Best Friends (Nancy Pearl's Book Crush Rediscoveries)

by Mary Bard

  She pointed to two baskets, side by side, on the window sill. Peering out from under doll blankets, were two of Smokey’s brand-new kittens. “The blue basket is Co Co’s and the pink one is yours.”

  The kitten in the blue basket was jet black with white dots over each eye, white paws, and a white-tipped tail. “Oh, Grand’mère, I shall call mine ‘Minette.’ He is so little and so charming.”

  Suzie’s kitten was dark gray with white paws and a white nose. “Grandmother, these kittens have the longest fur of all. Aren’t they darling? I think I’ll call mine ‘Mittens,’ to match Co Co’s.”

  Smokey was winding in and out and mewing worriedly. Grandmother picked up both kittens. “Smokey is trying to tell you that her kittens are really too young to leave her yet, so if you don’t mind, I’ll take them down in the basement and put them in her box with the rest of the kittens.”

  Suzie’s mother came in, kissed and hugged them both, and wished them a happy birthday and said they looked entirely different and much older than they had the night before. Her eyes were dancing as she handed them identical packages. “These are to keep track of every word Rich and Ray said and every word you said back.”

  They opened twin diaries, Suzie’s was dark green and Co Co’s dark blue. Suzie said, “Oh, Mother, how did you know I’ve always wanted a diary!”

  Co Co hugged Suzie’s mother. “For my secret thoughts. Oh, thank you—thank you so much!”

  Suzie’s mother said, “Co Co, your father called and said he’d be here in a minute, but to warn you that his best present is a surprise, and he can’t give it to you until tonight.”

  They promptly clamored for a hint of the surprise, but she only shook her head and laughed. “I think you are going to like it best of all, but I promised not to give you any hints.”

  Grandmother told them to sit down and eat some breakfast because they would need food to sustain them through such a wildly exciting day. Co Co immediately began to eat as if she hadn’t seen food for twenty-four hours, but Suzie was much too excited to swallow.

  Mr. Langdon opened the kitchen door. He sang, “Happy birthday, two times, happy birthday, two times, happy birthday dear daughters, happy birthday to you” and kissed them both and then he kissed Suzie’s mother!

  Suzie was so surprised she couldn’t speak. She looked all around to see what everybody else thought, but they were all calmly eating.

  “By the way,” Mr. Langdon said, “Mrs. Medlin asked me to warn you not to go into her yard or peek over the hedge.”

  “We’re not going to. We’re going to spend the whole day writing in our diaries and sending messages and swinging back and forth. Come on, Co Co—we never have to do one scrap of housework on our birthdays.”

  At twelve o’clock, Grandfather came down with a large lunch basket. He said there was so much fuss going on in the kitchen that he planned to spend the afternoon with them.

  Co Co unpacked the basket. “Grand’père, I wish to invite you to be my first guest in my new nest.” She sent a message over to Suzie to say that luncheon was now served.

  Suzie swung across and dropped down beside them. “Grandfather, do you think you could put a loop in that rope, so we could put one foot in it and have our hands free to carry things back and forth?”

  Grandfather said that after lunch he would make the loop and check both platforms to see that everything was in order.

  That afternoon, while Grandfather tightened the pulley and tested the rungs of the ladders and made a stirrup in the swinging rope, Co Co and Suzie wrote in their diaries, putting down everything that had happened to them since the day Suzie first found Co Co in the Lookout.

  It was almost four o’clock when Grandfather called to them, “Mother thinks you’d better start getting ready, because some of your guests just might come early.”

  They climbed hastily down the ladder and Grandfather took their hands and rushed them through the orchard so fast their feet barely touched the ground.

  The kitchen was full of platters and delicious smells. Before they even got a good look, Suzie’s mother warned, “You’ll have to hurry. Mrs. Medlin asked Miss Morrison to bring the children here first, so she could tell them about the party. Now scoot!”

  Co Co was finishing her bath, and Suzie was jerking clothes over her wet back when they heard voices. “Oh my gosh, they’re here! Hurry up, Co Co!”

  Co Co promptly rubbed soap in her eyes, reached wildly for a washcloth, and said, “Help me, quick, quick!”

