there, and there will be one less mouth to feed here for a while. Meanwhile, she can lend a hand to someone in need. Your uncle? Well, that oneâs another story. But heâs got to bring some money into this house if heâs to stay.â
Elsie felt so tired. How could she ever get everyone to stay in one place long enough to be a complete family again? Just for the moment, sitting in Nanâs lap was the best place to be in the world. She closed her eyes and followed the feel of her grandmotherâs hands as they stroked her hair and ran down her back. âThe time will go quickly,â Nan was saying. âYour mother will come home as soon as her friend is better. And we can hope that Daniel does nothing rash this time. A bit of farm work might do the man good.â Just as Elsie thought she could fall asleep in her soft lap, Nan pushed her away. âNo moping, now. You and I will be good company for each other. And this beastâ¦â She gave Dog Bob a shove. âHeâs on my feet. Never mind my rheumatism. Come on, itâs time you were in bed.â Nan heaved herself up with a sigh and disappeared through the curtain into the living room before Elsie could say anything.
She changed into her pajamas very slowly and climbed under the covers. She needed to go to the outhouse. But sheâd rather wet the bed than face Mother again.
C HAPTER E LEVEN
A few days later, Elsie and Ruth Cohen linked arms all the way home, chanting âEasy Ivy Over.â
Maybe Ruth could be her best friend now that she and Scoop were on the outs. Heâd trailed behind for a while, then cut up an alley when Elsie didnât answer after heâd called to them for the third time.
She was still mad at him for being such a bad loser and being so rude about the collage. It didnât look like a dogâs breakfast; it was bright and colorful, hanging on the wall at the back of the classroom, behind the old cast-iron stove.
Ruth went home in a sulk after Elsie won three rounds of five stones. Maybe she was not best-friend material, thought Elsie as she sat on the cold sidewalk playing catâs cradle with some leftover yarn Nan had given her. Dog Bob lay on the grass beside her, chewing the hair between his pads, making disgusting wet sounds and growling at himself.
Elsie looked up when she heard whistling behind her. Scoop skidded to a halt beside her. âWhatâs happeninâ?â He plopped down and folded his skinny legs under him. âYou got over the hump?â
âYou got mad first,â she said. âSulking! Just like crybaby Ruth Cohen.â
âDid not!â
âDid so!â
Scoop grinned. âIâll quit if youâll quit.â He held his curled hand toward Elsie, his little finger sticking out. She looked at it for a moment, then linked fingers with him. They shook.
âEnough is enough,â said Elsie.
âEnough is enough,â echoed Scoop. He thwacked her on the back, which she knew boys did instead of hugging.
It felt good to be friends again. Elsie picked up the five stones from the gutter. âWanna play?â
Scoop brushed the stones from her open hand. âDumb girlsâ stuff. Iâve got better things to do.â He scratched the top of his head so his hair stuck up like a roosterâs comb.
âI wish I did,â said Elsie. âNan wants me to stay close by until supper.â She nodded toward the garage. âSheâs spring cleaning. Sheâs always cleaning or doing wash. It wears me out.â She shuddered. âAnyway, Iâm not going inside until Mother and Uncle Dannell come home. I just decided.â
âNow whoâs got the hump? What about your supper? Hey. Did you get a letter yet?â
Elsie shook her head. Still no news from her father. And Mother hadnât yet written to let them know sheâd arrived safely in New Westminster, or to say when she might be