The Wish Giver Read Online Free PDF Page B

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    She ran around the outside of the store and came in through the front door, looking for all the world as if she’d just arrived from school. “Hello, Agatha…Eunice,” she said as politely as she could.
    Both girls greeted her like a long-lost friend. “How wonderful to see you, Polly,” Agatha purred.
    “And how well you’re looking,” cooed Eunice.
    “There’s something I’ve been meaning to ask you, Polly,” Agatha said. “And I guess this is a good time to do it.”
    So in spite of everything, the last part of the wish is to be granted, thought Polly. But she managed to keep the butter-wouldn’t-melt-in-my-mouth expression on her face.
    “Ask me? Ask me what, Agatha?”
    “Polly dear, how would you like to join Eunice and me for tea on Thursday? After school? At my house?”

 
    T he next day—Wednesday—Polly made up her mind that she was going to be friendly if it killed her. There was no way anybody was going to make her say anything mean and start croaking again.
    The first person she met as she walked onto the playground was Olivia Heidecker. As Polly came toward her, Olivia started to walk away.
    “I like that dress you’re wearing, Olivia,” said Polly. “Them ruffles at the shoulders are real pretty. Did you sew it up all by yourself?”
    “Listen, Polly Kemp, just because I can sew better than…” Then a strange expression appeared on Olivia’s face. “What…what did you say?”
    “I said I liked your dress. You matched thepattern at the seams just right. There’s not a lot of people who can do that.”
    “Why…why this old thing?” Olivia spread the skirt for Polly’s inspection. “Shucks, it didn’t take long to stitch it together. It was real nice of you to admire it, though.”
    Polly walked on, leaving Olivia shaking her head in puzzlement. Those were the first kind words Olivia had ever heard Polly say. What could have gotten into her, anyway?
    Even Charlie Peabody and Alfred Dawes couldn’t get Polly’s goat. They’d taken over the swings again and weren’t about to let somebody else have a chance.
    “I’ll bet you’d like to swing right now, Polly,” sneered Alfred as he swooped down toward her. “But Charlie and me ain’t moving for you nor nobody else.”
    “Fair’s fair, Alfred,” Polly told him. “You were here first, so I reckon you can swing as long as you like.” And she continued on toward the seesaw, leaving two very surprised boys behind her.
    Polly made it a point to say something nice to each of the students in Miss Morasco’s class that morning, and by noon the whole room was abuzz, all the boys and girls wondering whathad come over Polly Kemp. On the playground at noon, Addy Cardiff and Karen Shay asked Polly to join their game of jacks. And Janice Proctor wondered if Polly’d help her learn long division.
    Only Agatha Benthorn and Eunice Ingersoll kept their distance. All that day they waited for the croaking to start.
    But it never did.
    As Polly walked home with the Wickstaff twins after school, it came to her mind that never in her life had she had such a wonderful day. But she couldn’t help wondering whether she’d be able to keep her tongue in check at Agatha’s house tomorrow.
     
    The next morning Polly got up early and spent a long time getting herself ready before coming downstairs. “Why, Polly,” her mother said as she sat down at the table, “you’re all dressed up in your Sunday best. Are you sure you want to wear that to school?”
    “It’s not just for school, Mother,” Polly replied. “Miss Agatha Benthorn invited me to her house today for a party.” She made a little curtsy.
    “Oh? Is the whole class going?”
    “No. Just me and Eunice Ingersoll.”
    “Hmmph!” snorted Mrs. Kemp. She had her own opinions about Agatha and Eunice.
    That morning at school, Eunice and Agatha sought Polly out, first thing. “We hope you haven’t forgotten our invitation,” said Agatha.
    “No, I’ll be there.”