Philip and the Girl Who Couldn't Lose (9781619501072) Read Online Free PDF

baby’s arms wide, gave her a puff of air, and then
wrapped her up. This time when Philip touched her nose, Becky’s
head moved up, and she opened her mouth as if she wanted to bite
his finger. Philip knew what that meant. He’d seen it before. He
reached for the baby bottle and put the nipple into her
mouth.
    When Philip’s father returned, he stood in
the middle of the living room, his hands on his hips. “What did you
do, Mr. Magic?” he asked.
    Philip shushed him. It felt good to Philip to
be able for once to tell someone else to be quiet around the baby.
Before she even emptied the bottle, Becky fell asleep. Philip’s
father took the baby from Philip and carried her upstairs to her
crib. Philip followed them and went into his own room to put his
pajamas on.
    Philip’s father stuck his head in the
doorway. “Thanks, Philip. You’re a handy guy to have around. I
didn’t know what to do for the poor little kid.”
    “ She just wanted to play a little,
Dad.”
    Philip’s father shrugged. “I guess she
did.”
    Getting Becky to drink her bottle put Philip
in a better mood than he’d been in all day. Suddenly, he wanted to
talk to his father and tell him about the contest; about losing;
about Jeanne. Maybe his father would know what to do. Once in a
while his father gave him some good ideas. When he looked up at his
father, though, he found he couldn’t do it. The strange, happy look
on his father’s face puzzled Philip. He didn’t want to spoil it by
bringing up a problem. His father entered the room and sat on the
edge of Philip’s bed.
    “ You’re a real pleasure, Flipster. It
was nice to see you taking care of your sister downstairs. Well,
you get to sleep. School tomorrow. A million things to learn. I’ll
see you in the morning.” Philip’s father leaned over and kissed his
forehead.
    “ Night, Dad.”
    His father switched off the light, and the
room got dark. Philip breathed a deep sigh. He had nine days to
deliver his poster to the shoe store; nine days to prove losing
wasn’t the only thing he was good at.
     
     

Chapter Ten
     
    On Sunday afternoon. Philip lay on the sofa
in the living room, looking up at the ceiling. Only six more days
to deliver his poster to the shoe store. What poster? Philip
asked himself. No poster, he answered. He wished he knew
where good ideas came from because he’d pack his suitcase and go
there and grab one if he could. The doorbell rang.
    “ Can you answer that, Philip?” his
mother called from upstairs. Philip rose and walked to the door.
When he opened it, he didn’t like what he saw. Jeanne stood on his
doorstep, a large piece of cardboard, rolled up and securely tied,
stuck out from under her arm. Jeanne smiled her usual “I’m so
wonderful, don’t you think?” smile.
    “ Hi, Philip.”
    Philip knew what Jeanne had under her arm.
Her poster. He knew her destination. The Walk-Mor store in the
mall. And he knew why she stopped at his house. To let him know her
poster was on its way to first prize.
    “ Hi,” said Philip.
    “ My father’s driving me to the mall so
I can deliver my poster. Want to bring yours along?”
    “ Mine’s not finished yet.” Not finished because it’s not even started, Philip thought.
    “ Want to ride over with me anyway?”
asked Jeanne.
    “ No,” Philip snapped as his temper
bubbled up inside him.
    “ Okay.” Jeanne turned around, but as
she walked off, she called over her shoulder. “Don’t forget. Your
poster has to be in the store by next Saturday.”
    Philip watched Jeanne go, hoping a hurricane
would come along and blow her stupid poster straight into New
Jersey. The day was sunny and cool, though, with no hurricanes in
sight, but Philip did see Emery coming down the street.
    Philip watched as he stopped a moment to talk
to Jeanne. He saw Jeanne look back at him and laugh. Emery looked
his way, but at least he didn’t laugh. He and Emery had lots of
disagreements, but at least he didn’t laugh. Emery and