Abby and the Secret Society

Author:Ann M. Martin
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Scholastic Inc.
Published: 2015-05-26T16:00:00+00:00

Stacey had read Mal’s entry in the club notebook, so she wasn’t surprised that afternoon when she arrived at the Stanton-Chas’ and found Stephen lying on the couch, sulking. His face was turned away from the window, as if to ignore the blue sky outside. It was one of those cool but pretty February days when you can begin to imagine spring arriving soon.

“He’s in a bad mood,” Nikki told Stacey as she left. In a lower voice, she added that Stephen was lonely, and missing his dad, who was still in Korea. “Please try to convince him to play outside with some other kids,” she said. “I hate to see him lie around inside, all alone.”

Stacey sat down on the couch near Stephen’s head. “Are you feeling okay?” she asked him.

“Mpph,” muttered Stephen. “Grrph.”

“What’s that?” asked Stacey playfully. “Did you say you needed to be tickled?” She gave him a little tickle, under the arms. An “experimental tickle,” as she told me later, just to see if he felt like being cheered up.

Stephen squirmed, and Stacey thought she heard a tiny giggle. “Did you say something?” she asked, tickling under his chin.

Stephen rolled over and giggled louder. “That tickles!” he squealed.

“Good!” said Stacey, tickling his feet. “It’s supposed to.” Before long, Stephen was laughing out loud and tickling her in return. “Hey, how about if we go outside and play for a while?” she asked. She figured she wouldn’t mention other kids yet. She’d wait and see how he felt about this first step.

“Play what?” asked Stephen warily.

“How about — how about Wiffle Ball?” Stacey suggested. She’d spotted a yellow plastic bat and a white ball in the entryway when she’d arrived.

“Will you pitch to me?” asked Stephen.

“Sure,” said Stacey. “Let’s go!” She held out a hand and helped him off the couch. They grabbed the bat and ball and headed out into the yard. Stephen decided where home plate should be, and stood there, swinging the bat, while Stacey pitched to him. She threw about twenty pitches. Stephen swung at every one, and connected on a lot of them, enough to keep Stacey running after the ball.

Finally, just as Stacey was winding up for another pitch, Stephen threw down the bat. “I’m bored,” he said.

“Want to take a walk?” asked Stacey. She didn’t mention a destination, even though she had one in mind.

“Sure,” replied Stephen with a shrug.

A few minutes later, Stephen and Stacey stood on the sidewalk in front of the Pikes’ house. They could see through the hedge that the side yard was full of kids: Nicky and the triplets, Vanessa, Matt and Haley, Charlotte and Becca, Jake, Carolyn and Marilyn.

The yard had been transformed. A big banner hung across the Pikes’ old swing set, announcing (in every color of the rainbow) the grand opening of the “Slate Street Kids Club.”

Jordan, Adam, and Byron were tossing around a Nerf basketball, aiming at a homemade hoop they’d set up on one side of the garage. As they played, Jordan gave a running commentary, sportscaster-style.

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