Life with Lily by Suzanne Woods Fisher, Mary Ann Kinsinger Read Free Book Online Page A

ifthey stopped by Grandpa Miller’s so Lily and Dannie could stay there until Mama and Joseph got back. Helen Young didn’t mind a bit.
    When the car arrived at Grandpa Miller’s, Grandma hurried out of the house. She knew something was wrong.
    â€œI think Joseph broke his arm,” Mama said. “Can Lily and Dannie stay here while I take Joseph to the doctor?”
    Grandma clucked her tongue sympathetically. She looked at Joseph, tears running down his face. He had stopped wailing but was still whimpering. “My, my, Joseph. What a brave little boy you are. The doctor will make you better and I’ll take good care of Lily and Dannie until you get back.” She took Dannie from Mama’s arms. Lily hopped out and closed the car door. The three of them stood for a while, watching the car drive away.
    Grandma had Dannie on her hip. “Well, what do we want to do this afternoon?”
    For once, Lily couldn’t think of anything. She was too worried about Joseph to think of having fun. She felt guilty that Joseph had been hurt. She had helped carry that ladder to the chicken coop.
    â€œWhy don’t we go bake some chocolate chip cookies for Joseph?” Grandma said.
    The whole day brightened. Making something that Joseph would enjoy helped Lily feel less guilty. She followed her grandmother into the house. Grandma found a few toys for Dannie to play with on a blanket on the floor. Lily held the measuring cups, filled with flour and sugar, as Grandma mixed the cookie dough. She gave Lily a few chocolate chips to sample before adding the rest to the mixture. Then they spooned little piles of dough on a cookie sheet. Grandma slid them into the oven. Lily could hardly wait to taste thecookies, hot from the oven. When they were finished baking, she and Grandma sat together at the kitchen table with a tall glass of fresh cold milk and a warm cookie.
    â€œCan I take a few cookies to Grandpa?” Lily asked.
    â€œHe would like that.” Grandma put a few cookies in a bowl. “Dannie and I will go with you. I don’t think Grandpa knows you’re here.”
    Lily carried the cookie bowl carefully as she followed Grandma out to the harness shop. Grandpa was sitting at his big sewing machine, making a new horse harness. He sewed the pieces of leather together carefully with strong thread. Lily took a deep breath as they walked into the shop. She loved the smells of leather and polish.
    Grandpa looked up in surprise when he noticed Lily and Dannie with Grandma. “Well, well. Look who came to see me,” he said, a wide grin on his face.
    Lily handed the cookie bowl to him and said, “I helped Grandma make these cookies.”
    â€œYou did?” he said. He took a big bite and closed his eyes in delight. “Mmmm!”
    Grandma explained to Grandpa what had happened to Joseph. “Joseph will get better and be fine again,” Grandpa assured Lily as he stroked her hair. “Don’t worry about him. The doctor will take care of him. His arm will heal quickly and be as good as new.”
    In the kitchen, Lily helped Grandma pick out a nice little dish and place some cookies on it to give to Joseph. They had just finished putting the dish and cookies into a little paper bag when Helen Young’s car drove into the driveway with Mama and Joseph.
    Lily ran outside to greet them. Joseph’s arm was covered with a heavy white cast. In his other hand, he held severalstickers. He gave a little kitten sticker to Lily. She smiled and carefully slipped it in her pocket. Grandma joined them at the car with Dannie in her arms. As they drove away, Lily turned in her seat and waved goodbye to Grandma until she couldn’t see her anymore. When they arrived at Lily’s home, Mama offered to pay Helen Young for taking them to the doctor.
    â€œNo, no, I don’t need anything at all,” Helen Young said. “That’s what neighbors do for each other. I