Jasper John Dooley, Star of the Week by Caroline Adderson, Ben Clanton Read Free Book Online Page A

when they got to the living room, Mom was giving the baby Compliments!
    â€œOh, isn’t she darling! Isn’t she sweet! I’d love to hold her!”
    â€œPlease do,” Ori’s mom said. As soon as Jasper’s mom took the baby, Ori’s mom stretched out on the couch. “Excuse me,” she said. “It’s been a hard week. Ori’s grandmother was supposed to come and help, but she got sick. My sister is coming on Saturday, thank goodness.”
    â€œYou’re almost over the hump,” Jasper told her.
    â€œYes, but poor Ori. He hasn’t been getting much attention.”
    â€œI haven’t been getting much sleep!” Ori said.
    Jasper’s mom was walking around the circle in the carpet with the baby, who still wouldn’t stop crying. She was smiling at the baby, but she looked up to say, “Why doesn’t Ori sleep over at our house tonight?”

    â€œPlease!” Ori cried over the crying. “Can I? Please?”
    â€œI had a sleepover with Earl last night,” Jasper said. “I’d like to try again.”
    Ori’s mom said yes, and Jasper was so happy he almost forgot that they were there to show Mom how loud and boring babies were. And he almost forgot to say some Compliments. He told Ori’s mom, “I like your new, smaller watermelon.”
    â€œDo you want to hold the baby?” Mom asked Jasper.
    He did want to. Babies were loud, but they were only boring if you had to be around one all the time. If you just visited them, you saw they had tiny little hands that would curl around your finger and that they made googly faces in between their wails.
    Mom passed him Ori’s sister. “Hold her head like this.”
    â€œI know,” Jasper said as he took her in his arms. Right away, the baby stopped crying and gazed up at Jasper with her big eyes. After a minute, her face didn’t look so purple.
    Ori undid the ties on his hat and pulled it off. Ori’s mom sat up. Everybody Looked and Listened. Everybody smiled.
    â€œHow did you do that?” Ori’s mom whispered.
    â€œI’m the Star of the Week,” Jasper said.

Chapter 11

    Ori came for the sleepover right after supper. Jasper answered the door. “Did you bring your own pajamas?”
    â€œI’m already wearing them,” Ori said.
    â€œCome in,” Jasper said. “We’re decorating the Special Snack for everybody to eat while they’re writing Compliments to me. You can help.”
    Ori sat at the table with Jasper and Mom and Dad, his head propped up in his hands. He watched them draw the letter
J
, for Jasper, with icing then dip each cookie in a bowl of sugar sprinkles, but he didn’t help. He said he was too tired. After all the cookies were decorated, Ori said he was too tired to jump over humps. He was too tired to play cards.
    â€œI guess it’s time to get ready for bed,” Dad said.
    â€œI’m already ready,” Ori said.
    â€œGo ahead,” Dad said. “Jasper will meet you in bed.”
    Jasper changed into his sheep pajamas. He brushed his teeth and washed his face. After he said good night to his parents, he went to his room where Ori was sleeping with the light on. Jasper got quietly into bed. He leaned over the side to say good night to Earl. “Uh-oh,” Jasper said, “what’s the matter?”
    He knew what the matter was. Earl was jealous. “You would be sleeping here if you hadn’t bit me,” Jasper told him.
    Earl looked mad. He was very, very purple.
    â€œListen, Earl,” Jasper whispered. “If you’re good tonight, I’m going to give you a Special Snack tomorrow. It’s a Special Snack only for you.”
    Earl agreed and Jasper got up again to turn out the light. When he climbed back in the bed, Ori woke. “It’s not morning yet, is it?” he asked.
    â€œNo,” Jasper said.
    â€œIt’s so quiet here,” Ori