the envelope. Then she went to the sink and got a drink of water.
    The narrow servants’ stairs were so dark Mandie couldn’t see April blocking the way. Caught up in her thoughts, Mandie almost ran into her.
    “Well, well, well! Where have you been?” April asked.
    Mandie jumped. “I got a drink of water in the kitchen,” she said quickly. She hoped April wouldn’t see the shawl she held behind her.
    “And what’s wrong with the water in our bathroom upstairs?”
    “I don’t drink water out of bathrooms,” Mandie said, imitating the snobbish tone of some of the other girls. “Now move out of my way, or I’ll scream and the whole school will come running.”
    “You wouldn’t dare!”
    “Just stand there and see.” Mandie tried to nudge her aside.
    April stared at her a moment and then moved slightly.
    “All right, you get through this time, but just remember, I know you were out of your room well after ten o’clock.”
    “And so were you,” Mandie taunted, running up the stairs.
    Celia was waiting at the door. “Is everything all right?”
    “Fine, except I met April Snow as I was coming up the stairs. I have an idea she’ll try to cause trouble,” Mandie said. “But look!” She held up the envelope in the dim light. “Uncle Ned brought me letters from everybody.”
    Mandie draped her shawl over the back of a chair and sat down in the moonlight