Henry and the Clubhouse by Beverly Cleary Read Free Book Online

been waiting for you to come and sell me a subscription.”
    “You have?” This possibility had never occurred to Henry.
    “Yes, I thought you might want to get credit for selling a subscription,” answered Mrs. Peabody.
    “Oh, he does,” Murph assured her earnestly.
    “It took you so long I was about to give up and phone the paper myself,” Mrs.Peabody continued.
    “Please don’t do that,” said Henry, lest the lady change her mind about the subscription.
    “I won’t,” Mrs. Peabody assured him. “I have a grown son who used to deliver papers when he was your age and I know all about it.”
    Henry wondered if she really did know everything about a paper route—things like dogs who chased paper boys. Ranger, it seemed to him, was getting over his scare.
    He had poked his nose out from under the couch.
    “Now don’t you worry about my dog,” said the lady a second time. “He felt he had to defend his property against intruders, but now that he sees we are friends, he will be all right.” She leaned over and spoke to her dog. “Won’t you, Ranger, baby?”
    Ranger peered out from under the couch and thumped his whiplike tail.
    “He’s really just a lamb,” said Ranger’s owner.
    Some lamb, thought Henry, but he felt that he should try to make friends with Ranger, so he gave Ribsy another shove with his foot and said, “Hiya, Ranger?  How’s the fellow?”
    Ranger did not growl or bare his teeth.  That was progress.
    “Well . . . uh . . . thanks a lot for the subscription and the candy apple,” said Henry.  “I’ll start leaving the paper tomorrow.”
    “Good!” said Mrs. Peabody. “I’ve missed the crossword puzzle.”
    She did not say one word about having the paper left in some special place, not a word about being careful not to hit the shrubs or the windows. Henry could tell this lady was going to be a good customer.  Probably she would always be home when he came to collect and would always have the exact change ready.
    “Good night, Harry,” the lady called after him. She was such a nice lady Henry did not want to tell her his name was Henry, not Harry.
    “Well, what do you know,” Henry remarked to Murph when they were out on the sidewalk once more. “Two treats—a candy apple and a Journal subscription.” He felt as if a burden had been taken from him.  He had actually sold a subscription, and now that he had sold one, he was sure he could sell others. From now on it would be easy.
    Murph laughed. “The way that old Ranger dived under that couch! He sure thought something was after him, but he didn’t know what.”
    Henry laughed, too. He laughed at the thought of Ranger skidding on the floor.
    He laughed because he felt good.
    “I’ve had enough,” said Murph. “Let’s go home.”
    “Not yet,” said Henry, who no longer felt like going home. “Just one more house.”
    “What for?” asked Murph. “We have more junk than we can eat now.”
    “Aw, come on, Murph,” coaxed Henry. “Let’s stop at Mr. Capper’s. I’ll bet he’s giving something good.”
    “You just want to tell him about the subscription,” said Murph.
    “Yup,” answered Henry. It was true. News like this could not wait until tomorrow.
    Now it would be safe for his father to talk to Mr. Capper, who would tell him Henry was a good salesman. There was no danger of his father’s telling him to tear down the clubhouse now.
    “OK,” agreed Murph, and the boys started toward Mr. Capper’s house with the good news.

4
    Henry Collects
     
    The day after Halloween was the first of November. Henry regretfully had to leave the building of the clubhouse to Robert and Murph, while he called on his subscribers to collect for the Journal .
    Beezus visited the Hugginses’ backyard and offered to pound nails in Henry’s place.  “Ramona is playing over at Lisa’s house,” she said, “so she won’t get in the way.”

    Murph scowled. “No girls allowed.”
    “Oh, all right,” said