Nodding, Lolly tapped her own lips.
Placing the envelope in her jumper pocket, ClaireLee then patted it.
“Read to me,” Lolly whisper-shouted.
ClaireLee had to read it first. “Shh. Let’s bring the box to the bathroom.” She needed to know if she should skip any parts. No one could learn of her SOS letter. Lolly probably wouldn’t tell, but you never know with little kids.
Heaving the box up, the sisters carried it to the bathroom, and ClaireLee locked them inside. She couldn’t believe this big of a package found her corner of the wilderness. Upon lifting the sheets of paper off the dresses, she noticed the fabrics were as colorful as the wildflowers in their field back home in Oregon. ClaireLee lifted each one—six in all—with the last one a plum color made of velvet material. This dress will be my favorite.
Lolly leaned closer. “They’re so pretty.”
She whispered into Lolly’s ear, “I’m happy they’re mine.” She plucked the last sheets of paper from the bottom of the box, and tears sprang to her eyes. Lolly reached in for the last gift and waved a pair of boots at ClaireLee. Cupping her hands, she presented them to ClaireLee as though they were a special gift from her. ClaireLee hugged the boots. “Thank you, Nana.”
In a husky whisper, Lolly said, “Hurry, Sissy Pie, try them on.”
Setting them down, she slipped them over her stockinged feet, tipped her boot toe, and then dipped her heel. “These are fancy.”
Lolly petted the fringe. “Feels like a rabbit.” She touched ClaireLee’s pocket. “Read what Nana says.”
“No. Go change into your play clothes.”
When Lolly left, ClaireLee relocked the door and pulled out the letter and read.
* * *
Dear Claire Bear,
I’m relieved you wrote. I felt all was not right as we heard no word for six months. Your papa kept telling me, we would hear from your mama soon.
It took a long while to get this letter to you, but I wanted to shop for your dresses in the city of Portland. Enjoy your dresses, sweetheart. You are probably ready to go up a size. The dresses should fit.
I’m sorry we can’t come for a visit. I’ve been feeling under the weather, but I long for the day when you move back home. We’re taking good care of your rabbits and hens. We miss you all so very much.
We love you,
Nana and Papa
P.S. I’m praying your mama will get better soon.
* * *
ClaireLee tsked her tongue and lowered her head. Nana’s unable to come.
Shaking off her disappointment as best she could, ClaireLee stood on the toilet seat and held the plum velvet dress to her bony self. She nodded at her reflection in the ages-old mirror. ClaireLee fluttered her lashes and puckered her mouth. The dress color complemented her nut-brown eyes. She began to hum to the hymn “Sing On,” and sang in a quiet voice, “Sing on, O blissful music. . .”
Tears creased her lids and she whispered, “Why in the world am I crying?” She shook herself and sniffed. I miss my nana.
After leaving the bathroom, ClaireLee struggled to stuff the box of dresses underneath the bed frame. The boys couldn’t see new clothes. Not yet. She would model each pick of the day before school. Maybe wearing the new clothes will help Wendy decide I belong in the club. No more wearing homemade plaid clothes.
After eating a snack, ClaireLee read Nana’s letter in a quiet voice to Lolly—all except for the last line. She pressed her lips and pantomimed to zip them close. “Let’s keep my dresses and boots a secret.”
Her chin level with the kitchen table, Lolly scooped more popcorn into her mouth. Lolly’s deliberate blinks were a clue to ClaireLee; she should expect a question. “Why?”
Stuffing the letter into its envelope, ClaireLee said, “Isn’t it fun to know something no one else does? Just us girls?”
Lolly put her finger to her popcorn-flaked mouth. “I won’t tell.”
“Thank you, baby.” She pinched Lolly’s cheek. “Next week, I’ll impress Wendy Lavender with my new dresses. I just know it.” Snapping her fingers, she said, “I’ve got it. I’ll see right now if Valerie’s working at Holcomb’s, so she can teach me how to become a Lavender Girl.”
ClaireLee listened in at Mama’s door. Still quiet. After helping Lolly into her coat, ClaireLee hurried from the cabin. As they passed Big Red’s, she hoped he wouldn’t mind if she got the boys later instead of now. A twinge burned in ClaireLee’s chest, and she rubbed the spot. I can’t believe Nana’s not going to help me.