  “Oh, what’ll Miss Morrison think?” Suzie helped Co Co out of the tub and began scrubbing at her with a towel. “Don’t wait to get dry, just put your clothes on. What if we’re not even dressed when Mrs. Medlin is ready for us. Oh, dear!”

  In spite of their wailing, they finished dressing in record time and stood side by side in front of the mirror. Suzie breathed, “Aren’t these dresses beautiful?” and Co Co raised her eyebrows, and said, “Very, very chic! We do look like the movie stars.”

  Then they took hold of hands and walked slowly down the front stairs, pointing their toes like models. The whole class was standing in the front hall singing, “Happy birthday to Suzie, happy birthday to Co Co. Happy birthday to Suzie-and-Co Co, Happy birthday to both-of-you.” But Suzie and Co Co were too surprised to thank them, for Creamy and Blonde, the puppies from the pound, were curled up side by side on the bottom step!

  Rich said, “The puppies are from us,” and Ray said “Your mother and father said you could have them and we bought them with our own money. The baskets and stuff are from the whole class. We’ll come over and help you train them.”

  Co Co said, “Thank you. Thank you very much. Rich, you are kind. I know how much you wanted a puppy.”

  Rich grinned. “Think nothing of it. We already have two dogs and you haven’t any yet. He’ll be okay with you if we help train him.”

  Suzie thanked Ray and said it certainly was nice of him to get the puppy for her, especially when he wanted it so much.

  Rich and Ray helped Suzie and Co Co carry the puppies and baskets down to the basement, and on the way back Ray took Suzie’s arm. “That sure is a neat dress. Both you and Co Co look—uh—pretty.”

  Suzie’s cheeks got quite pink and the tickly smile dimpled around her mouth again as she thanked him.

  They joined the group. The boys, at one end of the living room, were punching each other and grinning. The girls were clustered together at the other end, giggling and admiring one another’s party dresses.

  Mrs. Medlin came in, leaning on a cane. They all stood up and said in chorus, “How do you do, Mrs. Medlin.”

  Mrs. Medlin walked around and shook hands with each child. “You are Sumiko”—“You are Marjorie”—“You are Johnny Allen”—“You are Rich and Ray.”

  Not once did she make a mistake.

  Then she asked them all to sit down, took a notebook out of her purse, and in her regular cross-teacher voice, began: “Listen to me carefully, and please don’t interrupt. I don’t wish to get mixed up. First, there will be swimming in Co Co’s pool.”

  There was a rustle of approval and she held up her hand. “Children, please don’t interrupt. If you do, I am liable to serve ice cream first and hot soup for dessert.”

  Suzie and Co Co laughed, but the rest of the class sat perfectly still and stared at her.

  “The girls will change their clothes in Suzie’s house and the boys at Co Co’s house.” They started toward the door, but Mrs. Medlin held up her hand again. “Just a moment, please!” They all stopped just as if they were playing statue. “You must not go through the orchard or into my yard. There are things there which I don’t want you to see. After you have had your swim, you may come to me, and I’ll tell you what to do next. All right, you may go.”

  They began filing out of the room, just as if they were in school. “Boy! She sounds as if we were stepping on her flower beds. Didn’t she want to give your party or what?” Dorothy whispered.

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sp; Suzie answered, “She sounds crabby, but she’s really neat. You wait. You’ll see. Co Co and I just love her.”

  They ran upstairs and hurried into their bathing suits. When they arrived at Co Co’s pool, the boys were already diving, splashing, and yelling. Mrs. Medlin called from the terrace, “Suzie, you and Co Co come and get these beach balls. They are the prizes for the boy and girl who are the best at water polo. Don’t start ’til I get there.”

  By the time she had umpired the game, which Sumiko and Johnny Allen won, had asked each of them to line up and dive for her, and praised each one extravagantly in the same abrupt cross voice, the children knew that Mrs. Medlin was a good friend who understood them.

  They clustered around her, laughing and joking, just as if they’d always known her, and Suzie said, proudly, “See what I mean? She’s just about the neatest grown-up we’ve ever met.”

  Then Mrs. Medlin told them all to pay attention and took out her notebook. “You’ll probably get tired of changing your clothes, but I couldn’t figure out any other way to do this. Did you all bring your jeans?” They nodded and smiled. “Now see how fast you can put them on. Don’t dawdle. I’ll meet you all on my front porch.”

