A Surprise for Lily by Mary Ann Kinsinger

he said. Joseph clambered up over the buggy wheel and hopped inside. Lily waited until Papa got Jim to turn the wheel out so she could use the buggy step to climb inside. It made her feel more grown-up to do itthe same way Mama did. Papa lifted the reins and clucked giddyup to Jim. He trotted down the driveway. Lily waved goodbye to Mama and Dannie and Paul until they were out of sight.
    Grandma Miller welcomed Lily and Joseph inside and took them upstairs to the guest rooms. She helped Lily and Joseph unpack their clothes and tuck them into dressers. Aunt Susie was delighted to hear they were going to live at her house for a while. She grabbed their lunch boxes and held them in the air. “I’ll help Grandma fill these full of good things for you to eat at school tomorrow.”
    â€œBut it’s Friday night,” Lily said. “We don’t have to go to school until Monday.”
    Aunt Susie’s face fell.
    â€œJoseph and Lily will help you remember when it’s Monday, Susie,” Papa said. He was always especially kind to Aunt Susie, Papa was.
    Aunt Susie’s face crinkled into a smile.
    Papa said goodbye to Lily and Joseph and started for home. Lily helped Grandma and Aunt Susie wash the rest of the supper dishes. Afterward, she helped Aunt Susie color in her coloring books. Being with Aunt Susie was like playing with a little girl. A grown-up little girl.
    Bong, bong, bong . . . The big grandfather clock in the living room struck eight o’clock. Grandpa set aside the book he was reading. “I think it’s time to go to bed.” He reached for the little black prayer book on the stand beside his rocking chair. Everyone knelt while Grandpa read a prayer in his singsongy way. Lily’s mind wandered off. She wondered what Papa and Mama and the little boys were doing at home. Papa was probably saying, “Bedtime for little lambs,” and theywould all climb into their own comfortable, familiar beds. Lily and Joseph would be sleeping in strange beds.
    Lily climbed the stairs to the guest room. She slipped into her nightgown and got into bed. The mattress was hard and lumpy. It squeaked each time she moved. How could she ever sleep on a squeaky mattress? After tossing and turning for the longest while, she dragged all the covers off the bed and made a nest on the floor. She lay down and curled up. This was much more comfortable than the lumpy bed. No squeaking, either. All she could hear were the steady ticktocks from the grandfather clock in the living room. Tick, tock, tick, tock. The sounds echoed in the quiet house. Lily would never be able to fall asleep at Grandma’s house. Not ever.
    She turned over once more and it was morning.

12 The Chicken Pops
    E ach day, when Lily and Joseph walked to school and home from school, they passed by Whispering Pines. In the mailbox, Mama would leave an envelope with instructions to help Lily with English class. Mama, Dannie, and Paul stood by the door of the house to wave to them as they passed. Papa came out of the workshop to wave to them. Dozer barked and danced around, but his collar was attached to a long rope so he couldn’t follow them. It was the best part of Lily’s day, even Dozer’s silly dance. Lily was glad they could all see each other a little bit.
    The following Sunday was a church morning. Lily jumped out of bed and hurried to get ready. She was sure she would see Mama at church. Mama never missed church. But at breakfast, Grandma Miller told her that they wouldn’t be there. Mama and Papa stayed home with Dannie and Paulso no one else at church would get exposed to chicken pox. Lily was so disappointed. Church had never lasted so long.
    In the afternoon, as they returned home, there was a box on the front porch of Grandma’s house. She picked it up and carried it inside. After she opened it, she said, “I think this is for Lily and Joseph.”

    Lily peered inside. There was a bowl