Evvie at Sixteen by Susan Beth Pfeffer Read Free Book Online

know,” Evvie said. “Isn’t that something invalids enjoy? Being read out loud to?” She was sure she’d seen that in a movie once, along with pillow fluffing.
    â€œSo I’m an invalid, am I,” Grace said. “Well, I suppose I am. Stuck in this bed. The Bradford boy’s been my only visitor.”
    It took Evvie a moment to realize that “the Bradford boy” was Clark. “That’s why I came,” she said. “So you wouldn’t get lonely.”
    â€œAnd you propose to entertain me by reading out loud,” Aunt Grace said.
    â€œThat’s what Megs used to do when one of us was sick,” Evvie replied. “She still does, to Sybil and Claire.”
    Aunt Grace humphed. “Megs,” she said. “I assume you’re referring to my niece, Margaret.”
    â€œShe’s my mother, Megs, as well,” Evvie said.
    â€œAnd that father of yours, you call him something ridiculous as well?” Grace said.
    â€œNicky,” Evvie said.
    â€œNormal children call their parents Mother and Father,” Grace declared. “I called my parents Mother and Father and we never had a moment’s difficulty.”
    Evvie smiled and resisted the temptation to dump Aunt Grace’s eggs over her head.
    Grace sat still for a moment and looked out her window to the ocean. “Well, perhaps a moment or two of difficulty,” she admitted. “But never over what to call them.”
    Evvie laughed. “May I sit down?” she asked. “I feel uncomfortable hovering like this.”
    â€œCertainly,” Grace said, and gestured to a chair. “Have you had your breakfast yet?”
    â€œNot yet,” Evvie said. “I figured I’d visit with you first.”
    â€œAnd get your obligation over with for the day,” Aunt Grace said. “It is a lovely day for the beach. Did you bring a bathing suit?”
    â€œI did,” Evvie said. “But I don’t plan to run out of here the minute I’ve finished my breakfast, and then show up for dinner. I’m here to help out, to keep you company. The beach is secondary.”
    â€œVery well,” Grace said. “So how is Margaret? I spoke to her on the phone yesterday, but we mostly talked about me and my condition.”
    â€œShe’s fine,” Evvie said. “We just moved into a new house, you know, so she’s been busy decorating it.”
    â€œIs it a nice house?” Aunt Grace asked.
    â€œNice enough,” Evvie said. “Once Megs is through with it, it’ll be beautiful. The kitchen has a lot of potential.”
    â€œWhat difference does that make?” Grace asked. “What do people do in kitchens besides prepare meals?”
    â€œYou can entertain in them,” Evvie replied.
    â€œNo one entertains in a kitchen,” Aunt Grace declared. “Do you have your own bedroom?”
    â€œI’m sharing this time,” Evvie said. “There’s one small room—Claire has it at least for the summer—and I’m sharing the large room with Thea and Sybil.”
    â€œAnd how are the girls?” Aunt Grace asked. “It’s been a long while since I’ve seen them.”
    â€œThey’re fine,” Evvie said. “I have a picture of them in my room if you’d like to see it.”
    â€œCertainly,” Aunt Grace said.
    Evvie got up and went to her bedroom. She hadn’t unpacked the night before, and it took some digging before she could locate the picture. She enjoyed the break from her aunt, and wondered how many more of them she’d be able to manage a day.
    â€œHere we all are,” she said, returning to Aunt Grace’s bedside. “It’s just a snapshot, but we don’t have many of all six of us.”
    Aunt Grace took the photograph and examined it carefully. “Margaret looks older,” she said. “Is she developing cataracts?”
    â€œThe sun was in her