Jean and Johnny by Beverly Cleary Read Free Book Online Page A

sewing teacher, to have it approved, but she was put off while her teacher interrupted the class to make an announcement. The Costume Club, whose adviser was Mrs. Rankin, needed members, and anyone who studied Clothing was eligible. Jean, who always thought of clubs as activities for other people but not for herself, paid little attention to this announcement. Sue was taking extra courses in typing and shorthand and did not have time for clubs, and so Jean, used to following in her sister’s footsteps, had not thought about joining any clubs either. By waiting with her sewing in hand until Mrs. Rankin was through speaking, Jean finally had her work approved, but by that time the class was nearly over and all the sewing machines were occupied.
    Jean made up her mind that she was not going to leave until she had those sleeves stitched into her dress. She was tired of sleeves, she was tired of the dress, and she wanted the whole project out of the way. She whiled away the time tidying her sewing box. This had been an exasperating afternoon.
    â€œAre you going to join the Costume Club?” whispered Mitsuko Yamoto, who sat across the table from Jean.
    â€œNo, I don’t think so,” said Jean, without thinking at all.
    â€œI am,” said Mitsuko. “Everybody says it is lots of fun to be behind the scenes at the senior play and the variety show and things. The school rents most of the costumes and all the club has to do is press them, fit them, and see that the right people get into them.”
    â€œCome on, Jean, why don’t you join?” asked another girl who shared the table.
    Someone vacated a sewing machine—fortunately one of the good ones—and Jean, intent on her sleeves, hurried to get it before someone else did and did not bother to answer the girl’s question. She stitched slowly and carefully. While she stitched in the right sleeve, the bell rang, but she went on working. She was about to stitch the leftsleeve when Elaine came into the sewing room.
    â€œOh, there you are,” said Elaine. “I’ve been looking all over for you. Aren’t you going home?”
    â€œNot until I finish this sleeve,” answered Jean. “I have had to rip it out so many times I don’t dare try to hurry with it.”
    â€œI guess I’ll run along,” said Elaine. “Mother wanted me to come straight home today so we could do some shopping.”
    Jean successfully stitched the sleeve, put away her sewing things, gathered up her books, and hurried out of the room, very nearly bumping into Johnny and his friend Homer Darvey, who were walking down the hall. “Oh—hello,” she said, startled at seeing Johnny.
    â€œHi,” answered Johnny with a grin.
    â€œHi,” echoed Homer.
    Because the two boys were obviously leaving the building by the same door she always used, Jean found herself walking with them. In a panic she tried to think of something to say.
    â€œDo you take sewing?” Johnny asked.
    â€œYes,” answered Jean, longing for witty words to spring to her lips.
    â€œI didn’t think girls knew how to sew anymore,” remarked Johnny.
    â€œOh, yes,” answered Jean. “Practically everybody sews. Girls, I mean.” It was silly to feel so confused, just because she was walking down the hall with a boy—two boys—but Jean could not help it.
    â€œI was just telling Homer about my trip to the mountains last weekend,” remarked Johnny, as they left the building and walked down the steps.
    â€œDo you ski?” asked Jean, knowing very well that he did.
    â€œEvery chance I get,” answered Johnny. “I drove up early Saturday morning with some fellows. One of them has a cabin.”
    â€œThen you must have run into that storm I read about in the papers,” said Jean, pleased that she could add to the conversation.
    â€œI’ll say we did,” said Johnny. “It looked pretty