Sitting Tight Why is she always late Malcolm’s best friend Dandy asked I’m hungry Dandy and Malcolm sat on the front porch steps waiting for Mail Carrier Nancy She usually comes around one o’clock on Saturday Malcolm reminded him It’s only twelve thirty Dandy dug the toe of his sneaker between two of the boards on the porch
steps It squeaked like a mouse playing a kazoo Why can’t we eat lunch then come out and wait for her he asked You know why Malcolm said I can’t risk Cocoa getting that package before me She’ll hide it in her room somewhere and make me pay to get it back Dandy wiggled his toe in deeper I’m glad I don’t have a sister Yeah Malcolm said It’s a curse Malcolm checked up and down the sidewalk He’d been waiting a whole month for this package and he needed it by Halloween Surely today would be his lucky day How about I go and make us some sandwiches Dandy asked I could bring them out and we could have a porch picnic
It’s not picnic weather Malcolm reminded him He pulled the collar of his jacket up around his neck The October air had a biting chill It was going to be an especially cold Halloween Dandy’s jacket was about two sizes too big When he pulled his collar up his head disappeared Malcolm unzipped it a little so Dandy could breathe You look like a turtle Malcolm said Dandy zipped it up again I’m not a turtle Mail Carrier Nancy is She’s the slowpoke He shoved his hands in his pockets and dug his toe deeper in between the squeaky boards Malcolm cringed The only thing worse than that squeak was Cocoa practicing her choir solo Her high notes could make your ears bleed
Would you stop that Malcolm said It’s giving me chills Are you sure it’s me Dandy wondered I have chills too but it’s because it’s freezing out here My spit tastes like ice water More squeaking Stop it Dandy It’s not me The noise grew louder Just then Mail Carrier Nancy turned the corner She was dragging her squeaky mail cart behind her Cheep-cheep-cheep-cheep Malcolm didn’t mind that noise at all He popped up off the porch and eagerly stood waiting for her Daddy hopped up too Almost His sneaker was wedged tight between the
