Roseflower Creek Read Online Free PDF Page B

hung on. It was so strange. I could see those words she said.
        "It'll be okay—you'll see—you'll see." Her eyes was talking at me! And, don't you just know, it was. I loved Mz. Pence. I still do.
        But that Darla Faye—if I was anything close to being alive, I'd probably still hate her. Which reminds me of another mean thing she done. This time to Carolee back before MeeMaw died. Makes me roast just thinking 'bout it.

Chapter Five

    "I reckon I best wear that dress Lexie got me, MeeMaw. It's gonna be a real fancy party. Carolee's mama sewed a new dress for her, even, in that taffeta material's so pretty."
        "Oh my," MeeMaw said.
        "It's all white. And it's got pearl buttons; three of 'em right under the collar."
        "Sounds right fancy, indeed," MeeMaw said. "You best let me do your hair, child. New hairdo might make your dress look brand-new."
        "Her mama bought decorations, too."
        "My, my," MeeMaw said.
        Carolee was fixing to be eight, like me. My birthday come in April, only I didn't get me a party. Mama said, "Maybe next year, honey, we'll have us some extra money." So, I planned on having one myself that next year, maybe.
        On the morning of Carolee's party, MeeMaw went ahead and fixed my hair real nice. She put some braids in it and tied it up on top with a ribbon even. Looked real pretty with my dress, the white one with the little roses and the lace all around. I'd weared it a lot already, but it was the only one I had that wasn't mended. I didn't much mind wearing it again. Carolee liked it real fine. She was always admiring it.
        Carolee had invited all the kids our age from school. She didn't really want to invite that Darla, but what with Darla's daddy being the boss man and Carolee's daddy working for him there at the cotton mill, her ma said she had to. There was no getting around it.
        "Don't you fret now, Carolee. You be gracious to her, hear?" her ma said. I told her not to fret none, either.
        "Darla's mama always sends a good present along with her, Carolee. Just think about that, okay?" I told her.
        "Trudy Anne got a tea set from her last year even. It was real pretty. I'd like to have me one a' them. We could take it down to the creek when we make them mud cookies. Wouldn't that be nice?" I asked her.
        "It'd be nicer if she croaked," Carolee told me back. "We can play mud cookies without her dumb old tea set just fine."
        Poor Carolee. It was her birthday and here she was sad over that Darla Faye already and she hadn't even showed up yet. I come early and helped put the party stuff out. Carolee's ma had little hats for us to wear and these noisemakers left over from New Year's evening night, but they was right nice for regular parties, too. Horns and rattlers and these funny things that whip out like a long curly tongue when you blow.
        "I like these best, Carolee," I said. "Don't you?" She put one of them at my place. She's so nice. Her mama had us write everybody's name on a card so she could put them on the table where she wanted everyone to sit.
        "Can't have everyone fussin' over what favor they want," she said. "This way we'll get everyone sat down prompt like when we're ready to cut the cake." That was a really good idea. I figured that'd be a good thing for me to do at my party come next year.
        "I'm gonna do that at my party next year, Mz.Thompson," I said.
        "Weren't you supposed to have one this year, honey? Seems like I remember that."
        "Well, I was supposed to, but it didn't work out."
        "I'm sorry, Lori Jean," she said.
        "Oh, that's okay. If we get us any extra money, I get one next year for sure."
        "That's nice," she said.
        "So it's pretty for sure, I think. I mean, next year we ought to have ourselves some extra money. It's been a while. I reckon it's about time, don't you think?" I asked her.
        "Don't see