Zoe in Wonderland Read Online Free PDF Page B

happily working. The sound of his whistling always makes me smile. Over and over, from the time I was little, I’d tried to learn how, putting my lips together and blowing. But no matter what, I’d only been able to produce the sound of plain old air, and after I’d failed for what felt like the hundredth time, I’d finally given up.
    â€œHowdeedoo, Zoe,” he said when he saw me.
    There were no customers around that I could see and I wondered if any had come in. “Any business?” I asked.
    â€œNot yet,” he replied without looking up. “Suppose folks in the neighborhood are used to us being closed on Sundays.”
    â€œYou could put a sign outside that says ‘Now Open on Sundays.’ Then people would know,” I said.
    He looked up at me and smiled. “Good idea, Zoe . . . very good idea.”
    Right then, inside Zoe G. Reindeer, a spark or two of happiness came to life.
    And because I finally had his attention, it seemed like a perfect time to bring up baobab trees. “By the way, Daddy, that man from yesterday wasn’t trying to buy the Wonderland. He was from Madagascar and he was looking for baobab trees, but Grandpa checked the computer and said we don’t have any. Do we?”
    â€œBaobab? That tree that looks upside down?”
    â€œUh-huh,” I answered. “Some people even call it the upside-down tree and the monkey bread tree.”
    â€œMonkey bread tree?” He completely stopped what he was doing. “That, I didn’t know.”
    I blurted out the other stuff I knew about baobabs and ended with, “It’s endangered.”
    â€œEndangered, huh?” he repeated, and went back to working on his miniature tree. “Didn’t know that either.”
    Now, I thought. “If it’s endangered, shouldn’t we buy some?” I asked.
    â€œVery hard to grow in this climate, Zoe. That much I do know. Temperatures in Pasadena can dip to near freezing some winters.”
    â€œMaybe we could buy one and try to grow it in the greenhouse. I’d take care of it.”
    Daddy sighed. “Not now, Zoe. The cacti I bought yesterday cost me more than I thought, plus the gas to get to the desert and back, and the other bills . . . Not now, Zoe.”
    Like a rock tossed in the pond, my spirits sank. “Okay,” I replied.
    â€œBut the sign’s a good idea. I’ll get to work on that as soon as I’m finished here,” he added.
    â€œI could help you,” I offered.
    â€œAnd let your mom catch you working on a Sunday? You know how she is . . . bad enough me being out here.”
    He was right. I’d heard Mom warning him earlier this morning that everyone needed a day of rest and ours was supposed to be Sunday.
    â€œWell, can you at least teach me how to trim the bonsai? That’s not working—it’s learning.” I’d asked him I don’t know how many times before, but he’d always said no, I wasn’t old enough.
    A smile painted his face and loud laughter flewfrom his mouth. Daddy motioned me to come close. “Okay, Zoe.”
    Right then, Imaginary Zoe knocked on the door to my mind.
    It was Zoe’s graduation day from college. Of course, Zoe looked gorgeous in her black cap and gown. She received degrees in both horticulture and business. Daddy and Mom presented her with a bouquet of flowers. One day soon, she’d expand the family business. She’d change the name to Zoe’s Exotic Plant Wonderland and have locations all over the country.
    â€œZoe?” Daddy said.
    â€œHuh?”
    â€œDaydreaming again?”
    I didn’t know he’d noticed. “Kinda,” I replied.
    He placed my hand around the small pruning clippers. “This requires precision, Zoe. Very carefully, clip right here.” He pointed to a spot. “But be careful.”
    I squeezed and clipped. A teeny piece of leaf fell off. My