Stella by Starlight by Sharon M. Draper Read Free Book Online Page A

yard. “You got candy?” Dusty sniffed suspiciously at the mule pulling the wagon.
    Spoon Man, whose real name was TerenceOglethorpe, was a large, almond-brown man, almost as wide as the wagon itself, his belly ballooning over his belt. His shirt, made of what might have been a feed sack, was covered by a huge yellow vest decorated with red tulips. His trousers sported multiple patches of various colors and materials, and his purple velveteen jacket had buttons made from—were those spools of thread? When he greeted them with a tip of his straw hat with the shimmering blue feather, his huge smile revealed only occasional teeth. Stella could only gape.
    Spoon Man traveled all over North Carolina, plying curios and cookware, tools and trinkets—and news. Thirsty for information about friends and family and folks from all around, everyone loved Spoon Man’s visits—sometimes he even carried mail and packages, saving folks the cost of stamps.
    Climbing down ponderously from the wooden buckboard, he tossed Stella and Jojo each a piece of molasses taffy.
    â€œWhere you been, Spoon Man?” Stella asked, unwrapping the candy. “I’d give anything to travel round like you do. I bet you have all kinds of adventures.”
    Spoon Man leaned back and stretched. “If youthink bumping my backside on this hard seat all day long is an adventure, you better rethink, girl.”
    Stella barely heard him—she’d already moved to the rear of his wagon, standing on tippy-toes to better eye the treasures that he kept back there.
    â€œTell your mama I got a purty little bracelet made of purple glass that I been savin’ just for you, Stella,” Spoon Man called out. “Only ten cents.”
    Stella whirled around to her mother, who’d just caught up. “Can I, Mama? Can I have it, please? Oh please, Mama. I’ll do all my chores for a month without complaining even once.”
    â€œYou’ll do that anyway,” her mother replied wryly. She turned to Spoon Man. “How you doin’, Mr. Oglethorpe? It’s been a couple of months since you made it to these parts.”
    â€œOh, I be fine, Miz Mills. Been here and there and everywhere. And I got forty-leven things to show you!”
    â€œThat many, you say?”
    He made a clumsy bow, hat in hand. “Yours is the first house in Bumblebee that I have the honor to stop at. I brung you some fabric, a bit of thread, a new set of spoons, and a full set of fixin’ tools for your husband.”
    â€œNow, you know money’s tight, Mr. Oglethorpe,” Mama said, tapping her foot, putting on her stern face.
    â€œYou ain’t alone, M’am. Times is rough all around. This here Depression is downright depressin’!” He gave a hoot and slapped his thigh at his own joke.
    Mama looked him up and down. Despite his wide girth, his cheeks looked hollow. “You hungry?” she asked.
    â€œI ain’t had a good meal since I left Raleigh,” Spoon Man admitted. “Even my mule is saggin’.”
    â€œI tell you what,” Mama said. “I’ll send the children round to the neighbors. If everybody brings a little bit of food, why, we’ll all have a great supper, you can tell us about your travels, and you might could even sell a couple trinkets while you’re at it.”
    â€œWell, thank you, M’am!” Spoon Man said, tipping his hat to her again. “I’d be mighty obliged.”
    â€œStella, Jojo, run go tell everybody to bring a little potluck if they can. Tell ’em to bring the younguns, bring the old folks. We gonna have stories and feastin’ tonight! Lordy! It’s what we all need right now.”
    Stella and Jojo didn’t have to be told twice. They darted down the road, and by the time they got back,the mule had been fed and tied to a tree near the barn, Spoon Man was sitting on their front porch, and, by the magnolia, Dr. Hawkins was