Iggie's House by Judy Blume Read Free Book Online Page A

asked.
    â€œI know what I’d like to do,” Herbie said. “For a start I’d break up some windows on the Germ House. Then maybe I’d dump some paint on that nice green grass. And I’d train Woozie to make on all her bushes!”
    â€œAnd what would that prove, big shot?” Glenn asked.
    â€œMaybe nothing. But man! It would sure make me feel good!”
    â€œI meant what are your folks going to do about it?” Winnie asked.
    Herbie scratched his head. “Who knows? They don’t let us in on anything. We’re not supposed to know about the petition. It’s called ‘protect the children from everything bad in the world.’ Just close your eyes and it’ll all go away.”
    â€œI know the feeling,” Winnie admitted. “Do your parents whisper a lot at night … when you’re all supposed to be asleep?”
    â€œYeah,” Glenn said.
    â€œWhy can’t they ever be honest?” Winnie muttered.
    â€œWho knows!” Herbie said. “Who can figure out parents.”
    Winnie stood up and brushed off her shorts. “Well, we can’t just sit here all day. What do you guys want to do?”
    â€œHow ’bout the park?” Tina asked.
    â€œToo crowded on Saturdays,” Winnie answered.
    â€œWe could take Woozie out for a walk,” Herbie suggested.
    â€œSay! I know … Iggie’s tree house,” Winnie said. “Have you guys discovered it yet?”
    â€œWhat tree house? Where is it?” Tina asked.
    â€œIn your yard, silly. Come on … follow me.” Winnie and Tina ran into the backyard. Glenn and Herbie followed slowly. The tree house was practically invisible among all the leaves of Iggie’s tall trees. “Iggie’s father built it for us last summer. All by himself, except for me and Iggie. We helped him,” Winnie said, pointing it out.
    â€œDo you have binoculars?”
    â€œWhat’s binoculars?” Tina asked.
    â€œBinoculars are what you look through to see things far away. It makes everything look close. Right, Glenn?” Herbie asked, turning to his brother.
    â€œRight, Herbie. But I don’t think we have any,” Glenn said.
    â€œOkay. Wait here and I’ll go get mine,” Winnie told them, running off toward her house. She was in and out in about two and a half minutes. Just long enough to dash up the stairs, take her binoculars lovingly from the dresser drawer, where she kept them hidden under her pajamas, and fly back down the stairs and out the kitchen door with them. When she got back she sniffed in the delicious smell of Iggie’s mom’s flowers. They were all in bloom. She hoped Mrs. Garber would take good care of them.
    â€œHello down there,” Glenn sang out.
    Winnie looked up. Herbie and Glenn were already in Iggie’s tree house. Winnie felt kind of funny about it. It used to be her’s and Iggie’s special place. But she guessed Iggie wouldn’t mind. Probably her father was busy building her a new tree house in Tokyo. If they had trees there!
    â€œWhere’s Tina?” Winnie asked the boys, as she climbed up the rope ladder to the wooden planks that made up the floor of the tree house.
    â€œShe went inside for a minute, with our Dad,” Herbie said. “He’s off on Saturdays. Isn’t your father?”
    â€œNo. Saturday’s a big day for hardware stores.” Winnie said. She never thought much about Mr. Garber. She had only seen him once. That day she was spying on them when they moved in.
    â€œWell, here’s my binoculars,” Winnie announced. “Want to see?”
    Herbie took them and held them up to his eyes. He moved them around and handed them back disgustedly. “Some fun. All I see are tree tops and leaves.”
    â€œOh Herbie,” Winnie laughed. “You’re not looking in the right places. Here Glenn, have a turn.”
    Glenn put the