Iggie's House by Judy Blume Read Free Book Online

He started gnawing away at his nails and it was hard to understand what he was saying. “Just a little old piece of paper with a lot of names on it telling the Garberfamily to get lost. That’s about all!
Nothing much!
”
    The petition! They knew about Mrs. Landon’s petition. Winnie didn’t know what to say. “I’m uh … I mean I … uh …” she stammered.
    Herbie slapped his leg. “Didn’t I tell you? Didn’t I tell you she wouldn’t be surprised. I told you she’d know about it!” he said to his brother.
    Glenn held up his hand. “Don’t try to explain, Winnie. Please! We don’t want to hear a lot of excuses.”
    Explain! That was funny. How could she explain a Mrs. Landon? How could she explain why her own mother didn’t want them on her block? How could she explain anything? She didn’t even understand it herself. “How did you find out?” she asked.
    Glenn reported, “Germs, Incorporated paid us a little visit last night. My mother invited her in.”
    â€œBut didn’t you tell her about Mrs. Landon? About how she told Clarice not to play with any …” Winnie stopped.
    â€œWell, go ahead. Go ahead and say it!” Herbie shouted. “Any
colored
kids!” He spit the words out.
    â€œLeave her alone Herbie. It’s not her fault.”
    Winnie spoke to Glenn, ignoring Herbie. “But why didn’t you tell your mother? You should have warned her.”
    â€œWe should have, but we didn’t. She’s sojumpy lately that we decided not to give her the news.”
    â€œSo your mother just let her in. Just like that?”
    â€œYeah,” Herbie said, joining the conversation again. “Mom thought Mrs. Landon was being polite and calling on her new neighbor.”
    â€œYou should have seen old Germs,” Glenn said. “She was taking it all in. Couldn’t look around fast enough. Then she announced that she wants to talk privately to my folks. That means me and Herbie are supposed to take off.”
    â€œWhat about Tina?” Winnie asked.
    â€œI was in the bathtub,” Tina sighed. “I always miss everything!”
    Glenn continued. “So me and Herbie slammed the back door, pretending to go out into the yard. But we really stayed in the kitchen and we heard the whole thing.”
    â€œWhat’d she say?” Winnie asked.
    â€œOh, how she’s sure we’re
lovely
people and that it’s nothing personal, but we’d be happier somewhere else. For the children’s sake and all that jazz.”
    â€œThen what?” Winnie asked Herbie.
    â€œThen my father says he’s heard enough. And would she please leave. All very nice and quiet.… Man! You’d have thought they were talking about the weather or something. Then Mrs. Landon says,‘Oh, I almost forgot … we’ve gotten a petition together so that you can see how we really feel about the situation.’ And she hands it over to my father.”
    â€œDid you see the petition?” Winnie asked. She’d absolutely die if her parents signed it.
    â€œYeah,” Herbie said. “I snitched it out of my father’s desk this morning.”
    â€œHow many signed it?” Winnie was petrified.
    â€œOnly nine,” Glenn said.
    â€œONLY?” Herbie raised his voice.
    â€œNine out of thirty two … that’s not a lot,” Glenn argued.
    â€œMan! It’s enough!”
    â€œDo you remember all the names?” Winnie whispered. She’d faint if her family’s name was on it.
    Herbie picked up a handful of pebbles and threw them into the sewer. “If you want to know if your parents signed it … they didn’t!”
    â€œI never even thought of that, Herbie Garber!” Winnie hollered. She hoped the relief she felt didn’t show. “What are you going to do about it?” she