Summer Sanctuary by Laurie Gray Page B

She flipped back through her notebook, tore out another page, and handed it to me.
    Poor Old Soul
    In a dark and dusty corner
    Alone and very cold
    He sits there feeling useless
    All worn out and old
    His tongue has never spoken
    His eyes have never seen
    His sole is worn and weary
    He’s lost all self-esteem
    No one wants him since he’s old
    What’s left for him to do?
    His usefulness left long ago
    That poor old tennis shoe
    â€œYou wrote that for me?” I liked it, but I didn’t get it.
    â€œFor you and your brother and his $100 shoes,” Dinah said.
    I laughed. I forgot I told her about that. Even after Dad had told him definitely not, Mark lay in bed and went on and on about the full-grain leather and the air-soles and the fancy eye-stay system and the plush tongue with its lockdown performance fit. “But it’s not just a tennis shoe,” I said, mocking Mark. “It’s an Air Jordan Derek Jeter Jumpman—the ultimate baseball training shoe!”
    â€œAll for only $50 each!” chimed in Dinah. We danced around, kicking our feet up and laughing as we cleaned up our lunch trash.
    â€œI’ll throw that in the garbage on my way back in the library,” I said. “Want to meet back here in an hour? I’ll have your harmonica book for you.”
    â€œThat’s so sweet of you, Matthew,” Dinah said. Happiness surged through my body.
    â€œDo you want another book to read, too? I don’t really need to take any of those science books home. Mrs. Cleary’s letting me keep them behind the desk.” I was looking down and kind of kicking the ground with mymy sneaker as I said it. “Anyway, it won’t be long before I’ll have the real card. Then I can check out as many books as I want.”
    â€œAre you sure you don’t mind?” Dinah asked.
    â€œI don’t mind at all,” I answered, smiling. I found myself smiling a lot when I was with Dinah. “What book do you want to read?”
    I was back an hour later with the harmonica book and the first Harry Potter book,
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
. Peace Congregation did not care for magic, wizardry, or Harry Potter. But there wasn’t anyone from Peace there when I checked it out, and it wasn’t like I was planning on lugging it all around with me or reading it myself. I just borrowed it for a friend.
    â€œDon’t forget, tonight’s trash night,” I told Dinah before I left. “Church will be done by 9:00, and I’ll stay after and help with trash and make sure the back door stays unlocked, okay?”
    â€œThanks, Matthew,” Dinah said, as she packed the books away.
    â€œAnd I’ll bring that stamp for you tomorrow,” I added. “Stay out of the fountain and away from mall security.”

Thirteen
    M OM CAME INTO the kitchen just as I finished packing my lunch.
    â€œLet’s see what you’ve got,” Mom said.
    I swallowed hard and handed her the bag. She peered inside at my two turkey and Swiss sandwiches (one with mustard and one with mayonnaise), an apple, a banana, at least a dozen baby carrots, and two string cheese sticks. I held my breath.
    â€œMy goodness, Matthew,” Mom said. “I suspected there was something you weren’t telling me when you wanted to pack your own lunch. I had no idea that I wasn’t giving you enough food!” She rolled the paper bag shut and handed it back to me. “You must be coming up on another growing spurt.”
    â€œThanks, Mom,” I said, heading for the door.
    â€œOh, Matthew,” Mom called after me. “There’s a letter from Kyle in this morning’s mail. It’s on the stand in the entryway.”
    â€œGot it!” I yelled back. I grabbed the letter and stuffed it in my backpack. I rode as fast as I could to the library. I went straight back to our tree and found Dinah lying in the grass on her stomach studying the