  After they’d put on their jeans, they walked down the sidewalk to Mrs. Medlin’s front gate. Bravo, looking very proud and haughty, met them. He was wearing a large pink bow on his topknot and was brushed within an inch of his life. There was a howl of derisive laughter from the class when they saw him, but without even wagging his tail, Bravo turned and led them to the front door.

  Mrs. Medlin said, “As you all know, I have been very inconsiderate of children and dogs. To show you that I am sorry, I have tried to make this party as much fun as I possibly could. This game is a combination of Spider Web, a game I used to enjoy when I was your age, and Treasure Hunt, a game I’m sure you’ve all played. There are clues and prizes and a main treasure. You may help one another if you wish.”

  The children started to talk and giggle, but Mrs. Medlin held up her hand. “Please! Now line up and take the clothespin and flashlight with your name on it. You wind the string on the clothespin until you reach your clue. That’s the end of the string. Read the clue and figure out where the treasure is hidden. Remember, there is a main treasure, too, which you will have to find. When all the prizes are found, you may change your clothes. Supper will be ready when you are. Are there any questions? Very well. Ready—get set—go!”

  They found their clothespins and flashlights and began to wind. They wound and wound and wound, over and under branches, in and out of trees and back and forth between the gardens. They bumped heads and crawled on their hands and knees and climbed trees.

  They had been winding for about half an hour, when Barbara called out, “I’ve found my clue! Come here, everybody!”

  Tied to her string was a little card which read: “I rest my head on a leafy bed.”

  Suzie said, “The only leafy bed I can think of is the compost pit.” They followed Barbara to the pit and, sure enough, there was her present with her name on it.

  It was a long-playing record. “Oh baby! For my collection!” She ran back and thanked Mrs. Medlin and offered to help anybody else who was stuck.

  Johnny’s clue was next: “A dog’s best friend, is your string’s end.” On the back porch, right by Bravo’s feeding dish was Johnny’s present. A dog collar and leash, which he had been saving for since Christmas.

  Then the clues began to come thick and fast, and there were screams of “Come here, everybody!” from all over the garden. The children agreed that Mrs. Medlin must be a mind reader because each present proved to be something they had been talking about and saving for.

  It was getting dark and the flickering light of the flashlights winked and blinked like lightning bugs as they all followed Suzie and Co Co, who were still patiently winding, toward the old apple tree by the back porch. Rich offered to climb the tree and he brought down two clues. Suzie read hers first:

  “I like the warm dark summer night

  When fireflies burn their golden light

  And flit so softly through the air

  Now up, now down, now over there!

  They sparkle in my apple tree—”

  And Co Co continued:

  “And from the grass, they wink at me

  And turn their lights on one by one

  I think it would be lots of fun

  If I could shine at evening too,

  Just as the little fireflies do.”

  Ray said, “It’s hidden in the grass. Hurry up everybody before it gets so dark we can’t see.”

  They were all crawling on their hands and knees in the orchard, when the whole garden was lighted by strings of swinging Japanese lanterns. They danced in swaying colorful rows through the trees and over into Mrs. Medlin’s garden and into the trees in Co Co’s yard. There was a long-drawn-out “Ohhhh!” from the class when Suzie and Co Co saw their presents lying right where they had been camping the night they rescued Mrs. Medlin. They were two charm bracelets with little pagodas, goldfish, dragons, and Chinese junks, just like the pictures on the dancing lanterns.

  In the bottom of Suzie’s box was a note which said:

  Everybody’s ball of string,

  Winds up at the garden swing.

  And in the bottom of Co Co’s box was a note saying:

  Now put on your party clothes,

  You’re probably hungry, goodness knows.

  The Wicked Witch

  They rushed down to the Lookout and hanging on the swing was a huge bunch of long sparklers with a note which read:

  These are for after supper.

  Hurry up—I’m hungry.

  Mrs. M.

