Beezus and Ramona by Beverly Cleary Page A

were something else Ramona had learned about at nursery school. When she didn’t want to do something, she often insisted she was supposed to be having aquiet time. Beezus was about to say that Ramona didn’t need a quiet time, because she hadn’t been playing hard and Mother had said she had already had a nap, but then she thought better of it. If Ramona wanted to sit in a chair and be quiet, let her. She might stay out of mischief until Mother came home.

    Beezus had no sooner sat down to work on her pot holders, planning to keep an eye on Ramona at the same time, when thetelephone rang. It must be Aunt Beatrice, she thought, before she answered. Mother and Aunt Beatrice almost always talked to each other about this time of day.
    â€œHello, darling, how are you?” asked Aunt Beatrice.
    â€œOh, Aunt Beatrice,” cried Beezus,
    â€œRamona has just done something awful, and I was supposed to be looking after her. I don’t know what to do.” She told about Ramona’s hiding in the cellar and biting into half a box of apples.
    Aunt Beatrice laughed. “Leave it to Ramona to think up something new,” she said. “Do you know what I’d do if I were you?”
    â€œWhat?” asked Beezus eagerly, already feeling better because she had confided her troubles to her aunt.
    â€œI wouldn’t say anything more about it,” said Aunt Beatrice. “Lots of times little children are naughty because they want to attract attention. I have an idea that saying nothing about her naughtiness will worry Ramona more than a scolding.”
    Beezus thought this over and decided her aunt was right. If there was one thing Ramona couldn’t stand, it was being ignored. “I’ll try it,” she said.
    â€œAnd about the apples,” Aunt Beatrice went on. “All I can suggest is that your mother might make applesauce.”
    This struck Beezus as being funny, and as she and her aunt laughed together over the telephone she felt much better.
    â€œTell your mother I phoned,” said Aunt Beatrice.
    â€œI will,” promised Beezus. “And please come over soon.”
    When Beezus heard her mother drive up, she rushed out to meet her and tell her the story of what Ramona had done. She alsotold her Aunt Beatrice’s suggestion.
    â€œOh, dear, leave it to Ramona,” sighed Mother. “Your aunt is right. We won’t say a word about it.”
    Beezus helped her mother carry the groceries into the house. Ramona came into the kitchen to see if there were any animal crackers among the packages. She waited a few minutes for her sister to tattle on her. Then, when Beezus did not say anything, she announced, “I was bad this afternoon.” She sounded pleased with herself.
    â€œWere you?” remarked Mother calmly.
    â€œBeezus, I think applesauce would be good for dessert tonight. Will you run down and bring up some apples?”
    When Ramona looked disappointed at having failed to arouse any interest, Beezus and her mother exchanged smiles. “I want to help,” said Ramona, rather than be left out.
    Beezus and Ramona made four trips tothe basement to bring up all the bitten apples. Mother said nothing about their appearance, but spent the rest of the afternoon peeling and cooking apples. After she had finished, she filled her two largest mixing bowls, a casserole, and the bowl of her electric mixer with applesauce. It took her quite a while to rearrange the contents of the refrigerator to make room for all the applesauce.
    When Beezus saw her father coming home she ran out on the front walk to tell him what had happened. He, too, agreed that Aunt Beatrice’s suggestion was a good one.
    â€œDaddy!” shrieked Ramona when her father came in.
    â€œHow’s my girl?” asked Father as he picked Ramona up and kissed her.
    â€œOh, I was bad today,” said Ramona.
    â€œWere you?” said Father as he put her down. “Was