20
EACH STEP I TAKE
* * *
Late afternoon sun shone through the trees along Pit Street, giving the appearance of rays of lights. Tugging Lolly along, ClaireLee climbed the two steps of the market. She hoped, hoped, hoped—pushing the door open. Walking past the potbellied woodstove, the fire warmed the side of her face. “Hi, Mr. Holcomb, is Valerie here?”
The older man slipped a pencil behind his ear. “As a matter of fact, yes she is.” He pointed. “Go clear to the end and through the back door. She’s counting the back stock.” Bending against the counter with his hand extended, he said, “Would your little sister like a piece of candy?”
Winking her approval to Lolly, ClaireLee said, “Yes, please,” and Lolly reached for the sucker.
Clutching her candy, Lolly followed ClaireLee.
Valerie met them at the back entrance. “Hi, ClaireLee. Shopping again?”
She caught a glimpse over her shoulder. Mr. Holcomb stood behind his counter exchanging food for cash with a customer. “Can we talk, so no one can hear, Valerie?”
“C’mon.” She grabbed ClaireLee’s hand and led her through the opened stockroom back door. “Let’s sit.” Under a blue sky, Valerie pointed at two wooden crates. “I’d offer you a soda pop, but you have an expression like you mean business.” Her doe eyes blinked.
“Please don’t think I’m expecting a favor, okay?” ClaireLee plopped on a crate. “And say yes only if you feel right about it.”
Drawing closer, Valerie said, “What’s the matter?”
Overcome with the jitters, ClaireLee sucked in her breath. Her words tumbled over themselves. “I need help with something.”
“Sure.”
“I liked going to the party today,” ClaireLee said. “I liked having fun away from my—family.” She bent forward, picking and choosing what to reveal. “Can I trust you with my secret?”
“Oh,” Valerie said, “you know it.”
Fumbling with her words, ClaireLee said, “My mom—she has problems. It began when she had our baby brother after we moved here.”
Lolly leaned against ClaireLee. “Yeah, Mama needs a lotta rest.”
“Hush your mouth and let me talk,” ClaireLee said.
Lolly wandered to a small rock pile and climbed to the top. ClaireLee whispered, “You know, I never wanted to move here.”
Valerie rolled her eyes and laughed. “Me neither.”
Surprised, ClaireLee said, “I didn’t know, Valerie.”
“We came because Dad makes good money working on the tunnel.” She lowered her eyes, pushing dirt in a mound with her tennis shoe. “I can’t wait to go home.”
“Where’s your home?”
“In San Diego near the beach.” Elbows on her knees, she said, “I do owe you a favor for keeping my secret.”
“Would you talk nice about me to Wendy?” ClaireLee played with her sweater button. “Ask her if I could join your group?”
Bowing her head and staring at her sneakers, Valerie said, “You need to say no to Wendy if she asks you to join us and be a Lavender Girl.”
ClaireLee patted at her chest as her heart beat faster. “Wendy’s going to ask me?”
“Please.” Valerie scrunched her face with concern. “Trust me and tell her no.”
To stop the spinning of her head, ClaireLee touched her temple. “I need to be in the club. My grandmother, Nana, sent me new dresses, and so I’ll fit in
with the Lavender Girls.”
“Is your grandmother rich?” ClaireLee shook her head. Valerie’s breath came in a huff. “You’re going to get hurt.”
She stiffened. “But why?”
“Okay, okay, but don’t say I didn’t warn you.” Waving her hands, Valerie said, “Wendy’s going to ask you into the club just to spite Belinda.” She shook her head. “There. I said it.”
“I don’t think—” Wendy might do this.
Valerie took her hand. “I’m sorry, ClaireLee.”
Tears sprung to her eyes and leaked along ClaireLee’s cheekbones. She cried for a normal life outside of the cabin. Standing, she peered down at Valerie. “Belinda’s my friend.” Leaving Valerie sitting there, ClaireLee took long strides to the front of the store. I hate this place.
“Wait.” Valerie was running after her. “I wanted you to know I like you a whole lot.”
ClaireLee kept walking. “I like you, too, Valerie.” I do.
