The Boxcar Children Beginning: The Aldens of Fair Meadow Farm Read Online Free PDF

bowed in a row. Boots, as always, was sweet and silent.
    The audience applauded.
    “This is the best day of my life,” said William.
    Betty mooed.
    The friendly brown dog got up and went home.
    The circus was over.

Chapter 9
The Day After
    Henry, Jessie, Violet, Meg, and William sat on a blanket under the maple tree. Benny was there, too, but he had fallen asleep after the long circus day. Joe stretched out beside him.
    Papa had driven his car to town early to deliver buns to the bakery and check the mail.
    “You were wonderful, all of you,” said Mama.
    “Your costumes were fine, Violet,” said Sarah.
    “Meg helped,” said Violet.
    “And my box has a new cover now,” said Jake. “Did you do that?”
    Violet smiled.
    “I used the small screwdriver you gave me. And Papa helped me cut a board the right size.”
    “Thank you, Violet.”
    “You’re welcome. You were a funny clown, Jake.”
    “Thank you again, Violet. Jessie was a good clown partner,” said Jake. “It took lots of practice for us to learn how to fall down together.”
    Everyone laughed.
    “Betty was good,” said Meg.
    “You were good,” said Sarah. “Henry, you were a great announcer. You had to make it all work.”
    “Maybe when I grow up I’ll be a circus announcer,” said Henry.
    “I’d say, by the look of your globe inside, that you’ll be an explorer,” said Jake.
    Henry thought.
    “I like that,” he said, smiling. “An explorer.”
    “The chief explorer,” said Jake.
    “I like ‘chief,’ too,” said Henry.
    “I loved being an elephant trainer,” said William. “I really did. You know, there was a time yesterday when I really, really believed Boots was an elephant. And Joe!”
    And then William repeated what he had said the day before.
    “It was the best day of my life.”
    They all looked up as Papa drove his gray car up the dirt road to the driveway. For a moment, Papa didn’t get out of the car. He just sat there in the car. Then, slowly, he opened the door and got out. He walked over to them. He carried a package.
    He held the package out for Jake.
    “Your part came,” he said.
    Everything changed that morning.
    In the heads of all the children, nothing was the same.
    There would be no more walking to school together and playing tag all the way home.
    No more stories of heroes and winged horses, even when the lights were out.
    No more sleeping in the barn hideaway.
    No more frosting buns in the kitchen.
    No more watching Meg’s hair flying out behind her as she rode Betty.
    No more circuses.
    When Benny woke up and they told him, he burst into tears. He clutched Joe in his arms, rocking back and forth.
    When Sarah saw that, she burst into tears, too.
    “We won’t be far away,” said Sarah. “You will come and visit us.”
    She wiped her eyes and wrote down an address on a piece of paper.
    “Here is where we’ll be. Where should I put this so you can find it when you need it?”
    “The cookie jar with our money,” said Jessie. “That’s the safest place.”
    “That is what I will do,” said Sarah. “Don’t forget. We are in the cookie jar!”

    This made the children smile even though they were sad.
    “Jake won’t be able to leave today,” said Papa. “Maybe you can fill up today with fun.”
    No one spoke.
    “Chores first, of course,” Papa said cheerfully. “Go on, go on!”
    Henry, Jessie, Meg, and William all went to the barn. Benny and Joe followed behind. Violet went to watch Jake work on the car engine. The hood was folded back, and when she bent over to look, Jake turned his head to look at her for a moment. Then he went back to work.
    The barn was dark and cool and quiet.
    Joe jumped into a pile of bedding hay. Benny sat with him.
    “I’d like to put the smell of this barn into a little jar and take it with me,” said Meg.
    No one said anything.
    Henry and William began to shovel old hay out of the stalls and throw it out the back door in a pile.
    “Maybe the car part won’t