light bulb?â She giggled as she tried to imagine a light bulb in the henhouse.
âYou could turn it on just before the sun sets. Leave it on for an hour or so. Maybe the chickens would think it was still daytime and reward you with some eggs.â
âDo you really think that would work?â
âIt might be worth a try.â He pointed to the barn. âI noticed thereâs electricity running from the house to the barn.â
âMama had the electric put in so she could do her laundry out there.â
âWell, it wouldnât be hard to run a cord from the barn to the chicken coop and get a light set up. I could give it a try if you think itâs a good idea.â
She nodded eagerly. âItâs a swell idea.â
âWould your mother mind if I poked around to find what I need for the light?â
âI think Mama would be real happy if we started getting eggs again.â
âAbout that car,â he said as they walked back to the house. âDoes it run at all?â
âNo, itâs been broken down for a long, long time. Mr. Brewster offered to buy it once, but Mama said no. Now sheâd gladly sell it, but he canât afford to buy it anymore. And no one else wants a car that doesnât run.â She stopped walking and set the chicken bucket down. âIâm glad because sometimes I like to sit in it and I pretend like Iâm driving.â She flopped down on her back, and Georgeâs eyes nearly popped out.
âWhatâs wrong?â He bent over and stared. âAre you okay?â
âIâm making a snow angel,â she explained as she flapped her arms and legs.
With a quizzical expression, he pulled out his pipe and watched her.
âSee?â She stood, proudly pointing to the angelic image in the snow.
âVery nice.â He lit his pipe and smiled.
She went over to where the snow angel head was and drew in a halo. âThere. Perfect.â
âDo you think your mother would mind if I took a look at the old car?â He let out a puff of sweet-smelling smoke. âMy dad used to have a car almost exactly like it, and if Iâm lucky, I might be able to get it running again.â
âReally?â She brushed the snow off her coat sleeves.
âItâs a possibility.â
âI sure wish it could run again.â She sighed. âI remember how I used to ride to town in it with my daddy . . . back when I was a little girl.â
His pipe slowly moved up and down like he was thinking hard.
âMaybe we shouldnât tell Mama about it, though.â She glanced over to the house. âJust so we donât get her hopes up. You know, in case you canât fix it.â
He removed his pipe, placing a forefinger over his lips. âI wonât tell if you wonât tell.â
She nodded. âItâs a deal.â
As they were finishing lunch, George announced that he planned to walk to town to check on the progress of his carâs repairs. âLet me know if thereâs anything I can bring home for anyone.â
âNo, thank you,â Mama primly told him. âLucy did the shopping for us on Saturday.â
âBut you might let George drop off your laundry parcels,â Grandma suggested to Mama. âThat would save you aââ
âOh, thatâs all right,â Mama said. âI donât mind the walk.â
âIâd be pleased to deliver your parcels for you,â George told her.
âBut I wouldnât want to bother you withââ
âItâs no bother,â he assured her. âJust write down the addresses for me, and Iâll gladly drop them off. I plan to leave around two.â
Mama started to protest again, but this time Veronica interrupted. âWhy donât you just use the telephone, George?â she suggested. âSimply call the garage and check on your automobile. Save yourself a senseless
Connie Monk
Joy Dettman
Andrew Cartmel
Jayden Woods
Jay Northcote
Mary McCluskey
Marg McAlister
Stan Berenstain
Julie Law
Heidi Willard