As the sisters meandered toward the cabin, ClaireLee ached to strip the gloom from her heart. I’ll hug Feather and admire my new dresses.
Didn’t ClaireLee need something to make her happy?
* * *
* * *
Before school on Monday morning, ClaireLee made peanut butter and chocolate candy sandwiches for their sack lunches. While no one noticed, she opened another bag. Slipping candy after candy into her mouth, she no longer wanted to eat her bowl of oatmeal.
In the bathroom, she slipped into one of her new dresses. She waltzed out and curtsied for her brothers.
Grayson whistled. “You’re pretty, ClaireLee.”
Taken by the words, she curtsied again. “Thank you.”
“Yeah.” Liam agreed. “Remember when Nana bought me and Grayson those shirts for church?”
“She spoils us,” ClaireLee said, “and I miss her.”
Minutes later, ClaireLee motioned with her hand, “Come on, boys, let’s go,” and she kissed Lolly good-bye. She reached for her jacket on the wooden peg behind the door, but she lowered her hand before taking the coat. Her fur-trimmed boots would keep her warm enough, for she wanted to show off what Nana had bought her.
The boots and dress revived the confidence she had lost in front of Valerie a few days earlier. No one’s going to use me to get to Belinda. Walking taller, she sang, “Each step I take I know that He will guide me. . .”
Rounding the last bend on Pit Street, the setting appeared the same as always. Big Red’s miniature bus sat in its usual school parking spot, and a cluster of kids gathered on the concrete steps.
ClaireLee waved at Kaye and Wendy and gave Valerie’s hand a squeeze. As Belinda approached her, ClaireLee gave her a hug. “I missed you last week.”
The sorrow of the universe stared back, and ClaireLee curtsied to cheer her friend. The tip of Belinda’s lips creased upward. “Getting gussied up made ya Miss Happy.”
Fanning the hem of her dress, the green raised dots were bumpy against ClaireLee’s fingertips.
Kaye’s mouth opened and closed. She pinched ClaireLee’s puffy sleeve, giving it a wiggle. “How cute, and so Shirley Temple, but the color reminds me of a jar of moldy mustard.”
A grumpy scowl fought to replace ClaireLee’s feelings of joy. No. I’ll not let Kaye ruin my moment to impress Wendy. The muscles in her face relaxed, and she won the battle.
“This is real different from your normal plaid clothes,” Wendy said. “Where did you get it?”
“One of six new dresses my wonderful grandmother sent me.” ClaireLee overly expressed her next words. “She’s rich, you know.” Valerie’s eyes bulged like a bullfrog’s.
Belinda touched the lacy collar. “This outfit makes her seem at least fourteen, don’t ya think?” Opening her mouth to say something more, Belinda got cut off.
“Well,” Kaye’s laugh came out more than a little haughty, “I think you’re stretching it a bit, Cruz. I’d say a dwarfed fourteen.”
Crossing her arms, ClaireLee determined to ignore Kaye, the bully.
“I like the boots,” Wendy said. “Your grandmother obviously has superb taste.”
The wind swirled, mussing their hair. ClaireLee shivered, picturing her hooded jacket on its wooden peg.
Staring at ClaireLee, Belinda said, “You’re like one of them cameo lizards. You change colors. Sometimes you’re a tomboy, ClaireLee. Sometimes you’re glamour girl, like now.”
“You mean chameleon.” ClaireLee giggled. “I think cameo is jewelry.”
“You need to hang a dictionary around your neck, Cruz.” Wendy paused and added with a smirk, “But, of course, you’re ignorant.”
ClaireLee stiffened at Wendy’s rude remark. Belinda said, “Yep, sure, chameleon.”
Choosing to ignore the Lavenders, as Belinda had done, ClaireLee said, “Thank you, Belinda.”
As the bell rang, the crowd of students moved inside. Valerie touched ClaireLee’s arm. “Meet me in the bathroom.”
I hope Valerie doesn’t tell me what to do again.
Belinda walked alongside ClaireLee, but she waved Belinda on. “I’ll see you in class.” She entered the girls’ restroom, and Valerie opened a stall and pulled her inside.
In hushed whispers, Valerie said, “Did you make a decision about the club?”
Someone came in, and Valerie tapped her lips. She leaned toward ClaireLee’s ear. “I would like for you to join us.”
