Adoring Addie by Leslie Gould Read Free Book Online

children.
    Meals at our house were far from orderly. It wasn’t that my Mutter purposefully put up with the nonsense—she justdidn’t know how to stop it. And although I did my best, I couldn’t seem to rein the boys in either, at least not entirely.
    Before Daed had a chance to lead us in our silent prayer, Billy dumped his pocket of rocks onto the table. Daed sent him outside with his collection until the prayer was finished.
    Billy ate silently when he came back, and for a moment all was calm, but then Timothy started in about the Mosier boys. Phillip gave me a questioning look. I shrugged in return.
    â€œAddie is too friendly with them,” Timothy said, looking at Mutter. “You shouldn’t allow her around them anymore.”
    â€œYou’re the one who invited me to the party tonight,” I shot back. “Don’t you think they’ll be there?” I’d never been so contentious before, not in front of my parents anyway—and certainly not in front of company.
    â€œAddie!” Mutter said.
    â€œDon’t worry, I’m not going. I’m just pointing out that Timothy isn’t making any sense.”
    â€œOf course you’re not going.” Mutter had her gaze on Phillip now. “She never goes to those things.”
    Under my breath, I whispered, “Obviously what’s good for the gander isn’t for the goose.”
    â€œYou don’t go to those parties either, do you, Phillip?” Mutter asked.
    He squared his shoulders. “Not anymore.”
    â€œHow about you?” Timothy said to Danny. “Are you going with me?”
    Danny placed his fork on his empty plate—he’d inhaled his dinner in record time—and looked up but didn’t speak. He pushed his straw-colored hair back from his forehead, showing the streak of white where the brim of his hat kept the sun from his face. Having recently turned sixteen, he was just entering his Rumschpringe. He was the quietest of myBruders and the most reliable. I thought of him as Danny the Dependable.
    Finally, as he glanced from our father to our mother, he said, “Jah.”
    â€œThat’s fine,” Mutter answered. “As long as you’re up first thing in the morning.”
    â€œDon’t go,” I said to Danny. “Stay home and help me get ready for tomorrow.”
    He wrinkled his freckled nose and said, softly, “I’ll get up early, I promise, and do whatever you need.”
    Joe-Joe nudged me, a grin on his face. “I’ll help,” he said, and then began twirling his spaghetti on his fork, sending sauce splattering in all directions.
    â€œStop,” I said.
    I’m certain he meant to obey, but instead he lost his grip on his fork, sending it clattering to the floor. He scooted down and, dropping to his knees, reached under his chair.
    A moment later, he chirped, “Oops!”
    That got my attention.
    â€œGot it!” he said.
    Thinking he meant the fork, I expected him back on his chair, but one glance his way and I saw he was still rooting around on the floor, grabbing at a plastic container.
    â€œOops!” he exclaimed again.
    A frog jumped onto his chair. Joe-Joe’s head popped up as Billy scrambled to the floor, nearly knocking over his chair.
    I lunged for the frog, but it slipped between my hands onto the table.
    â€œWhat’s going on?” Mutter squealed.
    I didn’t bother answering her. It was obvious to all.
    The frog leapt again, this time into the quarter-full bowl of spaghetti sauce. Timothy began to laugh as Joe-Joe lungedforward, his hands landing in the bowl. Somehow he managed to grab the frog. He pulled out a tomato-red blob, a triumphant expression on his face, until a half second later the frog managed to wiggle away again.
    Billy scurried around the table, most likely to rescue the frog, but I grabbed at it again and somehow managed to hold on this time. Billy bobbled the plastic