Zoe in Wonderland by Brenda Woods Read Free Book Online Page A

placed her hand over her mouth, trying to hold in the giggle, but it still came out.
    Trying desperately not to yell at her again, I clenched my jaw.
    But she kept on talking. “If you’re fortunate, you might grow into those big feet. Tall, I mean.”
    I didn’t want it to, but my bad temper won. “BQ!” I hollered.
    â€œBQ?” she asked. “Who’s BQ?”
    I huffed at her. Then, to keep something I’d really be sorry for from coming out of my mouth, I pursed my lips and continued guiding the wheelbarrow toward the Wonderland.
    The only thing I really wanted to do was go to my room, shut the door, and be very alone. But because I knew that if I didn’t plant them now, I probably never would, I headed to the greenhouse to plant the baobab seeds. I had to keep my promise to my best and only friend. And if Daddy asks what I’m growing, I decided, I’ll just tell him it’s a surprise.
    There were some directions, but I ignored them. Ireally wasn’t in the mood. After all, a seed is a seed. You give it dirt and water and it grows. I planted all four seeds, one in each of Nana’s old coffee cans. One label said Royal Kona Hawaiian Coffee, one said Hills Bros., another had a Chock full o’Nuts label, and the last one was in a Folgers can. I watered them and tucked them in a corner of the greenhouse.
    Leaning against one of the shelves, I started thinking. Why do adults think that it’s okay to keep humongous secrets from kids—secrets bigger than an eight-ton Tyrannosaurus rex? If my mom or daddy were very sick, I sure wouldn’t want to be the last to know.
    Slowly, I sank to the dirt floor and pulled my knees to my chest. I was feeling extremely miserable about Kendra, hoping she wouldn’t die, and now I was nervous about whether my mom and daddy were keeping sad secrets too. And what if Quincy never came back?
    Despite the quiet of the greenhouse, the question sounded loud inside my head. “Maybe I’ll never see him again,” I whimpered.
    Suddenly, from out of nowhere, Harper spoke. “See who?” he asked. “And who are you talking to?” he added.
    Please! Please! Please! Not now! Plus, the greenhouse is my special place.
    I glared at my brother. He was wearing a straw cowboy hat and, as usual, a smirk.
    How did he sneak in here without me hearing him?
    Like a volcano, I exploded. “Get out! Leave me alone! You’re driving me crazy!” I shot up from the floor and lunged at him.
    I must have really looked crazy-mad, because Harper’s eyes were filled with fright and he took off running. He pushed the greenhouse door open and bolted. I chased him, but I’m nowhere near as fast as Harper.
    And then—I tripped and fell, landing hard on the flagstone. Instantly, my knees burned and I knew they were scraped up bad. My jeans were torn and blood oozed.
    I panted until, like water down a drain, my madness disappeared.
    At first, Daddy grinned as I made my into the Wonderland’s store. Fortunately, he was alone. “Howdeedoo, Zoe,” he said. Then, noticing my bloody knees, he asked, “What happened?”
    I zoomed to him, hugged his waist, sank my face in his shirt, and sobbed.

15
    Not
Just
Zoe Tonight
    G ently, Mom cleaned my knees and put medicine and Band-Aids on them while Daddy found out what hospital Kendra was in and arranged for a room full of flowers—mostly orchids, her favorites—to be delivered to her.
    My mom called the hospital and actually talked to Kendra on the phone and made plans for us to visit her early tomorrow before she got transferred to the special cancer treatment hospital that’s far away for chemotherapy and radiation.
    At dinner that night, Harper and Jade were forced not to be mean to me. I didn’t even have to help with dishes.
    And later, before I went to sleep, Mom and Daddyboth came in my room. Mom sat on my bed, and Daddy plopped into my