The two girls became quiet, and all the while ClaireLee thought about what she’d tell Valerie. When the outer bathroom door squeaked shut, she said, “I can be friends with Belinda and the Lavender Girls.”
In a stern voice, Valerie said, “Wendy won’t go for this, ClaireLee.”
She straightened to her full four-foot-eight height. “I’m not going against my best friend.”
“Okay.” Valerie reached for the stall latch and let them out. “But, don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
Following Valerie , ClaireLee stayed close to her. “You see, Valerie, because you warned me, I know what Wendy’s plan I won’t betray Belinda.”
Valerie shook her head. “Sounds like too much work for my taste.”
The girls walked at a fast pace to class. Now if I can only do this—get my friends to like one another.
21
HEAR ME NOW
* * *
During library time, ClaireLee and Belinda sat cross-legged on the floor before a shelf of books. At one point while ClaireLee read a Laura Wilder book to Belinda, Belinda slumped. “Lucky girl, Laura.”
ClaireLee frowned. “What’s wrong?”
“Ma meant it when she wrote the letter to Grandma about raising me.” Belinda gazed at the carpeted floor. “In Hollywood, she was busy auditing, audish…oh, shucks. I can’t even say it.” ClaireLee bit off the tips of a few fingernails, listening. “Ma got all fancy in her high heels, and a different color nail polish to match her dresses each morning. She’d say, ‘I’m off to see some people about my reading for a movie part.’” Belinda rolled her eyes. “Each day, I saw her for a whole ten pea-pickin’ minutes.”
A film of tears blurred ClaireLee’s vision. “I’m sad for you, Belinda.”
“No surprise.” She shrugged. “I knew my ma didn’t want me, or she wouldn’t have left me with Grandma Neecy in the first place.”
“Maybe one day she’ll come home.” ClaireLee patted Belinda’s back.
“There’s about as much chance of such a thing as there is snow in a heat wave.” Belinda sniffed.
Thumping the copy of On the Banks of Plum Creek, ClaireLee said, “Let’s get this, and we’ll keep reading pages together.”
Belinda swiped at her eyes. “If you wanna.”
After checking out the book, Belinda headed to the restroom, and ClaireLee sauntered to class. She pondered on Laura Ingalls and her family. They reminded her of the perfect home, with a mother’s love. Carrying the book filled her with hopeful thoughts.
I want to believe Mama will get well.
She’ll sleep only at night like the rest of us. And maybe Belinda’s mama will come home.
A voice from behind interrupted her thoughts. “What’s this you’re carrying?”
She hugged the book tighter and remembered her plan to be nice to Kaye. ClaireLee said over her shoulder, “On the Banks of Plum Creek.” She slowed for Kaye to match her steps
“I read the book in the first grade.” Kaye grunted. “What are you—miss Goody Two-Shoes?”
Blinking from the comment, ClaireLee said nothing. Does she never stop with the mean words?
“Wait for me,” Wendy yelled.
ClaireLee stopped, and Kaye puckered her face like she’d eaten a sour apple and was about to spit. Convinced even more Belinda would be a happy addition to the Lavender Girls, ClaireLee prayed. Please, Lord, help this work out with all five of us girls as friends.
* * *
* * *
During second recess, ClaireLee carried the Laura Ingalls book with her to the playground. Settling on a swing, she read to Belinda, while Belinda pushed her higher and higher. ClaireLee opened to the first page of On the Banks of Plum Creek. “In the mornings they ran through the dewy chilled grass that wet their feet and dabbled the hems of their dresses.”
Suddenly, Belinda’s push jerked ClaireLee’s swing with a twist and shifted her stomach. The taste of chocolate rose to her throat, and she managed to slow down the swing with her shoes. Too late, though—she vomited. When she could dig her toes into the ground, ClaireLee leaped from the swing.
Staggering to keep her balance, she rushed to the bathroom. Her knees hit cold concrete in the bathroom stall, and she vomited again.
Slumped over, ClaireLee took a damp paper towel from Belinda. Brown slime smeared the front of her bodice. She wiped her face on the towel and shuddered. My dress is ruined. Sagging against the concrete wall, sweat beaded her forehead.
Just Claire Page 14
