The Littlest Bigfoot by Jennifer Weiner Read Free Book Online Page A

of Love!” the woman was singing. No one seemed to find this unusual. Parents greeted each other with smiles and hugs, kids exchanged grins and high fives. Alice sidled up to Lee, who gave her a sympathetic look, then began unloading her bags and carrying them to a tree where a sign reading “12-Year-Old Learners” had been taped to the trunk.
    â€œLearners?” Alice said.
    â€œWe prefer that term.” The short woman with the orange face paint had skipped up beside Alice. She had a wreath of flowers on her head and half-moon-shapedstains soaking her T-shirt underneath her armpits. “We believe in lifelong learning, and that all of us are students. Students in the school of life!”
    Alice pressed her lips together so this woman, who was obviously an authority of some kind, wouldn’t see her laugh. Did the School of Life hand out diplomas? Could you graduate with honors?
    â€œInstead of students and teachers, we use the words ‘learners’ and ‘guides,’ ” said the woman. “I’m Lori, by the way. Lori Moondaughter. My partner, Phil, and I are the founders of the Center.”
    Alice frowned. “The website said the Center was founded by Lori Weinreb.”
    The woman’s smile wavered. “I changed it,” she said. “I’m renouncing the patriarchal practice of daughters always taking their father’s names.” She stood on her tiptoes, bringing her painted face close to Alice’s ear. “Also, I hated my old last name.”
    Lori captured both of Alice’s hands in her own. She pressed them together and squeezed. “We are so glad you’re here! We’re so glad to be part of your village and so glad that you’re going to be part of ours. With all our hearts”—Lori dropped Alice’s hands and placed her right hand on her chest, atop the organ in question—“we welcome you.”
    â€œThank you,” Alice said. She made herself smile at Lori, then looked over at her luggage, wondering if she could quickly empty out the clothes and books and photographs she’d brought with her, then fold herself up inside the trunk and get Lee to smuggle her back to New York.
    â€œNow,” said Lori, “Miss Merriweather told me all about you. I’m afraid there aren’t too many of you twelve-year-olds. Six boys and four girls, but just three of you now. In a few weeks you’ll have a learner named Jessica Jarvis joining the village. Oh! Let me introduce you to Riya Amrit!”
    Lori wrapped her arms around the shoulders of a slim, composed-looking girl with lush eyebrows and eyelashes and a graceful, contained way of moving. Her thick, dark hair was pulled back in a ponytail—a neat one, Alice noted, and her teeth were very even and white.
    â€œRiya,” Lori announced, “is one of the top-rated fencers in her age group.” She smiled at Riya, who smiled back.
    â€œI’m Alice,” Alice said.
    Riya nodded. “Welcome.”
    Lori latched on to another girl.
    â€œOh, and here’s Taley. Taley Nudelman, Alice Mayfair.”
    â€œHello,” snuffled Taley, who was tall and pale with freckles and curly blond hair tucked under a bandanna.She wore an orange jumper, with pockets made of blue fabric with white stars. There were pink high-top basketball sneakers on her feet, and she sounded so congested Alice was surprised she could say anything. “Weldcombe dto our learning commbunity.”
    â€œCan you two show Alice around?” Lori peered toward a pair of card tables whose metal legs appeared to be sinking into the lawn in front of the Lodge. One table held a trio of plastic bowls; the other a plastic platter of cut-up carrots and pita bread sliced into triangles. “I think we’re running out of hummus.” She hurried away.
    Taley rolled her eyes. “I hopbe you like hummus,” she said. “We eadt it, like, all the