  They changed their clothes again and walked down to Co Co’s terrace, as formally as if they were attending a ball. There was another long-drawn-out “Ohhhh!” as they saw the Pink House. The pool shone with reflections from the swaying, twinkling Japanese lanterns, the record player had been moved out into the patio and was playing dance music, and the long table was decorated with flags and huge bunches of Roman candles, rockets, flares, and all sorts of fireworks.

  Suzie looked down the long table. Mr. Wagner had come and Grandmother and Grandfather and everybody looked happy and excited. The dresses were so pretty and the boys looked so neat and well-groomed. It wasn’t exactly like a movie party, but it was a whole lot more fun.

  Just then Mrs. MacGregor came out carrying a turkey, snapping and sizzling with twenty-four long sparklers. As she placed it in front of Mr. Langdon she said, “This is my present—a Fourth of July birthday turkey.” She also had ice cream with red, white, and blue stripes, and a huge birthday cake with flags instead of candles.

  After dinner, Mr. Langdon shot off the fireworks over the pool. Roman candles whooshed up in the air and exploded in showers of stars. Catherine wheels sent brilliant colored sparks up into the trees until they twinkled like Christmas trees. The music sang through Suzie’s arms and rippled on her skin; the lanterns danced in her eyes. She leaned against her mother and said, “Oh, Mother, I’m so glad about the Pink House and Co Co and Mr. Langdon. I’m so happy I can’t even tell you.”

  Suzie’s Mother said, “I’m happy, too, darling. Happier than I’ve ever been before, I think.”

  After the fireworks were over, it was almost ten o’clock and Mrs. Medlin called out, “Don’t go home yet. I want you to light these sparklers you found in the swing and stand around the pool, waving them over the water. I’m going to stand on the bridge and take some pictures of the very best party I’ve ever been to.”

  They did just as they were told, and as they stood around the pool, they called, “Hooray for Mrs. Medlin. Thanks for the wonderful party! Hooray for Mrs. Medlin!” until her eyes were so misty with tears she couldn’t see to take the pictures.

  Then they all collected their clothes and their presents and started home with cheers for Mrs. Medlin ringing through the summer night.

  Aft
er everyone had left, Mr. Langdon said it was almost time for his surprise and if Co Co and Suzie would go and get into bed at the Pink House, just at midnight, he and Suzie’s mother would come in and tell them the surprise.

  They ran back to Grandmother’s and got Suzie’s suitcase, and then decided to sleep in the twin beds in Co Co’s room so they could talk about the party until midnight.

  It was almost midnight when Co Co said, “Suzie, let us go to the Lookout and watch the lanterns and listen to the music. We are like Cinderella and we must see the party once more.”

  So they crawled out the window and sneaked around the back of the house and climbed up into the Lookout. By crawling out on a branch and leaning way over, they could see the patio and watch the grown people.

  Co Co chuckled. “Listen, Monsieur Wagner is speaking of love to Mademoiselle Morrison. He tells her she is beautiful and . . .”

  “Shhhh! Mother is telling your father something.”

  Suzie’s mother was standing almost below them. She smiled up at Co Co’s father. “I have always been sure, Bill. After all, I’ve been in love with you since I was fifteen years old, but I didn’t realize it. Now we must tell the children.”

  Co Co gasped. “Suzie! We are the dumb, dopey knotheads! The arranged marriage!”

  “Gosh all fish hooks!” With one lithe movement, they dropped down in front of their astonished parents.

  “Is this the present? Will you really be my chère maman?

  “Do we all get to live in the Pink House?”

  “Will Suzie be my sister?”

  “Oh, isn’t this neat?”

  “It is indeed, neat and keen!”

  Suzie’s mother kissed them both. “We are going to be married next week, darlings, and I am so happy I can hardly speak!”

  But Mr. Langdon caught them all up in a big bear hug. “At last, we’ll all be Langdons and we’ll all be best friends.”

  About the Author

  Like Co Co in Best Friends, Mary Bard moved frequently as a child due to her father’s job. She attended kindergarten in Mexico City, first grade in New York, and second grade in Colorado. Later, she went to college at the University of Washington in Seattle, and she eventually settled with her family in the Seattle area. Best Friends is the first of three novels about Suzie and Co Co, which were published through the 1950s and 60s. Bard also wrote three autobiographical works for adults: Just Be Yourself, The Doctor Wears Three Faces, and Forty Odd.