Sun & Spoon Read Online Free PDF Page A

book called Ring O’ Roses out of the knitting bag and hugged it to her chest. “I know it’s too little for me, but I love the pictures anyway. And don’t forget my skate key,” she added.
    â€œSome haul,” Spoon said.
    â€œIs there anything you want, Spoon?” Pa asked, tilting his head, surveying the garage.
    Spoon curled his toes in his sneakers. “Nah,” he said, lowering his eyelids. “I don’t need anything.”
    â€œWell, gather your things, Little Geyser,” Pa said. “You two had better get home before your parents send out a search team.”
    They said their good-byes.
    â€œSee you soon,” Pa called one last time, waving.
    â€œToday is Friday,” Joanie yelled back. “So we’ll see you Sunday for brunch. Maybe even before that.”
    More waving.
    â€œThis was a good day,” Joanie said to Spoon as she lugged her suitcase in one hand and her knitting bag in the other down Pa’s long driveway. The knitting bag dragged along the pavement. “I got lots of things.”
    â€œYeah,” Spoon said. I got lots of things, too, he thought. Fifty-two suns. “I’ll carry your suitcase for you.”
    â€œYou will?”
    Spoon nodded.
    She handed it over and readjusted her shoulders. “Thanks.”
    â€œSure.”
    Now Joanie held the knitting bag with both arms. “Good baby,” she said to it, stroking the brocade with her thumb.
    On the way home Spoon looked down, patting the bulge in his pocket, checking to make sure that the cards were still there. Already he felt closer to Gram somehow. They were lucky cards. He was positive. The thought sent a current through him. And as Spoon stepped onto his own front porch, one leg lifted high to take two stairs at once, it felt as if the suns were smoldering, burning a hole in his pocket.

7
    T HERE WERE THREE POSTCARDS waiting when Spoon and Joanie returned from Pa’s house. One was from Charlie, one was from Evie, and one was from Don and Douglas.
    Charlie’s postcard read:
    Dear Mom, Dad, Spoon, & Joanie ,
    It has been sunny every day. Even on the coast.
    We saw the sea lion caves today. It I got a present for everyone. Except Spoon. (Just kidding!) (Maybe!)
    Sincerely,
    Your favorite son & brother,
    Charlie
    Evie’s postcard read:
    To all,
    Charlie and I have been enjoying each other’s company. We started at Coos Bay and have been heading north along the coast. How beautiful! I realized all over again why I love Oregon so much. Last night’s sunset was glorious — both the sky and the water were flame red. We’ll call again soon.
    Much love,
    Evie
    Don and Douglas’s postcard read:
    Hey Spoon,
    Devila and her friend Julie got sunburn all over. They are the color of baby gerbils. GROSS! See you soon.
    Don
    You should have come with us. A kid we know from another cabin broke his arm riding his bike off a ramp we made.
    Douglas
    Before Spoon had finished reading the last message or bothered to look closely at the pictures on the fronts of the postcards, he realized that the word sun appeared on all three cards in some form. Sunny. Sunset. Sunburn. He took this as a sign. A sign that taking the cards was the right thing to have done, and that Gram, in some mysterious way, approved. He wasn’t even bothered by Charlie’s snide older brother comments. A knowing smile lit up his face.
    â€œWhy are you so smiley?” Kay asked. She was sitting at the kitchen table. She had already read the postcards and was working her way through a pile of catalogs and bills.
    Spoon just continued to smile.
    Kay tore open an envelope and scowled at a credit-card bill. “Really. Why are you so smiley?”
    â€œNo real reason,” said Spoon.
    â€œThat’s the best reason,” said his mother.
    Before dinner, Spoon bounced his basketball to Hillington Green. His destination was the basketball court on the west side of the