Raising Faith by Melody Carlson Read Free Book Online Page A

“Well, don’t throw these away. I think I might be able to piece them together for a quilt.”
    “A sock quilt?”
    Grandma laughed. “Maybe so … maybe so …”
    “I guess I should be glad that Emily isn’t here.”
    “Why’s that, dear?”
    “Because she’d probably think I was an idiot to waste all this time and fabric to produce just two pairs of socks.”
    “You haven’t even produced those yet,” Grandma reminded her. “Why don’t you sew them up and see how it goes. Then maybe we can make a trip to the fabric store and get some more polar fleece fabric. They’re having a big sale today.”
    “You want to go shopping on Black Friday?”
    Grandma patted her on the head. “If it’ll help get you out of these doldrums, I do.” Then she winked at Morgan. “Besides, you know me, I’m always happy to go to the fabric store.”
    So Morgan sewed up the socks and was surprised that it didn’t take as long as she thought it would. She even tried a pair on — the ones with red and whitestripes — and they fit perfectly. She proudly modeled them for Grandma.
    “How do they feel?”
    “Great. I think I’ll keep them.” Then Morgan looked at the other pair. They were soft pastel colors. “Hey, these are your size, Grandma. Why don’t you try them on?”
    “Oh, I don’t want to —”
    “Come on,” said Morgan. “Just try them.”
    So Grandma slipped off her slippers and pulled on the fuzzy socks. “Very nice,” she said, pointing a toe.
    “They’re for you,” proclaimed Morgan.
    “Thank you very much.”
    Then Grandma and Morgan went to the fabric store. Morgan only had twelve dollars of her own money, but Grandma offered to help out. “Look at all these colors,” said Morgan as they walked down the aisle of polar fleece fabric. “I don’t know how I’ll decide.” But before long, Morgan had picked out a stack of bolts. Grandma helped her to figure out the yardage, and according to their estimates, Morgan would be able to make about thirty pairs of socks when she was all done. “That’s if I don’t cut them wrong,” said Morgan as they went out to the car.
    “I think today’s lesson will take care of that.”
    “Thanks for your help, Grandma,” said Morgan as she opened the bag and fingered the soft fabric. “Do you think eight dollars a pair is too much?”
    “I think that sounds about right for handmade socks,” said Grandma. “I know my feet are nice and cozy right now. And these socks are just perfect for my rain boots.”
    By Saturday afternoon, Morgan had sewn up three pairs of socks. She was just about to start another pair when Grandma called her to come out of her room. “Amy is here to see you,” she said.
    “Oh, hi, Amy,” said Morgan, wondering why Amy had on a dress. “What’s up?”
    “Miss McPhearson’s tea,” said Amy in a slightly irritated tone. “And you do not look ready to go.”
    Morgan slapped her forehead. “Oh, man, I totally forgot.” She looked at the clock on the wall. “Do I have time to change real quick?”
    “Just hurry,” commanded Amy. “Carlie is in the car. My sister An is driving us over there.”
    Morgan rushed back to her room, opened her closet, and pulled out a dark green velvet jumper that Grandma made for her last Christmas. She didn’t really like the jumper because she felt it looked too juvenile. But she figured Miss McPhearson might appreciate it. And it would make Grandma happy. Hopefully it wasn’t too small. She tugged it over her white turtleneck, and fortunately it fit. Then she shoved her feet into her black knee-high boots and added a beaded necklace. She grabbed up her coat and was about to hurry out when she noticed a finishedpair of purple socks on her bed. Would it be too weird to give them to Miss McPhearson? She stuffed them into her coat pocket, and then hurried back to the living room. She could figure that out later.
    “Wow, that was quick,” said Amy, peering curiously at Morgan’s outfit