A Perfect Gentle Knight by Kit Pearson Page A

many stuffed dogs that crowded the bed.
    â€œTell me about your game ,” urged Meredith.
    Corrie flushed. “Well,” she began slowly, “we’re all knights of the Round Table. Sebastian is Sir Lancelot, the bravest knight—he’s our leader. We pretend Fa is King Arthur, who’s always away on a quest. And sometimes he’s Merlin, because he knows so much. Roz is Sir Gawain, and now I’m Sir Gareth. That’s what we were doing on the golf course—I had just been dubbed. Harry’s the squire for all the knights, and Juliet and Orly are our pages.”
    â€œCool!” said Meredith. She didn’t seem to think any of this was too weird. “I know all about knights—I got a book about them for Christmas last year. But why are you all men ?” she said. “Why isn’t anyone Guinevere or Elaine?”
    Corrie shrugged. “I don’t know. I guess because knights have more adventures than ladies. Sometimes Guinevere is around, but she’s imaginary. Lots of people have to be made up because there aren’t enough of us.”
    â€œHow long have you been playing this?”
    â€œFor a couple of years,” said Corrie. “I was a page first, then Sebastian’s squire. I groomed his horse and rode beside him in battle. Just pretending, of course,” she added quickly.
    Meredith nibbled on a cookie. “Sebastian really seems like a knight. I think I’m afraid of him!”
    â€œYou don’t have to be. He was just surprised to see you on Saturday.”
    â€œIs he bossy in real life too? When you’re not playing your game, I mean.”
    â€œHe’s not bossy! He’s the nicest, kindest brother anyone could have!” Corrie tried to smile. “Maybe he seems bossy, but that’s because he’s our leader. He makes up our meal and bath schedules and gives out our allowances and tells us when to go to bed. We all help, of course. Roz buys our clothes, I make the lunches every day, and Harry and I take turns walking the twins home from school.”
    â€œBut why doesn’t your father do any of that?”
    Too many questions! But now that Meredith was her friend, Corrie had to try to answer patiently. “Fa’s always busy,” she said. “He has very important work to do—he teaches classes and he’s writing a book!”
    â€œ That’s important,” said Meredith solemnly. Then she giggled. “Why does Sebastian have such long hair? It makes him look like a girl !”
    â€œHe has to have long hair because Sir Lancelot had long hair—we have a picture. And I don’t think he looks at all like a girl,” Corrie added tightly.
    â€œSorry,” said Meredith. “I don’t really think he does. I think he’s handsome. I wish Sebastian would let me play your game with you. I could be your squire !”
    â€œI wish he would too.”
    â€œ I know,” said Meredith eagerly. “Why don’t we pretend I’m your squire? Or I could be another knight! I could be Sir Perceval or Sir Galahad! You and I could go on quests and things, just like your family does. We’d be secret knights!”
    â€œI don’t think we should,” Corrie said hastily. “I don’t think Sebastian would like it.”
    â€œBut he’d never know !”
    â€œMaybe not, but I just don’t want to, okay?”
    Meredith shrugged. “Okay. Let’s have a dog show, then.”
    Meredith had twenty-two stuffed animals. Corrie was especially intrigued by the tiny ones arranged in a circle on her chest of drawers: four bears, two raccoons, and a squirrel.
    Nine dogs lived on the bed. It was fun to arrange them in groups for the judges, and to make awards out of cardboard for the best-groomed, best-behaved, and best-looking dog. They were deep into the game when Meredith’s mother knocked at the door.
    â€œWhat do you think, girls?”