Who Won the War? by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor Read Free Book Online Page B

Hatfords, and Caroline realized that perhaps they would see them for the last time on Wednesday and that would be that. Suddenly, after all the pranks and teasing and horseplay and fighting and laughing and swimming and walking to school together, it all would be over. Poof!
    Beth was certainly happy. Her fantasy story about the Shanatee Indians had won second place in the library's short story contest. Eddie and Jake's team had tied for first place in summer baseball, and the league had called off the last game because of the heat.
    But cars were pouring into Buckman from east and west and north and south because the college was celebrating its hundredth anniversary. For four days, every hotel, motel, boardinghouse, and bed-and-breakfast was full, not a single room available within thirty miles of Buckman. There were very few parking spaces as well.
    “It's a good time to be getting out of town,” Mrs. Malloy said to her girls. “If your father were still working for the college, I'd have to go to every tea and dinner and concert there was. I've never been so glad to go around in shorts and sandals as I am now. We're leaving town just in time.”
    Caroline tried to stay out of trouble. Her motherdid not need one more aggravation, that was certain. The heat made everyone short-tempered and miserable, so people tended to stay indoors in air-conditioning. This, of course, meant that they had more opportunity to get in each other's way.
    The Hatford boys did not come over, and the Malloy girls did not go over to the boys' house. No one mentioned the old coal mine, and that was just as well. The swinging bridge between them remained deserted, as the muddy river beneath it moved sluggishly downstream.
    Moving day arrived. The big Mayflower truck slowly backed into the driveway, and as Caroline watched from her window, three burly men got out and walked across the yard to the front door.
    “Ready to go,” Mrs. Malloy said, opening the door wide. “Everything's in boxes except the furniture.”
    It was a surprise to Caroline how fast the movers worked. The couch and the dining room table went first; then the beds were dismantled and carried out. One by one the rooms were emptied, until the girls' voices echoed around the house.
    The rug, the dresser, the chairs, the lamps, the chests, and boxes, boxes, boxes …
    And finally … the house was empty.
    “Okay, lady, we'll see you in Ohio,” the driver said.
    “Be careful with my dishes,” Mrs. Malloy told them. “Some of those belonged to my grandmother.”
    “We'll be as careful as if your grandmother herself was in those boxes,” the driver said.
    Mrs. Malloy and her daughters watched the big truck roll slowly down the driveway, then turn onto the road and start across the bridge.
    “Are you ready to say goodbye to Buckman?” Mrs. Malloy asked. “Ready to tell the boys goodbye?”
    “I was ready to tell them goodbye the day we moved in,” said Eddie.
    “I don't believe that for one minute,” said her mother.
    They were just walking out to the car when the cleaning crew arrived with buckets and mops and brooms and vacuum cleaners. Mrs. Malloy drove the car over the bridge to the business district, then turned onto College Avenue and drove to the Hatfords' house.
    “I'll bet this is the last parking space in Buckman,” she said, pulling up in front. “Did you see all those cars in town just now? This is the biggest crowd this college has ever had. It's nice of Mrs. Hatford to invite us for brunch. I doubt that we could have found a seat in any restaurant in town.”
    Mrs. Hatford met them at the door. “Hello, Jean,” she said warmly. “Come on in, girls. Tom says he's sorry he'll miss you, but he's working today, of course. Please come and sit down at the table. I know you're anxious to get on the road, but we're so glad to have this little time with you.”
    The Hatford boys were standing awkwardly around the dining room, arms dangling at their sides. There