November Blues Read Online Free PDF

socially exciting summer of your life.” November stopped, then let the letter fall to the floor.
    Her mother whooped with joy. She picked up the letter, and did another little dance in the middle of the living room, her face aglow with pride. “I knew you’d get this, baby girl. This is going to get you into an Ivy League school! I’m so proud of you I could just pop! Wait till I call all my friends! Now for sure we’re going shopping. This is the best news in the world!”
    November, still oddly quiet, nodded her head in agreement. “Yeah, it is.” She paused, then added, “There’snothing in the letter about a scholarship, Mom. How are we gonna pay for it? This program is almost five thousand dollars for just three weeks. Maybe I better not go.”
    â€œI’ll get a summer job! We’ll apply for a loan! We’ll figure it out and make it happen, baby girl!” her mother said happily. “You’re on your way.” She waltzed over to November and pulled her up to join her silly dance, but November pulled away.
    â€œWhat’s wrong, November?” Her mother asked. “Did you change your mind about Cornell? You can still go to Howard or Hampton, you know. You can do anything you want—that’s what’s so cool about being the smartest kid in high school.”
    â€œI know, Mom. It’s really good news.” November forced her face to smile. “I know it doesn’t seem like it, but I really am excited. Honest. I just don’t feel good today.”
    â€œYou run upstairs and get a nap, sweetie, and I’ll go down to the drugstore and make a million copies of this letter! I’m sending one to everybody we know.”
    â€œIt’s just Cornell, Mom, not the Pearly Gates. Get a grip.” Her mother’s cheerfulness was starting to get on November’s nerves.
    â€œWell, who put salt in your cornflakes today?” her mother replied, an edge to her voice.
    â€œNobody. I’m sorry, Mom. It really is cool.” As she headed up the stairs to her room, November turned and asked her mother, “Why do you think so many bad things have happened to us, Mom? Gus is all messed up. Daddy’s gone. My boyfriend dies on me. Why us, Mom?”
    â€œYou just got accepted to an elite Ivy League collegesummer program, November! Your future is full of wonderful possibilities. Focus on the good stuff instead of the bad,” her mother suggested as she adjusted the volume on the radio. “Maybe that’s why I play the blues every day. All that bad stuff is in the past, and I put all that pain in a box on a very high shelf. Maybe the blues can help you, too.”
    â€œDoubt it,” November mumbled.
    â€œAll I know to do is focus on you and what a great kid you are. I’m really proud of you, baby girl,” her mother told her. “You are my heart and my joy, November. You make me happy to get up each morning.”
    â€œShut up with all that crap, Mom! Just quit!” cried November, unable to bear it. “You sound like one of those drugstore greeting cards!” She ran to her room and slammed the door, leaving her mother stunned and silent.

CHAPTER 8
SATURDAY, APRIL 24
    AFTER A NIGHT OF TOSSING AND TURNING, November got up early and told her mother she’d be gone all day, working at the YMCA book fair. Her mother gave her some spending money and promised roast beef for dinner when she got home. November hugged her mom, apologized for her outburst the night before, and hurried out of the house.
    After talking to Olivia, November had made an appointment at the office of a lady doctor she had never visited before. She had picked the name out of the phone book. November walked down to the corner and got on the bus that would take her downtown. She felt queasy and hoped she could manage the bus ride without being sick. Fortunately, the bus was almost empty. She felt completely alone. She