The water is DEEP AND DARK AND DANGEROUS
Be careful, Aunt Blythe said. The floor’s riddled with dry rot.Forgetting her own warning, she plunged ahead, opening trunks and boxes, poking and pawing through things, reminiscing.
You look back on some little decision you made and realize all the things that happened because of it, and you think to yourself if only I'd known, but, of course, you couldn't have known.
WHEN YOU'RE READING YOU SHOULD PRETEND YOU'RE REALLY THERE BECAUSE IT WILL MAKE THE BOOK MOR INTERESTING!
I wanted to leap up and defend her, perhaps throw my arms around her and protect her, but I just sat there like a nincompoop.
We reached the bushes beside the porch without being seen. Crouched in the dirt, we were so close I could have reached up and grabbed Hannah’s ankle. To keep from giggling, Theo pressed his hands over...
Sissy tilted her chair back so far I was sure she’d fall on her head any second. Not that I cared. Maybe she’d leave if she hurt herself.
Alone in the bathroom, I stared into the mirror over the sink. Who was I looking at? Andrew or Drew? The boy on the lawn had been wearing my jeans, my T-shirt, my running shoes. I was wearing his clot...
I trudged home by myself, worrying about the trestle. What was I supposed to do there? If Andrew had dreamed it up, it was sure to be terrible. Maybe I’d have to lie down between the rails and let the...
After a while, Hannah said, I heard Papa and Mama talking last night. Mama told Papa she thinks John Larkin is fond of me.To my annoyance, a little smile danced across her face. I’m fond of John too,...
As if I cared about something as useless as long division,
While Papa talked about his day in court, I relived my fight with Edward. What a lousy, stinking, ungrateful coward he was. Hateful. Underhanded. Sly and dishonest. A tattle-tale. What branch of the f...
To everyone who enjoys ghost stories
Long before I was ready to say good-bye, Hannah rose to her feet and beckoned to Andrew. We’ve had enough excitement for one day. It’s time to leave.After making sure Aunt Blythe wasn’t looking, Andre...
I think Hannah had two brothers. Yes, I’m sure she did. Theo and, and--this boy.I shook my head. If he’s Hannah’s brother, why isn’t he in any of the other pictures?Aunt Blythe didn’t answer right awa...
As Mrs. Armiger drew near, the fountain clerk put my sundae in front of me. Here you are, he said. I made this one especially for you, Andrew. Plenty of chocolate sauce and whipped cream--just the way...
Andrew, what are you doing out of bed? You’re ill, you need to rest.I crouched beside the ring, speechless with surprise, but Andrew jumped to his feet. Hannah, he cried, Hannah.Although he was right...
You didn’t marry? Aunt Blythe asked Andrew.He glanced at me. When I was a boy no older than Drew, I had a close brush with death. It always seemed to me a miracle that I lived.Once more Hannah made an...
Why, I never! Waving a letter covered with spidery handwriting, she said, What a surprise! After all these years, Hannah wants to pay me a visit. She’d love to see the house she grew up in.At the soun...
When Dad pulled up in front of the house, the three of us sat still for a moment and stared at the gloomy pile of bricks my great-aunt called home. Up close, it looked even worse than it had from a di...