The Aviary by Kathleen O'Dell Read Free Book Online Page A

rock,” she whispered.
    “Oh, I’m so glad,” said Clara.
    “I almost missed it. I do wonder why you hid it in the shrubbery.”
    “Daphne!” called her mother.
    “Coming!” she called.
    “I wish you wouldn’t go,” Clara said.
    “I’ll come back for the casserole dish.” Daphne tapped her forehead. “See? There’s always a way.”
    “Yes,” Clara said, her heart beating wildly. “Yes. And thank you! Thank you both.”
    “Who you hollering at?” Ruby hollered from down the hall.
    Clara shut the door and carried the basket to the kitchen. “The lady from two houses over brought us a hot dish.”
    Her mother frowned. “Which lady?”
    “Her name is Delia Aspinal. Look, she sent a note.”
    Harriet unfolded the letter and scratched her head. “Says they’re new to the neighborhood,” she said.
    “Well, that explains it,” Ruby said.
    Clara’s mother raised an eyebrow.
    “You know darn well that none of the old-timers will call,” Ruby said.
    “It’s awfully nice of them, don’t you think?” Clara said.
    “Wait until the rumor mill catches up with ’em,” Ruby said. “Then we’ll see.”
    “That’s enough, Ruby,” Harriet said under her breath.
    Clara’s fists tightened. “What rumors? Please. I want to know what you’re talking about. Does this have anything to do with what the carriage driver said?”
    Ruby’s head shrank into her shoulders, and her mother didn’t answer.
    “In one day, I hear a baby’s been taken and that the house should have been pulled down. What was he talking about?”
    “Who knows?” said her mother. “The house is quite a shambles from the outside. Maybe people make up stories about it. I wouldn’t be surprised.”
    “That’s how people are,” Ruby said. “Why, when I was a girl in Nova Scotia, there was an old lady said to drink the blood of cats.”
    “Honestly!” said Harriet.
    “And don’t you know all us children believed it. Whenever a cat went missing, we said it had gone the way of Mrs. Lynch’s goblet.”
    “How horrible,” Clara said.
    “It wasn’t entirely bad,” Ruby added thoughtfully. “They do say she kept the population down.”
    “I suggest we change the subject,” said Harriet, “or we won’t be able to enjoy this supper so kindly provided to us.” She peeked in the basket. “Oh, look, there are hard rolls in here still warm.”
    “Let’s eat early, shall we?” said Ruby, lifting the lid on the casserole. “And I’ll say no more about cats.”
    Clara set the table while Ruby went out back to check on the aviary. “They still haven’t made a peep,” said Clara to her mother. “Don’t you think that’s odd?”
    “Animals are sensitive,” she said. “And these birds have been in the family for I don’t know how long. I wouldn’t be surprised if some passed away, frankly, from the shock.”
    When Ruby came back inside, she clucked her tongue. “They spilled their grain on the floor and left the earthworms to dry.”
    “Just as I was saying to Clara,” Harriet told her, “those birds may not be long for this world.”
    “One would think so,” Ruby said, “and not because our Mrs. Glendoveer is gone. All of them except for the cockatoo have lived far beyond their natural limits.”
    “Due, no doubt, to your exceptional care, Ruby. Now will you get the butter? I believe we’re ready to eat.”
    Ruby and Harriet ate heartily, but Clara couldn’t help but think of the starving birds. She had to admit that she sometimes saw in them a reflection of herself, cooped up with nothing but the same faces to look at day after day.But today, she’d gone on a carriage ride and opened the door to Daphne. Perhaps her own cage door might be rattling open. Just a little bit?
    On Sunday, Harriet Dooley put on her veil and took the streetcar down to Fitzmorris Blenney Partners. “Mr. Merritt-Blenney is meeting her there after church,” Ruby told Clara. “I’m guessing your ma told him how empty our pockets