“You’ve got scratches all over them, Ori,” Mom said. “What from?”
“Pinecones.”
“Where are your socks?”
“In my bag. Full of pinecones.”
Jasper explained. “We couldn’t find any nuts.”
Mom suggested Ori roll his pants so they didn’t rub against his scratches. That did the trick. They collected their bikes and helmets from home and rode to the library together — so so so fast — so they could get a good place in line.
At the library, Mom handed Jasper the money in an envelope. “Go ahead and pay while I lock the bikes. I’ll bring your books.”
Jasper and Ori raced up the steps and pushed open the door. Sitting behind her desk like a hen on a nest was the same nice librarian who had helped them last time. She smiled at Jasper and Ori and pointed to the three kids in line.
Jasper walked straight to her desk and slid his library card across to her.
“I need to pay for a book before I read to Molly.”
The librarian bleeped his card. “You have two books checked out. Which one are you paying for?”
“The one about toilet-paper-tube crafts.”
Jasper unfolded the envelope of money and gave it to her. “I didn’t feel good about using the library when I’d ruined a book.”
“Ruined? What happened to it?”
“I’d rather not say.” Jasper made a tight line with his lips.
“Oh, don’t worry,” the librarian said. “I’ve heard it all. Did you leave it on the roof of the car then drive away so the book fell onto the road and got run over a hundred times?”
“Did someone do that?” Ori asked.
“Yes. Did you use it to start a campfire?”
“What?” Jasper said. “No!”
“Did the dog go wee wee on it?”
“He doesn’t have a dog,” Ori said.
Jasper leaned in to whisper, “Have you ever heard of somebody doing this — drowning a book in the bathtub, then setting it on fire in the oven, then extinguishing it?”
“Oh, sure. That happens about twice a year,” the librarian said. “Now, if you boys want a turn to read to Molly, you’d better get in line.”
Jasper and Ori dashed over. Five fidgety kids were waiting to read to Molly, including Jasper and Ori. Jasper looked around for Mom. Three more kids got in line behind him. Jasper moved up one place. Then Mom came in the door and handed Jasper and Ori their Cheeky books from school.
Jasper stepped to the front. His turn was next, after a boy with red hair. There was Molly, in his lap, still looking grumpy.
“The end,” read the boy.
Molly’s owner lifted Molly out of his lap. She smiled at Jasper.
Finally, it was his turn! He plopped down in the big, comfy chair. It was warm from the other kids who had read to Molly before Jasper. Molly’s owner settled Molly into his lap.
“Don’t worry, Molly,” Jasper told her. “You’re going to love this book.”
Molly lifted her funny pushed-in face and stared at Jasper with her huge brown eyes.
Jasper read Chapter Six, where on the night of the ballet performance, Cheeky arrived tutuless, with her nuts stored in her tights.
Molly the Dog, warm in his lap, started bouncing up and down with Jasper as he laughed. Mom was standing beside Molly’s owner, listening to him read and enjoying the sound of his voice. She was laughing, too. So were Ori and Molly’s owner. And Molly’s tail was wagging!
Molly’s owner only stopped laughing to say, “That’s five minutes.”
“Already?” Jasper said.
When Molly’s owner lifted Molly out of Jasper’s lap, cool air filled the warm place where she’d been. Jasper’s turn was already over after he’d waited so so long for the chance. He’d just reached the best part, where Cheeky tries to dance gracefully with all those nuts in her tights. He would have felt sad, except he couldn’t. He was laughing too hard.
Praise for the Jasper John Dooley series
Jasper John Dooley: Star of the Week
Best Children’s Books of the Year, Bank Street Children’s Book Committee
“Well-written, funny, and engaging … Share with kids looking for a boy version of Sara Pennypacker’s Clementine series or with fans of Lenore Look’s Alvin Ho books.” — Booklist
Jasper John Dooley: Left Behind
Named to Kirkus Reviews’ Best Books of 2013
“So aptly, charmingly and amusingly depicted that it’s impossible not to be both captivated and compelled.” — Kirkus Reviews, starred review
Jasper John Dooley: NOT in Love
Named to Kirkus Reviews’ Best Books of 2014
“Adderson perfectly captures the trials of early childhood, and with brief text and a simple vocabulary, she breathes full life into her cast of characters.” — Kirkus Reviews, starred review
Jasper John Dooley: You’re in Trouble
“Another highly entertaining and enthusiastic outing in a series that’s perfect for readers new to chapter books and as a captivating read-aloud.” — Kirkus Reviews, starred review
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