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

said.
    â€œThat’s because we don’t have a baby.”
    â€œNot yet,” Ori said. “Your mom really liked her.”
    Jasper said, “The book is still in the garden. She can’t have a baby if she doesn’t have a name for it.”
    â€œYes, she can,” Ori said. “My sister doesn’t have a name yet.”
    â€œI thought you named her Wa-wa-wa-wa.”
    â€œThat’s just until we think of something better.”
    And then Jasper understood. Mom had set the book out to give to
Ori’s
mom. He told Ori, “We have to make sure
your
mom never gets that book. There were hundreds and hundreds of names in it.”
    â€œReally?” Ori said.
    â€œWhat if she finds a bunch of names she likes? What if she wants more babies just to use up the names?”
    â€œOh, no,” Ori said.
    â€œSome of these big families?” Jasper said. “The parents don’t even know who their own kids are. Sometimes they move house and accidentally leave five or six of them behind. My dad told me.”
    â€œOh, no!” Ori said.
    â€œAnd what if you get an itch in the middle of your back? Who’s going to scratch it?”
    â€œThe thing is, I don’t know!” Ori started to cry.
    Jasper didn’t want another ruined sleepover. And he didn’t want his friend to be sad. He patted Ori’s shoulder and said, “Don’t worry, Ori. I’m just across the alley and one house down. I’ll come right over.”
    Ori sniffed a few times and said, “Thank you, Jasper,” before he fell asleep again.

    In the middle of the night, Ori climbed over Jasper and woke him up.
    â€œOw,” Jasper said.
    He thought Ori was getting up to use the bathroom, but Ori kept walking, so Jasper got out of bed, too, careful not to step on Earl sleeping on the floor. He followed Ori down the hall.
    â€œIt’s back here,” Jasper whispered when he caught up to Ori in the living room. Ori had stopped. He was standing in the dark, in his pajamas, staring at nothing.
    â€œDo you have to go to the bathroom?” Jasper asked.
    Ori shook his head.
    â€œCome back to bed,” Jasper said.
    â€œMom?” Ori said.
    â€œYour mom’s across the alley and one house down. We’re having a sleepover. Remember?”
    â€œDad!” Ori called.
    â€œYour dad’s with your mom,” Jasper said.
    â€œWa-wa-wa-wa?” Ori called.
    â€œHer, too,” Jasper said.
    Dad came into the living room with his hair sticking up all over his head. He asked what was going on. Ori turned and walked right past them and out of the room. “Mom?” he called.
    â€œHe’s sleepwalking,” Dad told Jasper.
    â€œReally?” Jasper said. “He’s asleep?”
    â€œYes,” Dad said.
    â€œHe’s walking around asleep?”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œI want to!” Jasper cried. “How? How?”
    â€œShh. We shouldn’t wake him,” Dad said. “Let’s see if we can get him back into bed.”
    Ori wandered into the kitchen. He seemed to be looking for something. Dad came up beside him. “Back to bed, Ori. This way.”
    â€œIs he dreaming us?” Jasper asked.
    â€œWe’re probably in his dream all right,” Dad said as he tried to shepherd Ori in the right direction. Ori scooted past Dad and found the back door. “Wa-wa-wa-wa?” he called. “Wa-wa-wa-wa?”
    â€œHe wants to go home,” Jasper said.
    â€œLet’s take him home then,” Dad said, opening the door and stepping out.
    The moon was so bright Jasper and Dad had no trouble seeing where they were going. Ori seemed to be seeing with his feet. He went down the back stairs and started across the yard with Dad and Jasper following. The neighborhood was so quiet. All the houses were dark. Only the owls and raccoons were awake. They were probably watching them and wondering what those crazy humans