fall out. The horseshoe she had found was lying on its side. Maybe the good luck in it wasnât as strong as it should have been . . .
But as quickly as the worry blossomed, Esther cast it away. Even if a teeny bit of luck had spilled out, much more must have stayed inside. And a few minutes later, when she was filling her pails with raspberry after plump raspberry, she was sure of it. This was a perfect day and not even a black cat was going to spoil it.
The girls had a lot to talk about, and the faster they talked, the faster they picked.
âWere there really games at the lake?â Esther asked.
âYes,â Bethany said. âIâm sorry you couldnât stay. I wanted you for my partner.â
âThat wouldâve been
so
much fun,â Esther said, not even trying to keep the disappointment out of her voice.
âWeâll do it next year,â Bethany said, waving off a fat bee that buzzed around their heads.
Esther thought of Ma and squirmed, but she said, âYes. Next year for sure.â
When their buckets were full, the girls turned cartwheels and tried to do handstands, but the grass was dry and prickly. The sun was hot and the bees kept buzzing overhead. Esther knew they only wanted the berries, but she couldnât help being nervous. Bugsâespecially bugs that stungâstill frightened her a little, even after her months on the farm. She was glad when Bethany said she was thirsty and suggested they go back to the house.
Mrs. Klause poured them each a tall glass of lemonade. Esther drained the glass, one tangy mouthful after another. She had never tasted lemonade so good. But everything about that day seemed special. She wished it never had to end.
âThis is so pretty,â she said when Bethany took her up to her bedroom. Blue flowered wallpaper, white lace curtains, and a blue-and-white quilt made the room bright and cozy. A small white bookcase stood against one wall. Esther hurried over. âOh! You have
Five Little Peppers,
â she cried. âI loved that story. And youâve got all of Louisa May Alcottâs books, too!â
Bethany nodded. âMama got them for me. I havenât read most of them yet.â
Esther was shocked. âWhy not? Iâd be reading âtil my eyes crossed.â She opened
Joâs Boys.
On the inside of the cover there was flowing handwriting that read,
To My Dear Bethany With Much Love From Mama
.
Esther swallowed hard.
âYou can take it home and read it if you want,â Bethany offered.
But Esther put the book back on the shelf and shook her head. âNo, I couldnât. I might get it dirty or lose it or something.â
âYou wouldnât,â Bethany argued.
But Esther didnât give in, much as she would have loved to. âI really canât. But thanks,â she said. She couldnât tell Bethany that thereâd be no way to explain the borrowed book to Ma.
And, she realized with a pang of distress, she couldnât tell Bethany they couldnât be friends anymore, either.
She thought sheâd find a way, but being with Bethany again had only made her more certain than ever that Ma was mistaken. Now she had to find a way to prove that to Ma, because she couldnât bear to lose Bethany as a friend.
âIâd better go,â she said reluctantly. âItâs getting late.â
âIâll walk a ways with you,â Bethany said.
Esther thanked Mrs. Klause for lunch. Then she set out for home with Bethany at her side. Esther carried one of the buckets of berries. Bethany carried the other. They sang songs as they walked, and they played follow the leader. They took turns deciding whether to strut or walk sideways or backwardâwhether to carry the buckets in their right hand or their left or even on top of their heads. Bethany walked a long way with Esther, but finally she had to turn and go back home.
She handed her bucket to
But as quickly as the worry blossomed, Esther cast it away. Even if a teeny bit of luck had spilled out, much more must have stayed inside. And a few minutes later, when she was filling her pails with raspberry after plump raspberry, she was sure of it. This was a perfect day and not even a black cat was going to spoil it.
The girls had a lot to talk about, and the faster they talked, the faster they picked.
âWere there really games at the lake?â Esther asked.
âYes,â Bethany said. âIâm sorry you couldnât stay. I wanted you for my partner.â
âThat wouldâve been
so
much fun,â Esther said, not even trying to keep the disappointment out of her voice.
âWeâll do it next year,â Bethany said, waving off a fat bee that buzzed around their heads.
Esther thought of Ma and squirmed, but she said, âYes. Next year for sure.â
When their buckets were full, the girls turned cartwheels and tried to do handstands, but the grass was dry and prickly. The sun was hot and the bees kept buzzing overhead. Esther knew they only wanted the berries, but she couldnât help being nervous. Bugsâespecially bugs that stungâstill frightened her a little, even after her months on the farm. She was glad when Bethany said she was thirsty and suggested they go back to the house.
Mrs. Klause poured them each a tall glass of lemonade. Esther drained the glass, one tangy mouthful after another. She had never tasted lemonade so good. But everything about that day seemed special. She wished it never had to end.
âThis is so pretty,â she said when Bethany took her up to her bedroom. Blue flowered wallpaper, white lace curtains, and a blue-and-white quilt made the room bright and cozy. A small white bookcase stood against one wall. Esther hurried over. âOh! You have
Five Little Peppers,
â she cried. âI loved that story. And youâve got all of Louisa May Alcottâs books, too!â
Bethany nodded. âMama got them for me. I havenât read most of them yet.â
Esther was shocked. âWhy not? Iâd be reading âtil my eyes crossed.â She opened
Joâs Boys.
On the inside of the cover there was flowing handwriting that read,
To My Dear Bethany With Much Love From Mama
.
Esther swallowed hard.
âYou can take it home and read it if you want,â Bethany offered.
But Esther put the book back on the shelf and shook her head. âNo, I couldnât. I might get it dirty or lose it or something.â
âYou wouldnât,â Bethany argued.
But Esther didnât give in, much as she would have loved to. âI really canât. But thanks,â she said. She couldnât tell Bethany that thereâd be no way to explain the borrowed book to Ma.
And, she realized with a pang of distress, she couldnât tell Bethany they couldnât be friends anymore, either.
She thought sheâd find a way, but being with Bethany again had only made her more certain than ever that Ma was mistaken. Now she had to find a way to prove that to Ma, because she couldnât bear to lose Bethany as a friend.
âIâd better go,â she said reluctantly. âItâs getting late.â
âIâll walk a ways with you,â Bethany said.
Esther thanked Mrs. Klause for lunch. Then she set out for home with Bethany at her side. Esther carried one of the buckets of berries. Bethany carried the other. They sang songs as they walked, and they played follow the leader. They took turns deciding whether to strut or walk sideways or backwardâwhether to carry the buckets in their right hand or their left or even on top of their heads. Bethany walked a long way with Esther, but finally she had to turn and go back home.
She handed her bucket to
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