The Willoughbys by Lois Lowry Read Free Book Online

pretending, aren't they, Nanny?" asked Jane.
    "Yes, dear. Hand me those chopped nuts, please."
    Jane passed the measuring cup filled with chopped pecans to Nanny. "They don't really like us, do they, Nanny?" she asked.
    "No, dear. They told me that when they hired me."
    "What did they say? Did they call us terrible names?" Barnaby B asked with interest.
    Nanny paused in her stirring. "Let me think. It seems so long ago, I've almost forgotten. They called you—oh, what was it?"
    "Odious?" asked Tim. "That's what I called you, Nanny."
    "No, not odious. They called you insufferable, Tim. 'The eldest is insufferable,' they said. They couldn't remember your name."
    "And us? What did they call us?" the twins asked together.
    "Repetitious," Nanny told them. "They said you were repetitious and tedious because they couldn't tell you apart. And your mother said you were greedy because you wanted two sweaters.
    "I'm sorry I don't know how to knit, boys," Nanny added apologetically, "or I'd make you another sweater. I do think it would be nice if you each had one."

    "Me?" asked Jane in a small voice. "What did they say about me?"
    "They forgot you, dear. I was actually quite surprised after they left and I settled in and found four children. They had told me they had three."
    "Were you glad?" Jane asked, a little nervously.
    Nanny wrinkled her nose. "Well, I was sorry I hadn't asked for a higher salary. I usually charge more for four children.
    "But it was lovely to find a little girl," she added. "I do like little girls."
    She began to form the cookie dough into balls and dropped them one by one onto a baking sheet. "Would you go on, please, Tim? About the crocodiles?"
    Tim turned back to the postcard. But before he began reading again he looked up and said, "That's heinous, Nanny, that they didn't tell you about Jane. They cheated you out of some of your salary. I always knew they were cheaters. Father always tried to shortchange me on my allowance. I had to count carefully every week."
    "You got an allowance? " asked Barnaby A with a surprised look. "We never got an allowance!"

    "Never!" added Barnaby B.
    "What's an allowance?" asked Jane piteously.
    "Never mind," Nanny soothed. "That time is past. I believe that we would all benefit, actually, if they were to be eaten by crocodiles. There is a provision in their will that I am to continue taking care of you if tragedy befalls them. And you, of course, would all be rich.
    "Homeless, though," she added, "if a buyer comes along and wants the house."
    "No one will," Tim said confidently." Here. I'll read this now.
    "'The crocodile river was such fun. Two tourists were eaten in huge gulps but it was not sad at all because they were French. Father and I fought the creatures off with our kayak paddles and triumphed. Tomorrow we are taking a helicopter trip over an erupting volcano. We got quite a bargain because the pilot has not completed his training. MUCH more expensive to have an experienced pilot! By the way, when the house is sold and you move elsewhere, would you leave your clothes behind? We will take them to the secondhand shop and get a commission.'"
    The four children and Nanny were all silent for a moment. Then Nanny tilted the bowl toward the children.

    "Here. Lick."
    One by one they scraped the raw dough from the bowl with their fingers and then licked. Nanny herself licked the wooden spoon with which she had stirred. The smell of the baking cookies began to emanate from the oven, fragrant and warm.
    "Tim?" said Nanny.
    "What?"
    "Will you give me some extra points if I have a very fine suggestion?"
    "Well," Tim replied, "I've kind of stopped my point system. I would have given you a whole lot of points for the bowl licking, but I'd forgotten all about the system.
    "What's your suggestion, though?" he asked.
    "It's somewhat diabolical," Nanny said, guiltily.
    "Tell," said all the children together.
    "We could find that secondhand shop and sell their clothes," Nanny