The Missing Book Read Online Free PDF Page B

poem. Mandie straightened up to listen.
    Joe cleared his throat and began.
“There’s a particular lass in this class, with blond hair and skin fair—”
    Mandie quickly covered her ears as she felt her face turn red.
She
was the only one in the class with really blond hair. She tried to close out Joe’s voice, but everyone had fallen silent to listen and she could hear a word now and then.
    â€œAnd you can be sure she’ll find a mystery here,”
Joe finished.
    Everyone clapped, and Mandie put her hands over her face. It was embarrassing to have a poem written about you and then read aloud to your friends. She didn’t like it at all.
    Then she heard Mr. Tallant calling on her to read her poem. She had come prepared. She quickly flipped open her tablet, pushed the poem she had written about Joe between two blank pages, and took out another poem, this one about her cat. She had not been sure she would be able to stand up and read the poem about Joe. Now she was sure she would not.
    â€œWindy is my little yellow cat,”
Mandie began, standing before the class.
“The day was windy when
I named her that, and like the wind she breezes in and
out of the house, always looking for a mouse. Although
our language we can’t mend, she is my own trusted little
friend.”
    The class howled, stomped, and clapped when she finished. Mandie smiled and sat down at her desk.
    The reading of the poems and the discussions concerning them took up the whole day, and when time came for dismissal, Mr. Tallant stood up and told the class, “You have all done a good job at writing poetry, but we are not going to have time to vote on the class poet today. Since today is Friday, I want you all to think about the different poems read today and make your decision by Monday about which one you want to vote for. The writer of the winning poem will be made class poet. Now, have a nice weekend.”
    Everyone stood up, ready to rush outside. Loud conversations drifted about the room as some of the pupils discussed the poems. Mandie didn’t want to hear her poem talked about, so she hurried to the door, grabbed her coat, and went outside. Faith and Joe followed her.
    â€œThat wasn’t—” Joe began as the three walked down the road.
    â€œI don’t want to discuss it,” Mandie interrupted. “Let’s talk about something else.” She turned to Faith. “Did your grandmother hear from the people in Tellico?”
    Joe frowned as they walked on. Faith looked at Joe, smiled, and then answered, “No, Mandie, not yet. I don’t think they’ve had time yet to reply.”
    â€œMaybe y’all won’t have to move,” Mandie said.
    â€œBut, Mandie, if my grandmother gets the job, we will. It’s too far to travel over there and back every day.You know that,” Faith reminded her.
    Mandie sighed loudly. “I know. I just hate to see you move away.”
    â€œAnd I hate to move away and leave my friends here, but I’m glad for my grandmother’s sake,” Faith said. “If we do move, maybe you could spend a weekend now and then, and I could come over and spend a weekend at your house.”
    â€œAnd what about me? Can I come too?” Joe teased as he slowed down so the girls could keep up with him.
    Faith laughed. “Of course, Joe, anytime.”
    â€œCome to think of it, I’m sure my father has some patients over at Tellico, since there is not a doctor near there that I know of,” Joe said. “My father probably travels over there now and then.” Turning to Mandie, he said, “You and I could go with him sometime.”
    â€œOh, yes, that would be nice,” Mandie agreed.
    When the three arrived at the pathway to the Shaw house, Faith asked, “Joe, why don’t you come on down to Mandie’s house and do your homework with us? Your mother is probably here with the ladies doing