The More the Merrier Read Online Free PDF

‘A pleasant surprise is waiting for you,’” said Erin.
    â€œMine is: ‘You have common sense and a lot of charm,’” I said.
    â€œThat’s a nice one,” said my aunt.
    â€œI’d rather get a surprise or win something,” I said.
    â€œCommon sense and charm will get you far.” My aunt got a serious look on her face. “You know, giving Rosemary T. the silent treatment might work for a while, but you’ll have to talk to her eventually.”
    â€œWhy?” I asked.
    â€œBecause it will start to get too awkward,” she said. “Like the phone call tonight.”
    I thought about what she was saying and knew she was right. If my mom had been here when Rosemary T. called, she would have made me talk to her for sure. “But I don’t have anything good to say.”
    â€œDon’t you want to discuss what’s going on with the two of you?” asked my aunt. “Don’t you want to try to figure out what the problem is?”
    â€œI’m not sure,” I said.
    â€œYou have to do what feels right to you,” said Aunt Flora. “But sometimes you get pushed too far, and you have to tell someone what’s what.”
    â€œWhat’s that mean?” I asked.
    â€œIt means telling someone how you’re really feeling,” said my aunt, “clearing the air.”
    â€œI guess clear air would be good,” I said. “But I’m hoping it will clear up all on its own.”
    â€œIt might,” said my aunt.
    â€œI mean, Rosemary T. used to be nice, and she could be nice again. Then I wouldn’t have to have a what’s what at all.”
    â€œThis is where your common sense is going to come in handy.” Aunt Flora broke open her fortune cookie. “‘All your hard work will pay off,’” she read.
    â€œI wish I’d gotten that one,” I said.
    â€œWhy?” she asked.
    â€œBecause maybe it would be about the spelling bee. Maybe all our studying would pay off in us winning.”
    â€œWell, in that case”—Aunt Flora handed me her fortune—“it’s yours.”

Chapter 6
Great with a Capital G
    W e studied for a while and then watched Animal Planet with Tess. It was hard, though, because she asked a million zillion questions. Finally my aunt put her to bed.
    â€œPeace at last,” I said.
    â€œIt is awfully quiet,” said Aunt Flora. “Miss Purvis must love her new hiding place.”
    The three of us settled in to watch The Wizard of Oz . That is one of my all-time favorite movies, but I don’t get to watch it too much because the witch and the flying monkeys scare the dickens out of Tess.
    When it was time for us to go to bed, we found out just where Miss Purvis’s new hiding place was. It was right on my top bunk! She was at the end where my feet go, mixed in between a Lego pirate ship and a Playmobil castle. She opened one eye and stared at me, but she didn’t get up to leave.

    â€œIt would be so great if she slept here all night.” I climbed under the covers and made sure my feet didn’t push into her.
    Erin turned off the light and climbed into the bottom bunk. “I really like your new bed.”
    â€œMe too,” I said.
    â€œDo you usually sleep on the top or the bottom?”
    â€œI go back and forth,” I said. “If my toys are spread out too much up here, I sleep down there.”
    â€œWhy do you keep some toys up there?” asked Erin.
    â€œBecause of Tess,” I said. “Sometimes she knocks things over and breaks stuff apart.”
    Erin didn’t talk for a minute. “Do you like having a little sister?”
    â€œMost of the time,” I said. “But sometimes she’s a pest.”
    â€œI hope Anna and Julia don’t think I’m a pest,” said Erin.
    Anna and Julia were Erin’s new stepsisters that were away at college.
    â€œJust don’t wreck