a Package Meredith Mercer tromped down the stairs At the bottom she turned right She stepped over the backpacks and sweaters piled on the floor When she reached the worn couch she sat between stacks of clean clothes that were ready to be put away Her eyes stayed on the pages of her book the whole time Meri you should watch when you walk her mother said as she passed through the room on the way to her office You could fall Yes Mom Meri said without looking up She was at the best part of her favorite book Anne of Green Gables I could never express all my sorrow Meri read in a whisper No not if I used up the whole dictionary You must just imagine it
Are you reading that old book again Meri's sister Judith groaned She picked up a pile of clean clothes and balanced it on another pile so she could sit on the couch I'll go to the library with you if you need a new book Meri shook her head I like rereading books Judith snorted I never reread The library is full of new books I could never read them all If I reread a book I might miss a really good new one Meri knew this was true And she did worry about that sometimes But she couldn't give up her old books She loved them They were like visiting friends Judith stretched her long legs out in front of the couch So is Kaylin still being awful at school Meri sighed and closed her book She said my hair looks like a nest She stuck a plastic egg in it It fell out and rolled across my worktable Everyone laughed
Judith nodded I heard all about my egghead sister I figured Kaylin was behind that Meri moaned If sixth graders were talking about it then everyone in the whole world knew What happened with you and Kaylin Judith asked You two used to do everything together I don't know Meri said She doesn't talk to me anymore except to say mean things Do you want me to talk to her Judith asked a frown squinting her eyes Part of Meri wanted to say yes Judith could be scary And Meri really wanted Kaylin to stop being so mean But Meri remembered when Kaylin was her friend They read the same books They hated the same icky food And Kaylin always made Meri laugh Why couldn't she have that back Loud bangs and clumps came from the stairs Judith and Meri turned The twins
almost tumbled into the room Someone's coming Kat shouted With a package Thomas shouted even louder Judith unfolded from the couch like a lamb standing on long wobbly legs She headed toward the door and Meri followed her The pounding on the front door made it rattle Things rattled at Meri's house a lot The house was really big and really old Sometimes Meri's mom carried a toolbox into one of the shakier rooms and pounded for a while Sometimes that made things better Sometimes not Judith hauled open the door A man in a brown uniform pushed a big box into her arms Judith took the package with an oomph The man waved his clipboard Sign here he said With what Judith asked as she tried to shift her grip on the box
