Letters from the Heart by Annie Bryant Read Free Book Online Page B

We’re doing this awesome Heritage Museum, and I need to find stuff that shows who we are as a family. So maybe you could think about how you each grew up and how different it was. Then I can interview you.”
    Her parents exchanged glances, but neither of them spoke. Fine, Maeve thought, as she bounded out the door. Don’t all jump at once to help me with my project!
    Something was definitely up, but they didn’t seem to be mad at HER.
    Maybe we’re MOVING, Maeve thought excitedly. Her parents might have found a wonderful house right near where they were living now. One with huge closets and tons of space and a nice gigantic new bedroom for Maeve. Now we are talking , thought Maeve.
    But no matter what was brewing, Maeve hoped for the best. She was the kind of girl who, given the chance, always believed that the glass was half full, and not half empty. Lemonade out of lemons—that was her motto.
    M ARTY I NCOGNITO
    â€œHe keeps WRIGGLING,” Katani complained. “You guys, you have to be organized about this stuff!” She was trying valiantly to fit Marty’s leash and toys in a neat coil inside his water bowl, and Isabel started to giggle.
    â€œYou really are a neat freak,” Isabel said with amusement.
    â€œI can’t help it,” Katani retorted. “I just like keeping things together. If you shared a bedroom as small as mine, you’d be super-organized, too.”
    â€œI DO share a small bedroom, remember? Only mine’s amess. My sister’s half probably looks like yours—neat as a pin.” Isabel smiled. “My side looks like a tornado hit it.”
    The four girls were over at Charlotte’s, up in the Tower, trying to pack Marty up for his secret weekend in Avery’s carriage house.
    â€œOkay, I think that’s everything,” Charlotte said at last. “He’s got dog food, treats, toys, his bowls…everything I can think of. Oops! Can’t forget Happy Lucky Thingy—Marty can’t be without his favorite chew toy.” She bent down and picked up the pink chewy and stuffed it in the bag.
    â€œYou think he’ll be okay in the carriage house all weekend?” Katani asked, worried. “What if it gets cold?”
    It was autumn, and recently the temperature had dipped into the forties at night.
    â€œAvery says the carriage house is pretty warm,” Isabel pointed out. “Come on, guys. Let’s walk Marty over on his leash, and when we get to the Maddens’ we can squish him into the soccer bag. We don’t want to get Avery’s mom upset.”
    The girls followed Marty over to Avery’s, which—as Charlotte pointed out—meant stopping at just about every bush and fire hydrant for a long sniff. As they got closer to Avery’s, the houses got bigger and bigger, and the fences around them taller and taller. Avery lived in one of the most exclusive neighborhoods in town, and her house—a tall, stately colonial with pale gray shutters—looked even more imposing than usual as the girls walked up to the gate.
    â€œWow,” exclaimed Isabel as she pointed to a maple tree. “Those leaves look like they are on fire.” That was Isabel—always noting the color of things.
    â€œOkay, little guy. In you go,” Katani said cheerfully, stooping down and opening up Avery’s soccer bag.
    Marty sniffed it suspiciously and backed off, whimpering. He didn’t look excited to jump inside.
    â€œPut a treat inside the bag,” Charlotte recommended.
    In the end, that was the only way to coax Marty in. Once inside the bag, he started thrashing around wildly and barking. The girls looked at each other. They began laughing nervously.
    â€œWe kind of forgot about his sound effects,” Maeve said.
    â€œWhy don’t you ring the doorbell, Maeve? Ask Avery to come out here. We can’t chance it, with him barking,” Katani said.
    Maeve looked at her.