How to Get Dirt by S. E. Campbell Read Free Book Online Page A

waving . Fierce joy began in her heart and coursed through Pickles. When she hugged Prudence tight, she realized how lonely she had truly been at school. She missed sending Prudence notes and giggling about teachers. She missed long talks at lunchtime and group projects.
    â€œ I missed you so much, ” Pickles said, stepping away.
    Miranda wore a frown on her face when she turned. Pickles wasn ’ t one hundred percent sure why.
    â€œ Mrs. Beazley, I ’ ve been meaning to speak with you, ” Miranda said. “ David and I were actually going to call you tomorrow. ”
    Mrs. Beazley ’ s face became stony. “ I see. Well, I ’ m here now. Why don ’ t we have Pickles show Prudence her room ? We can discuss what you need to over a cup of coffee before I take the girls to lunch. ”
    â€œ We ’ re going to lunch? ” Pickles and Prudence both asked at the same time.
    â€œ If it ’ s okay with your guardian, ” Mrs. Beazley said, looking at Miranda.
    â€œ It ’ s fine, ” Miranda said, though she didn ’ t smile. Concern washed over Pickles as she stared at Miranda. What was she thinking?
    Prudence grabbed her hand and tugged her toward the stairs. “ Come on! I want to see your room. ”
    â€œ Go on, Pickles, ” Mrs. Beazley said. “ I ’ ll come get you in a few minutes. ”
    Even though Pickles didn ’ t want to, she went up the stairs with Prudence in front of her . But her thoughts remained behind, with the adults.
    I wo nder what they ’ re talking about, she thought, as she reach ed the top landing.
    After opening the door, Pickles beckoned Prudence inside of her room. Prudence gasped at the ivy wallpaper and the princess canopy bed. Pickles shut the door behind them, then headed over to her bed and flopped down on it while Prudence wandered around the room letting out gasps of awe.
    A moment later , Prudence flopped back on to the bed and stared at the ceiling too.
    â€œ What are we doing? ” Prudence asked breathlessly.
    â€œ I ’ m staring at the ceiling. ” Pickles turned her head to stare at her friend. “ W hat are you doing? ”
    â€œ Okay, ” Prudence said, launching to her feet. “ What ’ s the matter? Mrs. Beazley said you called her — didn ’ t say about what — and she wanted me to come with her to visit you. Now you ’ re all sad. I don ’ t think I ’ ve ever seen you sad. Your eternal optimism is one of your most loveable and annoying traits. How can you not be happy here? In this place? You have your own room. I mean, how awesome is that? ”
    Pickles told Prudence everything. By the time she was done, Prudence fixed a stare on Pickles, a somber look on her face .
    â€œ They ’ re having a baby? That ’ s bad news. Real bad news. ”
    â€œ I know, ” Pickles said , her voice getting more high-pitched. The fact that her friend had echoed her own thoughts only made it worse. “ I just hope they will still keep me around. Maybe I ’ m overreacting. ”
    â€œ Oh, come on, Pickles, ” Prudence said. “ Your optimism can only get you so far. You know how it is. We ’ re like the spare kid nobody wants . We ’ re the substitute. Like how a cat lady gets cats because she didn ’ t get a husband or kids . We ’ re the cats. ”
    â€œ That isn ’ t true… ” Pickles said, though she knew it was.
    A moment of silence went by . Prudence got closer in her face and puffed out her cheeks like a chipmunk. With a laugh, Pickles jumped back.
    â€œ That ’ s better, ” Prudence said. “ That ’ s the Pickles I remember. ”
    â€œ But what am I supposed to do? ” Pickles asked. “ How am I supposed to get them to want to keep me? It ’ s not like I can tell them about the girls at school. That will just be a sign to them I don ’ t belong in the ir