London Art Chase by Natalie Grant Read Free Book Online Page B

way, it was just a bunch of splotches, but together they made such a beautiful picture of the sand and the sea. You know how when you’re at the beach and there’s sand and salt water and wind, and the air feels thick, like it has texture . . . Do you know what I mean? That’s what the painting made me think of—the way the air feels at the beach. I wanted more time to look at it, maybe even time to sketch it.”
    â€œLulu’s always interrupting, Maddie. You should be used to it by now,” Mia said.
    â€œIt’s not her fault. I know I shouldn’t be upset. I’m fine.”
    â€œYou’re not,” Mia said. “Just because Lulu is younger doesn’t mean she should always get her way.”
    â€œI don’t want to fight about it,” Maddie said.
    â€œYou never want to fight,” Mia said. “But then you don’t stand up for yourself and you end up not getting to do the things you really want to do.”
    â€œBut I don’t actually need to look at that painting,” Maddie said.
    â€œI know that, but you want to. We should go back and look at it.”
    Before Maddie could stop her, Mia turned to Miss Julia. “We’re looking at more paintings after lunch, right?”
    â€œWe certainly have more paintings to see,” Miss Julia said.
    â€œAnd we haven’t finished solving the art detective mystery,” Lulu said.
    â€œCould we go back to Maddie’s painting?” Mia asked. “The one she was just looking at?”
    â€œWell, of course,” Miss Julia said.
    â€œDo we have to?” Lulu asked. “We’ve already seen that one. I want to solve the mystery!”
    â€œHow about we finish solving the mystery, and then go see Maddie’s painting as our final treat of the day?” Miss Julia suggested.
    â€œDeal!” Lulu banged her fists on the table, making all of the silverware jump with a clatter. “Oops!”
    Maddie and Mia started to giggle. Lulu held out, but not for long. Soon, tears filled Maddie’s eyes and her stomach started to burn, but every time she managed to stop laughing someone would snort or squeal and she’d burst out laughing all over again.
    When the waiter showed up with their food, they finally managed to get themselves under control. He placed fancy plates in front of each of them with a flourish. Maddie nearly started giggling again over the odd combination of french fries and fish on such fancy china, all placed carefully on a white tablecloth-covered table.
    â€œMay I bring you anything else?” the waiter asked.
    â€œI think we’re all set,” Miss Julia said.
    â€œCheers!” he answered, leaving them to eat.
    â€œWhy is everyone always saying ‘Cheers’ around here?” Lulu asked, reaching for one of her french fries—chips, as they called them in London. “What does that word mean, exactly?”
    â€œCheers can mean a lot of things,” Miss Julia said. “Thank you, or good wishes, or even hello, depending on who’s saying it and when.”
    â€œThen why don’t they actually say thank you or hello?” Lulu asked.
    â€œBecause saying cheers is so much cooler,” Mia said, and then tried out the word with an English accent. “Cheers!”
    â€œGod bless this meal,” Miss Julia said. “And make us a blessing to the people around us today.”
    â€œAmen,” chimed the girls, and then everyone dug in.
    It turned out that fried fish was much more delicious than most other kinds of fish. And the french fries were perfectly crispy too. Apparently, you were supposed to eat them with vinegar, like salt and vinegar potato chips. Maddie chose good-old-American ketchup, which she was relieved to find on the table alongside the vinegar.
    â€œIt’s good, Maddie,” Mia insisted, holding a vinegar-soaked fry out in front of Maddie’s face. The smell made the inside of