The Atomic Weight of Secrets or The Arrival of the Mysterious Men in Black Read Online Free PDF Page B

realizing it, she put her fingers back into her mouth. Jasper did not say a word, but simply took her hand into his and held it.

    The carriage drove them for what seemed like hours. It felt as if they went back and forth, zigzagging throughout the city. Lucy began to recite addresses as they passed the same ones periodically, first going one direction, then another. Finally, the carriage turned onto a lovely street lined with big elm trees.They pulled up in front of a grand house that stood alone on the west side of the block, no neighbors on either side. There was an expansive lawn on either side of the house, and a stone walk that led to the front steps. “One Elm Street” was written in gold letters on a sign by the gate.
    Gingerly, and with great trepidation, the children slowly descended. The driver stood by the open carriage door. He then walked around and took their bags from the trunk, set them on the pavement and then, without a word, returned to his seat on the carriage. With a flick of the wrist, he pulled the horses into a trot, and the carriage was off, the children standing alone in front of One Elm Street.
    At once, they both noticed a short round woman wearing a white apron standing at the door, waving enthusiastically. It was clear she was waving at them, because no one else was around, but neither Jasper nor Lucy had ever seen her before. As she approached, they could see that the woman’s face was rosy and jolly, and she smiled at the children, arms opened wide, welcoming them. It was as if she had been missing them, as if they were returning and not arriving.
    “My dears, my dears,” she said, waddling down the steps to meet them, wrapping her arms around them both. Immediately, Jasper, smothered in a giant bosom, had to catch his breath. Her arms were like a vice. “Let me look at you. I bet you’re hungry after a journey like that.”
    “Who are you?” he gasped. Lucy, too, was struggling to find air. “I mean, I’m sorry, but—”
    “Oh, Jasper, it is me who should apologize,” said the woman, pulling them back from her embrace and looking intently at bothchildren. “I’m Rosie. I’m your Rosie. I’ll be taking care of things here at home. I’m the cook and the nanny and the nurse. And whatever you need, just ask.” She smiled again and winked. “Give me those heavy bags, my darlings,” she said, picking up their bags as if they weighed nothing. For such a short, round woman, she certainly seemed to have arms of steel. With powerful arms around the two children and a bag in each hand, Rosie walked them up the path.
    When they stepped over the threshold, both children let out a deep breath. They had been traveling so long, it was a pleasure to step into a house that really looked like a home. What they felt was an invitation to come in and be welcomed. And this house was filled with the most delicious aromas two hungry children had ever smelled.
    “I’ve got a pot of mutton stew waiting for you two,” Rosie said to Jasper and Lucy as they stood dumbfounded in the doorway. She gave each of them another hug and shuffled them into the entrance hall. Rosie’s round, squat body, as well as the clucking sound she made with her teeth, reminded the children of a mother hen rounding up her chicks.
    “Where is Mummy? And Daddy?” asked Lucy.
    “They’ll be along,” Rosie said. “Here we go. Come this way.” She clucked, flapping her arms as she guided the two children into the kitchen.
    “She really is a mother hen,” whispered Lucy to Jasper.
    “Cheep cheep,” whispered Jasper to Lucy.
    “Cheep cheep,” whispered Lucy back.

    The house was lovely, with umbrellas in the umbrella stand and hats on the hatrack. The walls were clean and freshly painted in yellows and blues and warm creamy whites. And the house was full of windows, though not many facing the front. Only on the second floor did the children see sunlight shining through glass.
    The rooms were furnished with